Puerto Vallarta Walking Tour (with Free Map!)
Looking for a Puerto Vallarta walking tour?
One of our favorite ways to explore a city is on foot. It’s great exercise and offers a deeper connection than traveling by car, bus, or train. During our extended stay in Puerto Vallarta, we walked everywhere – from the Romantic Zone, to Colonia Versalles, to Marina Vallarta, and beyond. Now, we’re excited to share our own self-guided Puerto Vallarta walking tour!
Our walking tour is 4.4 kilometers (about 2.7 miles). If you love to walk, it makes for a great full day excursion, especially if you just have one day in Puerto Vallarta. If you’ve got more time, break it into parts over a couple days.
Overview
Our Puerto Vallarta walking tour focuses on the central area of Puerto Vallarta – specifically, the Zona Romantica and El Centro neighborhoods. These are the key touristed areas, and include many “must see” Puerto Vallarta landmarks. This a great walking tour to do if you only have one day in Puerto Vallarta.
That said, if you’ve got the time, please venture off to other neighborhoods – that’s where you’ll truly discover the depth of Puerto Vallarta. And, if you’ve got even more time, venture south of Puerto Vallarta to hike to waterfalls or along the Banderas Bay coastline.
We’ve set up this walking tour as a loop, starting and ending at Los Muertos Pier. In total, the route covers 4.4 km (about 2.7 miles). The walk is mostly flat, but does include some stairs and crossing a small suspension bridge.
If it’s more convenient for you to start in another location, just hop on the loop and follow along from wherever you begin.
Key Things to Know
This walking tour can be done at any time of day, but we recommend doing it in daylight hours for safety reasons – and, because you’ll be able to see things better!
Because Puerto Vallarta can get warm, starting this tour in the morning will serve you well. We would often venture out after breakfast to wander Puerto Vallarta’s streets, then cool off at the beach or pool in the afternoon, and we recommend you try to do the same.
However, if you’ve only got time to do this walking tour in the afternoon, you’ll be just fine. Just pack some water (or grab a bottle at an Oxxo), apply sunscreen, and stick to the shaded sides of the street!
If you need to use a restroom along the walk, you can dip into a cafe or restaurant. Of course, it’s courteous to buy something if you do so. In the Romantic Zone, there’s a Starbucks with a bathroom. Further up in El Centro, there’s a McDonalds on the northern end of the Malecon you can pop into. We’ll mention these spots below so you know where to look for them.
Our Puerto Vallarta Walking Tour
1. Los Muertos Pier
Start your walking tour by walking out along Los Muertos Pier.
This Puerto Vallarta landmark (which was designed to resemble a sail) is a popular departure for water taxis to beach communities located south of Puerto Vallarta, including Yelapa, Quixmito, and Playa Las Animas.
In addition to serving as a water transportation hub, Los Muertos Pier is frequented by tourists and locals for fishing and enjoying views of Banderas Bay and the surrounding mountains. In the winter, keep your eyes peeled for whale watching!
Adjacent to Los Muertos Pier is Los Muertos Beach (Playa Los Muertos), one of the area’s most crowded beaches. It’s a great place to enjoy the sun and a refreshing dip in the water, and you can get all kinds of snacks (think grilled seafood, fresh mango or cucumbers with chili) from local vendors.
Once you’ve taken in the views, exit straight off Los Muertos Pier onto Francisca Rodriguez. Walk one block to reach Olas Altas.
2. Zona Romantica
Ah, the Zona Romantica (or, Romantic Zone, for us English speakers). It’s easily the most vibrant neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta. In addition to its charming cobblestone streets, its wide array of boutiques, galleries, cafes, and bars make it a hotspot for just about anyone in town. Zona Romantica also has an incredibly welcoming LGBTQ+ scene.
We’re walking through the heart of Zona Romantica. Turn left on Olas Altas, and walk two blocks until you reach Basilio Badillo. Here, you’ll turn right, and continue walking three blocks to reach Calle Constitucion.
As you walk, feel free to stop into the cute boutiques you’ll pass. Or, grab a seat at a cafe for some people-watching. If you’re hungry and don’t mind a wait in line, you’ll walk right by Pancho’s Takos, a popular taco joint in the neighborhood. You’ll also pass by a Starbucks on Basilio Badillo, if you need a quick restroom and/or coffee stop.
Once you reach Calle Constitucion, turn left. We’re walking several blocks toward Isla Cuale, about a 5 minute walk away.
As you walk, continue soaking up the relaxed yet energetic vibes. And if you can, do yourself a favor and come back to Zona Romantica for an afternoon or evening.
Keep walking along Calle Constitucion until you reach a small suspension bridge.
3. Isla Cuale
A suspension bridge – how fun! Cross the bridge over Rio Cuale and onto Isla Cuale.
Isla Cuale is a tree-filled island oasis in the center of Puerto Vallarta. The central part of the island features artisan markets and a couple restaurants. During our extended stay in the area, we made many visits to Isla Cuale during our daily walks – and yes, we did go home with some souvenirs from the market.
Toward the eastern end of the island, there is a quieter park-like atmosphere with benches to sit and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Take however much time you’d like to explore Isla Cuale. Once you’re ready to continue, make your way toward the eastern side of the island (the side further away from the ocean). From there, we’ll head up to Gringo Gulch.
4. Gringo Gulch
Ready to climb some stairs? Leaving Isla Cuale, we’re crossing over the other side of Rio Cuale and climbing the stairs to Gringo Gulch.
Gringo Gulch is a beautiful and relatively quiet hillside neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta. If you’re wondering about the name, it’s because historically, American expats (“Gringos”) built homes in this area. The neighborhood became famous in the 1960s, when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton resided here while filming The Night of the Iguana (a movie that helped put Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding area on the map, tourism-wise).
Today, Gringo Gulch makes for a great neighborhood stroll. Enjoy the beautiful villas, cobblestone streets, and hilltop views of the area.
Continue walking along Calle Zaragoza until you reach a set of stairs. We’ll descend these – we’re headed back to the lower elevation of Puerto Vallarta’s El Centrol neighborhood.
5. Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe / Plaza de Armas
Walking along Calle Zaragoza, turn right once you reach Hildago Street. Continue about one block until you reach Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe).
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Puerto Vallarta landmark. In addition to fully operating as a Catholic church – with mass held in Spanish and English – the church is beautiful and unique architecturally, with a crown topped tower.
If you’d like, step inside the church before continuing on. It’s open daily.
Across the street, wander through Plaza de Armas. This is Puerto Vallarta’s town square, conveniently located between the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Malecon (which we’ll visit in a bit).
If you’d like a walking break, Plaza de Armas is a great spot. Find an open bench and do a little people-watching. When you’re ready, we’ll keep going.
Thinking of breaking the tour into two parts? This is a good “pausing” spot. Pick up the tour from here when you resume!
6. El Centro
From the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Plaza de Armas, we’ll head deeper into Puerto Vallarta’s El Centro neighborhood.
Facing the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, turn left and head north along Hidalgo Street.
Just north of Zona Romantica, El Centro offers a noticeably quieter atmosphere, especially along its cobblestone streets set back from the Malecon. This area is home to local boutiques, art galleries, and eateries, blending a laid-back residential feel with a touch of local culture.
Stroll along and stop wherever you’d like. When you reach the end of Hidalgo Street, take a right on Aldama, then a quick left on Calle Guadalupe Sanchez.
Optional Add-On: If you’d like to add amazing views to your walk – and a whole lot of steps – detour from here to Mirador de la Cruz. This will add about an hour to your walking tour. Click here for our full guide on visiting Mirador de la Cruz.
You’ll pass a number of galleries and eateries along Calle Guadalupe Sanchez. We loved wandering this quieter part of El Centro.
When you reach Calle 31 de Octubre, turn left and walk about 3 blocks until you reach the beach. It’s Malecon time!
7. Malecon
Ah, the Malecon. Every great beach town seems to have a great boardwalk, and Puerto Vallarta is no exception. It’s great for shopping, dining, street entertainment, bay views, and people-watching. The Malecon really has it all.
We walked up and down the Malecon on numerous occasions during our extended stay in Puerto Vallarta. Each time, we discovered something new.
We’re in the homestretch of our Puerto Vallarta walking tour, so it’s time to really relax and stroll. You’ll walk along the Malecon all the way to Los Muertos Pier. Go at your own pace, and stop to enjoy anything you’d like.
Oh, and if you need a restroom break, the McDonald’s at the northern end of the Malecón has restrooms. It’s also a great excuse to grab a soda, fries, or an ice cream cone. Call us crazy, but we always seem to stop into a McDonald’s at least once on every international trip!
8. Los Muertos Pier
Once you reach Los Muertos Pier, you’ve reached the end of our Puerto Vallarta walking tour. If you walked the full route, that was a 4.4km journey. You did it!
If you need to cool off, Playa Los Muertos is a great place for a dip. And you’re blocks away from the restaurants and cafes of Zona Romantica, if you’re ready for a bite to eat.
Wrapping Up: Puerto Vallarta Walking Tour
Exploring Puerto Vallarta on foot offers a glimpse into its vibrant neighborhoods, rich history, and beautiful views. Whether you only have one day in Puerto Vallarta or are here for an extended period, this walking tour should deepen your connection to this beautiful city. From the lively streets of Zona Romantica to the peaceful charm of El Centro, every step unveils something special.
Soak in the sights, savor the flavors, and embrace the rhythm of Puerto Vallarta. And if you discover any hidden gems along the way, we’d love to hear about them.
Happy walking!