Day 1

Start with a walk along the Isla Cuale and be sure to include the Municipal Crafts Market, Gringo Gulch and Casa Kimberley, and the downtown seafront walkway.

Day 2

Devote your second day to beach exploring. Start at the seafront park just north of the Río Cuale and stroll south along the seashore walkway along Playa los Muertos.

Next, head south by bus (from the corner of Constitución and Basilio Badillo) to Mismaloya or Chino’s Paradise swimming hole waterfall. Enjoy an early dinner and sunset at the John Huston Café (near the Night of the Iguana movie set) or at Le Kliff Restaurant overlooking the ocean, just south of Mismaloya.

Day 3

Take a relaxing day cruise for snorkeling at Los Arcos and a waterfall swim at either Quimixto or Yelapa on the Bay of Banderas’s jungly southern shore. After dinner, do a little nightclub-hopping along the Malecón.

Day 4

After all of the previous activity, it may be best simply to rest for a day. Or if you prefer, head for an out-of-town adventure at Punta Mita or Sayulita village (an hour by bus north of town). There you can stroll, boogie board, and maybe try your hand at surfing.

Day 5

Reserve your last organized day for doing things that particularly interest you. Shoppers may want to stay in town for south-of-Cuale shop-hopping. Lovers of the great outdoors might venture out of town for the unmissable wildlife-viewing La Tovara Jungle River trip near San Blas. To make the round-trip in one day, rent yourself a car or hire a guide.

© Bruce Whipperman from Moon Puerto Vallarta, 7th edition