12 Best Sights in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

In 2014 Playa Palmares became the first beach in the area to get the coveted international Blue Flag certification. This certification is an eco-award designed for beaches, marinas, and boating tourism operators; recipients of the Blue Flag comply with a series of stringent environmental, accessibility, and safety requirements. Palmares is connected to Punta Negra, but its waves are smaller, which makes it a better fit for families. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; swimming.

Since its opening in 2005, the Vallarta Botanical Gardens has become a landmark of Puerto Vallarta and with good reason. The place is spectacular, set in the middle of the Sierra Madre mountains, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. In its 64 acres of land you will find extraordinary biodiversity, a vanilla plantation, hiking trails, plant conservatories, a scenic restaurant, and even a river of crystal clear waters. Plan to spend at least two hours here; you can easily spend a whole day. You can buy a tour, or explore on your own by foot or bicycle. A small shop sells plants, souvenirs, and arts and crafts.

This small waterfall can be reached on foot or you can take a horseback ride for about 150--400 MXN ($8–$20) depending on how well you haggle. You can enter the waterfall from the lower road for free or buy a drink and snack at the restaurant on top of the hill. You can also take a swim in the cold waters below the falls, which are refreshing in summer but quite cold in the winter season.

From Mismaloya there is a trail following the river deep into the jungle and up through the mountains; it's about 4 km (2½ miles) long and it leads to a beautiful waterfall and natural pool known as El Edén. The trek can be a bit arduous for kids, but the nature around is impressive. There is a restaurant and an ecopark on-site.

The rock formations around the Majahuitas cove hide many sea caves inhabited by marine creatures in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Moorish idols with striking black, white, and yellow bands are the most common residents of the area, but you may also spot sea cucumbers, parrot fish, puffer fish, schools of surgeonfish, eels, and many other tropical fish.

For a truly romantic spot you might want to visit Playa Caballo, a spectacular secluded beach of turquoise blue waters, calm waves, lush vegetation—and nothing else. Get a water taxi at Boca de Tomatlán or, if you are up for the adventure, start walking from Boca through a small pathway across the jungle all the way to this "Horse Beach." You'll be there in hour and a half. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

This little cove is set between two hills that seem to be closing in on a gorgeous beach that's been called Mexico's smallest (it extends for only 30 meters). Its waters vary between turquoise blue and emerald green, its sand has a golden tone, and the surrounding mountains provide it with a unique atmosphere. From Boca de Tomatlán get a water taxi or walk through the jungle for 40 minutes. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.

Legend has it that director John Huston discovered this secluded beach and lived here for years. The beach is a bit rocky, but its waters are crystal clear. It's hard to find a more beautiful place. The only problem is that it's private and exclusive: to visit Las Caletas you'll need to buy a tour, which takes away some of the magic.

Playa Las Gemelas are actually two mirrored beaches separated by a wall of rocks, which makes a lot of sense as "gemelas" means twins in Spanish. Las Gemelas is a couple of wide but short golden-sand beaches with clear green water and small waves. Although it has close to no amenities, locals love to come here during the weekends, when it can get a bit crowded. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: sunset; swimming. 

Seldom-crowded Playa Punta Negra is a favorite among locals for its waves. Just 5 km south of Conchas Chinas, the entrance to the beach is right on the highway and there is not a lot of parking space, which limits the amount of visitors to just a few cars at a time. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee). Best for: sunset; surfing; walking.

On 20 acres of land 19 km (12 miles) south of town, the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens features more than 3,000 species of plants. Set within the tropical dry forest at 1,300 feet above sea level, its trails lead to a stream where you can swim. You can also see palm, agave, and rose gardens; a tree fern grotto; an orchid house; and displays of Mexican wildflowers and carnivorous plants. There is free parking and a free guided tour daily at 1 pm, from December through Easter. The lovely, open-sided Hacienda de Oro restaurant serves an array of starters as well as pizza and Mexican dishes. Beverages include wine and a full bar. Visit the website to arrange a four-hour birding (via ATV) or hiking tour with lunch, for $85 per person. A taxi here will cost about $20, but for less than a dollar, you can take the "El Tuito" bus from the corner of Aguacate and Venustiano Carranza streets. Slather on insect repellent before you go, and take some with you. This is the jungle, and jejenes (no-see-ums), mosquitoes, and other biting bugs will definitely attack.