Puerto Vallarta doesn't need much of an introduction. The moment you step off the plane, you feel it — the warm Pacific air, the smell of street tacos drifting from somewhere nearby, and that unmistakable sense that you've landed somewhere genuinely special. This city has been drawing travelers for decades, and honestly, it's not hard to see why.
Whether you're planning a week-long family trip, a romantic escape, or a solo adventure, the things to do in Puerto Vallarta are so varied that no two visits ever look the same. Beaches, mountains, world-class food, ocean adventures, and a cultural scene that actually has depth — it's all here.
And when you come home from a full day of exploring, you want somewhere worth coming back to. That's where The Strand House fits in — a luxury oceanfront vacation rental that treats a good night's sleep as seriously as the best restaurants in town treat a good meal.
Here's everything worth knowing before you go.
1. Spend Time on the Beaches (Seriously, Don't Rush This)
It sounds obvious, but one of the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta is simply finding a good stretch of beach and staying there longer than you planned.
Playa Los Muertos is the most well-known — lively, easy to reach from the Romantic Zone, with vendors, beach clubs, and plenty of activity. If that's too busy for you, Conchas Chinas sits a short drive Southern California oceanfront house rental and draws a quieter crowd. Playa Gemelas is another solid pick, with calmer water that's better for swimming with kids.
A few practical things nobody tells you before you go:
- Arrive before 10 a.m. if you want shade and space, especially on weekends
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen — local vendors sell it, but it's cheaper to bring your own
- The beach vendors selling coconuts and cold drinks are worth it; the ones selling tchotchkes are more negotiable
After a full day in the sun, The Strand House gives you exactly what you need — a cool, spacious interior, a comfortable bed, and ocean views that don't stop at the waterline.
2. Get in the Water (Beyond Just Swimming)
Puerto Vallarta's coastline rewards people who go a little deeper — literally.
Los Arcos Marine Park, about 12 km south of the city, is one of the better snorkeling spots on Mexico's Pacific coast. The rock formations create natural arches and underwater caves that shelter sea turtles, rays, and dozens of fish species. You can book a boat tour or, if you're comfortable in open water, rent gear and get there independently.
Deep-sea fishing is taken seriously here. Marlin, sailfish, dorado, and yellowfin tuna are all catchable depending on the season, and several outfitters run half-day or full-day charters out of the marina. It's not cheap, but for serious anglers, it's one of the most memorable things to do in Puerto Vallarta — full stop.
Other water activities worth booking:
- Paddleboarding and kayaking along calmer bays like Mismaloya
- Whale watching — humpbacks migrate through Banderas Bay from December through March, and the sightings are genuinely impressive
- Sunset sailing cruises — some include open bar and dinner; others are smaller and quieter. Both have their appeal.
After a day on the water, the Strand House's outdoor space and ocean-view living area feel especially earned.
3. Walk the Malecón (Morning or Evening — Both Work)
The Malecón is Puerto Vallarta's main boardwalk, running along the waterfront through the city center. It's free, it's walkable, and it gives you a real sense of how the city actually functions — not just how it looks in photos.
You'll find bronze sculptures scattered along the promenade (the "Lady of the Sea" and the "Seahorse" are the most photographed), street performers, local artists selling work, and a parade of restaurants and cafes facing the water. In the evenings, it fills up —Family-friendly beach house rental everyone moves at a relaxed pace.
Go in the morning if you want it quieter. Go in the evening if you want the full atmosphere.
The blocks just behind the Malecón — particularly around the Romantic Zone and Colonia Emiliano Zapata — are where a lot of the better restaurants and independent shops have opened in recent years. Worth wandering.
4. Eat Well (Puerto Vallarta Makes This Easy)
Food is one of the most genuinely rewarding things to do in Puerto Vallarta, and the city takes it seriously at every price point.
Fish tacos done right — grilled or battered, with fresh salsa and a squeeze of lime — are available everywhere, but the quality varies. Ask locals where they eat rather than defaulting to the spots with the most signage in English. Shrimp ceviche at a good seafood place near the waterfront is worth seeking out, and the birria tacos available from street vendors in the evenings are some of the best you'll find anywhere in Mexico.
On the higher end, Puerto Vallarta has developed a real fine dining scene over the past decade. A few spots are worth a special night out — restaurants like Café des Artistes and Tintoque have strong reputations and are worth booking ahead.
Back at The Strand House, the fully equipped kitchen means you're not locked into eating out every meal. A morning run to the local market for fresh produce, and you've got the makings of a genuinely good home-cooked breakfast with an ocean view. Sometimes that's the better call.
5. Go Into the Mountains (Puerto Vallarta Isn't Just a Beach Town)
Most people don't know this before they arrive, but the things to do in Puerto Vallarta sit right behind Puerto Vallarta, and they're accessible within 30–45 minutes from the city.
This is where the outdoor adventurers in the group tend to disappear for a day:
- Ziplining through jungle canopy — several operators run tours, and the lines are longer and faster than you'd expect
- ATV excursions on mountain and jungle trails
- Hiking on marked trails with views back toward the bay
- Wildlife watching — the area around the mountains supports a range of species, including tropical birds that birding enthusiasts specifically travel here to see
If you have kids, the Marietas Islands (accessible by boat) offer a different kind of outdoor experience — including a famous hidden beach inside a collapsed volcanic crater that requires swimming through a tunnel to reach. It requires advance permits, but it's one of the most unusual natural sites in Mexico.
Coming back to the Strand House after a day like that — the air conditioning, the comfortable living spaces, the option to just sit and watch the water — feels exactly right.
6. Explore Puerto Vallarta's Cultural Side
Puerto Vallarta has a genuine arts scene, and it's worth spending a few hours in it rather than just passing through.
The Romantic Zone (Zona Romántica) is home to galleries, independent boutiques, and some of the city's most interesting architecture. The things to do in Puerto Vallarta in the center of town is the most recognized landmark in the city — the crown-topped tower shows up in almost every photograph of Puerto Vallarta's skyline, and it's worth going inside.
The Wednesday and Saturday Art Walks (typically running November through April) take you through the galleries of the Romantic Zone with artists in attendance. It's a good way to spend an evening and pick up something to bring home that isn't a magnet.
The Mercado Municipal near the Malecón is where locals shop — produce, meat, spices, and a food section in the back that operates as an informal lunch spot. It's not polished, but it's real.
7. Puerto Vallarta After Dark
Nightlife is one of the more talked-about things to do in Puerto Vallarta, and the city handles it well across different styles.
The Malecón area gets lively after 9 p.m., with bars and clubs that stay open well past midnight. The Romantic Zone has a bar scene with more of a neighborhood feel — smaller spots, good cocktails, a mix of locals and visitors. If you want somewhere louder and bigger, the club district delivers that too.
For something lower-key: a sunset dinner at a restaurant with ocean views, then a walk back along the boardwalk. Puerto Vallarta at night along the waterfront is genuinely pleasant in a way that doesn't require a cover charge.
Stay at The Strand House — What You Actually Get
Finding the right place to stay changes a vacation. A bad rental makes you reluctant to go back at the end of the day; a good one makes you want to linger.
The Strand House is a luxury oceanfront vacation rental built for people who take their downtime seriously. Here's what the property includes:
- 3 bedrooms sleeping up to 6 guests
- 2 designer bathrooms
- Open-concept living areas with floor-to-ceiling ocean-view windows
- Fully equipped gourmet kitchen — everything you need to cook a real meal
- Parking with EV charger
- Communal pool access
- High-speed internet
- Pet-friendly accommodations — your dog comes with you
- Television, satellite TV, video library, games, and entertainment
- Towels, linens, heating, and A/C — all taken care of
It works for families, for couples, for groups of friends. The layout gives people space to be together without being on top of each other, which matters more than it sounds after day three of a vacation.
Practical Tips Before You Go
A few things worth knowing that don't fit neatly anywhere else:
Best time to visit: November through April is dry season and the most popular window. May through October brings more rain and humidity but also fewer crowds and lower prices. Whale watching is only available December through March.
Getting around: Taxis and rideshare apps (Uber operates in Puerto Vallarta) are the easiest options. Renting a car gives you flexibility for day trips but isn't necessary if you're staying centrally.
Safety: Puerto Vallarta is generally considered one of Mexico's safer tourist destinations. Stick to well-trafficked areas at night and use the same common sense you would in any city.
Currency: Pesos are preferred almost everywhere, and cash is useful for street food, markets, and tips. ATMs are widely available.
The Short Version
There are genuinely excellent things to do in Puerto Vallarta at every pace and every budget — from hiking in the Sierra Madre to sitting on a quiet beach doing absolutely nothing, from fine dining to a $2 street taco that you'll think about for weeks afterward.
The city rewards people who go slowly and actually pay attention to where they are.
The Strand House is where you recover, recharge, and return to the next morning ready to do it again. It's not just accommodation — it's the part of the trip you look forward to coming back to.
