I'm going to be traveling to Mexico
September 3rd to 10th (Riviera Nayarit - Riu Jalisco)
I did the all-inclusive route for ease however can anyone who may have been in this area recommend any local tours? I'm thinking of the hidden beach?
Any recommendations on things to do or tour companies you may have used, for someone on a bit of a budget would be great! Thanks in advance!

We stayed here years ago. Hotel and staff were great. Food was also good. We did the Rythym of the nights tour which we really enjoyed. We just booked with the tour company at the hotel as it was easy.

Highly recommend looking at Vallarta Adventures they offer Rythyms of the Night. Plus many other tours.

We've been going for many years. Rhythm of the night is a beautiful trip but about $150 each. Boat, dinner and great entertainment. You go to Yelapa and the Botanical gardens without a tour and both are great trips. You figure out the bus to Puerto Villarta then a bus 5o the Botanical Gardens or at the Los Meutos Pier catch a water taxi. Both were pretty much all day great trips. San Sébastien is also a nice trip.

Walking and exploring the old part of PV (Romantic Zone, Olas Altas, cathedral etc) is fun and free. Google the cruise ship calendar for the port and choose a day when there’s no ships in.

Be mindful when taking a tour to the Rhythm of the Nights. Especially for those with mobility issues. I was there about 10 yrs ago and loved it. Went there again last November. The walking surface is very uneven and very hilly. Was difficult for some of my friends and going to the washrooms was quite a chore going downhill on the uneven surfaces in the middle of the crowds. Just my experience there.

Buses are very reasonable and interesting
Sayulita
All depends on your age and what you like do

Bucerias

Rhythms of the Night through Vallarta Adventures is worth every penny!
You get a boat ride across the Bay of Banderas, a very good buffet style dinner and an outdoor show choreographed by Cirque du Soleil. Pay for the upgrade to better seats on the boat, a table right on the ocean and reserved seat for the show. Also we’ll worth the extra expense. We have done it twice and will happily do it again next year!

Vallarta Adventures! Book directly through them.

Vallarta Adventures has great tours, I personally liked the zip line

Perm I personally did not enjoy the zip line at all. Someone told me that it would be fun and easy. It was not. LOL

We did our own tour and took a taxi to Sayulita (cost was about $40cad) then on the way home we took the city bus ($1/person) Buceraias is also close (we walked along the beach… don’t recommend) but you can also taxi and it was cheap. Both cute little towns.

Every time we have gone to PV we book a birdwatching tour with Alejandro. www.ecotoursvallarta.com.
He has taken us to a mcCaw rescue park stopping at a coffee plantation on the way. Great guy. Fluent English. Picks us up and drops us off at hotel. Saw some fantastic birds at the Botanical gardens which is a great place for lunch. Reasonable price. Have gone back to him several trips because his is good.
ECOTOURSVALLARTA.COM
Home

Bucarias (15 min walk). Great town, shopping, restaurants etc. Vallarta adventures (book online for discounts). Potentially fishing charters. Crocodile sanctuary is very cool but expensive taxi (or we got ripped off
)