Puerto Vallarta: Canopy Tour with Zipline and Speedboat Ride

19 zip lines and a speedboat blast. I love the 19 zip lines that fly above the jungle and the Los Horcones River, and I love the Apex speedboat ride that zips across the bay at up to 40 mph with barely a ripple. The one caution is that this canopy tour has plenty of stairs and hiking between platforms, so your shoes and fitness matter.

What makes the whole day feel manageable is the training and the crew. Guides explain the course, show you how the safety system works (including an easy-to-use braking system), and keep the mood light. I especially liked how the staff humor stays paired with real safety focus, and names that pop up again and again include Luigi, Ramon, Eduardo, Edgar, Pepe, and Moises.

Key things to know before you go

• Puerto Vallarta’s original zipline circuit with 19 separate lines
• High-speed Apex boat option that runs smoothly at up to 40 mph
• Safety gear instruction with an easy braking system and hands-on help
• Water time by the Los Horcones River, including slides, kayaking, and natural pools (weather permitting)
• Rescued animal sanctuary stop, with monkeys, toucans, guacamayas, and more
• Tequila tasting included, plus optional time for lunch at the riverfront café

Los Veranos Canopy: 19 Zip Lines Over Jungle and the Los Horcones River

This is a Puerto Vallarta canopy tour built around a simple idea: you get a full zipline circuit, not just a couple of short runs. Los Veranos is the original zipline circuit in the area, and it’s also now the largest zip line system in the world with 19 separate zip lines. You’ll soar above thousands of feet of cable, hopping from treetop to treetop while the Los Horcones River snakes below.

The standout moment is the long line, the one that feels like a true “fly” segment rather than a quick thrill. The course includes a line more than 1,800 feet long, stretching above the mountains and the raging river beneath. That’s the kind of distance that changes your whole sense of speed and height, even if you’ve zipped before.

Between lines, you’re not just sitting in one place. You walk to platforms, then walk again. That is part of the adventure, and it also sets expectations: this isn’t a couch-to-zipline situation. If you’re fit enough for moderate activity, the hiking breaks up the adrenaline and gives you chances to look around. If you’re not, it can feel like work.

One more thing I like here is how the course is built for scenery. You’re not only seeing the jungle from above, you also get moments where you’re on the ground between sections for more grounded views. It helps the day feel like an outing, not only a speed-focused stunt.

Speedboat vs. Land Truck: Choosing Your Bay Adventure

The tour gives you a choice that really affects your day feel. You can do transportation by boat using Apex speedboats, or choose land-only transportation with open-air jungle trucks or vans.

If you’re starting from the Puerto Vallarta marina or Paradise Village Marina, the Apex boat option means gliding across the bay on a large speedboat designed to run fast without making you feel thrown around. The ride is described as comfortable, built to glide at speeds up to 40 mph, and usually you can barely feel a ripple. Translation: this is one of the better ways to add excitement without turning it into a whole seasickness plan.

As for views, the boat portion is timed for sightlines. You’ll admire Puerto Vallarta from the water, including the Los Arcos Islands and the marine preserve. And if conditions and luck line up, keep your eyes open. One verified booking notes that the captain stopped for an amazing pod of whales, which is the kind of bonus you cannot schedule.

Not ready for the boat? Choose the land truck/vans option. That still keeps the adventure energy and gets you to the canopy area, but you skip the bay crossing.

A practical note: timing can vary. The stated duration is 5 hours, yet at least one booking ended up closer to a 7-hour excursion. If your schedule is tight, plan extra buffer.

Safety Gear and Guides: What the Training Feels Like

Ziplining can be intimidating, so I pay attention to how a company handles the first few minutes. Here, the guides make safety a priority while still keeping the vibe fun. Before you launch, you’ll learn how to use the safety gear, and the staff walk you through the course layout.

The gear is described as top-of-the-line, including an easy-to-use braking system. That matters because your confidence grows when you understand what your hands and harness are doing before you’re 50 feet up.

The guide energy is also a big deal. Multiple names show up across bookings, and the common thread is humor that does not replace instruction. Luigi, Ramon, Eduardo, Edgar, Pepe, and Moises are mentioned as part of the crew, and the consistent theme is that they mix comedy with clear guidance.

If you’re nervous, this format helps. You get coaching before you fly, and then you keep getting support as you move through the course. The canopy is designed to be guided, so you are not figuring things out solo at each platform.

The Moderate Fitness Reality: Stairs, Platforms, and Pace

This is where you should be honest with yourself. Even though the tour runs as a group experience, you still have to move. The canopy includes hiking between platforms. Reviews specifically point out the climbing and stair work, with one booking saying the walking between zips is considerable. Another booking mentions the tour is doable with effort but still tiring if you are not as fit as you want to be.

You’ll likely spend time:

• climbing up to platforms
• walking the course segments
• moving between treetop-to-treetop lines

That’s not a flaw. It’s just the truth of how the circuit is built. The good news is that you can feel the payoff. Every climb leads to another view, another zip, and another reason the day works as more than one adrenaline moment.

Practical tips from the type of comments you see:

• Wear comfortable shoes you trust on uneven ground.
• Bring sunscreen and insect repellent, because you’ll be outside for hours.
• If you’re traveling with older adults or teens, the crew can help manage pacing. One booking notes that a shorter option to bypass the highest lines helped grandparents with bad knees while others still did most of the course.

And if you have mobility constraints, read the next section carefully. The canopy is not a good match for everyone, and the company also offers a land-only approach for certain travelers.

River Time After the Zips: Slides, Kayaks, and Natural Pools

The end of the canopy is where the tour shifts from adrenaline to cooling off. After ziplining, you get time to enjoy the river area at the venue, including water slides, kayaking, and swimming in natural river pools. All of that is listed as weather permitting, so it is not a guaranteed pool party on every single day.

This is also where the day feels like it’s built for groups. Kids and adults often come alive at different speeds, and the river area gives options. You might ride a slide, paddle a kayak, wade in the water, or just relax on the golden sand-groomed river beach while the sun does its job.

One booking suggests the river conditions can be hit or miss. There is mention of the river being too dirty to enter for that particular day. That tells me you should treat river swimming as an “if it looks good” activity, not a must-do expectation. If water clarity is not great, focus on slides, kayaking, or a safe wade.

Also keep an eye on what’s available during the day. Reviews mention kids using slides and enjoying water time, and the description says kayaks and water toys are waiting for you when conditions are right. That makes the river portion feel like a real activity stop, not just a place to sit.

Animal House Sanctuary: Monkeys, Toucans, Guacamayas, and More

A big reason this tour gets a strong rating is that it adds wildlife time without turning it into a chaotic zoo stop. You’ll visit the rescued animal sanctuary, sometimes described as the Animal House.

You can expect to see species including:

• marmoset monkeys and squirrel monkeys
• toucans
• guacamayas (macaws or related parrot species are also mentioned)
• boas and iguanas
• macaws, plus other rescued birds

Some bookings add extra detail from the experience. One mentions holding monkeys and a lemur, and another mentions holding monkeys and tucans. That’s the kind of close, personal interaction that makes this stop memorable, especially for families.

I like how this fits the rest of the day. After the zipline exertion, you get a calmer environment where you can watch, learn, and slow down. The guides are also present, and that helps keep the sanctuary portion informative and safe.

If you’re traveling with kids, this is often the part that turns a thrilling morning into an all-day story they want to repeat.

Tequila Tasting and Lunch Options at Los Veranos Café

After the zipline portion, there’s an optional lunch at Los Veranos Café, described as riverfront. Lunch is not included in the base listing you’re paying for, so budget extra if you want the meal as part of your day. Fresh tropical drinks are also mentioned as an own-expense add-on.

The tequila tasting is included, and it’s not a vague “here’s some tequila” stop. The tour includes tasting Los Veranos Tequila and Los Arcos Tequila, with the note that you have one opportunity to taste perfectly crafted tequilas, including some with unique flavors.

That’s good value, because tequila tastings can turn into upsell traps on other tours. Here, it’s part of the experience flow and tied to a real venue on-site.

If you’re the type who likes a break after activities, the lunch and tasting portion gives you a natural reset. If you’re traveling with teens, they often do well with the sanctuary first, then relax into slides and food.

Price and Value: Is $120 a Good Deal?

At about $120 per person with a listed 5-hour duration, this tour is priced like a full activity package. You’re not just paying for ziplining. You’re also getting:

• bilingual guiding
• zipline safety equipment and lockers
• round-trip transportation by boat or jungle truck depending on your option
• tequila tasting
• water slides, kayaks, and river time (weather permitting)
• the rescued animal sanctuary visit
• Wi-Fi at the venue

Then there are a few extra-cost items to know up front. Food and drinks are not included, and professional photos or videos are sold separately. One booking says photo and video costs can land around $40 to $50, which is steep enough that you should decide in advance if you want them. There’s also a $2 USD port fee required for departure by boat from the Marina, payable cash or card at the office.

So is it worth it? For most people, yes, because the price bundles multiple “separate attractions” into one day. The value drops only if you end up skipping half the activities you paid for, like the river time or the animal sanctuary.

If you’re traveling as a group and want one ticket that mixes adrenaline with downtime and animals, this is one of the cleaner ways to build that day.

Photos, Extra Stops, and What to Budget Besides the Ticket

This is the part people forget to plan for. You might see photographers at the zipline and they sell photos. Reviews note the photo packages can be pricey. If you’re on a strict budget, you can pass, but if you want them, bring cash or a card ready.

For additional spending:

• Lunch is optional and not included.
• Drinks at the venue are not included.
• Photos and videos are separate.
• If you do the boat option, plan for the $2 port fee.

And since you’ll be moving between areas outdoors, keep your cash accessible. The tour asks you to bring cash, and it’s smart to have it for lunch and any add-ons you decide on day-of.

Who Should Book (and Who Should Choose Land-Only Instead)

This is a fun day if you match the activity level. It’s described as moderate. It also is not suitable for:

• children under 5
• pregnant women
• people with back problems, shoulder problems, or heart problems
• people with mobility impairments
• anyone over 280 lbs (127 kg)

If you fall into some of those categories, the tour recommends the land transportation option. It’s designed so those guests can still enjoy activities other than the speedboat ride and zip line. That means you can still have a day at the venue with river fun and the sanctuary, but you skip the canopy and the boat segment.

If you are fit enough for stairs and climbing, you’ll likely love the full circuit. If you are not, you might still enjoy a shortened plan or the land option, but you should be realistic about what your body can handle.

Families do well here, especially kids who are ready for movement and not just sitting still. Multiple bookings mention children enjoying slides and the full excitement level of the day.

Final Call: Should You Book the Puerto Vallarta Canopy Tour With Speedboat?

Book it if you want one ticket that delivers four things in a single Puerto Vallarta day: ziplining over jungle, bay scenery on a smooth Apex speedboat, river cooling time, and a rescue animal sanctuary stop with memorable animal encounters.

Skip or switch to the land option if stairs and heights sound like a bad match, or if you’re dealing with back, shoulder, heart, mobility, or pregnancy limitations. This is not the kind of canopy tour where you can casually “opt out” of the physical parts and still get the full experience.

One last practical tip: pack for outside time. Comfortable shoes, swimwear, sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash make the day easier. With that handled, this feels like excellent value for an adventurous day that balances thrills with a place to relax afterward.

FAQ

How long is the Puerto Vallarta canopy tour with zipline and speedboat?

The tour duration is listed as 5 hours, though some bookings report it can run longer.

Is transportation included, and what are my options?

Round trip transportation is included, and it depends on your option selected: either a speedboat ride or land transportation via open-air jungle trucks or vans.

Where can I be picked up?

The pickup options include Los Veranos Canopy Tour (Nuevo Vallarta – Dock C), Los Veranos Canopy Tour (Nuevo Vallarta Jungle Truck Pick Up), Los Veranos Canopy Tour (Main Office), and an Oxxo.

Does the speedboat option depart from a marina?

Yes. If you book the Apex boats, you depart from the Puerto Vallarta marina or Paradise Village Marina.

What is included in the price?

Included items are a bilingual guide, zipline safety equipment, lockers, tequila tasting, round trip transportation, water slides and river fun (weather permitting), kayaks, the exotic animal sanctuary visit, and Wi-Fi.

What is not included?

Food and drinks are not included. Professional photos or videos are also not included.

Is there a port fee?

If you depart by boat from the Marina, a $2 USD port fee is required. It can be paid either in cash or by card in the office.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, swimwear, sunscreen, insect repellent, and cash.

Is swimming in the river guaranteed?

River fun including swimming is listed as weather permitting, so it depends on conditions.

Who should not book this tour?

It is not suitable for children under 5, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with shoulder problems, people with heart problems, people with mobility impairments, and people over 280 lbs (127 kg).