4 of 8

Write now Article Tools

The quaint and tranquil town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico with its sun-kissed beaches, cobblestone streets and authentic Mexican personality can be the perfect destination for a family vacation. Surrounded by jungles, mountains, ancient culture and the beautiful beaches and Bay of Banderas, the vast variety of activities available for families to enjoy are countless.

Swim with Dolphins!
Imagine swimming with sea lions and dolphins it's a reality in Puerto Vallarta. You and your family can go nose-to-nose with dolphins or sea lions. These exclusive, experiences let you play, feed, touch and swim together for more than hour. The minimum age is 5 years old for dolphin swimming, for sea lions participants must be at least 4.5 feet in height.

Watch Whales!
If a more hands-off approach to wildlife viewing is your style, check out whale watching tours offered through Vallarta Adventures (www.vallarta-adventures.com). Witness the exquisite and mesmerizing beauty of wild humpback whales and dolphins in the beautiful Bay of Banderas. This bay is home to a wealth of wildife including dolphins and manta rays.

Must-See: Under the Sea
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's hottest scuba diving destinations. The magnificent Bay of Banderas and the surrounding Pacific Ocean are a diver's paradise with wall diving, caves, tunnels and pristine tropical fish. If you're not dive certified you can learn while on vacation. Classes are available for those 10 years of age and older. Have younger kids? No problem, check out snorkeling tours to get a taste of the majestic undersea world. There are no age limits or prior experience needed.

Swing through the trees like a Monkey!
Want to zip from tree to tree monkey-style? For those 8 years and older (and 4 feet tall or taller), strap on a helmet, latch on a zip line and prepare to feel the adrenaline pulsing and your heart thumping during a canopy tour. Zip lines are strung through the treetops up to 90 feet in the air throughout an ecological reserve outside of Puerto Vallarta. Hanging bridges and repelling are also part of this extreme adventure activity which is not for the faint of heart!

Sail with Whales!
Take the family on a sailing excursion on the beautiful bay. Day trips, sunset cruises and opportunities to sail with whales, are all available options.

Cultural Tours
Mexico is rich with history, culture and tradition. There are many tour operators offering immersive cultural experiences. Vallarta Adventures offers a tour into history with a visit to a remote mountain village, home to the indigenous Huichol Indians. These religious and artistic people are believed to be direct descendents of the Aztecs. This entire-day tour is offered only once per week from Dec. through April and requires a one-hour small plane ride to reach the remote village.

Wildlife Watching
Mexico is a bird watchers paradise with hundreds of species of native and migratory wildlife from parrots and blue-footed boobys and a wide variety of water fowl. Keep your eyes peeled, if you're lucky you may catch a sighting of wild boar, coatimundi, badger, armadillo or the rare jaguar. Take the family on a jungle Jeep Safari tour to seek out nearby native wildlife. Jeep tours are typically available to families with kids 8 years and older.

Learn more about this author, Sharon Dewar.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Family activities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico?
We want to hear your view. Write now!