This post was written by Steffan and Emma from the travel blog InWanderment!
Sitting on the West Coast of Mexico in the state of Jalisco, the colorful city of Puerto Vallarta is a popular holiday and expat destination.
Brimming with cosmopolitan cafes, famed for its vibrant nightlife and surrounded by beautiful beaches and epic landscapes, it was easy for us to see why so many people flock here each year.
However, if you are planning on spending an extended amount of time in the city, and you are keen to spread your wings and explore what the towns near Puerto Vallarta have to offer, then this article is for you.
Having been lucky enough to spend 6 months in Puerto Vallarta, we had the pleasure of visiting some incredible surrounding towns just a short distance away and whilst they are all distinctly different, they are all worth a visit.
In this article, we will provide a rundown of 9 of the most beautiful towns to visit from Puerto Vallarta, highlight what to expect, how far from the city they are and the top three things to do!
BEST TOWNS TO VISIT NEAR PUERTO VALLARTA
Bucerias
Bucerias is a small beach town just 30 minutes North of Puerto Vallarta and is one of the closest towns to visit from Puerto Vallarta.
It’s considerably smaller than the city and has a much more chilled atmosphere with cobbled stone streets, colorful flags and its quiet 8km sandy beach. Popular with its expat community, Bucerias is full of restaurants, from relaxed taco stands to rooftop steak houses with sunset views.
There’s a popular market to explore, a vibrant art walk and even walking the town had us taking so many photographs of the colorful buildings!
Top 3 things to do in Bucerias
Horseback riding on the beaches – Bucerias is home to many traditional horse ranches and the ranch owners are often on the beach throughout the day with their horses providing rides. If the beach isn’t your thing, you can arrange horse ride excursions in the surrounding areas.
Explore the markets – From colorful trinkets to handmade bags and fruits and veggies, Bucerias Market has it all!
Boogie boarding in the ocean – The waves in Bucerias are not quite large enough to surf, but big enough to have some fun for a few hours on a bodyboard (boogie board). These can be bought or rented on the beach.
Best for: Chilled days exploring the markets and beaches with a slap-up meal
Sayulita
Sayulita is one of the most colorful beach towns near Puerto Vallarta and is also a Pueblo Mágico. Popular with surfers, digital nomads and yoga lovers.
Once a small fishing village, Sayulita has grown in popularity and is now packed full of cute cafes, incredible street art and inviting bars and clubs.
But if you look a little further past the initial hustle and bustle of the center you will find hidden beaches and epic hikes!
Sayulita is just over an hour from the city of Puerto Vallarta and is easily accessible by car or public transport.
It has a constant fiesta vibe without being overbearing, with colorful flags blowing in the wind, live music often playing in the streets and friendly market vendors selling artisan crafts.
Top Three Things to do in Sayulita
Hiking – Sayulita is home to one of the most beautiful and well-known hikes in the area, Monkey Mountain! Offering a 360-degree panoramic view of Sayulita and the Mexican coastline and being nothing short of magical at both sunrise and sunset, Monkey Mountain is a nature lovers paradise!
Whilst you can hire a guide or book a tour to hike Monkey Mountain, we did the hike three times on our own and had no issues finding our way.
Exploring hidden beaches – Whilst Sayulita beach is the most popular in the town as it boasts epic waves and rows upon rows of comfy sun loungers, we couldn’t believe how many hidden beaches we found with no one else on them!
Playa Patzcuaro beach is just a five-minute drive from Sayulita and is the most beautiful beach we found in our 6 months in Mexico, with gorgeous views of Monkey Mountain in the distance. Sure there are no vendors or sun loungers, but you might just get this hidden gem all to yourselves!
Another beautiful lesser-known beach which is within walking distance from Sayulita Centre is Playa Malpaso which requires a 20-minute walk through the jungle on a well-marked path to get there. The trail can be found on the free version of all trails.
Best for: Surfing, hiking and hidden beaches!
Boca De Tomatlan
Boca de Tomatlan is a small picture-perfect fishing village to the south of the city and is our favorite town to visit from Puerto Vallarta. We instantly fell in love with this town’s relaxed vibe, stunning landscapes and charming eateries.
Boca de Tomatlan is a very small village, but its beauty packs a punch! The bay is surrounded by lush green mountains, home to huge numbers of tropical birds and herons!
Dotted with colorful fishing boats and wooden hanging bridges, this quaint fishing village is just 20 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta.
Top 3 Things to Do in Boca de Tomatlan
Nature Hikes – Boca de Tomatlan is home to the start of one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the area. Taking you to the neighboring secluded beach of Playa Las Animas. This was our favorite hike on the West Coast of Mexico as it passes several hidden beaches that you can only access by foot or boat. It has gorgeous coastal scenery and lots of coco frios on the way to stop and refresh yourself. Make sure to pack your swimsuit so you can cool off in the ocean at one of the gorgeous sandy beaches along the way!
Have a coffee at the water’s edge – It sounds simple but people-watching whilst drinking a coffee was our favorite thing to do in Boca de Tomatlan. Boca has retained its authenticity as a Mexican fishing village and whilst there are cafes and a handful of restaurants, it’s not as popular with the crowds. Sitting watching the fisherman come and go and the pelicans diving head first into the sea to catch their lunch was our favorite thing to do!
Catch a boat to Yelapa – Boca De Tomatlan is another jumping-off point to access the popular beach town of Yelapa and whilst you can get the water taxi from Puerto Vallarta, it is cheaper from this little fishing village.
Best for: Chilled afternoons and hidden beach walks along the coast
Mismaloya
If Boca De Tomatlan is a place of calm and tranquillity, Mismaloya is quite the opposite.
Packed with ATV trails, zipline parks and nature trails, Mismaloya is the perfect place to connect nature with adrenaline! Home to the original movie set where the Hollywood movie “Predator” was filmed, Mismaloya is the perfect town to visit for an adventure day.
Mismaloya is located just 40 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta accessed by one main road and has plenty of public transport options as well as parking at the main sights.
Whilst surrounded by nature and a stunning area, Mismaloya is brimming with adventure.
Top 3 Things to do in Mismaloya
El Eden – We are not big adrenaline junkies, but we did visit El Eden for the day and thoroughly enjoyed exploring its waterfalls, beautiful nature trail and cold drinks while swinging in a hammock! El Eden also offers ziplining through some stunning canopies if you love a bit of adventure! It’s located just opposite Eden VA – the movie set of Predator so you could do both in one day.
Los Arcos National Park – Los Arcos National Park is a protected marine national park popular for snorkeling excursions, sunset paddleboard tours and scuba diving. Known for its biodiversity, it is home to huge varieties of tropical fish, penguins, and pelicans.
It’s also a perfect viewpoint to watch the sun go down from the small Stoney Beach to the right of the main road. We had this great place all to ourselves on more than one occasion.
Book a tour – Mismaloya is home to a host of adventure tours from ATV days to jet ski afternoons through to jungle hikes! It’s a perfect place to book out a few days and spend some time in nature. Vallarta Adventures is a well-known and popular adventure company that provides various excursions and experiences for visitors.
Best for: Adventure days out in nature
San Pancho
San Pancho is just 50 minutes north of PV and one of our favorite towns near Puerto Vallarta. It’s quiet and unassuming with a chilled hippie vibe and a real haven from some of the busier surrounding Mexican towns.
It’s not unusual to see people walking barefoot down the streets here, surfboards tucked under their arms and a friendly dog trotting at their heels. San Pancho is such a relaxed town that we managed to spend 6 hours here just watching the surfers on the beach, eating ice cream and doing little else.
It was also clear to see from the many billboards and posters dotting the town that San Pancho has both an activist-driven and eco-conscious community that is passionate about educating and driving positive change in the area. Which was really refreshing.
Top 3 Things to do in San Pancho
Book a yoga class – Yoga and spiritual healing classes are big here in San Pancho and if that is something that interests you, then this relaxed town is the perfect place to take part.
Spend the afternoon at the sandy beach – The beach here at San Pancho receives a fraction of the visitors that beaches at the other local towns, which makes it perfect for a beach day. Bring a blanket and book, or sit and watch the surfers ride the waves!
Take part in a turtle release – San Pancho Turtles is a turtle conservation project working hard to protect and help sea turtles and their habitats. They frequently arrange turtle release events, which is one of the most magical things we did in our 6 months in Mexico. It was also amazing to know that we were supporting such an incredible cause.
Best for Surfing, arts & crafts, yoga spiritual healing and music
Punta Mita
Punta Mita is an upscale luxury area home to many 5-star resorts, epic golf courses and blue flag beaches. A real tourist hub where everything is on offer, including snorkel tours, surfer beaches, shopping centers and spas. It is home to some of the most beautiful beaches on Mexico’s Pacific Coast and with its plethora of things to do, it is for sure one of the best towns to visit from Puerto Vallarta.
Located just under an hour from the city, Punta Mita is easily accessible via the main road by car or public transport.
It has a touristy prestigious vibe yet still retains its Mexican hospitality and friendly atmosphere.
Top 3 Things to do in Punta Mita
Lounge on the beautiful beaches! – The beaches in Punta Mita have a real Caribbean feel with crystal blue waters and soft white sand, they make for the perfect beach days. There is always a good restaurant close by, and some of our favorite beach days were spent at the local beach in Punta Mita.
Explore La Lancha Beach – Extremely popular with surfers La Lancha Beach is accessed via a short 15-minute walk through a stretch of jungle. Less busy than some of the other local beaches. We have witnessed some of the best sunsets in Mexico from this beach. If you are a keen surfer, then this beach is perfect for you — and the local shops also offer lessons.
Book a boat tour to the Marietas islands – Whilst we did not manage to fit this in during our time in Mexico, we had friends who did and they said it was the best boat trip they did in Mexico. The Marietas Islands are a small group of uninhabited islands popular with snorkelers, nature lovers and kayakers and home to over 90 different species of birds!
Best For: Luxury resorts, beautiful beaches and boutique shops
Mascota
Mascota is a small yet one of the most stunning Pueblo Mágicos near Puerto Vallarta. Nestled deep in the Sierra Madre mountains, just two hours from the city.
This mountain town was our ultimate favorite town to visit from Puerto Vallarta. With its charming cobblestone streets, colorful colonial architecture and friendly locals, Mascota stole our hearts immediately.
Mascota is a little off the popular tourist track, which is one of the things we love about this colonial town. Everyone says hello to you, everyone smiles, there are plenty of restaurants yet none feel overly touristy and whilst we certainly had to put our limited Spanish to the test here, we felt thoroughly welcome. Plus, the fact that it is in the mountains meant cooler temperatures and a welcome mountain breeze!
Top 3 Things to do in Mascota
Visit the volcanic fields – If you love photography as much as we do, then this place will be heaven for you. The volcanic fields are just a 10-minute walk from the historic center and offer some of the best views we have ever seen. Totally Jurassic, with lush greenery, dormant volcanoes and farm fields as far as the eye can see.
Hike Mirador Guadalupe – Mirador Guadalupe boasts breathtaking 360 panoramic views of Mascota and the surrounding area and is just a short 20-minute walk from the center. Popular with locals, especially in the mornings, it’s a great way to view the whole town from above.
Visit the town Basilica – Seen from all over the town of Mascota, the Basilica de la Virgen de los Dolores is the crown of Mascota. Spending time inside admiring the architecture and paintings was a great way to spend the afternoon.
Best for: Escaping to nature, connecting with the locals and photographing beautiful views
Talpa De Allende
Talpa De Allende is the next town into the mountains from Mascota and a 2h 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta. Best combined with a visit to Mascota due to the distance from the city but also worth a trip in its own right.
Talpa is nestled away in the Sierra Madre mountains and surrounded by pine-covered mountains and epic landscapes. An old mining town with a rich history and the destination of an important pilgrimage route for thousands of Mexicans each year.
Top 3 Things to do in Talpa De Allende
Stop off at Mirador Cruz de Romero on the way to Talpa – This beautiful spot cannot be missed as it is home to the colorful Mexican “Talpa De Allende” sign, a small car park and a beautiful domed church. With a sea of fog in the valley below and hundreds of crosses and memorials in the gardens, this place is somewhere we will not forget in a hurry.
Take a seat inside Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Rosari – This beautiful church is the center piece of the city of Talpa De Allende and is of huge religious importance for the Mexican people. It is the end point for two pilgrimages that have been travelled since the 16th century. It was a beautiful thing to witness as families and couples made their way into the church praying, holding flowers or playing musical instruments to mark the end of their journey.
Try the guava candy! – A local delight and something we didn’t see in any other areas of Mexico, the guava candy seems to be specific to this region. You can see it being sold at almost all the stores around the main square.
Best for: Mexican history, local culture and beautiful views along the road leading from Mascota to Talpa
San Sebastian Del Oeste
The Pueblo Magico of San Sebastian is the closest mountain town you can visit from Puerto Vallarta and the first one you hit before continuing to Mascota and Talpa de Allende.
Extremely popular with tourists for both day trips and longer visits, San Sebastian has an obvious Spanish colonial heritage.
The town is just 90 minutes from Puerto Vallarta and is easily accessible by car as well as many tour companies offering transport to and from this picturesque town.
San Sebastian is perfectly picturesque and small enough to easily walk in a day. It feels like a cozy mountain town with its wooden chalet-style buildings and small town square and has a very relaxed atmosphere and being 1400m above sea level is a welcome escape from the heat of Puerto Vallarta.
Top 3 Things to do in San Sebastian del Oeste
Hike to the beautiful El Hermita waterfall – Just a short drive from the town center. The hike to this waterfall, whilst not particularly long, is quite the adventure with a few shallow river crossings and a stoney river bed to navigate. Taking around an hour to reach the waterfall, the trail is easily marked, meaning you can do this independently.
Admire the town from above – Just a 15 – 30 minute walk up the hill in the town you will pass many viewpoints with stunning landscape views across San Sebastián del Oeste.
Watch the sunrise from La Bufa – La Bufa is the highest point of this pueblo magico and a popular choice to watch the sunrise or sunset. You will see trucks dotted around the main square that, for a price of around 1500 pesos or £70gbp will take you up to the viewpoint, wait for an hour and bring you back down.
Best for: Day trips to escape the heat, small cozy mountain vibes and beautiful views
Each of these stunning Mexican towns has its own charm and character, and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting all of them.
Living on the West Coast of Mexico opened our eyes to how much more Mexico has to offer than just Cancun or Playa del Carmen. It is full of hidden gems and pockets of culture with so much to offer!
I hope this helps you spread your wings and experience some of the amazing towns near Puerto Vallarta!
Steffan and Emma are a husband and wife team from the UK and a photographer and writer for InWanderment. Currently travelling the world full-time, searching out the most beautiful photography spots and viewpoints so we can share them with the world!
Sharing destination guides, hidden gems and beautiful photography spots to inspire others to capture those special memories as you wonder a little bit further!
www.inwanderment.com
