Kayaking in Puerto Vallarta

Except on very calm, glassy days, the open ocean is really too rough for enjoyable kayaking, and the few kayaking outfitters there mainly offer this activity in combination with snorkeling, dolphin-watching, or boating excursions to area beaches. The best places for kayaking-and-birding combos are the mangroves, estuaries, large bays, and islands of the Costalegre, south of Puerto Vallarta.

Logistics

Many of the larger beachfront hotels—especially the all-inclusives—rent or loan sea kayaks to their guests. Double kayaks are easier on the arms than single kayaks. Since the wind usually picks up in the afternoon, morning is generally the best time to paddle. Stick to coves if you want to avoid energy-draining chop and big waves. Kayaks range from $8 to $12 an hour or $23 to $35 per day. All-inclusives like Dreams, just south of Puerto Vallarta, usually don't charge their guests for kayaks.

Rent kayaks or take a half-day, full-day, or two-day paddling and birding tour with Immersion Adventures (Entrada Camino a La Manzanilla, La Manzanilla. 315/351-5341. www.immersionadventures.com). Although the company has an office on the entrance road to La Manzanilla, it's best to book your excursions at least a week ahead of your arrival. Opportunities include trips to offshore islands Cocinas and Iglesias, the riparian environment of Ríos Purificación or Cuixmala, or five- to six-hour coastal forays with time for snorkeling.

In addition to its other curricula, Ecotours (Ignacio L. Vallarta 243, Col. E. Zapata. 322/223-3130 or 322/222-6606. www.ecotoursvallarta.com), in downtown Vallarta, has kayaking tours from Boca de Tomatlán ($70). After paddling around a rocky point you end at tiny Playa Colomitos, where there's time for snorkeling and then a snack. You'll spend 1½ to 2 hours kayaking and though it's fun being on the water, the scenery is not exactly breathtaking.

Vallarta Adventures (Paseo de las Palmas 39-A, Nuevo Vallarta. 322/297-1212; 888/303-2653 in U.S. and Canada. www.vallarta-adventures.com) includes kayaking in its boat trip to Las Caletas, the company's private beach; the coastline here is fun to explore. The only other option is on dolphin-watching trips, where there are about five kayaks per boatload of up to 100 passengers, most of whom choose to snorkel.