Destination Puerto Vallarta: 3 Awesome Excursions

On your timeshare resort vacation in Puerto Vallarta, there’s loads more to do than loll around at the beach, sip drinks poolside, or watch the pretty sunsets over Banderas Bay. In fact, there are so many different day tours and excursions, it would be easy to fill each day with some sort of adventure: snorkeling trips, ATV tours, horseback rides, bar crawls, deep-sea fishing and much more.

Here are three of the most popular excursions that visitors enjoy in Puerto Vallarta:

1. Los Veranos Canopy Tour
While there are a handful of different zipline adventures in the area, this one through an ecological preserve is by far the most popular. You’ll fly across 14 different ziplines through the jungle - the total distance covered is 2 miles. Reach speeds of up to 30 miles an hour, and criss-cross up to 500 feet above the Orquidias River.

Safety precautions are numerous, with an extra caribiner attached to your harness for each run. All you have to do is let the experienced staff click you into the cable, sit back and hold on. Photographers and videographers are on hand to capture all the action. End the tour with a refreshing soft drink or beer from the bar. Check out the resident snakes, monkeys and tarantulas, too.

2. Snorkeling & Yelapa Tour by Sailboat
Again, many different outfitters offer day trips to Yelapa, a remote beach community on the Bay of Banderas that is only accessible by boat. You can snorkel from a big catamaran on your way to Yelapa, or simply take a water taxi directly to the rustic town.

But one ultra-fun way to enjoy a day trip to Yelapa is by sailboat. Pegaso Chartering offers trips on an intimate boat, with a wonderfully friendly crew that knows so much about the area. When you stop to snorkel, your guide will help you spot everything from puffer fish to lobster to eels.

At Yelapa, you’ll take a guided walk to a waterfall, enjoy a casual lunch on the beach (don’t miss an incredibly decadent piece of pie from the roving “pie lady”), and some time to play in the waves.

3. Swim with the Dolphins
At the Sea Life Park by Dolphin Discovery in Nuevo Vallarta (a 30-minute taxi ride from P.V.), you get free entrance to the water park with any purchase of a “dolphin encounter.” These range from simply getting in the water with the gentle creatures for some photo opportunities to getting a ride from two dolphins by hanging on to their fins. Then there’s the “foot push” where you sail like Superman through the water while standing on a dolphin’s snout. You can also interact with sea lions.

The water park features a toboggan-style ride, curving water slides, a lazy river and children’s area.

Indeed, these tours are pricey. But here’s the deal: if you’re staying at a timeshare resort, you can stock up on groceries at the local supermarket and save money by eating breakfast and lunch in your condominium’s kitchen. Take those dollars that you’re not spending on restaurant meals and put them toward some incredible, memory-making experiences!

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