The 14 Evening Experiences in Puerto Vallarta That Earn Their Price

1.Rhythms of the night, Sunset Cruise, Candlelit Dinner & Alma Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,667 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) Our pick

Sail from Puerto Vallarta to Las Caletas for a sunset cruise, candlelit international buffet, open bar, and a large outdoor show with music, dance, acrobatics, and fire performers. The evening lasts about five hours and includes standard seating, but expect extra port and island fees.

“Everything was wonderful. A lot of people at the show, but it was very organized going from the show to dinner. The show was incredible, felt like I was in Disney World. Highlight of our vacation!”

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2.Taco Adventure Evening Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 934 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $55Best value

Start at 5:30 pm in Zona Romántica and walk north through Emiliano Zapata and 5 de Diciembre with a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Joana, Maho, Manuel, and Fernanda explain local food traditions while you sample seafood tacos, marlin, al pastor, sweets, and an agave cocktail.

“We had a lovely evening (despite pouring rain) with Sylvia! Appreciated her knowledge of local food, and especially appreciated the experience of some of the street stands. She even recommended places for us to eat for our remaining days.”

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3.Puerto Vallarta, Luxury Sunset Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 415 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend about three hours sailing Banderas Bay aboard a premium Beneteau catamaran, or a 50-foot sailboat depending on the departure. Expect wine, an open bar, imported cheese, bruschetta, guacamole, and sunset views near Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon. Captain Sergio and Captain Ruben have earned special praise.

“The crew was excellent and the whole experience overall was professional and the boat was new and clean. Well worth the trip.”

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4.Bioluminescence & sunset local boat tour to Los Arcos Sanctuary

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 327 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $83

Ride from Zona Romántica to Los Arcos with guides such as Alex or Victor, watch the sunset, learn about the marine sanctuary, then swim among glowing plankton after dark. The best display comes in the water, especially on a moonless night. Snorkel gear, life vests, towels, and water are provided.

“That was awesome! Alex was a fantastic guide! Our boat ride was interesting, with ops for sunset photos, info on local marine life and what creates the bioluminescence. Getting I the water and experiencing the bioluminescence is an experience like no other!”

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5.Puerto Vallarta Rhythms of the night, Show & Buffet dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 219 reviews · 5 hours · from $129

Cruise at sunset from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta to Las Caletas, a boat-only beach setting. Enjoy a candlelit buffet, drinks, and a jungle amphitheater show built around the legend of the Five Suns, with music, acrobatics, dance, and special effects.

“The rhythm of the night was fantastic as it is first time for us to experience something like this, including food, alcohol, and the transportation from the shore to the island. Coming from Canada, which was -3°C during the time when we were traveling, this experience was beautiful & we were also celebrating our second engagement anniversary anniversary on this night. The people, tour guide and all the people who ever took apart for the rhythm of the night show where fantastic and kudos to the entire team for putting up such a show! Even when we were travelling on the boat boat two and throw they were a group…”

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6.Sunset and Bioluminescence Boat Tour at Los Arcos Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 102 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $79

Cruise from Mismaloya to Los Arcos for sunset, then snorkel in dark caves as glowing plankton flicker around you. Guides such as Gabriel, Alexis, Efraim, and Ivan lead the outing, with gear, snacks, drinks, and shared transport included.

“First, they pick you up at a gas station in a van with seatbelts that don’t work. Then we drove to a very sketchy neighborhood and got on a small sketchy boat. Our guide was very nice and helpful. The bioluminescence was cool but the snorkel masks they provided smelled of gasoline and the bite piece was mostly chewed off. To top it all off the van that was to take us back to the sketchy gas station wasn’t there when we got back. I asked when it would be there and was told “any minute”. Forty minutes later it still was there. I don’t appreciate being lied to. They…”

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7.Mega Yacht Whale Watching Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 94 reviews · 3 hours · from $87

Spend three hours aboard Chica Locca’s roomy mega yacht in Puerto Vallarta’s Bay of Banderas. Guides such as Isai and Isaiah explain the whales, while Captain Nick helps find them. Expect premium drinks, guacamole, snacks, music, sunset views, and a city-light return cruise.

“Perfect combination of a sunset cruise and viewing whales! We saw several, learned a lot from the crew and there were cocktails and guacamole too-really fun! The boat is large and nice bathrooms, I would highly recommend this tour!”

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8.Bay of Banderas Luxury Sunset Sailing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 30 reviews · 3 hours · from $99

Spend three hours sailing Puerto Vallarta’s Bay of Banderas aboard a luxury monohull or catamaran. Your English- or Spanish-speaking crew serves an open bar and hors d’oeuvres while you watch the coast turn gold. Reuben and the crew have earned praise for friendly service and well-timed sunset photos.

“Everything was excellent - the yacht, the weather, the drinks, and the charcuterie. We really enjoyed it, and we highly recommend it. The captain and crew were friendly, and they kept the drinks flowing. We positioned for fabulous sunset pictures and took advantage!”

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9.Tequila and Tacos Sunset Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $79

Ride with an English-speaking guide such as Erik, Edgar, or Homer from the Malecon through central Puerto Vallarta, stopping for six food tastings and four cocktails. Expect local tacos, craft beer, mezcal, raicilla, and a small group of no more than six people.

“We had a FANTASTIC experience with Homer. He was very knowledgeable, showed us spots in town we had not seen before, the food was great, and he was super conscious of safety in riding the bikes through downtown PV. A 5-star experience -- we felt like true VIPs since we were the only ones on the tour that day. Highly recommend! This is the second tour we've taken with this company and have been really pleased.”

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10.Private Luxury Yacht Sunset Cruise with Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $810

Sail privately from Marina Vallarta to Los Arcos and back in about three hours. Captain Philip, Captain Carlos, Ernesto, Nico, and Victor have all been praised for attentive service. Expect a clean yacht, open bar, charcuterie, city lights, and possible whale sightings.

“We had a great experience with Phillip and the crew despite some mediocre weather. They were attentive and the food and beverage service was excellent. Highly recommend for large groups and great service. The boat was very well kept and clean. No complaints!”

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11.Private Sunset Sailing Cruise in Puerto Vallarta

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)

Sail privately from Marina Vallarta for about three and a half hours with a crew that may include Ricky, Angel, Jorge, or Papacito. Expect Sierra Madre and downtown views, drinks, snacks, a restroom on board, and a sunset finale. The cruise returns to the marina.

“This boat trip was worth every penny. Ricky (Papacito) and his crew took excellent care of us. If you want a relaxing sailboat ride along the coast, relaxing, taking in the views, with an incredible sunset, I couldn’t recommend this trip more.”

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12.Gay Luxury Sunset Cruise with Premium Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $139

Cruise Puerto Vallarta’s Bay of Banderas aboard the gay-owned 48-foot yacht Escándalo. You’ll get a welcome cocktail, premium open bar, fresh hors d’oeuvres, WiFi, music, and three hours of sunset views with an LGBT+ friendly group of up to 15 people.

“This was a fantastic sunset cruise and the highlight of our vacation. We've been on many other day cruises and this was by far the best. The owner, captain, and crew were outstanding and extremely attentive. The drinks and hors d’oeuvres were delicious. We saw several whale breaches and a big variety of birds. The sunset was beautiful. The tour guide was very experienced and knowledgeable about everything we saw. We had a great time and learned a lot about the area and nature.”

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13.2 Hours Catamaran Sunset Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $99

Sail from Nuevo Vallarta at 5:00 pm on a spacious catamaran along Puerto Vallarta’s coast. You’ll have an international bar, vegan ceviche, dips, tapas, pesto pasta, and possibly live saxophone as the sky changes color. The boat returns to the Paradise Village pier.

“Fantastic cruise, friendly staff, open bar was great. Don’t do this for the Food ( I’d say it was a 3 out of 10 ), but everything else was fantastic. Being here in January, we saw lots and lots of whales, fairly close by, for at least half the cruise. Awesome experience!”

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14.Sea turtle release at Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 2 hours · from $87

Meet at Ecotours Vallarta for a two-hour, small-group visit to a sea turtle camp. Guides including Maggie, Michael, and Margarita have led warm, informative outings with sunset views, hatchling releases, and a short walk over sand and loose gravel.

“Fantastic tour, so glad my daughter and I did it. Maggie is very knowledgeable and made us feel very comfortable. The turtles are adorable and the Sunset is unforgettable. This tour has inspired my eight year old to advocate for our nature and to one day return when she is older to volunteer and help save the turtles.”

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