Ziplines & Canopy Tours
The jungle behind the coast is made for this. The tours differ mostly in how much adrenaline they pack in.
Just inland from Puerto Vallarta, the Sierra Madre rises into river canyons and jungle — the setting for the area's zipline and canopy adventures. They range from a gentle family circuit to full multi-hour adventure parks with rappelling, water slides and off-road rides.
The main types of tour
Adventure tours here fall into a few tiers. At the gentle end are short canopy circuits — a handful of ziplines and rope bridges, good for families and first-timers, often done in a couple of hours. In the middle are full canopy tours with a dozen or more lines, rappels and hanging bridges over a river canyon. At the top are full-day adventure parks that combine ziplines with ATVs or off-road trucks, "water lines" that drop you into a river, waterslides, tequila tastings and a meal. Thrill seekers want the longest lines and the extras; either way, decide how much adrenaline (and how full a day) you want before you book.
What it costs
A canopy tour in the jungle behind Puerto Vallarta costs roughly US$65–130 per adult, usually including return transport from town. In October 2026 River Park (the former Canopy River) listed its eight-line express circuit at MXN 1,190, with ten lines and a mule ride at MXN 2,040; Los Veranos charged US$120 for 19 lines (US$86 for children aged 5 to 11); and Vallarta Adventures listed its six-and-a-half-hour Outdoor Adventure, reached by speedboat, at US$129, often discounted online. Minimum ages vary, from 5 to 8.
Where you go
Most tours head inland and upward into the Sierra Madre, along the Río Cuale or around the mountain villages behind the coast, climbing from the beach into jungle and river canyon. Some of the biggest parks are a longer drive out toward the mountains; check total travel time so you know how much of the day is transfer.
The transfer and the setting are half the experience.
Safety, limits and what to wear
Ziplining is very safe with a reputable operator, but it's an activity with real equipment, so a few things matter:
- Check weight and age limits before booking — most parks have both minimums and maximums.
- Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes you can move in; leave loose items behind.
- Expect a proper safety briefing and to be clipped in by staff — a good sign, not a delay. Favour operators who are clear about both the briefing and their gear.
- Pregnant travellers and people with back, heart or shoulder problems should skip the bigger tours.
Is it worth it?
For anyone who enjoys a bit of adrenaline, yes — it's one of the few Puerto Vallarta activities that gets you off the coast and into scenery most beach visitors never see, and even modest tours are a fun half-day. If heights genuinely frighten you, a canopy tour won't cure that; consider a river or ATV tour without the big lines instead.
Zipline & canopy tours
Compare adventure parks, difficulty and what's included.
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