• Whale-watching in Banderas Bay
  

  
  Banderas Bay in which Puerto Vallarta nestles plays host to humpback whales between mid-December and late March, who come here to breed and give birth. Boat tours let you get close to them, you may also spot dolphins and the depths of the bay attract divers.
  
  

• Marieta Islands Marine Reserve
  

  
  This group of small uninhabited islands, with its lava tubes and caves, is one of Mexico's top diving and snorkelling destinations. Dive with sea turtles, manta rays, octopus, schools of fish and occasional humpback whales and orcas. Also good for bird life - blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, frigatebird.
  
  

• Banderas Bay beaches
  

  
  Banderas Bay boasts miles of wide, white-sand beaches, the most popular being the Playa de los Muertos in the Zona Romantica; one end of the beach - The Blue Chairs - is the gay beach. Most beaches offer parasailing and banana boating, but surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing are best at the north end of the bay.
  
  

• Zona Romantica
  

  
  The Emiliano Zapata district, aka the Zona Romantica, is the historical heart of the city, where Spanish colonial buildings along cobbled streets jostle for space amongst numerous restaurants, bars galleries, boutiques, hotels and guesthouses.
  
  

• Nightlife
  

  
  Puerto Vallarta has a lively nightlife and the best gay party scene in Mexico. You can have a beer at the Twisted Palms, cocktails at Divas Bar see a drag show at the Blue Chairs Beach Club get covered in foam at Señor Frog's and dance all night at Zoo Club Paco Paco or Mañana
  
  

• Eating out -- Mexican food
  

  
  Puerto Vallarta's diverse dining scene ranges from freshly-caught fish at El Brujo overstuffed fajitas at the Fajita Republic and simple just-off-the-griddle tortillas with numerous fillings from Mr Taco - a street vendor near the Malecon, to steak at Vista Grill and gourmet venues with beautifully presented fusion dishes, such as Teatro Limon
  
  

• Ziplining and canopy tours
  

  
  There are several ziplining or canopy tours that allow you to fly through the jungle and above rivers, attached to zip lines with your harness. One of the highest lines is a whopping 500ft above the jungle at Canopy Tour de Los Veranos while Canopy El Eden boasts one of the longest lines - 1650ft.
  
  

• Golf courses
  

  
  Puerto Vallarta has several championship golf courses, including the Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta, El Tigre and La Marina Vallarta golf clubs
  
  

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