Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Puerto Vallarta?
Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Puerto Vallarta?
Many visitors spend three to five days in Puerto Vallarta during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This town offers a number of attractions to explore, including scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife.
Puerto Vallarta is a popular resort town on the Pacific side of Mexico. It' has beautiful beaches and a range of outdoor adventure sports. People enjoy the charming center and the colorful restaurants. There's also a great nightlife scene.
Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Puerto Vallarta? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is 3 days enough time in Puerto Vallarta?
With only three days, you might feel a bit pressed for time to enjoy the beach and the other activities in this town. After all, The popular town of Puerto Vallarta has many activities and attractions for visitors. To fully embrace Puerto Vallarta, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate three to five days to go scuba diving or snorkeling, relax at the beach, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and enjoy an evening out. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.
How to spend 3 days in Puerto Vallarta
Scuba diving and snorkeling around Puerto Vallarta is very popular. Spend the day exploring the beauty of the surrounding underwater world. Divers in the area may get to experience once in a lifetime opportunities like diving with manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks, hammerheads, or schools of jacks.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Los Arcos Snorkeling Puerto Vallarta ($79)
- Discover Scuba Diving Program ($162)
- Hiking in the Mountain and snorkeling at Colomitos ($87)
You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this town, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. The charming character combined with the authentic local cuisine makes for a wonderful culinary experience. There's everything from taco stands to romantic restaurants that you can try.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Downtown Puerto Vallarta Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours ($59)
- Taste of Pitillal Food Tour by Vallarta Food Tours ($55)
- Taco Adventure Evening Food Tour with Vallarta Food Tours ($55)
Puerto Vallarta is a very walkable city. With only a day in the town, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. There are several walkable neighborhoods in town such as 5 de Diciembre, el Centro, and Zona Romantica.
The beautiful beaches await you in Puerto Vallarta, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There are many beaches spread out around town that have soft sand and blue water. Most have all of the amenities you could need. Popular beaches include Playa de los Muertos, Playa Mismaloya, and Playa Conchas Chinas.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Fun 2 hr Surf Lessons in Punta de Mita ($150)
- Natural Route, Hiking, Snorkeling and Boat Ride ($55)
- Private Boat Tour to Yelapa with Snorkeling and Waterfall Hike ($220)
This town is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. You'll find a mix of active clubs, cozy bars, and cosmopolitan cafes. Head to the Romantic Zone or Los Muertos Beach for some of the best places.
Public transit in Puerto Vallarta is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the town quite easily. There are blue, green or orange buses that travel around town.
Shopping in Puerto Vallarta is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. There's a mix of shopping malls, open-air markets, boutiques, and international brands.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pitillal food & Shopping Adventure ($50)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Puerto Vallarta.
Is 4 days enough time in Puerto Vallarta?
Four days for Puerto Vallarta is often considered ideal, as many people spend three to five days for a beach trip to the area. This would usually give you enough time to go scuba diving or snorkeling, relax at the beach, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and enjoy an evening out. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your adventure.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
How to spend 4 days in Puerto Vallarta
With 4 days in Puerto Vallarta, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.
Perhaps the most famous place in Puerto Vallarta is the Malecon, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
Is 5 days enough time in Puerto Vallarta?
Five days provides ample opportunity in Puerto Vallarta to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling, the beaches, the restaurant scene, and the nightlife. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options. We have some suggestions below for your trip. Families, couples, and backpackers enjoy the area for its activities, too.
How to spend 5 days in Puerto Vallarta
If you have more than 5 days in Puerto Vallarta, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the town has to offer.
This town offers some good museums and historic landmarks, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. Pick the ones that appeal to you the most and get started. There are a number of historical sights around town like Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Admission Arte Vallarta Museum ($6)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Puerto Vallarta.
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Puerto Vallarta, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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