7 3-Hour Experiences in Puerto Vallarta to Build a Day Around

1.Puerto Vallarta 3-Hour Food Tour of Authentic Local Cuisine

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 73 reviews · 3 hours · from $59Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Lázaro Cárdenas Park for three hours of walking and tasting in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone and nearby streets. Expect seven food stops, sometimes eight, with tacos, mole enchiladas, ceviche tostadas, tortilla-factory samples, drinks, sweets, and stories from local vendors.

“Silvia, our guide, is knowledgeable and charming. She engaged everyone in the group. The tour was paced well and the amount of food good for the cost. Great way to learn about the food scene”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.3-Hour Guided Food Tour in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $59Top rated

Walk through Old Town Puerto Vallarta with guides such as Roman or Manny, stopping at local taco stands, restaurants, the Viejo Vallarta market, and a candy shop. Learn how Mexican chiles work, taste four main food stops, and finish with dessert. The tour runs about 2.5 hours for groups of up to 15.

“Manny knew what he was talking about. The tour wasn’t just good food but also a lot of good history about the food and restaurants in the area. Highly recommend doing at the beginning of your trip so you don’t waste your time on mediocre food.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.3-Hour Whale Watching and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 62 reviews · 3 hours · from $45Best value

Set out from Puerto Vallarta’s marina with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide to look for humpback whales and dolphins. The $45 tour includes a three-hour boat trip, life jacket, and guide. Some departures also stop at a beach or snorkeling site, but swimming and snorkeling are not always provided.

“La actividad dejó mucho que desear. Sí logramos ver ballenas, pero fue exactamente igual que con todos los demás barcos; no hicieron ningún esfuerzo extra ni ofrecieron algo especial para mejorar la experiencia. En cuanto al snorkel, fue muy decepcionante: aunque pagamos por la actividad, no nos permitieron bajar al agua. Solo nos dejaron observar desde la lancha cómo otros grupos de otros barcos sí snorkelaban, lo cual resulta muy frustrante. Además, nos llevaron a una playa poco atractiva y la lancha iba demasiado llena de personas, lo que hizo el paseo incómodo. En general, no siento que la experiencia haya valido lo que se pagó ni que cumplieran con…”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.3 Hours of Whale Watching in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 17 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $55

Meet at Los Peines marina, board a small boat, and search Bay of Banderas for humpback whales with a whale guide. The trip lasts about three hours, carries up to 18 people, and includes a life vest and water. Bring 39 pesos for the port tax unless arriving by cruise ship.

“Our cruise was later docking than we expected. We were late for our tour and got a call from Viator. They made arrangements for another smaller boat to pick us up with another couple. We were successful being able to find a few whales. We were promised a bottle of water, which would have been very nice. We weren't out 3 hours as we'd hoped for, since thats what we paid for. I was grateful we got to go and that we saw whales. Glad someone on the boat spoke Spanish. We wouldn't have been able to communicate with the Captain.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Whale watching 3 hours in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 17 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $48

Set out from Isla Iguana in Puerto Vallarta on a covered boat with padded benches, a captain, lifejacket, water, and whale guide. The small group is limited to 12, and some trips include Los Arcos for snorkeling. Bring pesos for the port fee and warm layers.

“We didn’t see many whales but the tour guide was kind enough to take us to the Los Arcos for Snorkelling! Heads up to wear your swimsuits and bring towels! The Guide also didn’t speak very much English but it didn’t affect the ability to enjoy the tour. There is also an additional $39.00 Peso Port Charge so I’d recommend coming with $40 Pesos for that as the exchange rates from USD or CAD is poor. Overall I recommend and would take this tour again, but I believe the tips above will make it more enjoyable”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Private Tour 3 Hours of Whale Watching

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Join a private three-hour boat trip from Los Peines dock into Banderas Bay. Captain Luis has helped families find whales, dolphins, and turtles, while a covered boat, onboard cooler, and bring-your-own food and drinks make the outing comfortable. English service is offered, though guide availability may vary.

“We had a great time on this experience. We were glad to learn that there was a cover on the boat so we were not in full sun all day. Our captain helped us find lots of whales!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.3 hours private snorkeling tour in Misaloya, Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

Take a private three-hour boat trip from the Los Muertos Dock area to Parque Nacional Marino Los Arcos de Mismaloya. You will circle the islands, look for blue-footed boobies, and snorkel with provided gear and a life vest. The boat returns to its starting point.

“The location was very very difficult to find on Apple Maps. In addition, we were not told that we needed to buy passshe onto the dock in the harbor which delayed us further. Lastly, the tour mentioned English speaking tour guide but that wasn’t really true. Boat driver was VERY nice but we couldn’t communicate very well. But it was a Good plan for someone that only wanted three hour experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review