Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Eco Tours & Wildlife Adventures

Outdoor Adventures Casa Velas Hotel Bird Watching Tours Horseback Riding Sea Kayaking Adventures Canopy Tours

With 25 miles of coastline and golden beaches, Puerto Vallarta is perfect for eco-tourists. Surrounded by lush tropical jungle, blessed with sparkling rivers and cascading waterfalls that flow to verdant shores and spill into the island-dotted waters of Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta is a paradise for adventures on land and sea. From the brilliant greenery of the Sierra Madre mountain foothills to the gorgeous coastal beaches on the Bay, you will discover a world of outdoor adventure and diverse wildlife, including four-foot-long iguanas and 366 bird species.

Puerto Vallarta Outdoor Adventures. Banderas Bay and Puerto Vallarta offer an abundance of outdoor activities, water sports, ocean excursions, and eco-tours. Experience the natural beauty of Puerto Vallarta by deep sea fishing, horseback riding, scuba diving, whale and dolphin watching, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and sailing, as well as exciting canopy tours through Mexico’s tropical rain forest. Ride a jet ski over the waves, paddle a sea kayak or dive through magnificent reefs.

Whale & Dolphin Watching Tours in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Puerto Vallarta offers many ecological wonders and adventure tours, but nothing compares to witnessing the beauty, harmony and grace of the humpback whales and wild dolphins that inhabit the Bay of Banderas. Pacific dolphins are sighted year-round, and each winter, humpback whales migrate south from their arctic feeding grounds to breed and give birth in the warm, protected waters of Banderas Bay. From November to March, you can experience and learn about the massive humpback whales on several guided tours that leave every morning. You can even swim with the enchanting and gentle bottlenose dolphins at the Nuevo Vallarta Dolphin Center.  [Top]

Bird Watching Tours in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. With more than 300 species of birds, Puerto Vallarta is an exceptional location for bird watching and a true paradise for bird watchers. Tour and explore Las Marietas Islands – just off the coast of Puerto Vallarta - a bird sanctuary and one of the few places where the Blue Footed Booby nests and breeds. Sea hawks and many other birds of the oceans and estuaries inhabit or pass through these beautiful islands.

Sport Fishing Trips in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Puerto Vallarta offers some of the best sport fishing in the world, and anglers from around the globe see if they can beat last year's big catch. Spend a blissful day out on the deep blue waters of Banderas Bay and fish with an experienced captain. Join a deep sea fishing charter and cast your lines for marlin, tuna, mahi mahi, dorado, sailfish, rooster tail and red snapper. Numerous charters are available on small pangas to large trawlers with fly bridges. Bass and other freshwater fishing is also available at lakes in the Puerto Vallarta area.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Tours. With beautiful coral reefs and natural beauty, Banderas Bay is the perfect destination for scuba diving and snorkeling adventures. Off the islands of Los Arcos, Las Marietas and Las Caletas, you can experience tropical fish, mantas, dolphins, and turtles. Explore the rock formations of Los Arcos National Marine Park's underwater caves and canyons, secluded beaches with shallows teeming with tropical fish. Discover the wildlife reserves and marine ecosystem of the Marietas Islands with its deep caverns and rugged rock architecture. Tours range from short trips to all-day excursions, and night dives can be arranged for experienced divers.  [Top]

Horseback Riding in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. With gorgeous scenery, hillsides and valleys, Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful place for horseback riding. Take to the hills, rivers, villages and jungles by horseback, exploring the countryside with tour guides, learning the history of the area and experiencing Vallarta in a natural way. Ride a quarter horse, thoroughbred or mestizo to explore a jungle trail with orchids or catch the overspray of a waterfall. Ride alongside a picturesque river or in the verdant foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, where the panoramic views of the bay are breathtaking. In Bucerias, you can trot along the beach.

Hiking Eco Tours in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Discover the lush green Sierra Madre Mountains in the southern area of Banderas Bay. Hike along crystal clear rivers, through canyons surrounded by exuberant vegetation and ponds where you’ll be able to swim and enjoy the scenery. Learn with guides about the wildlife and culture of this beautiful coastal region of Mexico. Other hiking tours explore the tropical forest that surrounds Puerto Vallarta. Enjoy spectacular views of the Bay and one of the most beautiful water falls in the area, all in the company of specialists that make your hike a fantastic experience.  [Top]

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Sea Kayaking Adventures. Venture to gorgeous destinations in Banderas Bay on a sea kayak. Enjoy yourself and see the beautiful sights while paddling along tranquil, crystal clear waters accompanied by an experienced guide. Kayak tours are available for beginners and advanced kayakers.

Las Caletas Tours in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Situated on Puerto Vallarta's Banderas Bay, Las Caletas is an exclusive tropical beach hideaway. Enjoy the most fantastic coastal scenery that Vallarta has to offer while cruising to a private cove where you will discover the wonders of the bay while kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing and riding a catamaran. The underwater coves, natural reef and diverse array of brilliant sea life make this one of the finest dive sites on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The reef is home to colorful tropical fish, turtles, and mantas. On land, you can explore the surrounding forest on guided tours, relax in a hammock or have a picnic on the golden beach.  [Top]

Canopy Tours in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Exhilarating and educational, Canopy Tours are an eco – activity that guides you into Puerto Vallarta’s lush tropical rain forest and gets your adrenaline flowing. Soaring along zip lines – PV’s highest at 250 feet – crossing hanging bridges and rappelling to the forest floor. Speed over a river gorge on several cables, plash through streams and learn wilderness techniques while spotting exotic orchids and tropical wildlife. The tours end at a palapa bar with 80 brands of tequila and a riverside restaurant.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Turtle Camp. From June to September, Puerto Vallarta is a breeding ground for sea turtles and vacationers can share in the wonder of life by participating in local hotel programs to protect the turtle hatchlings in their dash to the sea. Under a starry sky, children and adults release baby turtles from buckets and applaud as the hatchlings scurry across the sand and plunge into the ocean.   [Top]

Photos by Mark Callanan http://www.callananphoto.com