Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port Guide: Best Things to Do in One Day

Planning a Puerto Vallarta cruise port day? In this video, we show you exactly what to do in Puerto Vallarta on a cruise, how to get from the cruise ship into town, where to go, what things cost, and what we would avoid when visiting Puerto Vallarta on a Mexican Riviera cruise. We visited Puerto Vallarta on Navigator of the Seas during a 7-night Royal Caribbean Mexican Riviera cruise, and because we’ve also spent time here on land-based vacations, we already knew exactly where we wanted to go: Zona Romántica, Los Muertos Beach, the Malecón, and some of our favorite local spots. In this Puerto Vallarta cruise port guide, we cover: • How to get from the Puerto Vallarta cruise port into town • Walking vs taking the port tram • How long it takes to get through the cruise terminal • Why you should leave extra time when returning to the ship • Taking an Uber from the cruise port • Typical Uber costs to Zona Romántica • What to expect from smaller Uber vehicles in Mexico • Zona Romántica Puerto Vallarta • Los Muertos Beach • Los Muertos Pier • The Puerto Vallarta Malecón • LGBTQ-friendly Puerto Vallarta • Gay bars and nightlife in Zona Romántica • Blondies frozen drinks and slushies • Beachfront restaurants in Puerto Vallarta • Cheap massages and spas • Mexican pharmacies • Summer heat and humidity in Puerto Vallarta • Whether you need a shore excursion in Puerto Vallarta • What to do in Puerto Vallarta in one day • Puerto Vallarta cruise tips • Mexican Riviera cruise tips • Royal Caribbean Puerto Vallarta port guide • Navigator of the Seas shore day • What to avoid near the Puerto Vallarta cruise port Puerto Vallarta is one of the easiest ports on this itinerary to explore independently. You really do not need an expensive excursion unless you want to do something specific like fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, or another activity out on Banderas Bay. For a simple day, we usually take an Uber from the cruise port down to Zona Romántica. The ride has often cost us around $5 to $10 per car, depending on demand and traffic. If you have a larger group, expect to split into multiple cars because many vehicles are fairly small. Once you arrive in Zona Romántica, there is plenty to do within walking distance. You can visit Los Muertos Beach, walk out onto the iconic Los Muertos Pier, explore the Malecón, grab food at a beachfront restaurant, stop for a frozen cocktail at Blondies, shop, get a massage, or simply walk around and enjoy one of the most lively neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta is also one of our favorite LGBTQ-friendly destinations in Mexico. Zona Romántica has a large concentration of gay bars, restaurants, clubs, beach venues, spas, and nightlife, making it especially popular with LGBTQ travelers. One thing to keep in mind is the weather. Puerto Vallarta can be extremely hot and humid during the summer months. If you are cruising here in July, August, or September, the heat can drain your energy quickly. If you have flexibility in your travel dates, we personally prefer Puerto Vallarta in the spring or later fall when temperatures and humidity are more comfortable. The other thing we would absolutely plan around is getting back to the ship. The Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal can take longer to navigate than some other ports. There may be lines for security, bag screening, walking through the terminal and shopping area, and then another wait for the tram back toward the ship. If you are able to walk comfortably, we often find that walking back to the ship can be faster than waiting for the tram. Overall, Puerto Vallarta is an excellent cruise stop because you can have a great day without overplanning it. Our basic Puerto Vallarta cruise-day strategy is simple: Get off the ship → take an Uber to Zona Romántica → explore the Malecón and Los Muertos Beach → eat, drink and relax → leave plenty of time to get back through the cruise port. If you’re sailing to Puerto Vallarta on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Norwegian, Holland America, Celebrity, or another Mexican Riviera cruise, hopefully this guide helps you plan an easy and affordable day in port. Let us know in the comments: #puertovallarta #PuertoVallartaCruisePort #puertovallartamexico #zonaromantica #LosMuertosBeach #LosMuertosPier #MexicanRivieraCruise #royalcaribbean #navigatoroftheseas #CruisePortGuide #cruisetips #MexicoCruise #shoreexcursions #lgbttravel #PuertoVallartaTravel #TravelWithNickAndTony