Walking, Hiking, and Biking in Vallarta

With a warm sea breeze and plenty of sunshine, the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta are out in the fresh air. The pleasant weather throughout the year will make you want to soak up every minute of being outside, and it’s a great way to get some easy exercise while on vacation. Walking, hiking, and biking are some great Puerto Vallarta activities that are very affordable and even free to do. Adding in biking tours or Puerto Vallarta hikes is a great way to see more of the charming city, enjoy the natural environment, and burn a few calories at the same time.

Walking

One of the most popular spots to walk throughout the day on Puerto Vallarta trips is the Malecon boardwalk. Here in the heart of downtown, you’ll have the waves crashing along the beach on one side and a variety of shops and restaurants on the other. The Malecon is approximately one-mile long, and halfway along it is the Rio Cuale, the river that cuts through downtown and old town Puerto Vallarta. If you walk down along the river, the sounds of the city disappear, and you’ll find yourself in a park under the shade of lush palm trees. To see more of the city, there are several walking tours that highlight some of the local sights. With Puerto Vallarta Walking Tours, you can combine your walk with a chocolate tasting, shopping, and other Puerto Vallarta activities. The city government also offers free walking tours that leave from the Tourist Office in the main plaza along the Malecon. The tours leave at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and at 9 a.m. on Saturdays.

Hiking

For more vigorous exercise and an escape from the city, hitting the jungle trails to discover hidden gems is one of the most popular things to do in Puerto Vallarta. The best Puerto Vallarta hikes follow the rivers and end at majestic waterfalls. One of the closest waterfalls to the city is at the Palo Maria river. To get here, you can take an orange bus from downtown Puerto Vallarta and get off at the Palo Maria bridge. From there, make your way inland along the river until you reach the crashing waterfall. One of the other popular Puerto Vallarta hikes is from Boca de Tomatlan to Las Animas, two quiet fishing villages. The trailhead is also available along the orange bus route. In Boca de Tomatlan, a bridge over the river will put you onto the trail that winds along local homes out to the sea. There, the path follows the coastline through the jungle to Las Animas Beach where you can enjoy local seafood and cold drinks before catching a water taxi back to Boca de Tomatlan or Puerto Vallarta. There are also several guided Puerto Vallarta activities and excursions that will take you to some of the best local trails, great options if you’re not familiar with the area.

Biking

Get a little speed on your Puerto Vallarta trips on local cycling routes. The only smooth bike path in town begins at the south end of the main road in Puerto Vallarta and continues north along the Malecon. Xiutla Riders has the most affordable hourly rentals near the start of the downtown cycling routes as well as guided biking tours of the Malecon. To explore the jungle and waterfalls, Eco Ride offers biking tours into the mountains and to destinations as far as Yelapa. On these activities and excursions, you’ll pass through quiet villages nestled along the rivers and sweeping views of the Sierra Madre mountains. At the end of a ride along the local cycling routes or long biking tours, kick back with a full meal of sizzling tacos and cold cervezas.

Puerto Vallarta trips offer you morning walks along the sea, afternoon hikes in the jungle, and evening bike rides along the Malecon. Discover activities and excursions that take you into the jungle and get your heart pumping or that take you around town to see famous sights. With all these things to do in Puerto Vallarta, you can fill your vacation with walking, hiking, and biking adventures and explore more of this spectacular destination.