Guides / Plan your trip

Puerto Vallarta with kids: family ideas and activities

What to do in Puerto Vallarta with kids: calm beaches, Malecón walks, nature, activities at sea and tips to enjoy it as a family.

Banderas Bay · Updated October 2026

Fact sheet

Stroll: Malecón and Isla del Río Cuale
Calm beaches: Camarones and Las Ánimas
Nature: Vallarta Botanical Garden
In winter: Whale watching

Puerto Vallarta is a very easy destination for traveling with kids: calm-water beaches, a safe downtown to walk around and plenty of nature nearby. Here are some ideas to plan your days.

In town

Stroll the Malecón at sunset, with its sculptures and street performers; cross to Isla del Río Cuale, with its park, hanging bridges and crafts; and grab an ice cream in the Romantic Zone.

Calm beaches

For little ones, calm-water beaches work best, like Camarones in town or Las Ánimas to the south. The beaches of Nuevo Vallarta have room to run and build sandcastles.

Nature

Vallarta Botanical Garden, south of town, has trails, a river and lots of plants and birds. In winter, whale watching is a memory kids never forget.

A day at sea

A catamaran tour is one of the best family activities: the boat is stable, there's shade and a restroom, and kids can snorkel, kayak or play on the beach while adults relax. Before booking, check ages and kids' prices, and that life jackets in their size are available.

Tips

Reef-safe sunscreen and hats all day, plenty of water, and plan sea activities for the morning, when it's cooler and the sea is calmer.

How to go

If you'd like to go with us

Our day tours are family-friendly: kids 6 to 11 pay a reduced rate and infants 0 to 5 ride free. There's kayaking, snorkeling and beach time for everyone.