If you're passing through Puerto Vallarta on the way to or from Yelapa, the best day trips are the Marietas Islands, Los Arcos marine park, the Vallarta Botanical Garden, the mountain town of San Sebastián del Oeste, the surf town of Sayulita, and an easy walk along the Malecón into the Zona Romántica. The longer trips fill a whole day, so pair them with a hotel night in Puerto Vallarta, and save the short ones for the hours before a daylight boat.
How do day trips fit with a Yelapa stay?
Boats between Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa run in daylight. Water taxis from Boca de Tomatlán, at the south end of town, take about 30 minutes and have more and later departures. From the Los Muertos Pier in the Zona Romántica, the ride is at least 55 minutes. Check current times with go2yelapa transport and our guide on how to get to Yelapa by boat.
The simple rule: if a trip ends late in the afternoon, book a hotel night in Puerto Vallarta and take a morning boat to Yelapa. A night in town at the start or end of your stay makes room for one of the bigger trips below.
Can you visit the Marietas Islands from Puerto Vallarta?
Yes, on a boat tour. Islas Marietas National Park, managed by CONANP (Mexico's national protected areas commission), is two islands, Isla Redonda and Isla Larga, about 18 nautical miles from Puerto Vallarta and 4.85 from Punta de Mita. You reach it on boats run by tourism service providers around Banderas Bay. Its famous Playa del Amor (the Hidden Beach) is a small beach you reach by swimming in from the boat.
Marietas park rules
CONANP's park page lists these basics:
- The park is open Tuesday to Sunday, and the Playa del Amor site opens Wednesday to Sunday.
- Follow your guide's and the park rangers' directions.
- Wear a life jacket in the water.
- No alcohol, and no footwear in water or beach activities.
- Visitors pay a per-person park entry fee, sold as the conservation wristband (Brazalete de la Conservación).
For Playa del Amor itself, SEMARNAT's 2016 reopening notice set these rules:
- No more than 116 visitors a day, in groups of up to 15, entering at low tide under park staff supervision.
- Each group has 30 minutes, entering and leaving through a lane marked with buoys.
- Helmets and life jackets are required; fins, masks, and snorkels aren't allowed on the swim in.
- Only authorized operators may bring visitors.
Because the beach is capped, book with an operator that confirms it's authorized for Playa del Amor, and confirm the current rules and what your tour includes.
What is Los Arcos marine park?
Los Arcos sits off the coast between Mismaloya and Las Gemelas beaches on the south side of Banderas Bay. The tourism board says it has been a national marine park since 1984 and calls it an excellent site for both diving and snorkeling. It's also protected as a breeding area for seabirds, and tour boats cruising the bay stop there.
Is the Vallarta Botanical Garden worth the trip?
Yes, especially if you love plants. The garden sits at kilometer 24 of Highway 200 heading south, about 35 minutes by car from Old Town. According to the garden, buses on the El Tuito line leave from the Zona Romántica every 30 minutes, and the ride takes about 45 minutes. It's open 9 AM to 6 PM: every day from December through March, and Tuesday to Sunday from April through November. It closes on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. An on-site restaurant makes lunch easy.
How far is San Sebastián del Oeste?
The tourism board puts San Sebastián del Oeste just over an hour and a half from Puerto Vallarta on a winding road. It's a Pueblo Mágico and former mining town. You can walk the historic center and parish church, tour a coffee farm, take in the view from La Bufa, and see old mining haciendas. Make it a full day with a hotel night in Puerto Vallarta afterward.
Is Sayulita an easy day trip?
Yes. Sayulita is a beach town in the state of Nayarit, about 30 minutes from the airport by car, taxi, or bus, according to Lonely Planet. Visit Mexico notes that it joined the Pueblos Mágicos program in 2015 and is known for its surf beach and bohemian feel. Lonely Planet says the best surf runs December to April, and more than a dozen surf schools work the area, so it's a good place for a first lesson.
What should I see on the Malecón and in the Zona Romántica?
This is the best short outing before an afternoon boat. The Malecón is an almost one-kilometer seaside boardwalk from Hotel Rosita to the Río Cuale, lined with sculptures, galleries, and restaurants, and it's a classic spot for sunset. At the river, the Cuale River Island cultural center offers art workshops and free entry to the Cuale Archaeological Museum. Cross into the Zona Romántica for cobblestone streets, restaurants, and Playa Los Muertos, where the Los Muertos Pier has water taxis to Yelapa. Our LGBTQ+ travel guide covers the neighborhood's scene.
Where do I find events in Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa?
We keep event listings in one place: our Yelapa and Puerto Vallarta events guide covers the October to April season. For the latest dates, check the tourism board's events calendar, which lists festivals, races, markets, and concerts. In winter, whale watching is its own reason to plan a boat day; see our whale season guide.
FAQ
Can I do a Puerto Vallarta day trip and still reach Yelapa the same day?
For a short outing like the Malecón, yes, as long as you catch a daylight boat. For the Marietas, San Sebastián del Oeste, or Sayulita, book a hotel night in Puerto Vallarta and take a morning boat.
Is Playa del Amor open every day?
No. CONANP lists the Playa del Amor site as open Wednesday to Sunday, and visitors are capped at 116 a day.
Do I need a tour to visit the Marietas Islands?
Yes. Access is by boat with tourism service providers, and only authorized operators may bring visitors to Playa del Amor.
Is the Vallarta Botanical Garden open on Mondays?
From December through March, yes. From April through November, it's closed on Mondays.
Checked October 14, 2026. Details change, so confirm with the sources below before you go.
Sources
- CONANP, Islas Marietas National Park visitor page
- SEMARNAT (gob.mx), reopening of Playa del Amor, Nayarit
- Visit Puerto Vallarta (official tourism board), Los Arcos marine park
- Visit Puerto Vallarta (official tourism board), four charming day trips from Puerto Vallarta
- Visit Puerto Vallarta (official tourism board), downtown Puerto Vallarta
- Vallarta Botanical Garden, hours and getting to the garden
- Visit Mexico, Sayulita, Nayarit
- Lonely Planet, guide to Sayulita
More in our Yelapa visitor guide.
Plan your stay
Casa Gratitud is our home above the bay in Yelapa, a short daylight boat ride from all of this. See the house at yelapacasagratitud.com and check rates and availability for your dates.