I will continue to offer small group private walks unless the business is sold. We visit workshops and markets, meet artisans and vendors, hear interesting history, and visit places you may not find on your own. Time for questions and conversation. You can no longer BOOK tours on this website. Contact me for reservations. For reviews, go to Trip Advisor.
Contact me on WhatsApp or at sandra.learn.vallarta@gmail.com
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This roll and stroll tour is specially designed for wheelchair visitors and their companions. We begin at the north end of the Malecon and head south, passing many of the bronze sculptures that Vallarta is known for. As we head into the inner streets, you will hear about Vallarta’s history while observing its Spanish colonial architecture and the iconic Guadalupe Church. Along the way, we pass shops and workshops offering authentic Mexican crafts, including Huichol beadwork and thread paintings, ancient milagros, Talavera pottery, Zapotec tapestries, and a leather museum of authentic costumes from the past 300 years. We will take a break at a chocolate production kitchen, where you will hear about the origins of chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. Next, we go to Rio Cuale Island, ending at the John Huston statue placed in memory of the director of the famous Richard Burton 1964 movie “Night of the Iguana” filmed here in Vallarta while his lover, Elizabeth Taylor, kept watch over Richard. Meet at the beginning of the Malecon across from the Hotel Rosita. Rolling strolling time, 3 hours.
See the Wheelchairs Welcome
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This is my most popular walk. If you have taken this walk before, come again. I have revised the route, adding several new locations. This walk covers the oldest and most historic part of Vallarta on the north side of the Rio Cuale. From the Central Plaza, we walk the surrounding cobblestone streets with their old colonial architecture and new urban art. You will hear about Vallarta’s history, Talavera pottery, origins of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, Huichol beadwork, ancient milagros, and more as we stop in some of these specialty shops. We will take a break at the Chocolate Factory to sit and ask questions. Then a stroll through the Rio Cuale Island, passing the John Huston statue, director of the 1964 movie “Night of the Iguana” as we head for Gringo Gulch, famous for Elizabeths Taylor’s house and villas built by Guillermo Wulff, who also built the sets for that movie. We end at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Meet at the Los Arcos Amphitheater on the Malecon across from the downtown Central Plaza. Walking time, 3 hours.
If you like to explore a place on your own at your own pace, my AUDIO VERSION is for you! You get to walk the route I use and listen to my voice sharing the history and stories of this exciting town. Take this walk any time of day, although shops typically open at 10 am. Stop to shop or eat, then start again at your leisure. Once you have downloaded the app on your phone or computer, you can purchase my walking tour and hundreds of others worldwide for under $10 USD per tour and watch virtually if you are not in the actual tour location.
AUDIO VERSION will take you directly to my walking tour page on VoiceMap. Follow the directions to create a free account, download the app, and purchase the tour. Now you can walk the tour using the GPS on your phone. If you are not in Vallarta, watch it virtually. Once you purchase my tour, you can use it as many times as you wish.
See the Historic El Centro photo gallery
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From the Restaurant and Bar at the foot of the Insurgentes Bridge, formally the Cigar and Chocolate Factory, we head over the Cuale River for the Emiliano Zapata Colonia on the Southside. A quick stop at the John Houston statue, director of the film “Night of the Iguana,” as we walk through the Rio Cuale Island. Then, over the footbridge for mouth-watering chocolates and an explanation of Zapotec naturally dyed tapestries. As we walk through local cobblestone neighborhoods that are a mixture of old homes and new rentals, you will also visit Vallarta’s largest central produce/fish market; meet the chicken lady; taste tortillas hot off the cooker; see a renovated eclectic historic hotel; and see Banderas Bay’s largest ceramics factory where artists paint hundreds of colorful tiles daily. We stop at Vallarta’s largest leather store and end at a shop of old-world antiques and folk art. Walk time, 2.5 hours.
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This tour has been revised to include several more interesting stops. El Tuito is a 500-year-old rural pre-Hispanic mountain town one hour south of Vallarta, nestled in beautiful agricultural and ranch country. Our first stop is the famous family-run panaderia, where we sample complimentary empañadas baked in a wood-fired brick oven. Then to Mi Pretexto, a small family raicilla farm started 20 years ago, to observe how raicilla is made. Next, several stops include the brickyard where hundreds of hand-made bricks are made and fired daily; the plaza; the 200-year-old church; local outdoor pottery studio; coop art gallery; behind the scenes in a tortilla shop and local cheese factory. Hear the history of this town since the days of the Spanish conquistadors. We end with lunch (cost not included) at a local family restaurant.
Included: RT transportation from Vallarta in private AC car; wood-fired empanadas and coffee; tour guide.
NOTE: maximum FIVE people; this walk is not suitable for those with mobility or balance issues. Contact us before booking if you have a larger group.
See the Rural El Tuito photo gallery
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An adventure into Old Mexico, this tour is an all-day driving and walking tour of this once bustling silver mining town located 5000 feet up in the Sierra Madre mountains. Originally settled by the Spanish conquistadors during the 1500s, old mines were discovered and by 1605 the town of San Sebastian was founded. The town grew to have nearly 30 mines and ten gold and silver reduction foundries by 1785. At the height of its population in 1900, there were approximately 30,000 people living here. The prosperity of the city declined after the revolution of 1910 and the last of the mines shut down forever in 1921. Today the population is only about 600 people.
Time has stood still in this charming rural town. Most of the buildings are over 200 years old. With its cobblestone streets, stone bridges, and stunning vistas, it has continued to maintain its historical character and was named a Pueblo Mágico in 2012.
After we cross the huge expansion bridge near San Sebastion, we stop in La Estancia for complimentary Mexican coffee, hot chocolate, and locally baked cookies. Next, we go past many fields of blue agave to the entrance of San Sebastian. As we walk the narrow streets, we will visit a peanut brittle shop, an abandoned silver mine (weather permitting), a small silversmith shop, the church, the plaza with its small local shops, the jail, a small history museum, an organic coffee plantation, the cultural center, and a family-owned raicilla/tequila distillery. As we walk, you will hear about the history of this town and stories that tell of its pioneer characters. We end our tour with a stop for lunch (cost not included) at a local family restaurant on our way back to Vallarta.
Included: RT transportation in private AC car; tour guide; coffee, hot chocolate, homemade cookies.
NOTE: this walk is not suitable for those with mobility or balance issues.
Pickup Locations: You will receive times and details after booking.
See the San Sebastian Photo Gallery