🆕 Add Your Business to ShowMePV! Free Event & Deal Listings! 📣

Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta

Your August 2026 guide · updated Saturday, August 29, 2026 · 83+ local businesses listed

Puerto Vallarta packs a year-round calendar of live music, drag, dance, food, and culture into a walkable bayfront city — and the schedule changes every day. This guide is the locals' cheat sheet: tonight's shows, this weekend's headliners, restaurants and bars worth your time, tours and day trips, free things to do, and active deals — all pulled from the same calendar PV residents and snowbirds check first. Scroll for the live data; bookmark this page and come back tomorrow for an entirely new lineup.

Today in Puerto Vallarta

See all of today's events →

12 events today (Saturday, August 29, 2026) — daytime tours, afternoon happy hours, and evening shows

Naturally Mazcal Weekend Market

Naturally Mazcal Weekend Market

OutdoorShopping
Saturday, August 29 · 10 AM · Mazcal Naturals

Premium Herbal Supplements Handcrafted Mexican Items Sierra Madre Coffees Art & More Each Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM on East Isla Cuale.

Yoga Classes

Yoga Classes

Health & FitnessFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 10 AM · Vallarta Gay+ Community Center

Start your weekend right with yoga! Join us every Saturday at 10 AM at the Gay+ Community Center for a welcoming and inclusive yoga session. Whether you’re a beginner or have some

Puerto Vallarta Parasailing Experience

Puerto Vallarta Parasailing Experience

Outdoor
Saturday, August 29 · 12 PM · Puerto Vallarta

See Puerto Vallarta from a different perspective—the air—during this exciting parasailing tour. Start your flight from the beach, rather than on the water, which means that you can

Spanish Conversation Class

Spanish Conversation Class

CommunityFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 12 PM · Vallarta Gay+ Community Center

¡Spanish classes for the community! Learn, practice, and connect in a safe and welcoming environment. Join our Intermediate Spanish Conversation Class every Saturday, 12:00–2:00 PM

Whale and Dolphin Watching With a Biologist

Whale and Dolphin Watching With a Biologist

OutdoorTours
Saturday, August 29 · 12:30 PM · Puerto Vallarta

Set sail on Banderas Bay for an extraordinary whale and dolphin watching tour led by a certified marine biologist. From December through March, humpback whales migrate to these war

Chocolate Truffle Making Class

Chocolate Truffle Making Class

Food & DrinkClasses / TalksTours
Saturday, August 29 · 1 PM · XOCODIVA Fine Artisan Chocolate

“One of the best experiences I had in Puerto Vallarta, it was so much fun and obviously delicious!” – Anna Chocolate Truffle Making Classes Discover the art of hand made chocolate

R&B and Soul: Line Dancing

R&B and Soul: Line Dancing

MusicDanceFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 5 PM · La Catrina Cantina

Get ready to slide, step, and groove with us at La Catrina Cantina for a night full of feel-good vibes, smooth moves, and family-style fun! Depris will lead the line dancing sessio

Salvatore Rodríguez 50 Years Black & White Gala

Salvatore Rodríguez 50 Years Black & White Gala

MusicArt & CultureFood & Drink
Saturday, August 29 · 7 PM · Café des Artistes

Cafe des Artistes Puerto Vallarta, Chef Thierry Blouet, and Nissan Sierra Puerto Vallarta are pleased to invite you to the Black and White Gala Evening, a six-course dinner concert

Bachata & Salsa Dance Lessons

Bachata & Salsa Dance Lessons

MusicDanceFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 7 PM · La Catrina Cantina

Saturdays 7:00 pm 💃 Salsa & Bachata Saturdays! 🔥 Join us every Saturday for Free dance classes at La Catrina Cantina! 🕖 7:00–8:00 PM ✨ All levels welcome — come dance, have fun

Live Music: Eva

Live Music: Eva

MusicFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 7 PM · Awaysis Rio Bar

Experience an evening of unforgettable live music as Eva takes the stage at Awaysis Rio Bar. With her soulful voice, heartfelt performances, and effortless connection with the audi

Salsa Night | Alex Wera & Roberto Diaz

Salsa Night | Alex Wera & Roberto Diaz

MusicFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 8 PM · La Catrina Cantina

Saturdays 8:00 pm Salsa Night is heating up at La Catrina! 🔥💃🏻 Join us every Saturday for an unforgettable night of live salsa, Latin rhythms, and great vibes with Roberto Díaz

Monthly Cowboy Night

Monthly Cowboy Night

Free / No CoverMusicFood & Drink
Saturday, August 29 · 9 PM · The Banana Factory

The last Saturday of every month is Cowboy Night at The Banana Factory. Grab your hat and boots and come down. We have a DJ, food, drinks, and Fun.

This Weekend in Puerto Vallarta

See all weekend events →

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — headliner shows, market days, and dance nights

Naturally Mazcal Weekend Market

Naturally Mazcal Weekend Market

OutdoorShopping
Saturday, August 29 · 10 AM · Mazcal Naturals

Premium Herbal Supplements Handcrafted Mexican Items Sierra Madre Coffees Art & More Each Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM on East Isla Cuale.

Yoga Classes

Yoga Classes

Health & FitnessFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 10 AM · Vallarta Gay+ Community Center

Start your weekend right with yoga! Join us every Saturday at 10 AM at the Gay+ Community Center for a welcoming and inclusive yoga session. Whether you’re a beginner or have some

Puerto Vallarta Parasailing Experience

Puerto Vallarta Parasailing Experience

Outdoor
Saturday, August 29 · 12 PM · Puerto Vallarta

See Puerto Vallarta from a different perspective—the air—during this exciting parasailing tour. Start your flight from the beach, rather than on the water, which means that you can

Spanish Conversation Class

Spanish Conversation Class

CommunityFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 12 PM · Vallarta Gay+ Community Center

¡Spanish classes for the community! Learn, practice, and connect in a safe and welcoming environment. Join our Intermediate Spanish Conversation Class every Saturday, 12:00–2:00 PM

Whale and Dolphin Watching With a Biologist

Whale and Dolphin Watching With a Biologist

OutdoorTours
Saturday, August 29 · 12:30 PM · Puerto Vallarta

Set sail on Banderas Bay for an extraordinary whale and dolphin watching tour led by a certified marine biologist. From December through March, humpback whales migrate to these war

Chocolate Truffle Making Class

Chocolate Truffle Making Class

Food & DrinkClasses / TalksTours
Saturday, August 29 · 1 PM · XOCODIVA Fine Artisan Chocolate

“One of the best experiences I had in Puerto Vallarta, it was so much fun and obviously delicious!” – Anna Chocolate Truffle Making Classes Discover the art of hand made chocolate

R&B and Soul: Line Dancing

R&B and Soul: Line Dancing

MusicDanceFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 5 PM · La Catrina Cantina

Get ready to slide, step, and groove with us at La Catrina Cantina for a night full of feel-good vibes, smooth moves, and family-style fun! Depris will lead the line dancing sessio

Bachata & Salsa Dance Lessons

Bachata & Salsa Dance Lessons

MusicDanceFree / No Cover
Saturday, August 29 · 7 PM · La Catrina Cantina

Saturdays 7:00 pm 💃 Salsa & Bachata Saturdays! 🔥 Join us every Saturday for Free dance classes at La Catrina Cantina! 🕖 7:00–8:00 PM ✨ All levels welcome — come dance, have fun

Browse by Category

View all categories →

Restaurants, bars, attractions, hotels, and more — every business worth a visit, organized by what you're after

🎨Art Galleries🗺️Attractions, Tours & Classes🍹Bars & Nightclubs🤝Community Connections🎭Entertainment Venues💪Health & Fitness🏨Hotels & Accommodations🏠Real Estate🍽️Restaurants🛍️Shopping & Services

Live Music, Bars & Nightlife

See the full live music schedule →

PV has live music almost every night — acoustic sets, jazz, salsa, tribute shows, cabaret, and weekly open mics

The Romantic Zone (Zona Romántica) is PV's nightlife heart — drag and cabaret at venues like The Palm and Act II, late-night dance clubs in Olas Altas, and jazz spots that book multi-set evenings. Centro and Marina Vallarta have their own quieter live-music scenes — beachfront acoustic sets, Sunday brunch jazz, and weekly bingo / drag bingo nights at bars across the bay.

Restaurants & Dining

Browse all restaurants →

From beachfront ceviche to Michelin-trained tasting menus

Puerto Vallarta punches well above its weight on food. Standout spots range from Mariscos El Cuñado (locals' favorite for ceviche) to Café des Artistes (modern Mexican fine dining) to El Arrayán (regional traditional). Beachfront dining at Conchas Chinas and Boca de Tomatlán is a different mood entirely — seafood with your toes in the sand. Use the full restaurants directory to filter by neighborhood, cuisine, or price.

Tours, Attractions & Day Trips

Browse tours & attractions →

Hikes, snorkeling, boat trips, cultural tours, and nearby beach towns

The classic PV day trip is the boat ride to Yelapa or Las Ánimas — small fishing villages reachable only by water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán. Sayulita and San Pancho (about an hour north in Nayarit) are easy half-day surf-town visits. For something local, the Cuale River trail and Vallarta Botanical Gardens (south of town) are walkable nature breaks. Sunset cruises on Banderas Bay are still one of the most popular tourist activities; book through any tour operator on the Malecón.

Active Deals This Week

See all active deals →

Real-time discounts from PV businesses — happy hours, dining specials, spa packages, and more

2/1 House Cocktails, Martinis, Wines, Margaritas
2/1 House Cocktails, Martinis, Wines, Margaritas
Chachalaca Bar
Summer Embers Prix Fixe Menu - $675 Pesos/pp
Summer Embers Prix Fixe Menu - $675 Pesos/pp
Raices Resto Bar
2-for-1 Drinks and Pizza by the Slice Deals!
2-for-1 Drinks and Pizza by the Slice Deals!
The Brick Oven
Happy Hour – $75 MXN Palomas and Margaritas
Happy Hour – $75 MXN Palomas and Margaritas
El Soñador
Industry Night: 50% Off All Drinks!
Industry Night: 50% Off All Drinks!
El Soñador
All Day Happy Hour – 1/2 Price Specials
All Day Happy Hour – 1/2 Price Specials
Qulture

Free & Low-Cost Things to Do

See all free events →

Open mics, no-cover live music, public art walks, beach days, and community gatherings

Walk the Malecón at sunset for free public sculpture by Sergio Bustamante and a string of street performers. Hike the Cuale River trail for jungle-river swimming holes. Weekly art walks in Centro (Wednesday evenings, October–May), free salsa nights at Tropicana, and a steady stream of no-cover open mics keep the budget calendar full. The free events page updates daily.

Where to Stay

Browse hotels & accommodations →

Resorts, boutique hotels, and rentals across the bay

PV breaks roughly into four lodging zones. Zona Romántica (Old Town) is walkable to nightlife, restaurants, and gay-friendly venues — boutique hotels and Airbnbs dominate. Hotel Zone north of downtown is classic all-inclusive resort country. Marina Vallarta is quieter, condos and mid-range hotels by the yacht harbor. Punta Mita and Riviera Nayarit (north of the airport) is luxury-resort territory. Browse all PV hotels →

From the ShowMePV archive

For a curated evergreen list of locals' favorites — beaches, day trips, signature dining, the must-see public art — read 13 Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta. It pairs nicely with the live calendar above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What visitors most often ask before booking a Puerto Vallarta trip

What are the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta?

Locals will tell you the answer changes by the week. The best things to do in PV are tonight's live music shows, the headliner drag and cabaret performances in the Romantic Zone, beachfront dining in Conchas Chinas or Boca de Tomatlán, sunset sailing on Banderas Bay, hiking the Cuale River trails, and exploring the Malecón's public art and street performers. The full live schedule above shows exactly what's on this week — most nights have something free or low-cover.

What is there to do in Puerto Vallarta at night?

Puerto Vallarta's nightlife runs late. Start with happy-hour drinks on the Malecón or in Olas Altas around 6–7 PM, catch a 9 PM cabaret or drag show in the Romantic Zone (Act II, The Palm, Mr. Flamingo), then move to dance clubs (Mañana, Industry) that stay open until 4–6 AM on weekends. Live music venues like Roxy Rock House and Incanto book multiple sets per evening. See the live-music page for tonight's lineup.

Is Puerto Vallarta safe for tourists?

Yes — Puerto Vallarta is consistently rated one of Mexico's safest beach destinations for international visitors. Take normal urban precautions (don't leave valuables on the beach, use registered taxis or Uber after midnight, stick to well-lit streets in the Romantic Zone and Centro). Walking the Malecón at night is routine for locals and tourists alike. The U.S. State Department rates Jalisco at Level 3 overall, but with explicit exemptions for Puerto Vallarta's tourist areas.

What is the best time of year to visit Puerto Vallarta?

November through April is high season — dry, sunny days in the mid-80s°F (28–30°C), cool evenings, and the busiest event calendar. May and June are quieter and cheaper with great surf. July through October is rainy season — afternoon storms but lush green hills, lower hotel rates, and great dining deals. The events calendar runs year-round; rainy-season nights actually have some of PV's best indoor shows since the snowbird performers stay through summer.

How do you get around Puerto Vallarta?

Walking covers most of the Romantic Zone, Centro, and the Malecón. Local buses (Vallarta Plus, Compostela) run up and down the bay for 10–15 pesos. Uber and InDriver are reliable and cheap (Romantic Zone → Marina is typically 80–150 pesos). Yellow taxis are widely available; agree on the fare before getting in. For day trips to Sayulita, San Pancho, or Boca de Tomatlán, hire a driver or rent a car.

Are there free things to do in Puerto Vallarta?

Plenty. Walking the Malecón (PV's seaside boardwalk) past public sculptures by Sergio Bustamante and others, hiking the Cuale River trail, the free Cuale Cultural Center exhibits, weekly art walks in Centro, free salsa nights at Tropicana, and the regularly free open-mic and no-cover music nights listed on the free events page. The beaches themselves are public and free — locals like Los Muertos in the south or Conchas Chinas for snorkeling.

More ways to explore Puerto Vallarta