Puerto Vallarta Self-Guided Walking Tour with Audio Guide

Overview

Explore the sights, sounds, and most importantly, tastes of Puerto Vallarta. This self-paced walking tour narrates the fascinating stories of Old Vallarta and points out some of the best spots to eat along the way. You’ll see street performers along Malecon Boardwalk, shop at the Old Town market, see the lights at PV Pier, and even see the home that Richard Burton bought for Elizabeth Taylor! This walking tour covers about 3.5 miles of city streets and takes around three hours to complete. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

Itinerary

1. Bosques de las Lomas

   If we're walking past the little Cuban bar called El Bodeguita right now, you're really nailing this whole walking thing. Just don't go too fast. Have a look around while I fill you in. If you get as far as Senor Frogs, just hang there for a minute, okay? I don't want my next point to start too soon. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. The tour is over 3 miles long, with more than 61 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.

   · 5 min

2. Tierra Huichol

   Up on the next corner, there's some art that may catch your eye at a little shop called Tierra Huichol. Just look to the left for this shop, and if it's open, I highly recommend going in and having a look. This artwork is from the native Huichol people who come from this area of Mexico. It's hard to look past the beautifully intricate beadwork sculptures, but I do hope that you'll notice the tapestries, too. Those yarn paintings are the original art of the Huichol people and were originally used to decorate very sacred spaces. The traditional way of making both the tapestries and the statues is to press the yarn, or beads, one by one, into a mixture of beeswax and pine resin.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

3. Technically, as we walk up these stairs, this is still considered Calle Zaragoza. But thankfully, no one's driving down here. Right, in just a second, we're going to turn left on Cay Miramar. Miramar translates to mira, which is look or view, and mar is Spanish for the ocean or sea. In other words, Oceanview Street. Oh, yeah, it sounds posh, doesn't it? Sadly, it's a bit of a bummer that all these houses and beautiful trees are ruining our view right now. Back to the ocean, isn't it? Imagine the view from these houses up here.

   · 5 min

4. I absolutely adore this neighbourhood. It's simply called Centro. And Gringo Gulch, where we're heading, is basically the streets along this side of the river. Heading up and over this hill, Centro eventually turns to Cinco de Diciembre... Which is quite a bit less gringo-y. This area has all the charm of old Vallarta... The Miradors, the ocean views... And quite a few cute boutique hotels and vacation rentals. Hacienda San Angel, coming up on our right, is one of those hotels.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

5. All right, friends, let's stop beneath the bridge here so I can continue the story. Another beautiful night out in Vallarta is to invite yourself over to Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor's house. That's easier than it sounds, actually. You can make a reservation here at Casa Kimberley coming up on our left. Actually, Casa Kimberley is the hotel portion, and the Iguana is the famed restaurant.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

6. Let's stop here in the middle of the bridge for a second. Is it bouncing a little bit? Do you feel it? Yeah. Do not worry. We are not having an earthquake. Yes, this bridge does bounce a little bit sometimes but it is completely stable. This is the Iguana Bridge, obviously named after the influential John Huston movie that helped put Peavey on the map. Built in 2012 to help connect Gringo Gulch to the heart of downtown, it's a pretty great addition to making this a very walkable city. Also have a look up and down the river if it's the winter months or the dry season down here, this lazy little river looks like a lovely setting for locals to take a refreshing dip. If it's summer or rainy season. The Quale river below us might be a raging torrent with all the water coming down the mountain. This peaceful little stream has caused some serious devastation in the past. All right, down the bridge we go.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

7. This is one of two craft breweries in the heart of downtown Vallarta. Los Muertos Brewing has become a pretty popular staple for those who just need a taste of home. Personally, I'm more of a fan of the pizza here than the beer... But the service is always great and these folks have a pretty decent ambiance as well.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

8. Alright, if you haven't already, let's cross the street into the park and maybe find a shady place to sit down and take a break for a minute. Or you can have a walk around and see what they've done. If it's early on a Saturday, you'll experience what this park is best known for today. Officially, this is Lazaro Cardenas Park, named after the most popular Mexican president in the last 100 years. You'll also hear the park called the Olasaltes Farmer's Market. Now, calling it a farmer's market, that might be a bit of a stretch.

   · 5 min· Admission not included

9. I'm going to start now, but I want you to cross the street ahead as soon as you can towards the Pacifica Condos and Fajita Republic. We'll get a good vantage point for what's around here in just a second. Despite being in the absolute heart of the tourist zone, this corner coming up is a garbage pickup spot and it smells like a wet hot mess. Just plug your nose and we'll get through this together, amigos.

   · 5 min

10. I don't want to ruin the mood, but if you keep watching out over the ocean, you'll see planes leaving every five or ten minutes. Yep, that's going to be us one of these days. Just remember this moment when you didn't have a care in the world.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

11. If it seems like this building we're walking past right now is a bit bigger than the other condo buildings in this area, you would be right. There's a height restriction of typically seven floors for buildings downtown so that they don't obstruct each other's views. But somehow this complex slipped through with 11. Or is it 12? Like the derelict building overlooking the square we just passed. There are a lot of rumors about who allowed this to be so tall, who was and wasn't paid bribes, and whether someone went to jail for it. Now, unlike the derelict building, Molina de Agua is an absolutely gorgeous home for hundreds of part time expats and retirees living here full time.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

12. Why don't we stop somewhere just before the stairs? Coming up on the right, we're crossing the Puente Rio Quale or the Quale River Bridge. We're about to head down the stairs here. For the last few stops on our tour, you've been a trooper. And this last little bit is a pretty easy walk through the shade. I'll point out a banyan tree and talk about some recent history with the city's flooding. Plus, there are all kinds of kitschy souvenirs to peruse with pushy sales guys to help you decide what to get. And heads up, the tequila factory at the bottom.

    · 5 min· Admission not included

How to use your ticket

Ticket handed over by the operator on site

IGNORE THE QR CODE ABOVE The QR code CANNOT be presented for a ticket onsite. The QR simply contains your tour access instructions. Please follow these instructions BEFORE you’re onsite because they require WiFi/signal. 1. Download my Action Tour Guide app: actiontourguide.com/app 2. Sign in/ register with your email (this is will automatically generate a one-time verification sent to your email. That code is NOT your tour password). 3. Go to “My Tours” and select “Enter Password”. Find your password in the instructions email sent by “Action Tour Guide” to you by email and text. 4. Download your tour NOW. Do not wait until you are onsite. BEFORE YOU START This is a self-guided audio tour. No guide will meet you. Entrance tickets, attraction tickets, parking, and transportation are not included. Your tour has lifetime access with no expiry. Use it on any date—no need to change your booking date. For walking tours, we recommend headphones. See how it works: actiontourguide.com/tutorial NEED HELP? Setup: actiontourguide.com/redeem FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq Call: 1-508-506-1844 Email: support@actiontourguide.com

Meeting and end point

What to know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
• Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group.
• At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
• Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
• Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
• More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
• Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
• Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
• Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
• Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

Travelers

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• From 1 days before : 100% refunded
• From 0 days before : 0% refunded

Reviews

Product code: 148912P13

Activity offered by Walk with Action via Viator.