Punta de Mita Excursions & Day Trips

Essential Experiences on Your Las Caletas Day Trip

• Nature Trails & Wildlife: Teeming with incredible, untouched environs—including lush jungles—thanks to its exclusive setting, Las Caletas offers an incredible view of western Mexico’s most exotic inhabitants. Explore them on a marked nature trail to encounter colorful birds including native macaws, parakeets, and hummingbirds—plus seabirds along the shore. You also can encounter resident iguanas, geckos, and a variety of brilliantly colored butterflies throughout Las Caletas.

• Water Activities & Adventures: If you’re looking for a little more action on your day trip to Las Caletas, you’ll find it at the adventure and water parks of the region. Family-friendly attractions include Adventure Cove, complete with waterslides, banana boating, and ocean ziplining, plus a Kids Adventure Park, perfect for children aged up to 11 years. Visitors to Las Caletas can also explore marine life up close with snorkeling or scuba expeditions and unique experiences like paddleboarding with sea lions, swimming with dolphins, and parasailing.

• Relaxation: While Punta de Mita is in itself an exclusive coastal setting, Las Caletas offers the ultimate private beach paradise. Take in a massage at the cusp of Banderas Bay or a variety of unique, locally inspired Mexican skin and soul treatments. Sprawl out on the pure, uninterrupted sands of this hideaway beach while embracing the scenes and sounds of a tropical bay setting.

Essential Experiences on San Sebastián

• Architecture & History: From the main square of San Sebastián to the scenic overlooks on the Sierra Madre hilltops, you’ll find centuries-old buildings and landmarks throughout the village. Take a guided tour to capture the full experience of how these attractions played a role in the region’s history and the preservation of San Sebastián. Don’t miss the local museums, which highlight San Sebastián’s history and cultural contributions. Your tour leader can also guide you to the most scenic locations overlooking the Sierra Madres and neighboring village of Mascota.

•  Food & Drink Tours: No day trip to San Sebastián is complete without a visit to one of the village’s many distilleries or farms. Experiences include a visit to an organic coffee plantation, where guests can learn about the harvesting and production of coffee beans, plus enjoy a tasting of a variety of brews. With agave being another major export of San Sebastián, a tour of the Organic Tequila Factory is a must and includes witnessing the tequila making process, from planting and harvesting to fermenting and distilling, and finally tasting the tequilas. Visitors can also explore avocado groves, historic mining sites, and historic bakeries.

• Artistry & Photography: Once home to the region’s most prolific silver and gold mines, San Sebastián retains its history through silversmithing and gold artistry that is on display throughout the village. Walk the quaint cobblestone streets (an iconic and snap-worthy photography experience in itself) to discover local shops featuring authentic precious metal goods and artwork. For a true natural art experience, don’t miss the San Sebastián botanical garden, which offers a vibrant look at Jalisco’s diverse plants, birds, and wildlife, all in one unique location.

Essential Experiences on your Tequila Jalisco Day Trip

• Downtown & Artistry: Hit the streets of Downtown Tequila for a unique blend of historic charm and a vibrant modern culture. Downtown is home to both cobblestone streets and an array of street artistry, including outdoor sculptures, pottery studios, and artisan shops. Throughout the year, Downtown plays host to special events and festivals, like the National Tequila Fair and celebrations for Dia de los Muertos and Fiestas Patrias (Independence Day). In addition to annual festivities, Downtown Tequila offers a variety of art and food events throughout the year, including workshops and conventions that celebrate the region’s harvest culture.

• Museums & Landmarks: Plan your day trip to Tequila to include visits to the region’s museums, including the National Museum of Tequila and the Los Abuelos Museum, both of which feature exhibits and education on Mexico’s most famous liquor and the families that produced it. Don’t miss historic sites and landmarks like Plaza Principal, the Jose Cuervo Express Train Station, and historic churches and cathedrals, including Parroquia Santiago Apostol.

• Agave Fields & Tequila Tastings: An obvious must on your excursion to Tequila is a visit to the region’s blue agave fields and tequila distilleries. Home to both boutique and larger productions, a tequila tour can include a visit to the fields, where varieties of agave plants line red soil. You’ll learn about the agricultural history of Tequila and the harvesting methods used to produce the spirit. Distillery tours include insights into the tequila production process and offer the opportunity to sample various tequilas.

Essential Experiences on Your Marietas Islands Day Trip

• Snorkeling & Kayaking: With its hidden coves, crystal-clear waters, and well-preserved nature, the Marietas Islands are one of the best in Mexico for snorkeling. You can encounter a colorful collection of fish, sea turtles, eels, and manta rays on your snorkel below the surface. Visitors can also kayak along the island, with craggy cliffs, coves, grottos, and untouched natural formations setting the scene for a unique ride on Banderas Bay. 

• Hidden / Lover’s Beach (Playa Escondida): Don’t miss this truly hidden natural wonder, known as Mexico’s Hidden or Lover’s Beach, which is accessible only via water tunnel. Featuring a unique crater formation in the middle of Bandera Bay, Playa Escondida is surrounded by silky white sand, turquoise water, and picture-perfect cliffs.

• Wildlife & Nature Viewing: Thanks to national efforts to preserve the region’s wildlife, the Marietas Islands are home to thriving marine life and tropical fauna. From any number of cliffs and rock formations, you can see whales (during the winter season), dolphins, rays, and even octopuses. Tour guides can clue you in on the islands’ incredible ecological conservation program, an important effort to keep the Marietas beautiful and in natural harmony.

• Sunset Cruise & Sailing: After hours in the sun and sand, unwind with a dinner cruise around the Marietas where you can appreciate the islands’ full beauty and majesty as the sun sets. For a more adventurous experience, you can take a high-speed catamaran ride around the isles or charter a private sailboat tour.