Budgeting during your vacations is like a fine art. You want to have a marvelous experience but don’t want to put too much pressure on your credit cards. This is particularly true for Club members who take regular vacations, sometimes more than twice a year. So, let’s just say you want to limit yourself to one paid tour each time you vacation in Puerto Vallarta, like the Marigalante Pirate Ship or a whale watching tour, then you will be happy to know that Puerto Vallarta offers alternative activities that are just as fun (well, almost).
Check out these popular pastimes in Puerto Vallarta that won’t cost you penny:
Downtown Tour
You can join the downtown tour by going to the Tourist Office located on the main plaza in Puerto Vallarta’s Centro area opposite Starbucks at 9am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays or 12 noon on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This tour is two hours long, so make sure your shoes are comfortable for walking and you have some drinking water on hand. Admire the historical architecture and enjoy Puerto Vallarta’s rich culture without spending a penny (except perhaps on a nice tip for the guide or an ice-cream).
Free Sculpture Tours
Between the months of October and mid-April, Galeria Pacifico’s Gary Thompson hosts his free sculpture tour every Tuesday at 9:30am, starting next to the “Millennium” sculpture, which can be found by Hotel Rosita at the Malecón’s north end. Sometimes the tour will begin with Mathis Lidice (the sculptor also known as Fernando Baños) discussing the history behind the first sculpture. At the end of the tour, you will arrive to Galeria Pacifico where you will get the chance to mingle with other artists. You can expect this tour to run for sure from October through mid-April but you would be best advised to call ahead to be sure sure the tour is on schedule during the low season.
Galeria Pacifico
Aldama 174,
Centro
01 322 222 1982
Isla Rio Cuale Walk
This self-guided tour starts at the beach just as you cross the main bridge at the end of the Malecon, you will find the mouth of the River Cuale. Over the centuries the river has divided naturally into islands that you can explore as you walk towards the mountains following the course of the river. As you walk, you can enjoy the local flea market that sets up on the islands, locate the statue in honor of John Houston, stop off at the Cuale Museum, dodge all the well-fed stray cats that have made the River Cuale Islands their home until you reach Puerto Vallarta’s cultural center. Along the way, there are plenty of opportunities to cross swinging bridges or sit on a bench and enjoy the lush tropical surroundings as the sound of the river soothes your ears.
Walk from Los Muertos Beach to Conchas Chinas
Not exactly a tour, but a great easy walk where you cannot get lost. Take a bus or taxi from the resort to Los Muertos Beach and start your self-guided tour at the renovated pier. After watching a few pelicans dive off the pier and with an ice-cream in hand, start walking south to the end of Los Muertos Beach. If you can resist the many restaurants and vendors and make it to the end of the beach, you will see a narrow rocky path. Take the path and keep heading south. From there you will pass a number of coves and inlets where you might stop to take in some sun. Once you arrive to Conchas Chinas beach (you will know you have arrived because you will come to an area with a family restaurant where you cannot pass any further), you can enjoy some beach fun or take the road back up to the main highway, from where you can catch a bus or take a taxi back to the resort.
