A Little Piece of Paradise in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

There are many reasons why Puerto Vallarta continues to draw travelers to its cobblestone streets, sparkling coast and scenic Sierra Madre Mountains – among these reasons is the fact that there simply is so much to do and so many amazing places to see here.

If you’ve never been to Puerto Vallarta before, you’ll most likely have a hard time narrowing the To Do List down to a few attractions.

Yet, as in all destinations, some attractions in Puerto Vallarta are better than others, especially for family travelers with kids in tow. One of them is the little piece of tropical paradise fittingly named Las Caletas, a coastal land nestled between the coast and the Sierra Madre Mountains not far from the city’s center.

Only reachable by boat, Las Caletas is exclusively available to Puerto Vallarta (and neighboring Nuevo Vallarta) visitors that take Vallarta Adventures’ Las Caletas day tour, which takes about approximately 7 hours. The tour includes continental breakfast (for early departures), drinks, lunch, snorkeling/kayaking/paddle boarding equipment, onboard entertainment and most activities.

A quick 45-minute catamaran ride from Puerto Vallarta takes visitors young and old across Banderas Bay to Las Caletas, which served as the former home to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre director John Huston. Today, it has been converted by top tour operator Vallarta Adventures into a stunning piece of hideaway that’s very much like Disney’s private island Castaway Cay – only in some ways just a little better.

The Vallarta Adventures-owned spot is an idyllic, family-friendly getaway that affords activities that are as great for kids as they are for adults. These activities include water activities like snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, Scuba diving and swimming, as well as land-based activities such as guided nature walks, animal encounters, clay modeling and cooking lessons.

An Adventure Park where the youngest family members can go on short but fun zip line courses, cross hanging bridges and spend time with animals at the Las Caletas’ very own petting zoo is also available for kids 4 through 11. For relaxation, lounge chairs as well as hammocks, some hanging above the shallows, are available complimentary to all guests; not to mention the very affordable spa treatments that come with an ocean view.

Perhaps the best thing about Las Caletas, however, is the fact that it’s truly, authentically Mexican – from the old-fashioned yet well-built wooden dock that greets arriving guests down to the delicious dishes served at the lunch buffet, tropical drinks and décor.