Puerto Vallarta — Day 5
Arriving in Puerto Vallarta — Docked and Ready!
Just like Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta was a dock port — meaning no tender boats, no bobbing around in the waves and no rushing to get a ticket. We simply walked off the Navigator of the Seas and we were there. After the Cabo tender experience that was always a welcome relief!
One important thing to note — Puerto Vallarta is significantly more humid than both Cabo and Mazatlán. The moment we stepped off the ship the heat and humidity hit us like a wall. Dress accordingly and bring water! You will need it.
Also take note of your All Aboard time — ours was 5:30pm which is earlier than you might expect for a port day. Plan your time ashore accordingly so you're not rushing back!
Getting to the Malecón — Taxi Tips & Hangry Moments
We decided to take a taxi from the port to the Malecón rather than walk. Sounds simple enough — except the taxi line was long, the humidity was fierce and by the time we got in a cab I was well past hungry and heading straight into hangry territory! 😄
A few important taxi tips for Puerto Vallarta that I learned the hard way:
Always agree on your fare before you get in. Always. Our fare was $20 for our group of four which is actually a very reasonable deal for that distance.
And here's where our PV day took a turn for the memorable — on the way back to the ship we arranged for the same taxi driver to pick us up at a specific drop-off point on the Malecón. Perfectly sensible plan. Except by the time we were ready to leave we had wandered further down the Malecón and weren't at the agreed pickup spot anymore. We tried to communicate the new location to our driver but there was a significant language barrier. One of his colleagues ended up calling Doug to sort it out and we thought everything was arranged.
Then our phones stopped connecting.
Our original driver called us. And called us. And called us. Thirty eight times. THIRTY EIGHT! 😄
Meanwhile another taxi driver spotted our tired, slightly frazzled group and asked if we needed a ride back to the ship. I immediately said yes. Our travel companions looked at me in horror — "That's not our taxi!" they said. I looked at my sore feet, felt the humidity pressing down and said "Who cares — I'm tired!" and got in.
So if you're somewhere on the Puerto Vallarta Malecón and you see 38 missed calls on your phone from an unknown Mexican number — that might be our original driver. We are so sorry! 😄
A Note on Shoes — Seriously, Please Read This
Before I tell you about the Malecón let me give you what might be the most practical advice in this entire blog series: wear good shoes.
Puerto Vallarta has beautiful cobblestone streets — charming to look at, brutal on your feet. By the end of our Malecón walk my feet were so squished and sore in my shoes that I ended up with a big bruise on my index toe. Not fun! And completely avoidable.
My post-trip solution? I ordered the Hoka Clifton 10 shoes directly from Hoka.com and I'm so glad I did. Comfortable, supportive and exactly what I needed. If you're planning this cruise — or any cruise with significant walking — please invest in good walking shoes before you go. Not your five year old sneakers that seemed fine around the neighborhood. Proper walking shoes that can handle cobblestones in Cabo, pulmonia tours in Mazatlán and a full Malecón walk in Puerto Vallarta. Your feet will thank you!
The Puerto Vallarta Sunrise — Wake Up for This One!
One of the most magical moments of our entire Puerto Vallarta day actually happened before we even stepped off the ship. As the Navigator of the Seas pulled into port that morning the sky was putting on a breathtaking sunrise show — the city skyline silhouetted against the Sierra Madre mountains, the sun rising in a blazing ball of orange and gold, a lone boat cutting across the glittering water below. I grabbed my camera and captured it from the deck and I'm so glad I did. It was the perfect introduction to Puerto Vallarta — the city literally glowing to welcome us!
Set your alarm — the Navigator of the Seas arrives in Puerto Vallarta early and the sunrise as you pull into the bay is absolutely worth waking up for. It's the kind of moment that reminds you exactly why you chose to cruise!
The Malecón — Puerto Vallarta's Stunning Seaside Boardwalk
Despite the heat and the taxi drama the Puerto Vallarta Malecón is genuinely beautiful and absolutely worth exploring. This famous seaside boardwalk stretches along the bay and is lined with some of the most impressive public art we saw on the entire cruise.
Here are the highlights:
The towering dark wire figure sculptures standing on black pedestals along the waterfront are striking and dramatic — you'll see them immediately and they make incredible photos against the blue bay backdrop.
The Manuel Lepe tile mural — "Vendedores de Pescado" from 1981 — is a colorful and charming hand-painted ceramic tile artwork depicting Puerto Vallarta's beach life in a whimsical folk art style. It's a beautiful piece of history right there on the boardwalk.
The folklórico dancers sculpture — a man in a charro suit and a woman in a swirling white and colorful dress — is vibrant and joyful and one of the most photographed spots on the Malecón.
The bronze bird sculpture with outstretched wings against the backdrop of palm trees and the Pacific Ocean is simply stunning.
And then there's the famous burro statue — a bronze donkey seated at a table holding a cocktail glass, with a curved bench seat alongside him perfect for sitting. Doug and I settled in next to the burro for a toast and I have to say — he was excellent company! 😄 This is one of the most fun and interactive photo opportunities on the entire Malecón. Don't miss it!
Los Muertos Pier — Puerto Vallarta's Iconic Landmark
One of the most recognizable landmarks in all of Puerto Vallarta is Los Muertos Pier — the striking modern pier with its distinctive tall sail-like structure rising above the bay. We walked out to the pier area and watched parasailers launching right from Los Muertos Beach — pink and blue chutes floating up into the sky above the city and the mountains behind. It's a lively, colorful scene and gives you a real sense of the energy of Puerto Vallarta's beach life.
The beach itself was busy with locals and tourists alike, with vendors selling everything from food to balloon animals. We even spotted a very confident homing pigeon strutting along the sand — leg band and all — who seemed completely unbothered by the crowds. 😄
La Langosta Loca Beach Club — The Most Romantic Photo Stop
One of my favorite moments of the entire Puerto Vallarta day happened at La Langosta Loca Beach Club where there is the most gorgeous large driftwood heart sculpture outside the entrance. Doug and I kissed right through the heart for a photo and it turned out absolutely beautifully — the rustic driftwood, the beach club behind us, the teal tile wall. It's the kind of spontaneous travel moment you can't plan and can't replicate. If you walk past La Langosta Loca please stop for this photo — you won't regret it!
The Beach at the End of the Malecón
We walked the entire length of the Malecón all the way to the end where a quieter beach area awaited. We hung out there for a while, rested our feet and watched other cruisers doing the same thing. It was a lovely spontaneous moment of just sitting, breathing in the ocean air and soaking in the fact that we were in Puerto Vallarta. Sometimes the unplanned moments are the best ones.
Wildlife Warnings Worth Knowing
Two signs on the Puerto Vallarta beach genuinely caught our attention. First — sea turtle protection signs reminding visitors that sea turtles nest on these beaches, they are endangered, and there are strict rules about not approaching or disturbing them. Puerto Vallarta takes marine conservation seriously and it's wonderful to see.
Second — and this one was a surprise — crocodile warning signs! Yes, crocodiles. The signs warn of wildlife in both the river and the sea in the area. We did not see any crocodiles personally but the signs are there for a reason! Just something to be aware of if you're wandering off the beaten path. 🐊
Our Honest Puerto Vallarta Verdict
Puerto Vallarta is beautiful — there's no question about that. The Malecón is genuinely impressive, the public art is world class, the pier is iconic and the sunset is unforgettable. But of our three ports it was our third favorite. The humidity is intense, the cobblestone streets need some attention, the shopping felt expensive and we didn't venture far beyond the Malecón so we may not have seen PV at its best.
Would I go back? Yes — but next time I'd explore more of Old Town, find a great local restaurant and definitely wear my Hokas! 😄
Our Mazatlán day with Ruben in the pulmonia set a very high bar. It was such a unique experience that Puerto Vallarta had a lot to live up to — and that's not a criticism of Puerto Vallarta at all. It simply shows how unforgettable Mazatlán turned out to be for us.
Puerto Vallarta is beautiful in a completely different way. The Malecón, public art and ocean views made it a wonderful stop — and next time we'd love to explore more of Old Town and experience a different side of the city.
Our Final Three Port Rankings:
🥇 Mazatlán — Authentic, modern, the pulmonia experience is exclusive to this city, Rubin made it unforgettable and the value is unbeatable
🥈 Cabo San Lucas — Stunning and iconic, El Arco never disappoints, but more touristy and expensive than the others
🥉 Puerto Vallarta — Beautiful Malecón, incredible public art and sunsets, but humid, cobblestones need work and shopping is pricier
That said — every traveler is different and every experience is subjective. The best port is the one that matches your travel style. What we can tell you is that all three are worth visiting and each one surprised us in its own way.
Want the complete Puerto Vallarta port day planning guide including timing tips, what to bring and a full shore day itinerary? Check out our Mexican Riviera Cruise Guide in the Plan The Magic Guides shop on Etsy!
🌊 Explore Each Stop on Our Cruise: