When they coined the term, “off the beaten path” they were referring to the Sierra Madre Norte Tour from Puerto Vallarta.   This tour includes an off-road journey through hidden villages, mountain streams, and incredible jungle foliage referred to as the Mexican Outback.

A 45 minute hike with a trained guide allows you to explore the jungle first-hand before ultimately reaching the picturesque coastline, where guides prepare a delicious lunch while you relax on the beach.

Depart from Puerto Vallarta and soon stop for a traditional Mexican breakfast in Rincon de Guayabitos.  Continuing on, pass through lush vegetation surrounding secluded towns, small fishing villages, and scenic farm fields.   An informative, bilingual tour guide will provide background information for each area, and provide numerous opportunities for photo stops.

Upon arriving in San Blas, travelers are taken on a 10 mile boat ride to the Mangroves Swamp to visit a crocodile farm where your tour guide will provide details on the local crocodiles, bird species, and other wildlife in the area.

Afterward, a visit to beautiful San Blas is your next stop.  Take pictures of the unique town, including famous sites such as the old Cathedral and the Spanish Fort of San Basilio- a true tribute to Spain and Mexico’s history together.

After a full day of sightseeing, the tour stops at a restaurant in Batanchen Bay for traditional Nayarit fare before heading back to Puerto Vallarta.   The perfect ending to an exciting, enriching vacation tour.

Huichol Indians Air Tour from Puerto Vallarta

The quaint mountain village of San Andres Coamihata is known as an important religious and political center for one of the few remaining indigenous tribes in the world – the Huichol Indians. The direct descendants of the Aztec Indians, the Huichol Indians are known to be friendly, religious, and highly traditional based on their 2000 year old history.

This tour is truly unique as it allows you to treat yourself to an introduction of the Huichol Indian rituals, customs, language, and way of living away from the modern world.

One of the better known Mexican Villages surrounding Puerto Vallarta, San Sebastian dates back to 1605.  A rich history includes San Sebastian as a prosperous city of over 30,000 people in the 1700′s.  Today, the village has only recently installed limited electricity and telephone service, keeping the quaint Old Mexico charm from centuries before.

This tour is by air, providing curious tourists with a bird’s eye view of the many elaborate waterfalls, mist-surrounded mountain peaks, dense forest, and primitive pueblos and settlements.

Sierra Madres Jeep Adventure Tour

Few know and experience the many isolated villages located in the jungles surrounding Puerto Vallarta.  The Sierra Madres Jeep Adventure Tour takes guests off the beaten path to explore old Mexican villages.  Pass running mountain streams, waterfalls, and dense jungle foliage before discovering forgotten villages, and over less than smooth terrain before reaching the heart of the Sierra Madres Mountains.

Once here, knowledgeable experts guide you on an amazing 45-minute nature walk, inviting you to explore the extraordinary foliage of the surrounding rainforest.  Wild orchid gardens, rare bird species, and even the occasional monkey are spotted.

Lunch is prepared “al fresco” and enjoyed on a secluded beach before continuing with the tour.  This tour is a great, inexpensive way to experience the rainforests of Puerto Vallarta as well as the hidden, primitive villages of the Sierra Madres.  Spend approximately 7 and a half hours strolling through the jungles and experiencing the greener side of Vallarta for a unique experience.

Whale watching and Las Caletas

Spend your morning on an exciting voyage to watch Humpback Whales in their natural habitat.  Watch, and keep your camera handy as these massive marine mammals swim with their calves and soar out of the ocean with majestic maneuvers, all while your tour guides provide insight to their behavior, habits, and history.

In the afternoon, guests are guided to tranquil, Las Caletas, where an isolated beach paradise awaits.   Kayak or snorkel in the calm waters, swim or explore the surrounding jungles for wild orchid gardens, vibrant parrots, and lush tropical foliage.

For those interested in simple relaxation, swaying hammocks are located on the nearby secluded patios-  the perfect way to end your Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Tour in Las Caletas.

This catamaran tour takes you to the beautiful Marietas Islands, just offshore of Puerto Vallarta, where rock caverns and arch formations are waiting to be explored.  Vacationers will also enjoy the opportunity to kayak, snorkel, and scuba dive.  Scuba diving around the islands is an ideal way to get up close and personal with Bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and friendly giant manta rays in calm clear waters.

Wild Dolphins and Snorkeling Day Tour from Puerto Vallarta

The Wild Dolphins and Snorkeling tour provides a rare opportunity to learn more about the complex ecosystem and diverse sea life Bay of Banderas has to offer.  For scuba, snorkel, and kayak enthusiasts, plenty of rock formations including caves and arches, are ready for exploring.

Bottlenose Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, and Spotted Dolphins live year-round in Banderas Bay and can be spotted daily, without effort.   This tour introduces visitors to even more marine life, including magnificent whales, giant manta rays, rare bird species, and plenty of tropical fish.  A frequently spotted bird on the tour is the rare, but famous, blue-footed boobie and the red-billed tropic birds that present ideal photo moments.

To finish the day off right, beach combing and sunbathing are inviting ways to enjoy the pristine beaches and mellow waves before heading back to the boat.

Yelapa and Majahuitas Day Tour from Puerto Vallarta

Just south of Puerto Vallarta lie the serene villages of Yelapa and Majahuitas.  A true escape from the modern world, these villages don’t have electricity, and there’s certainly no Starbucks.  What they do have is a quite local community, and impressive beaches favored by Pelicans and Egretts.  When first stepping onto the tiny dock, you will notice the welcome wagon- Blowfish in all sizes peeping through the water’s surface.

Explore the village along cobblestone paths lined with hand-built stone walls.  Head inland just a ways and you’ll be surrounded by forest, following flowing streams to beautiful waterfalls with natural pools perfect for a dip and ideal for photographers.

Only accessible by sea, these villages are remote, tranquil and serene.  Palm trees line their beaches amidst a rainforest backdrop with only a few commercial businesses where guests can enjoy a cocktail and lunch before heading off to snorkel, swim, or kayak in the private bay.  Nature lovers will love the abundant wildlife-  birds are not shy here and reptiles including colorful Iguanas can be spotted in the trees.  Just offshore, from Thanksgiving to Easter, the bay is frequented by dolphins, humpback whales, manta rays, sea turtles and tropical fish.

Love to snorkel? Or always wanted to snorkel? Los Arcos is famous for snorkeling.

Begin your snorkel adventure by departing from Marina Vallarta on a smooth-sailing catamaran where breakfast awaits you. Sail close to the shoreline with panoramic views of the Bay of Banderas, downtown Puerto Vallarta, and crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Just 100 meters offshore, you will snorkel in the warm waters of the bay of Los Arcos, famous for the magnificent granite rock “Arches” that spring up from the water. Explore the rare sea foliage, tropical fish and sea life that have made this snorkel location famous in Puerto Vallarta and throughout the world.

After snorkeling, the catamaran continues farther south to beautiful Las Animas Beach, where you can enjoy a relaxing swim and catch some rays while eating lunch on the beach .

The tour includes a continental breakfast, lunch on the beach, open bar, and fishing rods. Reservations and further details: Snorkel Los Arcos departing Puerto Vallarta