No need to hire a guide to see all the highlights of this beautiful city. What better way to get some exercise and explore the city than on a free walking tour of Puerto Vallarta? After all, less money spent on a city tour means more money for margaritas on the beach later!
Below you can download the map to do your own self-guided Puerto Vallarta free walking tour! The Malecon and many of the city’s winding old backstreets and picturesque plazas are inaccessible to vehicle traffic, making them perfect for exploring on foot. This walk is intended to take up a full day, or better yet, divide it up into two days. Also, make sure to check out the short urban hike to Mirador La Cruz which has incredible views of the entire downtown area and the bay.
Puerto Vallarta Walking Tour Highlights
This self-guided free Puerto Vallarta walking tour covers city highlights such as Los Arcos Amphitheater, the main square (Plaza de Armas), Cuale Island and Market, Lazaro Cardenas Park, and the famous Malecon. Download the pdf version of our map, or see it in Google Maps below!
The Malecon
Start your walking tour by strolling down the Malecon, Puerto Vallarta’s seaside boardwalk that was remodeled in 2011 to be for pedestrians only. It is full of boutique shops, restaurants, and bars. You’ll also find numerous galleries along the way, but to get your dose of art, the Malecon itself is an open-air gallery full of beautiful sculptures in bronze, stone, and other durable materials.
40-min Detour Option: Make your way up to the Cerro de La Cruz lookout spot. If you make it all the way up, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of the entire bay, the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains, and the rustic rooftops of downtown. The 360-degree panoramic view makes this one of the 5 best Puerto Vallarta hiking trails.
Dominating the neighborhood is the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, one of Puerto Vallarta’s most important religious and cultural attractions. The tower of the church is topped with a crown which is said to be a replica of the crown worn by Carlota, a Belgian princess who became Empress of Mexico in 1864.
Keep walking along the Malecon, past the amphitheater, and over the Cuale Island bridge.
Cuale River Island
The free walking tour continues to Isla Cuale. It’s an island in the Cuale river that is home to a park, a cultural center, a craft market, and several restaurants. Make sure to cross the wooden suspension footbridge to the market to buy all kinds of Mexican crafts and souvenirs. It is a charming island bordered by the flow of fresh water and a green blanket of green vegetation.
Make your way up the Cuale river all the way up to Gringo Gulch for some of the best views of the city. To get down to the Zona Romantica area, walk down the Puente Iguana which also has beautiful panoramic views.
This pedestrian bridge connects Cuauhtémoc Street with the Cuale River Island at the Gringo Gulch, offering stunning views of the mountains surrounding the Romantic Zone and the Cuale River.
The Romantic Zone
Playa Los Muertos means ‘Beach of the Dead’, and the name comes from an old legend about a pirate battle that took place here.
Continue the Puerto Vallarta free walking tour by going south until you reach Los Muertos Pier, one of Puerto Vallarta’s most iconic landmarks. The views from the end of the pier are great so be sure and have your camera ready! Afterward, head to the fabulous town square of Zona Romantica, Lazaro Cardenas Park. It is full of intricate mosaic artwork and is a great spot for people-watching.
Also walk down Basilio Badillo Street in the heart of the Romantic Zone which is filled with art galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and bars. To finish off the Puerto Vallarta free walking tour, cool off at the local craft brewery, Los Muertos Brewing, with amazing beers and delicious pizzas.
The free walking tour map ends at the southern part of Los Muertos beach with the iconic Seahorse statue. This statue in Las Pilitas is actually the original one, sculpted by Rafael Zamarripa in 1960. After a storm swept it away into the sea, a larger replica was requested from the artist and it was placed on the Malecon, the first statue of many that are now part of an open-air exhibition along the seaside boardwalk. The original was then found, recovered, and you can see it there today, you can see that the concrete block is extra reinforced now and reinforced with iron to avoid it getting swept away again
Puerto Vallarta Walking Tour Maps
Enter your email below to download the city map of the self-guided free walking tour of Puerto Vallarta:
Free Walking Tour City Map
Street Art Walking Tour Map
Beach Please independently selects & reviews the businesses, restaurants, tours, and expeditions we recommend on our website. If you purchase through affiliate links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
