Side by side/rzr in the mountain, waterfull and tequila tasting

The best part of this Puerto Vallarta outing is the change of scenery. You leave the city in a side-by-side, follow the Cuale River toward the Sierra Madre, cross shallow streams, and reach Las Pilitas, a waterfall with small natural pools. I like the mix of off-road driving and swimming, plus the stop at a family-run farm for fruit-flavored and traditional tequila. The riverside lunch stop adds a pleasant local touch, but food and drinks cost extra.

I also like that this is a private, customizable tour, with safety gear supplied and room for a slower or more adventurous pace. Guides including Alex and Victor have earned praise for keeping groups together and handling traffic carefully. The main catch is logistics: you need to reach the Puerto Vallarta meeting point yourself, and some of the 3.5 hours can go to tequila, food, and product sales rather than driving.

Key points to know before booking

• Las Pilitas waterfall: Cool off in the river and natural pools, then take photos among the jungle scenery.
• Side-by-side mountain route: Expect some city and paved-road driving before the trail turns toward the Sierra Madre.
• Tequila with a local angle: Taste traditional and fruit-based tequilas at a farm and learn about the production process.
• Riverside meal stop: Seafood, meat, shrimp tacos, and drinks are available, but lunch is not included.
• Bring the right gear: Wear a swimsuit, sunscreen, insect repellent, and shoes that can handle dust and water.
• Meet at the office: The tour begins and ends at Unique ATV Tours, not at your hotel.

From Puerto Vallarta streets to the Sierra Madre

The tour begins at Unique ATV Tours on Río de La Plata 246, in the López Mateos area of Puerto Vallarta. You do not get hotel pickup, so plan your own way to the office and allow time to find it. This point matters because two poor experiences came from assuming the booking included transportation.

After safety instructions and equipment checks, you set off in a side-by-side vehicle. You can ride solo or with a companion, depending on the arrangement made for your booking. The machines are described as clean and up to date, and the company supplies the required safety equipment.

The opening stretch is not all trail riding. You spend some time on paved roads and city streets before reaching the turnoff toward the countryside. That can feel like a slow start if you booked mainly for off-road action, but it also gives you a look at Puerto Vallarta beyond the resort zone.

Traffic control is one of the stronger parts of the operation. Guides keep the group together and manage the more exposed road sections. If you are new to side-by-sides, this organized approach should make the ride feel more manageable. You still need a moderate level of physical fitness, and you should be comfortable with dust, bumps, heat, and changing road surfaces.

The maximum group size is 30 people. That is not a small private outing if the tour fills, though the experience itself is described as private and customizable. Ask how your vehicle and group will be arranged if having a quieter ride is important to you.

What the side-by-side ride is really like

The driving is the core appeal, but it is worth setting realistic expectations. The total outing lasts about three hours and 30 minutes, and not all of that time is spent behind the wheel. The route includes stops for tequila, food, swimming, and scenic breaks.

You follow the Cuale River toward the mountains on winding roads and smaller tracks. Expect to cross small streams and deal with dust, especially in dry weather. One person specifically wished for rain to settle the dust, so sunglasses and a bandana or face covering could be useful, even though they are not listed as required equipment.

I like this route because it connects several parts of the Puerto Vallarta area in one short outing. You see the city, the river corridor, working rural areas, mountain roads, and a swimming spot. It is not a pure motorsports session, and that is both its strength and its weakness.

If you want the longest possible stretch of fast trail driving, this may disappoint you. One account estimated that actual vehicle time lasted less than an hour because the rest of the outing involved stops and sales presentations. On the other hand, if you want a social half-day with scenery, tequila, lunch, and a little adrenaline, the mixed format makes sense.

The guides receive strong marks for safety and attitude. Alex is singled out for being a great guide, while Victor is praised for taking the group to attractive stops and keeping the day enjoyable. The staff also appears to use a clear system for controlling traffic and keeping drivers on track.

Las Pilitas waterfall and the natural pools

The route eventually reaches Las Pilitas, a waterfall area along the river. This is the point where the tour shifts from motor noise to water, jungle, and a chance to cool down.

The waterfall itself is described as hidden away from the main city area, with small pools and river water where you can refresh yourself. You can take photos, sit near the water, or swim if conditions and your comfort level allow. Bring a swimsuit, since you may regret arriving in regular clothes when everyone else is enjoying the pools.

The setting is one of the best reasons to choose this outing. You get lush vegetation, mountain views, and the sound of moving water instead of the usual Puerto Vallarta traffic. It is also a useful break after the dusty ride.

Keep expectations flexible, though. Promotional photos may suggest hammocks and a broad river-swim setting, but the actual stop can be simpler. One account found the swimming area pleasant but not quite like the images. I would book this for the river and pools, not for a carefully staged beach-club setup.

Water shoes could help, but they are not listed as an included item. At minimum, use footwear that you can get wet and dirty. Sunscreen and insect repellent are also practical choices, especially during a warm, humid stop beside the river.

The farm visit and tequila tasting

Tequila is not an add-on here. It is included, and it gives the day a clear Jalisco connection. The tasting takes place at a farm or ranch where fruit is grown for some of the flavored tequila. You taste both traditional versions and fruit-based varieties.

The stop can be more than a quick sample at a counter. The farm visit may include an explanation of how the tequila is made, a look around the property, and information about rooms that can be rented there. Hunter, a guide from the United States, has been praised for explaining the process clearly in English.

The setting also adds something beyond the tasting itself. One account described seeing macaws, other birds, insects, and butterflies around the farm. Those sightings are not guaranteed, but they show why this stop can feel more connected to the countryside than a standard urban tasting room.

You should know that the tequila stop has a commercial side. You may have the chance to buy bottles or other products, and the location serves additional drinks. That is normal for this type of stop, but it explains why some people feel the day spends too much time promoting food or merchandise.

The tasting is included, while alcoholic drinks beyond the tasting are not. Bring extra cash if you want to purchase tequila, drinks, lunch, or tip the guides. Pace yourself, since you still have a vehicle ride afterward.

A riverside lunch with shrimp tacos and local dishes

The meal stop is at a restaurant beside the river. Seafood and meat dishes are available, and shrimp tacos and piña coladas have received especially strong praise. The food is not included in the tour price, so treat this as an optional purchase rather than part of the package.

This stop works well because it gives you time to rest after the ride and waterfall visit. A riverside restaurant is also a more local-feeling pause than returning straight to the city for a standard meal. Prices have been described as reasonable, though your final cost depends on what you order.

The restaurant is not only a food stop. It can also be a place to swim or enjoy the river setting, depending on the exact location and conditions that day. One person wished the group had been given more time to simply enjoy the area, so ask your guide how long the stop will last if lunch and swimming are both priorities.

You may want to carry cash even if the operator accepts other payment methods. The tour specifically recommends extra cash, and you will need to budget for lunch, drinks, purchases, and tips.

What the $205 price includes

At $205 per person, this is not a cheap quick ride. The value depends on how much you want from the full package.

You are paying for a side-by-side outing, safety equipment, guides, the waterfall stop, and the tequila tasting. The ride also gives you access to a rural part of Puerto Vallarta that would be harder to reach on your own without arranging a vehicle and local directions.

The price makes more sense if you plan to enjoy every part of the itinerary. Swim at Las Pilitas, listen during the farm explanation, eat by the river, and treat the day as a mix of driving and local stops. If you only care about trail time, the cost is harder to justify because a notable portion of the schedule is not spent driving.

Group discounts may be available, which could improve the value for friends or families. The tour is offered in English. It is not designed for very young children, since children under five are not accepted, and everyone should have moderate physical fitness.

A wheelchair-accessibility report is positive, but the general information only says that all safety equipment is supplied and that the activity requires moderate fitness. If accessibility is important for your booking, confirm the current vehicle, route, transfer, and waterfall arrangements directly before paying.

Timing, weather, and what to bring

The tour takes about three hours and 30 minutes, and it begins and ends at the same office. You should plan your day around that fixed meeting point rather than expecting to be collected from your hotel.

The activity requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. For your own comfort, check the forecast before dressing, since rain may alter the trail conditions and dry weather can mean more dust.

Pack light, but bring the essentials:

• Swimsuit and a change of clothes
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Extra cash for lunch, drinks, purchases, and tips
• Footwear that can handle dirt and water
• A phone or camera for the waterfall and mountain views

You should also be ready to get dirty. That is part of the fun, especially on the side-by-side route. The company even ends the day by seeing who picked up the most dust and mud.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, changes and refunds are not accepted, so do not leave your decision until the last minute if weather or transportation could be a problem.

Who will enjoy this Puerto Vallarta tour

I would choose this for friends, couples, and families with older children who want more than a beach day. It suits people who enjoy driving but also want a waterfall, food, and a taste of local tequila culture in the same outing.

It is especially useful if you have already spent time around the hotel zone and want to see the river and mountain side of Puerto Vallarta. The route offers scenery and rural stops without requiring a full-day expedition.

You may want a different tour if your main goal is extended high-speed off-road driving. The paved-road approach, group pacing, farm stop, lunch, and tequila presentation reduce the amount of time spent on the trail. It is also not ideal if you dislike sales-oriented stops or do not want to pay extra for food and drinks.

The tour can work for cautious first-time drivers because the guides focus on safety and keeping the group together. It still requires attention and a willingness to handle rough ground, water crossings, and dusty roads.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a packed Puerto Vallarta outing that combines a side-by-side ride, Sierra Madre scenery, Las Pilitas waterfall, tequila tasting, and a riverside meal. The strongest parts are the friendly guides, careful traffic control, farm setting, and chance to cool off in the river.

Skip it if you are paying $205 mainly for hours of uninterrupted trail driving. You also need to arrange your own transport to the office and budget extra for lunch, drinks, tips, and purchases. For the right person, the variety is the value. For a pure off-road enthusiast, the stop-heavy schedule may feel less focused.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and ends at Unique ATV Tours, Río de La Plata 246, López Mateos, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Hotel pickup is not included.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at the riverside restaurant costs extra. Seafood, meat dishes, shrimp tacos, and drinks are available.

Is tequila tasting included?

Yes. Tequila tasting is included, with traditional and fruit-based flavors. Additional alcoholic beverages are not included.

Are children allowed on the tour?

Children under five are not accepted. The activity also requires a moderate level of physical fitness.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.