Puerto Vallarta Best Zipline Canopy + Tequila and Speed Boat Ride

The big draw here is the combination of 19 jungle ziplines, a speedboat ride across Puerto Vallarta Bay, and a finish at a tequila bar beside the Los Horcones River. You are not simply clipped to one cable and sent home. The day moves from sea to mountain road to rainforest, with river swimming and a small animal sanctuary added at the end.

I like the excellent guides, including Pepe, Edgar, Fernando, Chica, Ramon, and Mane, who keep the mood light while taking safety seriously. I also like the generous mix of activities: tequila tasting is included, and you can swim, kayak, use the waterslides, or visit the animals after the main course.

The catch is the physical effort. The ziplines are exciting, but the steep stairs and uphill paths between the first lines are the real workout. Timing can also be loose, so cruise passengers should keep a close eye on the return schedule.

Key points to know before booking

• Nineteen cables over the jungle: The course includes high lines above the river, panoramic views, and a final twin cable where you can race another participant.
• The stairs are harder than the ziplines: Expect steep paths, steps, heat, and humidity. Good shoes and water matter.
• Two ways to reach the site: Choose a speedboat from the port or land transportation from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta.
• A full finish at the river: Swim, kayak, use the waterslides, eat at the restaurant, taste tequila, or see monkeys, boas, toucans, and iguanas.
• Food and photos cost extra: Restaurant portions can be large, while photo packages may feel expensive for some budgets.
• Best for active families and thrill-seekers: The minimum age is five, but everyone needs to manage hills and steps.

From Puerto Vallarta Bay to the Los Horcones River

The tour begins with a choice that changes the feel of the day. The speedboat option sends you across the bay toward the rainforest, with city views and the chance to spot sea turtles or whales. The ride can take roughly 45 minutes to an hour, according to the selected route and conditions, and it adds a genuine sense of adventure before you even reach the cables.

The other choice is land transportation from a designated point in Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta. This route still gives you a scenic ride through town and into the mountains. Some of the road travel includes an open-air truck ride toward the forest, which can feel bumpy but is part of the outing.

Read your pickup instructions carefully. The tour offers different departure arrangements, and the boat option requires a $2 port fee, or about 33 pesos, paid at the office. If you are arriving from a cruise ship, allow extra care for ship time and local time. Puerto Vallarta can be an hour different from Mazatlan, and a missed connection can matter more than a missed photo.

The listed meeting point is the Los Veranos Canopy Tour main office on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio. You should arrive 15 minutes before departure. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so check exactly where your selected transportation begins.

The rainforest course, with 19 lines and plenty of stairs

After transport, guides explain the course, safety rules, and basic zipline technique. You receive protective gear, then walk uphill to the first platform. This is where the fitness requirement becomes real.

The first several lines require the most uphill walking. Paths have stairs, handrails, and marked routes, but the heat and humidity can make the climbs tiring. One practical tip is to eat a small meal beforehand, drink water early, and wear shoes with a solid grip. Sandals are a poor choice.

Once you are on the cables, the reward comes quickly. Lines stretch above the jungle and river, giving you broad views through the trees. Each line offers a slightly different ride, and the course lets you spend substantial time in the air rather than treating ziplining as a single short thrill.

The guides handle the connections and keep the group moving. Names repeatedly associated with especially warm service include Pepe, Edgar, Fernando, Chica, Ramon, and Mane. The strongest part of their work is not only the jokes. It is the way they help nervous participants settle in, explain the equipment, and offer encouragement when someone needs extra confidence.

Children can take part from age five if they meet the height requirement of at least 40 inches. The staff has helped young children manage the course, but age alone does not tell you if the outing is suitable. A child must still cope with stairs, heat, waiting, and the height of the platforms.

The final line uses twin cables, so you can race a partner to the finish. The course ends near the tequila bar and restaurant, giving the last ride a fun sense of arrival. You may also see a photographer capturing action shots along the way. These pictures can be useful if you do not want to carry a phone, but photo packages have been described as costly, with prices around $70 to $90 in some cases.

Tequila tasting beside the river

The tequila tasting is included, and it is more than a quick drink handed over at the exit. It gives you a chance to try traditional tequila and relax after the physical part of the tour. If you enjoy tequila, this is a pleasant cultural touch. If you do not drink, the activity still has value as a calm transition before the water activities.

Margaritas and other drinks cost extra. The restaurant also sells lunch, with choices such as avocado salad, chicken, steak, or shrimp fajitas, pizza, and warm apple cake with vanilla ice cream.

I would not build your budget around the meal being a bargain. The food has received mixed reactions, though several people found it good and appreciated the riverside setting. Portions can be very large, especially the fajitas, and may be enough for two people. You can also find the food expensive for what it is, so a light order or shared main course makes sense.

Vegetarian and vegan needs can be accommodated, but you should raise the issue with staff. The important point is that lunch is optional, not part of the $120 price. Bring a card or extra cash for food, drinks, souvenirs, and photos.

Swimming, kayaking, waterslides, and animals

After the cables, the tour becomes much less demanding. The river area has natural pools, waterslides, kayaks, and other water activities, weather permitting. This is one of the best reasons to bring a swimsuit and towel. The cool water feels especially welcome after the uphill paths.

The timing here deserves attention. A five-hour tour may include transportation, safety instruction, ziplining, lunch, tequila, and the river area, so you might not have unlimited time for every activity. Some schedules keep you at the property longer than expected, while others can feel rushed at the tasting or water stop. If you have a dinner reservation or ship departure, ask the staff about the return time early in the day.

The small menagerie adds another option. You can see squirrel monkeys, marmosets, coatimundis, boa constrictors, toucans, and iguanas. For families, this gives younger children something to enjoy if they are tired of the cables. For adults, it is a pleasant extra, though it should not be mistaken for a full wildlife sanctuary visit.

The setting is the real attraction here. The river, trees, platforms, and mountain views make the activity feel connected to Puerto Vallarta rather than like an indoor amusement ride. You get a quick look at the region’s plant and animal life while still spending most of the day on active entertainment.

How much value do you get for $120?

At $120 per person, the price is reasonable if you plan to use several parts of the package. Transportation, the zipline course, safety equipment, water stations, tequila tasting, kayaks, waterslides, and river activities are included. The speedboat option adds extra appeal because it turns the transfer into part of the excursion.

The value drops if you only want a short zipline session. You are paying for a half-day outing with transport and facilities, not just airtime. Lunch, cocktails, photos, the port fee for boat departures, and a $2 Puerto Vallarta admission fee are extra.

I see this as a better deal for active families, couples, and friends who will swim, eat, and stay for the full program. It is less appealing for someone who dislikes heights, avoids stairs, or wants a quiet rainforest visit. You should also compare the total cost after adding lunch, drinks, and photos.

Group size can reach 99 people. That does not mean every group will feel that large, and guides work to maintain a steady pace, but a busy day can create waits at platforms and a less personal feel. If you value a quiet small-group experience, ask about expected numbers before booking.

Fitness, clothing, and safety details

Bring comfortable closed-toe shoes, a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a camera with a strap. Do not count on carrying a loose phone safely through every line. If you want your own pictures, use a secure strap and follow the guide’s directions.

You need a moderate level of fitness. The company does not recommend the activity for people over 285 pounds or 129 kilograms, pregnant women, intoxicated people, or anyone with a heart condition, chronic back pain, shoulder problems, or difficulty walking up hills and steps.

Land transportation is suggested for pregnant women, children under five, and people with certain heart, back, or shoulder concerns so they can enjoy other activities. That does not make the zipline course suitable for them, but it may allow access to the non-zipline parts of the property. Confirm arrangements before booking.

The guides appear to take safety seriously and can assist nervous participants, but no guide can remove the need for personal judgment. If stairs are a problem at home, the first part of this course will probably feel harder than expected.

Timing matters, especially for cruise passengers

The advertised duration is about five hours, but transport and group movement can affect the actual day. A delay while collecting other participants, a long restaurant stop, or unclear instructions between activities can add time.

If you are on a cruise, treat the return schedule as a serious planning issue. Tell the staff early if you must leave at a fixed time. Keep your ship’s all-aboard time in mind rather than relying only on the tour’s stated duration.

Follow the color bracelet or transportation instructions and ask where you should go next. Do not assume that the vehicle returning from the rainforest is taking you to the speedboat. Clear questions at each stage can prevent a missed part of the package.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded, and changes are not accepted during that period. Poor weather can lead to a new date or full refund.

Should you book the Los Veranos zipline tour?

I would book this if you want a busy, active Puerto Vallarta day with more than one main attraction. The guides, views, and variety are the strongest reasons to choose it. The speedboat, 19 cables, river swim, tequila tasting, and animal area give you a lot for one half-day booking.

I would skip it if steep stairs, heat, heights, or uncertain timing are deal-breakers. Cruise passengers should confirm the return plan, and budget-minded visitors should remember that food, drinks, photos, and fees can push the final cost above $120.

For the best experience, choose good shoes, bring repellent, hydrate before the first climb, share the large restaurant portions, and save enough time for the river. If that sounds like your kind of vacation day, Los Veranos offers a lively mix of rainforest scenery and old-fashioned physical fun.

FAQ

How long does the Puerto Vallarta zipline tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five hours, depending on your selected pickup point, transportation, group movement, and time spent at the river area or restaurant.

What is included in the $120 price?

The price includes round-trip land or sea transportation, the zipline course, water stations, a traditional tequila tasting, kayaks, waterslides, and river activities when weather permits.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and drinks are purchased separately at the riverside restaurant. Menu options include salad, fajitas, pizza, dessert, and other drinks.

Can I choose a speedboat or land transfer?

Yes. The experience offers a speedboat departure or land transportation from Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta, depending on the option selected during booking.

How many ziplines are included?

The course includes 19 ziplines, with a final twin cable where participants can race another person.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera with a strap, and extra cash or a debit or credit card for food and souvenirs.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The minimum age is five, and children must be at least 40 inches tall. Children also need to manage the steps, uphill paths, heat, and height of the platforms.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted, and poor weather may result in a new date or full refund.