7 Days in Puerto Vallarta
A full week — do the highlights without rushing, and add the towns up the coast.
With a week you can see the best of Puerto Vallarta and still have the slow days that make it a holiday. Base yourself in Old Town and spread things out.
Days 1–2 — Settle in
Old Town, the Malecón, a food tour, and a first beach afternoon. No rush.
Day 3 — Marietas or whales
The signature boat trip: Marietas or whale watching in season.
Day 4 — Up the coast
Day trip north to Sayulita and/or Bucerías for a change of pace and different beaches.
Day 5 — Adventure or Yelapa
A zipline day in the Sierra Madre, or the boat to Yelapa and its waterfalls.
Day 6 — Beach & relax
A pure down day — Los Muertos or Conchas Chinas, long lunch, maybe a spa.
Day 7 — Loose ends
Shopping, a favourite restaurant revisited, a sunset cruise, and whatever you didn't get to. See nightlife for a final night out.
How to pace a week
The mistake with a week is treating it as five days plus two. Seven days works best as three "big" days, two easy days and two travel-ish days — arrival and departure are never full days, whatever the flight times say. That rhythm leaves you rested rather than needing a holiday afterwards.
| Day | Plan | Energy |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive, Malecón, dinner | Easy |
| 2 | Food tour, Old Town, beach afternoon | Medium |
| 3 | Marietas / whales | Big |
| 4 | Sayulita or Bucerías | Big |
| 5 | Ziplines or Yelapa | Big |
| 6 | Conchas Chinas, spa, long lunch | Easy |
| 7 | Favourites revisited, sunset cruise, depart | Easy |
Going further afield
A week is the first trip length where the wider bay makes sense. North, Sayulita and Bucerías are an hour or less and feel genuinely different. South, the boat-only beaches of the south shore — Las Ánimas, Quimixto, Yelapa — are the most beautiful in the region precisely because there's no road. Do one of each rather than trying to see everything.
Consider splitting your stay
With seven nights, some travellers split: four or five nights in Old Town for the food and atmosphere, then two or three up the coast in Sayulita or Bucerías for a slower finish. It costs one transfer and gives you two very different holidays. It's not for everyone — if you'd rather unpack once, stay put in Old Town.
Budgeting a week
A week is long enough that daily choices compound: eating at stands instead of tourist restaurants, using buses instead of taxis, and doing one DIY trip instead of a third organised tour can easily change the total by several hundred dollars. The figures are in our trip cost guide.
Week-long stays change what's worth doing
Beyond five days, the calculation shifts. Things that make no sense on a short trip start to pay off: a supermarket shop and a condo with a kitchen, a Spanish lesson, a second visit to a restaurant you liked, a day trip that needs two hours of travel. You stop sightseeing and start staying — which is when Puerto Vallarta is at its best.
Renting a condo instead of a hotel
At seven nights, a rental often beats a hotel on both cost and comfort: more space, a kitchen for breakfasts, a terrace, and a laundry. The trade-off is no daily housekeeping and no front desk. Amapas and Conchas Chinas have the best-value condos with views, a short ride from Old Town — just remember the hills. See where to stay.
Building in rest
The commonest mistake on a week's trip is treating every day as an opportunity. Three "big" days across seven is the right density; more and the days blur. Deliberately leave two days with nothing booked — one mid-week and one near the end. You'll use them, and they cost nothing.
A week in the green season
June to October suits a longer stay better than a short one: with seven days, an afternoon thunderstorm is an inconvenience rather than a ruined trip, and you get lush scenery, warm sea and much lower prices. Structure each day around a morning outdoors and you'll barely notice the rain. See weather and best time to visit.
What to book, and when
- Before you fly: accommodation, airport transfer, and any seasonal boat trip.
- First day or two on the ground: your other excursions, once you've seen the forecast.
- Never: the beach, the Malecón, Isla Cuale, and your rest days.