Being in Puerto Vallarta is delightful. Yet a considerable chunk of this enchantment is also in the surroundings because both Jalisco and Nayarit, in the neighboring state, hold countless sightseeing spots. It all depends on spare time. Our tips include the sea and the mountains. Not far from the town, sailing on a panga off the Playa de los Muertos wharf, or signing up for a boat tour that reaches to the lovely beaches of Yelapa, Quimixto and Las Animas.

You can also drive your way to Nayarit, a place dotted by small towns and solitary beaches as gorgeous as San Pancho and Litibu. The bustling Sayulita is always ready to welcome surfers. A little bit farther, you cannot fail to swing by San Sebastian del Oeste, west of Puerto Vallarta, a location that can be reached either by plane or by car. With only 7,000 residents, this hamlet has barely changed over the past 400 years, while its mild weather –somewhere between mountain climate and peace of mind- has also been the same.

Pay a visit to the Museum of Doña Conchita, a gem somewhat neglected by local authorities. If you still some time left, don’t miss out on a visit to Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco. This is a big city with a historic center brimming with sightseeing sites, museums, squares and bustling streets. At a five-hour drive from Puerto Vallarta (by bus), the long ride to know a state in-depth and witness the lifestyle of an active and purely Mexican city is worth so many miles.