The 10 Best Hikes in Puerto Vallarta: Trails for Every Level

Most people picture Puerto Vallarta as a beach town, and it is, but it is also one of the more underrated hiking destinations on Mexico's Pacific coast. The Sierra Madre drops almost straight into Banderas Bay here, so within a short ride of the Zona Romantica you can climb to a city overlook, follow a jungle river to a waterfall, or trace a cliffside path between hidden coves. This guide walks through ten trails for every level, from a flat boardwalk stroll to a full-day boat-and-jungle adventure, with the distance, time, difficulty, and how to reach each one.

Why Puerto Vallarta is an underrated hiking destination

What makes hiking here special is how much variety sits within reach of town. In one direction the mountains rise into jungle canyons threaded with rivers and waterfalls; in another the coastline breaks into a chain of coves you can only reach on foot or by boat; and right in the center, a hilltop cross and a seaside promenade give you big views with almost no effort. Because so many trailheads are a cheap bus ride or a short water-taxi hop away, you do not need a car or a tour to string together a genuinely good hiking week. The one thing to respect is the season: this is a tropical coast, so mornings are cooler and drier, and the same rains that swell the waterfalls also make the rock slick.

Find your trail

Not every trail suits every traveler or every afternoon. Use the Trail Finder to filter the ten by difficulty, how much time you have, and what you want at the end, whether that is a viewpoint, a waterfall, or a beach. Every card shows the distance, the time, and exactly how to get there.

The 10 best hikes, trail by trail

1. El Cerro de la Cruz (easy, viewpoint)

The classic first hike in Vallarta is a short, steep climb from downtown to the hilltop cross that overlooks the whole bay. It is only about half a mile round trip, but it is more than 300 steps, so figure on 45 minutes with photo stops. Start on Abasolo Street heading uphill from Centro; from the Zona Romantica it is a 25 to 35 minute walk or a short Uber to the base. Insider tip: climb about 40 minutes before sunset for the light on the water, then watch the town lights come on during the descent. There are no vendors at the top, so bring your own water.

2. Mirador Conchas Chinas (moderate, viewpoint)

Just south of the Zona Romantica, a short scramble through a leafy hillside of villas leads to an ocean overlook of the south shore. The quick version is about half a mile up and takes around 30 minutes, though a longer ridge route exists for those who want more. Take an Uber to the Grand Miramar area or a southbound bus down the highway. Insider tip: the mirador itself is modest, so pair it with the natural tide pools on the Conchas Chinas beaches just below on your way back down.

3. Nogalito River Trail (moderate, waterfall)

This is a jungle river walk in the village of El Nogalito that becomes a boulder-hop upstream past small cascades. The relaxed lower section is a shaded one to two hour ramble; going all the way to the upper waterfall is a longer scramble over slick rock. Take a southbound bus to El Nogalito, then walk about 25 minutes up to the trailhead. Insider tip: wear grippy water shoes and simply follow the river upstream. If you want more swimming-hole detail on this and the other cascades, see our guide to the waterfalls near Puerto Vallarta.

4. Cerro del Mono, Higuera Blanca (hard, viewpoint)

Also called Monkey Mountain, this is the most demanding day on the list: about four miles round trip with a granite-boulder summit and a 360-degree Pacific panorama. It sits up in the Riviera Nayarit, roughly an hour to ninety minutes north of the bay, so most people drive or hire a round-trip driver. Insider tip, and this one matters: arrange your ride back before you start, because getting transport out of Higuera Blanca on the spot is genuinely difficult and hikers get stranded. It is best in the drier months for clear views and firmer footing.

5. Boca de Tomatlan to Colomitos to Las Animas (moderate, beach)

One of the bay's signature hikes traces the coastline from the fishing village of Boca de Tomatlan along an up-and-down jungle path that links a string of secluded coves. It is about 2.7 miles one way and roughly two hours, more with swim stops. Take the Boca bus from Basilio Badillo and Constitucion, then hike one way and catch a water taxi back from Las Animas. Insider tip: start by 8:30am to beat the heat and the boat crowds, and push a few minutes past busy Colomitos to the quieter coves. The beaches along this route are covered in our guide to Banderas Bay beaches by how you reach them.

6. Palo Maria Waterfall Trail (moderate, waterfall)

A short, lush jungle-and-river walk south of town leads to a waterfall and swimming pool tucked in a canyon. It is about 1.6 miles round trip to the first fall, roughly 40 minutes each way, with a few shallow river crossings. Take the Mismaloya bus or a short Uber south. Insider tip: the falls run fullest in the rainy season, roughly June to October, and grippy water shoes make the crossings easy. If you lose the unmarked trail, just keep following the water upstream.

7. The Malecon Boardwalk (easy, viewpoint)

Not every hike needs a mountain. The Malecon is a flat, paved seaside promenade of about 1.9 miles round trip, lined with bronze sculptures, galleries, and bay views, and it is the accessible, no-effort option right in town. It starts in the Zona Romantica, so no transport is needed. Insider tip: walk it near sunset for the Voladores de Papantla pole-flyers and the street performers near the amphitheater. It doubles as an easy warm-up on a rest day.

8. Mirador del Toro, Los Ayala (moderate, viewpoint and beach)

Farther north in the Riviera Nayarit, this steep jungle climb crosses a headland to a Pacific overlook, then descends to a sheltered, calm-water hidden beach. It is about 3.8 miles round trip, roughly 45 minutes to the viewpoint. It is a fair way north of the bay, so it is usually done by car as a day trip. Insider tip: hike early to have secluded Playa del Toro, just past the overlook, mostly to yourself before the water taxis start dropping groups.

9. Mismaloya to El Eden Trail (hard, waterfall)

This jungle-river hike heads up the Mismaloya canyon to natural swimming pools, a waterfall, and the old film set from the 1987 movie Predator, now a riverside restaurant and adventure park. Figure about 3.7 miles round trip and a half day, over jungle terrain that gets slippery after rain. Take the Mismaloya bus, then head inland up the river road past town. Insider tip: go on a weekday morning to beat the crowds and bring swimwear, because the payoff is a dip in the river pools below the falls.

10. Quimixto Jungle Trail (moderate, waterfall and beach)

Quimixto is a boat-in fishing village where a short jungle trail leads to a swimmable waterfall pool, paired with an uncrowded golden beach. The hike is only about 30 to 45 minutes each way, but the whole outing is a half day once you count the boat. Access is by water taxi only, from Boca de Tomatlan or the Los Muertos Pier. Insider tip: aim to land by about 10:30am, hike to the falls first, then have the long beach nearly to yourself before the tour boats arrive.

Before you go: trail prep

A little preparation turns a good hike into an easy one here. For footwear, closed-toe trail shoes with real grip handle almost everything, but bring grippy water shoes for the river hikes where you cross or scramble on wet rock. Carry at least a liter of water per person, since most of these trails have nothing for sale along the way, and add sun protection and bug repellent for the jungle routes. Start early, ideally at or near sunrise, to beat the heat, the humidity, and the afternoon storms that are common in the wet months.

Season shapes the experience more than anything. Rainy season, roughly May through October, delivers the fullest waterfalls and the greenest jungle, but the trade-off is mud, slick rock, and higher, faster river crossings, so stick to morning starts and watch your footing on the steep sections. Dry season, roughly November through May, gives you firmer footing and the clearest summit views, at the cost of thinner waterfalls. Either way, carry small pesos in cash for buses, water taxis, and the occasional informal trailhead fee.

Frequently asked questions