We recently went on wonderful multi-generational trip with Jason’s parents and his brothers over winter break. We chose Puerto Vallarta (PV) as our destination and it was perfect – here’s why:

All-Inclusive Options: There are many All-Inclusive Resorts in PV. For group travel, I am a huge fan of all-inclusive resorts because they take away the stress of meal and activity planning. Everyone in our extended family (10 of us, ranging from 2 to 73 years old), enjoyed our stay at Velas Vallarta.

Weather: My husband’s family is from Canada, and they were seeking a warm winter escape. Puerto Vallarta delivered with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s Fahrenheit (24-28°C) during the first week of January.

Ease of Travel: Puerto Vallarta is a convenient destination to get to! My husband’s family found direct flights from Saskatoon, Canada, and we flew directly from Orange County, California, to PV.

Our impressions of the Velas Vallarta Resort

After working through the end of December (including Christmas Day), we arrived at Velas Vallarta ready to relax! The resort grounds were lush and beautiful, the meals were delicious, and the sunsets over the ocean were stunning.

Velas Vallarta is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort located in Marina Vallarta. It has direct beach access, gorgeous gardens, and a wide range of amenities. There is a large main pool with a swim-up bar, a lazy river, and a shallow kiddie pool. Dining options include La Ribera, Andrea, a poolside grill for casual bites, and convenient room service. One of our favorite moments was savoring Chilaquiles on the patio each morning.

Our boys and their uncles had a blast playing pickleball and tennis. The resort also offers yoga classes, water aerobics, beach volleyball, and even cooking lessons. For younger guests, the kids’ club provides activities like tennis lessons, arts and crafts, and movie nights. Evening entertainment ranges from live music to karaoke and cultural shows.

ur one-bedroom suite was spacious and included a fully equipped kitchenette—not that we needed to cook with all the delicious dining options available! My only minor gripe was the sleeper sofa, which could have been more comfortable. If your family requires extra beds, it’s something to keep in mind. In hindsight, we might have opted for a two-bedroom suite if it weren’t for the peak holiday season and peak prices.

Velas Vallarta’s convenient location near the airport, Marina Vallarta, and downtown Puerto Vallarta made it easy to venture out and explore. Overall, the resort was a fantastic choice for our family trip, offering a great balance of relaxation, activities, and convenience.

*A highlight of our stay was New Year’s Eve, complete with a spectacular fireworks show right on the beach! We skipped the add-on New Year’s Eve dinner celebration, but it looked absolutely lovely for those who attended.

Excursions & Activities in Puerto Vallarta

Our family loves exploring and getting outside, so we took advantage of the many things to do in Puerto Vallarta beyond the resort. Instead of booking tours through the concierge, I researched and booked them myself. I invited my in-laws on these excursions and they joined us for a couple of them. Here’s a summary of our favorite activities and tips to help you make the most of your visit to PV.

Getting Around: Uber

We found Uber to be an easy and affordable way to get around Puerto Vallarta from our resort. Rides were around $10-15 USD (about 200-250 pesos) to the port or city, and drivers showed up within 10 minutes. We felt safe using Uber and appreciated how polite and professional the drivers were.

Golfing in Puerto Vallarta

Jason and his brother took the boys to play golf at the Marina Vallarta Golf Course. It’s a short walk away from Velas Vallarta. They took advantage of the resort’s discount and the twilight rate. The boys were excited to spot alligators and turtles on the course, things they don’t usually see on the courses at home! Jason and his brother also spent a day at the more upscale Vista Vallarta Club de Golf.

Ziplining: Los Veranos Canopy and Adventure Park

We couldn’t miss the chance to zipline through the jungle and experience “the world’s longest zipline system”. You can either take a bus to get there, or opt for a speedboat ride from the marina. We chose the speedboat ride along the coastline to Boca de Tomatlán. Boca is a cute little fishing village and gateway to adventure.

On this tour, there are 19 ziplines that give you incredible views of the jungle and canyon. Some lines were hundreds of feet above the ground! After ziplining, we enjoyed lunch by the river (additional cost), and visited their rescued animal sanctuary. Before heading home, the boys took turns going down the natural waterslides into the river! We passed on the tequila tasting, but there is one here is available to adults.

Details: Price: Approximately $118 USD per person, less for kids; Departs from the Puerto Vallarta Marina

If you’d like to see a short video of this tour, you can check out this instagram reel I created from our experience!

Chica Locca: Sunset and Whale Watching Yacht Tour

From November to April, Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta becomes home to humpback whales who come here to breed, nurse their calves, and enjoy the warmer waters. During this Sunset & Whales Mega Yacht Tour, we were lucky to spot several whales before enjoying a gorgeous sunset. We chose this whale watching tour because it seemed to be one of the more relaxing options. They do not overbook their boats, and offer comfortable viewing decks and all inclusive drinks/ snacks. All of Chica Locca’s tour look pretty amazing, and we’d love to a try a different one next time.

For a short video of this experience, watch here.

Details: Departs from the Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port (Puerto Mágico Office).

Quimixto Waterfall & Beach Tour

We joined this Airbnb Experience with a local guide Antony who took us to Quimixto, a hidden gem beach town south of Puerto Vallarta. The adventure began with a 25 minute bus ride from the Romantic District of PV to Boca de Tomatlan. Then, we took a scenic water taxi ride to Quimixto. The boat ride was stunning, passing by secluded beaches and mountains along the coastline.

Once we arrived in Quimixto, we walked through the small village to a waterfall. There are 3 ways to get to the waterfall: 1) hiking an one-mile hike with 300 ft of elevation gain (Free), 2) by ATV ride ($400 pesos pp or around $20) or 3) by horse ($400 pesos pp).

Once we arrived at the waterfall, there was a small cafe overlooking it where we enjoyed a beverage (included in the tour, as the “attraction fee” for the waterfall). The water was cold, but Jason and the boys did some cliff jumping where our guide and locals showed them it was safe.

After visiting the waterfall, we walked back through the village to the beach. We enjoyed a delicious seafood lunch at Coco’s. We loved this excursion as it was a unique, off-the-beaten-path adventure.

For a short video of our lovely day exploring Quimixto, watch here.

Details: Book on airbnb experience. Antony was a wonderful guide with great communication. Price: Approximately $40 pp. Bring cash for the ATV, horse and lunch.

Hands on Experience: ChocoMuseo Bean to Bar Workshop

For a unique cultural experience, we took part in a hands-on chocolate-making workshop at ChocoMuseo in downtown Puerto Vallarta. Over two hours, we learned about the history of cacao and chocolate, roasted and ground cacao beans, and crafted our own chocolates with a variety of toppings. We also prepared three traditional chocolate drinks. It was a fun and educational experience we all enjoyed. At the end, we got to take home the chocolates we made—a perfect souvenir!

For a short video of our chocolate experience, watch here.

Details: Daily from 3-5pm. Price: approximately $60pp. Children aged 4 and older can participate. Classes are limited to 8 people. We booked our class through this link.

Local Food: Must-Try Eats in Puerto Vallarta

I believe that one of the best ways to experience a destination is through its food. We only had the chance to try a couple meals in town, since we had most of our meals at our all-inclusive resort. Everything we tried was fantastic, so I’m sharing the details below!

After our chocolate workshop, we decided to stay in the city for dinner. We asked our instructor where her favorite taco place was, and she directed us to Taqueria El Carboncito . We spent some time soaking in the sunset as we walked over from the Malecon. Service was a bit slow, but the tacos were worth the wait – especially the Al pastor. This place was my favorite!

I wanted desert after those tacos, and lucky for me – google maps showed Julio’s Churros nearby. These are the best churros we’ve ever had in our lives! This churro stand is a few blocks away from Taquiero Carboncito and Pepe’s Tacos on the corner of Peru and Uraguay. Julio is only there in the evenings. We got a large bag of churros for 50 pesos, or around $2.50.

On our last day in PV, we had some time between checkout and our departure, so we decided to return to the city for a lunch . This time, we decided to try one of Puerto Vallarta’s “best tacos” by popularity. The two that most people share are Panchos Takos or Pepe’s Tacos. Pepe’s is also known for their Al pastor tacos. The Hawaiian style with pineapple chunks were so good. I think I liked the ones from Carboncito a little more, but these were fantastic as well.

Photoshoot with a local Photographer

We’ve made it a tradition to book photoshoots with local photographers during our travels, capturing milestones like anniversaries, birthdays, and family reunions. For our trip to Puerto Vallarta, I found Soy Prome Photography through the hashtag #puertovallartaphotographer on Instagram.

Final Thoughts/ Tips:

Between the all-inclusive resort and the excursions, Puerto Vallarta truly had something for everyone in our family—from young to old. It offered the perfect mix of relaxation, natural beauty, adventure, and cultural experiences. We loved our week there, and can’t wait to visit again!

• We recommend Uber for getting to tour meet up spots, or exploring on your own.
• Puerto Vallarta is a cruise port, so that’s another way to visit!
• There are several other experiences we would like to do next time we visit, including 1) exploring nearby Sayulita, 2) go snorkeling, 3) try out more local food!
• Be prepared to pay cash for local services and small restaurants. Pesos are preferable since the businesses do not provide as good of an exchange rate for US dollars.
• Bring or buy mosquito repellent once there.

Disclaimer: All opinions and recommendations in this post are entirely my own. My experiences and views are shared honestly to provide helpful insights for fellow travelers.