Puerto Vallarta Best Zipline Canopy + Tequila and Speed Boat Ride

The best part of this Puerto Vallarta adventure comes near the end: you race another person on twin cables and finish at a tequila bar beside the river. Before that, you cross 19 ziplines high above the Los Horcones River, with jungle views and plenty of uphill steps between platforms.

I like the mix of adrenaline and water time, since you can swim, kayak, and use the waterslides after the canopy course. I also like the guides, including Pepe, Edgar, Chica, and Fernando, who are praised for keeping nervous people calm and making children feel secure. The catch is simple: this is a demanding physical outing, and the steep stairs can be harder than the ziplines.

Key points at a glance

• Nineteen zipline runs: The course gives you a full half-day of activity, not just one short cable ride.
• Optional speedboat arrival: The boat crosses the bay and may add sea views and wildlife sightings, but it requires an extra port fee.
• A real workout between platforms: Expect steep paths, stairs, heat, and humidity before the early lines.
• Tequila and river recreation: Tasting is included, while lunch, cocktails, and other drinks cost extra.
• Animal sanctuary on site: You can see squirrel monkeys, marmosets, coatimundis, boas, toucans, and iguanas.
• Good for active families: The minimum age is 5, but height, weight, health, and fitness rules matter.

Nineteen ziplines above the Los Horcones River

Los Veranos Canopy Tour gives you much more than a quick ride through the trees. The course uses 19 cables suspended as high as 328 feet above the ground, with platforms linked by marked paths and stairs.

Your day begins with a safety briefing. Guides explain how to clip onto the cable, control your position, and move safely at each platform. You then put on a helmet and harness before climbing to the first launch point.

The first lines set the tone. You get broad views of the forest and river, but the route between platforms requires work. Several people describe the early section as the hardest part of the day, with one estimate putting the physical challenge at about 7.5 out of 10.

I would not book this as a passive sightseeing trip. You need to walk uphill, manage stairs, and stay comfortable in warm, humid conditions. The cables themselves are exciting, but your legs may complain more during the climbs.

The reward is a varied course. Some lines give you height and open views. Others keep you close to the trees and river. The final pair of cables allows you to race someone in your group, which gives the finish a playful edge.

Guides often add small challenges, such as flying upside down when conditions allow. That can be fun for confident participants, but you never need to perform a trick to enjoy the course. If you feel nervous, tell the guide. One account describes a participant who became anxious after the first line and received patient help until she felt ready to continue.

The guides make the difference

A zipline operator can make a good course feel safe or make a safe course feel stressful. Here, the staff receives frequent praise for keeping groups moving while checking harnesses and encouraging people who are unsure.

Pepe, Edgar, Chica, Ramon, Mane, Jesus, and Fernando are among the guides named by people who enjoyed the outing. The staff is described as friendly, funny, bilingual, and attentive. English is offered, and Spanish speakers should also find communication easy.

The humor keeps the mood light, particularly when several people in the group are tense at the first platform. Still, humor is personal. One person found a few jokes dated and uncomfortable, so do not expect a perfectly polished performance from every guide.

There is also one serious complaint alleging inappropriate physical contact by workers. That allegation is not consistent with the many comments about professional, safety-minded staff, but it is worth acknowledging. Guides should assist only as needed for safety, and you should speak up immediately if any contact feels improper.

Groups can be fairly large, with a maximum of 99 participants. Most of the time, the staff keeps the activity organized, but a big group can slow the course and reduce quiet time at the river. If you need a private outing, this is not advertised as a private tour.

Speedboat or land transfer into the hills

You can reach the site by land from a meeting point in Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta, or select the sea transfer. The speedboat option crosses the bay and takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the departure point and conditions.

The boat ride is not just transport. You get a different view of Puerto Vallarta from the water, and sightings can include sea turtles or whales. That kind of wildlife encounter is never guaranteed, but it adds a memorable start when it happens.

The boat option has an extra port fee of about $2, payable at the office by cash or card. Read the pickup instructions closely, especially if you are arriving from a cruise ship. The meeting point is the Los Veranos Canopy Tour main office on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio, and you should arrive 15 minutes before departure.

The land option may be the better choice for anyone who wants less time on open water or needs a simpler transfer. It is also suggested for pregnant people, children under 5, and those with certain heart, back, or shoulder conditions who want to enjoy the non-zipline activities.

Transport can include an open-air truck ride into the hills after the main transfer. That rougher mountain ride is part of the setting, but it is not luxurious. Build in extra time, and do not assume the advertised five hours will feel exact. Delays, group transfers, and time spent at the site can stretch the day.

One important warning applies to cruise passengers. Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan may sit in different time zones, and ship time may not match local time. Confirm the return schedule before leaving the port. If you have another appointment, tell the staff early and keep checking the time.

The river stop is more than a finish line

After the zipline course, you reach a riverside restaurant and recreation area. This is where the day changes from exertion to relaxation.

You can swim in natural river pools, use kayaks and water toys, and race down waterslides when weather permits. The water offers a welcome break after the hot uphill walks. Bring a swimsuit and towel, and expect to get wet if you use the slides or kayaks.

The setting is one of the strongest reasons to choose this tour instead of a standalone zipline. You can spend time by the river, eat lunch, and visit the small animal sanctuary without arranging a second activity.

The main weakness is time management. The posted duration is about five hours, but the schedule at the property can feel longer. Some people want more time in the river and less time waiting at the restaurant or for transfers. Others appreciate a slow meal and a chance to dry off.

Ask clearly when you need to return to your vehicle or boat. If staff gives you a colored bracelet or directs you to a particular vehicle, confirm exactly where it goes. One participant misunderstood the instructions and missed the speedboat return. Asking at every transition takes a minute and can prevent a costly mistake.

Tequila tasting and lunch by the water

Traditional tequila tasting is included. It gives you a chance to try several styles and learn a little about the drink before or after your meal.

Lunch and drinks are not included. The sample menu includes avocado salad, chicken, flank steak, or shrimp fajitas, pizza, and warm apple cake with vanilla ice cream. Portions can be large, so two people may be able to share some dishes.

Food opinions are mixed. Some people find the restaurant meal good and convenient, while others consider certain dishes expensive for the quality. Pizza receives particularly favorable mention, while one person found a quesadilla soggy and the tacos disappointing.

I would treat lunch as a practical part of the day, not the main reason to book. You are paying for the location and convenience as much as the food. Bring extra cash or a card, and check the menu before ordering if value matters to you.

Cocktails such as mango margaritas and mojitos cost extra. The tequila tasting is included, but do not confuse that with an open bar. You will pay separately for alcoholic drinks, lunch, souvenirs, and photo packages.

Animals at the small sanctuary

The on-site menagerie gives you another reason to linger after the cables. Depending on the current animals and conditions, you may see squirrel monkeys, marmosets, coatimundis, boas, toucans, and iguanas.

This is not a large zoo visit. It is a small animal area connected to the canopy property, so expectations should stay modest. Still, it adds variety, especially for families with children who enjoy wildlife.

Some children may prefer the animal area to the tequila tasting, while adults may appreciate having a calm activity after the physical course. The river, restaurant, slides, and animals also mean nonparticipants have more to do than simply wait for the zipliners.

What the $120 price really covers

At $120 per person, this is not a cheap zipline ride. The price includes round-trip land or sea transportation, the full 19-line course, water stations, tequila tasting, kayaks, waterslides, and river activities when weather permits.

That package can be good value if you want a full day with several parts. A standalone canopy ride would not give you the boat option, river recreation, restaurant, tequila tasting, and animals in one outing.

The price becomes less appealing if you do not plan to zipline or use the river activities. Lunch, drinks, photos, and port charges raise your total. Photo packages have been reported at roughly $70 to $90, which many people consider high. Bring a phone with a secure strap if you want your own pictures, but follow the guide’s instructions about using it on the course.

A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation arrives when you book. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund. Within 24 hours, cancellation or changes are not accepted for a refund.

Fitness, clothing, and safety details

Wear closed, comfortable shoes with a good grip. Sandals are a poor choice for steep paths and stairs. Shorts or light clothing work well, but bring a swimsuit for the river.

You should also pack:

• A towel
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent
• Water
• A camera with a strap
• Extra cash or a credit card
• Dry clothes if you plan to use the river

Water stations are available along the zipline course. Even so, drink before you start. Heat and humidity make the uphill walks feel harder than expected.

The minimum age is 5, with a stated height requirement of under 40 inches for younger children. People over 285 pounds or 129 kilograms are not recommended for the activity. It is also not suitable for pregnant people or anyone with a heart condition, chronic back pain, or shoulder problems.

You need to manage hills and steps without assistance. If you cannot walk uphill comfortably, the zipline portion may not be appropriate. The land transfer is suggested for some people who cannot use the zipline but still want to enjoy the river, animals, and other activities.

Who should book this Puerto Vallarta adventure?

I would recommend it most strongly to active families, couples, and friends who want a full outing rather than a single attraction. It works especially well if you enjoy heights, do not mind getting sweaty, and want several activities in one place.

Families should know that children as young as 6 have handled the course well with supportive guides, but age alone does not guarantee readiness. Your child must be comfortable with heights, harnesses, stairs, and following instructions.

Cruise passengers can enjoy the trip, but you need to protect your return time. The boat, transfers, time-zone issue, and large groups can create delays. For a ship departure day, confirm the schedule in person and leave a generous buffer.

I would skip it if you have bad knees, limited stamina, a heart condition, back or shoulder pain, or a strong fear of heights. You may enjoy the river and animal area with a land transfer, but confirm which parts you can safely join before paying for the full course.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want 19 ziplines, a possible speedboat ride, tequila, river swimming, and wildlife in one active half-day. The guides and setting are the main strengths, and the course gives you far more airtime than a short introductory zipline.

Think twice if you want a quiet, tightly timed excursion or dislike steep stairs. Wear proper shoes, bring insect repellent, keep your phone secure, ask for clear return instructions, and budget extra for food, drinks, photos, and the port fee. With those limits understood, this is one of Puerto Vallarta’s better choices for an energetic day in the forest.

FAQ

How long does the Puerto Vallarta zipline tour last?

The advertised duration is approximately five hours, depending on your selected pickup point. Transfers, group size, weather, and time spent at the riverside property can affect the actual schedule.

Are lunch and drinks included?

No. Food, cocktails, and other drinks are purchased separately. Traditional tequila tasting is included, and the riverside restaurant offers items such as salad, fajitas, pizza, and dessert.

Is the speedboat ride included?

Round-trip land or sea transportation is included, depending on the option you select. The sea departure requires an additional port fee of about $2, payable at the office by cash or card.

How many ziplines are there?

The course includes 19 ziplines. You hike between platforms, and the final section includes twin cables for a race with another person.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable closed shoes and bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera with a strap, water, and extra cash or a credit card. You may need money for lunch, drinks, photos, souvenirs, and the port fee.

Can children or people with health conditions participate?

The minimum age is 5, with a stated height requirement of under 40 inches for younger children. The activity is not recommended for people over 285 pounds or 129 kilograms, pregnant people, or anyone with a heart condition, chronic back pain, or shoulder problems. Participants must also be able to walk hills and steps.