Snorkel, swim, and kayak through the stunning rock formations scattered around the Marietas Islands. Beloved by Jacques Cousteau for their rich marine life and clear waters, this underwater playground is an ideal place to spend the afternoon.

Meet up with your boat at a convenient departure location on the waterfront in Nuevo Vallarta or Puerto Vallarta. After you climb aboard, enjoy a light breakfast of fresh fruit while you make your way out to the Marietas Islands. When you arrive, don snorkel gear and jump into the water to look for graceful manta rays, leggy octopus, and scores of bright, tropical fish.

Follow up your snorkeling adventure with a guided kayak trip. Learn about the islands' geologic past and keep your eyes peeled for migrating whales and playful pods of dolphins. Back on the boat, tuck into a tasty deli-style lunch featuring delicious sandwiches and salads, or kick back with a drink from the open bar while your crew sets a course for your return to port.

Take a scenic sunset cruise across Banderas Bay to one of the most secluded beaches in the world, Las Caletas, and enjoy a romantic evening out. Once on the island, enjoy a lavish beachside dinner and a mesmerizing performance of ancient rituals and stories, revealed through music and modern dance.

Kick off the evening with a scenic cruise across Banderas Bay to Las Caletas, an isolated cove only accessible by boat. As the sun sets, watch the scattered lights emerge along Puerto Vallarta's coastline; later, look ahead to see torches flickering on the beach. Las Caletas, once home to Hollywood movie director John Huston, offers panoramic ocean views, front-row sunset seats, and private dinner tables just steps away from the water.

As a blanket of stars covers the sky, enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine by candlelight. The buffet-style menu offers a wide-variety of items such as freshly grilled steak, tender chicken, barbecued ribs, grilled fish, pasta salad, and an assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables. Top off your meal with coffee, a cocktail, or dessert as pulsing drums draw you to the outdoor amphitheater.

Watch the lively reenactment of ancient rituals and learn historical, religious, and mythological stories. Through the elaborate wardrobes, exciting dances, and rhythmic songs, you insight into pre-Hispanic civilizations.

Sample menu includes:

• Grilled steak, chicken and fish
• Fresh vegetables and salad
• Tropical fruit
• Handmade tortillas
• Chocolate brownies, pies, and rice pudding

Experience an adrenaline rush like never before on an ultimate adventure of Puerto Vallarta's land and sea. Spend 6.5 hours repelling down a waterfall, ziplining into a mountain pool, riding a mule up a mountain, riding an 846-foot (258-m) waterslide, and off-roading in a 4-wheel drive "unimog."

Fly across the water on a speedboat from Puerto Vallarta to Boca de Tomatlan, a secluded beach on the southern shores of Banderas Bay. A 4-wheel-drive Mercedes Benz unimog picks you up and motors to the Sierra Madre Mountains—2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level. Here you're immediately greeted by friendly mules who give you a spellbinding ride higher into a subtropical forest, where the tour reaches its apex.

Feel the heart-dropping plunge of swooshing across the longest and highest zipline in Mexico. Traverse obstacles and cross aerial bridges connecting the series of ziplines. The final zip includes a refreshing dip into a natural river pool.

Appreciate the satisfaction of successfully rappelling down a 90-foot (30-m) cascading waterfall. Next, plunge down 2 exhilarating waterslides, including the third tallest drop in the world at 846 feet (258 m). With the abundant jungle as your playground, you won’t find a dull moment in this Outdoor Adventure Circuit.

Devote an entire day to playing with dolphins and relaxing along the glittering Pacific coast at Aquaventuras Water Park. Pick up fascinating information about the intelligent sea mammals, watch them perform mesmerizing acrobatics, and then explore an array of waterslides and theme-park rides.

Make your way to Aquaventuras Water Park in Nuevo Vallarta and prepare to meet the curious dolphins. Absorb a short safety briefing and get outfitted with a life jacket. Then, position yourself atop an accessible platform located in the swimming area. Behold the dolphins darting powerfully through the surf, emerging from the whitecaps to arc gracefully through the air.

Then, delight in the gentle way the dolphins approach the platform. Revel in a unique opportunity to offer a handshake or a hug to your new aquatic friends. Finally, dedicate the rest of your day to enjoying water park's exclusive facilities. Sail down all 10 of the park's waterslides, indulge in a leisurely float on the lazy river, relax and sunbathe by the pool, and observe a live sea lion show.

Share a wet kiss and a slippery hug with the ocean's most flirtatious creature, a sea lion. Hop in a specially designed pool with a professional trainer and spend time learning about sea lions' anatomy, eating habits, playful behavior, and what you can do to help conservation efforts.

Marine mammal trainers invite you to join an educational and hands-on poolside experience with the friendly sea lions. Watch these fascinating animals propel through the water and waddle around their cave, waterfall, and rock platform. Listen to their noisy barking and learn about their unique communication, pup rearing techniques, and why they're so friendly.

These lively animals are known for their intelligence and playfulness, so don't be surprised when they jump over you in the middle of the water. Learn signals for tricks and feed some of the sea lions their favorite treats. This is 1 of just 2 places in the world that offers the rare opportunity to meet and get up-close with sea lions—don't miss it on your trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Rip around the trails at the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains during an exhilarating ATV ride, and then zipline over coastal Mexico's lush greenery. This tour gets you out of Puerto Vallarta and into the exquisite countryside, and includes stops for a refreshing swim and samples of tasty tequila.

Get picked up from Puerto Vallarta and venture toward the Sierra Madre Occidental, a vast range that runs along the Gulf of California and into Western Mexico. Learn to maneuver a rugged ATV during an orientation. Then, take to the trails. Feel a sense of prowess as you clamber up rough mountain passes and scale steep tracks with speed.

Before long, hear the thundering sound of El Salto Waterfall. Race around a picturesque curve and land at the falls, where you can cool off in the aquamarine pools after your adrenaline-pumping pursuits. Continue the excitement on a zipline course with 11 lines. Float above the Cuale River and drink in vistas of the lush tropical forest as you swoop from platform to platform.

End your day with an entertaining mule-ride. Sidle back into the city atop a friendly 4-legged creature and indulge in a tequila tasting. The tequila is sourced from a local producer and serves as an excellent conclusion to your already unforgettable day.