Outdoor Adventure – Ziplining, Repelling, and Waterslides

This time while visiting Puerto Vallarta, we decide to try a more extreme experience. The experience is Outdoor Adventure, Ziplines & Waterfall by Vallarta Adventures. Had I known what this experience includes, I would have thought twice about taking my 9-year-old daughter. My daughter did enjoy most of the experience, but had to be strongly encouraged during some portions. This is a most extreme experience that is not for those with a fear of heights. You will experience Ziplining, Repelling, and Waterslides.

Boat Ride

From a cruise ship, the tour starts with a 25-minute boat ride from the pier to Boca de Tomatlán in the south. The boat fits about 20 people and everyone is provided a basic orange life vest. As a bonus, January is whale season, and whales are constantly viewable on the ride. Whales spouting water, jumping headfirst out of the water, and swimming on the surface are regular sights. If the weather is nice, the ride is fairly smooth.

Unimog 4×4 Trucks

Once you reach Boca de Tomatlán, you disembark from the boat and walk over to Unimog 4×4 trucks. The Unimogs will transport you up the mountain to base camp. The trucks have benches on both sides of the back sides and a single seat attached to the gate (I recommend avoiding that one). The ride up to the base camp is around 30 minutes.

Base Camp

After the Unimog drops you off at base camp, the staff will introduce themselves and fit you with a harness, helmet and gloves. They do not allow phones or cameras during the experience, and they will need to be stored at base camp. Videos and pictures are purchasable after and are based on the number of people in your party. This is also a good place to use the restroom as there will not be any on the adventure.

Mule Ride

To get to the top of the ropes course, you will mount a mule and ride it a few miles to the top. You will ride a mule with a harness, which is not very comfortable. The mules vary in size and disposition, which means each rider will have a slightly different experience.

Ziplining, Repelling, and Waterslides

After riding to the top of the course, you will hike a small way further up the hill and start the zipline portion of the adventure. You will encounter a number of ziplines, repelling and waterslides. You will not be able to bypass any portion of the adventure, plan on participating in every aspect of this experience.

The ziplines provide amazing views of the jungle canopy above and below the tree line. You will repel down next to a waterfall and experience a repelling freefall aptly named “Mission Impossible”. The zipline roller coaster will be the most memorable part of the adventure and possibly one the more intense portions. Sitting in a chair-like harness, you will speed up and down and side to side down the track and end with a plunge into the river. You will encounter 3 waterslides with the last being the longest, steepest and most intense. While you will be given a helmet and elbow pads, the last waterslide is comparable to any steep slide you would ride in the US.

Post Adventure Meal and Media Purchase Opportunity

After the last waterslide, you will have the opportunity to enjoy an authentic Mexican lunch that’s included and be given the opportunity to purchase pictures and videos from the adventure. The Ziplining, Repelling, and Waterslides experience is one that you will likely want to show off all of the crazy and amazing things you were brave enough to do. We ended up purchasing the pictures and videos of our group and ended up paying about $25 a person.

Unimog and Boat Ride Back

Based on how long your adventure took, you will have some time after to explore the base camp offerings. Once your time is up, you will board a Unimog and head back down. The Unimog will drop you off at the pier and you will once again board a boat back to your ship.

If you are fortunate enough to experience this adventure during whale season, you are in for some incredible views. We stopped a number of times to watch the whales breach the ocean, often very near our boat. These creatures are incredible to see up close.

Other Things to Do: Puerto Vallarta Zoo

Last time we visited Puerto Vallarta, we went to the zoo. The Puerto Vallarta Zoo offers a unique experience that you will not get in other places. While the Zoo is not as clean as you might expect, the animals seem to be taken care of. The zoo offers the opportunity to hand feed many of the animals. Feeding a giraffe by hand was my favorite part. Larger and potentially more dangerous animals can be fed using a small hole that only fits food and not fingers. The zoo also offers opportunities to spend time 1 on 1 with animals in an enclosed space (think young tigers). A taxi is one of the best options for getting to and from the zoo. Tickets are available on the website beforehand or at the zoo.