Home › Puerto Vallarta › How many days
How many days in Puerto Vallarta? 4 days of Malecón, Yelapa and the Marietas
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Puerto Vallarta sits in the middle of the Bahía de Banderas, one of the largest bays in Mexico, with the Sierra Madre jungle rising behind it. Unlike Cancún it is a real old town of cobbled streets, and the best beaches are reached by boat. Give it four days: one in Centro and the Zona Romántica, one on the south shore at Los Arcos and the botanical garden, one by water taxi to Yelapa, and one north to the Marietas Islands and the surf town of Sayulita.
Short answer
Three days covers the old town, Los Arcos and Yelapa. The fourth reaches the northern bay: the Marietas Islands' protected beaches and Sayulita's surf.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Malecón, Centro and the Zona Romántica
Morning. Walk the Malecón, the sea-front promenade, about 1 km of bronze sculptures from the Arcos del Malecón to the Los Muertos end. Visit the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, whose tower is topped by an open crown.
Afternoon. Cross the Río Cuale island with its craft stalls and shaded river, then explore the Zona Romántica (Old Town) and the hillside lanes of Gringo Gulch. Climb the Mirador de la Cruz (about 20 minutes uphill) for the view of the bay.
Evening. Watch the sunset from Los Muertos Pier, then eat street tacos on Basilio Badillo or Olas Altas, where a taco costs MX$25-45.
Most hotels in the Hotel Zone and Marina are 15-30 minutes by bus from the old town; local buses cost about MX$12-15.
Day 2: Los Arcos and the Vallarta Botanical Garden
Morning. Take a boat or kayak to Los Arcos, a national marine park of granite rock arches off Mismaloya, about 12 km south of town (snorkel trips about MX$800-1,500). The water is clear and full of reef fish.
Afternoon. Catch the bus from the corner of Constitución and Basilio Badillo south to the Vallarta Botanical Garden (about MX$250-300), about 45 minutes, with orchids, hummingbirds and a jungle river to swim in.
Evening. Dinner at a beach restaurant in Conchas Chinas, south of the Zona Romántica, or back in the old town.
The botanical garden restaurant, Hacienda Los Mangos, serves good lunch with a view; book a table at weekends.
Day 3: Yelapa by water taxi
Morning. Take a water taxi from Los Muertos Pier or Boca de Tomatlán to Yelapa, a village without road access, about 45 minutes (about MX$500-700 return). Stop at Las Ánimas or Quimixto on the way.
Afternoon. Walk 20-30 minutes up the river to Yelapa waterfall, then swim on the beach. Look for the pie ladies who sell slices of coconut or lime pie on the sand.
Evening. Return by the last water taxi in the late afternoon. Eat pescado zarandeado, butterflied fish grilled over coals, in Vallarta's old town (about MX$300-500 for two).
Water taxis can be wet in the afternoon swell. Keep your phone in a dry bag.
Day 4: Marietas Islands and Sayulita
Morning. Take an early boat from Punta de Mita or Nuevo Vallarta to the Marietas Islands National Park, a bird reserve of blue-footed boobies. Access to the Playa del Amor (Hidden Beach) is limited each day and requires a permit through a licensed tour; the park closes on some days.
Afternoon. Continue to Sayulita, a colourful surf town about 1 hour north of Puerto Vallarta by bus. Take a beginner surf lesson (about MX$800-1,200), or walk to the cemetery beach of Playa de los Muertos.
Evening. Eat fish tacos at a stall on the plaza, then return by bus or Uber.
On weekends Sayulita's beach is crowded; quieter San Pancho is 10 minutes north.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1 to 3, and see Sayulita as an evening trip on Day 1 or 2.
Got extra days?
Add a day in the mountain town of San Sebastián del Oeste, an old silver mining village about 2 hours east; a whale-watching trip from December to March; or a stay in the quieter beaches of Bucerías and Punta de Mita.
Where to stay in Puerto Vallarta
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Zona Romántica guesthouses | Walk to the beach, bars and the pier. | MX$900-1,600 |
| Mid-range | Zona Romántica beach hotels | Walk to everything in the old town, near water taxis. | MX$2,000-3,500 |
| Mid-range | Hotel Zone / Marina Vallarta | Large resorts with pools, closer to the airport. | MX$2,200-4,000 |
| Comfort | Conchas Chinas / Mismaloya | Cliffside villas and resorts with sea views. | MX$6,000-15,000 |
Getting around
Walk the old town. City buses cost about MX$12-15; routes to the south and north beaches leave from Centro. Uber works in town; airport taxis are more expensive. From the airport, Uber is about MX$150-250 to the Zona Romántica, or walk across the bridge to the street for cheaper buses. Water taxis reach the southern beaches; buses to Sayulita take about 1 hour (about MX$50-60).
What to eat in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta has some of the best food on Mexico's Pacific coast. Eat pescado zarandeado, marlin tacos, ceviche and aguachile (shrimp in lime and chilli). Jalisco is the home of birria (spiced goat or beef stew) and tequila; also try raicilla, a local agave spirit. Street tacos cost MX$25-45; a seafood restaurant dinner is MX$400-800 per person. Many restaurants in the Zona Romántica are run by chefs who trained abroad, with set menus around MX$800-1,500.
Best time to visit
November to April is dry and sunny at 28-31°C, with humpback whales in the bay from December to March. May to October is hot and humid, often 32-34°C, with tropical rain and hurricane risk from August to October. Easter week and Christmas are busiest.
Month-by-month weather for Puerto Vallarta →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | MX$600 | MX$1,400 | MX$4,000 |
| Food & drink | MX$500 | MX$1,000 | MX$2,000 |
| Sights & tickets | MX$200 | MX$700 | MX$1,500 |
| Local transport | MX$100 | MX$300 | MX$600 |
| Total per person, per day | about MX$1,400 | about MX$3,400 | about MX$8,100 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Mexican pesos. Hotels add 16% VAT and a Jalisco state lodging tax of a few percent on top of the quoted rate.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Puerto Vallarta safe?
Puerto Vallarta is one of the safer destinations in Mexico, and the old town and beaches are busy with families and visitors. Use common sense at night, take licensed taxis or Uber, and do not buy drugs. Check your government's advice for the state of Jalisco, as some inland areas have higher risk.
Can I swim at the Hidden Beach of the Marietas Islands?
Yes, but numbers are limited each day to protect the islands, and you must go with a licensed tour. Swimmers reach the beach through a short tunnel at low tide, wearing a lifejacket. The park closes on some days each week and in bad weather, so book ahead.
When can I see whales?
Humpback whales visit the Bahía de Banderas from about December to March to breed and give birth. Whale-watching boats leave from the Marina, Nuevo Vallarta and Punta de Mita and cost about MX$1,500-2,500 per person. Sightings are almost guaranteed in January and February.
Is tap water safe in Puerto Vallarta?
The city's water is treated to drinking standard and has won certification, but pipes in older buildings may not be clean. Most visitors drink bottled or filtered water, which hotels and restaurants provide. Ice in restaurants is usually made from purified water.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan may earn a commission; the price you pay is the same. How we make money.