The bucket-list things to do — and who runs each one.
Here’s the bucket list for your day ashore: the most extraordinary thing to do at each stop, who runs it, and how to book it direct — so you can weigh it against your ship’s excursion and pick what suits you.
In port at Puerto Vallarta, the bucket-list move is Hidden Beach at Marietas Islands: Secret Cove Swim & Snorkel. Below: 3 bucket-list things to do on a Puerto Vallarta port day — worth weighing against whatever your ship offers.
Slip through a sea tunnel to reach the legendary hidden beach — a collapsed volcanic crater with its own private sky. Snorkel pristine reefs teeming with tropical fish and rays in a UNESCO-protected biosphere.
Book itPuerto Vallarta: All-Inclusive Marietas Island Sightseeing Tour with Meals and Open Bar$49 per person
Fly across eight heart-pounding zip lines — including a 450-metre mega-line — above a roaring Sierra Madre river canyon. Rappel a waterfall and hike through primary jungle with an expert naturalist guide.
We have not yet verified a bookable operator and price for
this one, so we are not quoting either.
Reach John Huston's legendary private jungle beach — accessible only by boat — for a full day of kayaking, snorkelling, paddleboarding and hammock time at an immaculate eco-retreat. The lush setting was the backdrop to 'The Night of the Iguana.'
We have not yet verified a bookable operator and price for
this one, so we are not quoting either.
Explore the cobbled streets of El Centro with a private licensed guide — from the iconic Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Malecón's world-class sculpture walk and the Zona Romántica's buzzing local markets and mezcal bars.
We have not yet verified a bookable operator and price for
this one, so we are not quoting either.
Ride sure-footed mountain horses through the Sierra Madre jungle to a thundering freshwater waterfall and natural swimming pool hidden deep in the canopy. One of Puerto Vallarta's most magical and memorable half-day adventures.
Book itPuerto Vallarta: Mountain Waterfall Horseback Riding Tour$160 per person
Run by Horseback Riding Rancho Capomo Tours · 4.80 from 194 reviews
Set sail across the golden waters of Banderas Bay as the Sierra Madre glows at dusk — one of Mexico's most spectacular sunsets, best witnessed from the deck of a premium catamaran with dolphins riding the bow wave.
Book itCatamaran Sunset Cruise with Live Saxophone & Open Bar$100 per person
Your day in Puerto VallartaNothing picked yet — tick what you fancy
$0for two, booked direct
Now plan the rest of it
You know what to do on the day. Here is the trip it belongs to —
each one opens as a whole plan, not a list: where to fly in, every port, what it runs.