Puerto Vallarta · BANDERAS BAY WILDLIFE & TURTLE RELEASES
13 reviewed
Great banderas bay wildlife & turtle releases in Puerto Vallarta fill up fast, and the very best fill up first. Here are the 13 that are worth it, with current prices and what makes each one different.
Biologist-led whale and dolphin watching in Puerto Vallarta with citizen science. Small groups, humpbacks close-up, hydrophone whale songs.
“January 29, 2026. A group of 12 people so you could see very well both sides of the boat. Knowledgeable crew. We saw at least 20 to 30 whales. Book it.”
Guided butterfly sanctuary tour in Puerto Vallarta with museum access and a chance to release a 3-hour-old butterfly.
“Fantastic!!!! Great information and wonderful staff. Fun for all ages. Very neat to release the butterflies”
Puerto Vallarta whale watch led by marine biologists, with hydrophone whale song, small-group boat time, and a pre-ride biology talk.
“The trip with the Whale Biologist was very informative. We found that to be a huge benefit to this trip. We saw a number of whales during this trip displaying a number of mating as well as mother and newborn babes behaviors. I would recommend that you book directly with ECOTOURS. VIATOR has a low price guarantee that is not truthful. I found the booking price for anyone in the public, not associated with any organization or discount group on the ECOTOURS website at a lower price than thru Viator. VIATOR would not respect that lower price and stated that it was not honored because of this policy. "Viator's Lowest…”
Join a small-group sea turtle release at Camp Tortuguero with a bilingual biologist talk, safe viewing, and hatchling moments on the beach.
“We loved our experience especially learning about the sea turtles beforehand - it added significance to the release knowing the dangers these little turtles face the moment they are are laid in their nest on the beach. Not going to lie, made me a little emotional seeing the little guys scuttle toward the crashing waves to start their lives. Eddie, our guide was great! We stopped by a mangrove-y area on our way to the turtle habitat to see some crocodiles. But we were quite a good distance away and just steps from the beach, so we never felt like we were in danger! He also waited for the whole…”
Help protect baby sea turtles in Puerto Vallarta with a sunset release, guided biology lessons, and a short beach walk to a conservation camp.
“It was magical. What a great experience. I’ve wanted to do this for years. Learned a lot. Best wishes to my turtle Pepe.”
Learn about olive ridley turtles, watch baby hatch at sunset, then release them into the ocean. 2.5 hours, $40 in Puerto Vallarta.
“Unforgettable experience!! Got lucky that the turtles hatched on the day of our tour. Would recommend booking earlier in your trip to allow rescheduling in case turtles don't hatch that day.”
Mariposario Morpho butterflies, Puerto Vallarta city sights, tequila tasting, and an easy Playa Mismaloya beach hour in one tour.
“We booked this tour expecting to be going to another butterfly exhibition. We realized we were going in a different direction and arrived to a place that was very remote. There were other stops along the way ( a jewelry store and tequila distillery) which were nice and informative, but it was the butterflies that we came to see. We’ve been to other butterfly exhibits but this one was different and special. We’ve learned about the butterfly, its life cycle, but most importantly, conservation efforts being made to preserve and even increasing the population. Aricelli was very know and shared with us that she is seeking her masters degree to…”
7-hour Puerto Vallarta birding with a biologist guide along the Ameca River and Desembocada wetlands, from mangroves to crocodile country.
“I received a confirmation several days before my tour but the night before something told me I should double check. Low and behold it was cancelled due to not enough participants but I was only informed because I was the one to reach out. Not impressed! So unprofessional. This left me without any ability to find another suitable birding tour and wasted a day of my trip. I had also paid in full so am now waiting for a refund.”
Puerto Vallarta butterfly sanctuary with hotel pickup, guided butterfly education, a butterfly release ceremony, and a traditional Mexican lunch.
“This is a beautiful, relaxing way to enjoy the natural wonders of Mexico. Fabian teaches about the butterfly lifecycle. You feel and see the magic of nature as you release a butterfly and watch it flutter into the air together with your dreams and hopes for the world. Thank you Fabian.”
Small-group birding from Puerto Vallarta to El Tuito and a Macaw Sanctuary, with breakfast, snacks, and expert guides.
“Absolutely fantastic! It was a great opportunity to see a good variety of different bird species. Cynthia was an excellent guide with great local knowledge. I would highly recommend this trip for anyone trying to add some new species to their list.”
Join a marine biologist at Puerto Vallarta’s Sea Turtle Camp for a hands-on Olive Ridley lesson and sunset hatchling release.
“It’s was super fantastic!! A memorable time we had. The tour guides were great, helpful and informative. I strongly recommend.”
A short Puerto Vallarta combo: butterfly lab and garden at Mariposario Morpho, then a tequila tasting at Los Arcos de Mismaloya.
“What a nice place, and super understanding staff. It was an experience that we didn’t expect so much from but to have learned so much from butterflies and to be able to carry them was a very magical thing. After the tour and get to know several of its spirits called Toritos, you can also go down to enjoy the rich stream, we also saw fish and several birds in the area. If you want photos with butterflies, take a camera, cell phones are not allowed.Auto-translated”
A biologist-led jungle hike in Sayulita at Natikari Reserve, near Rancho Verde. 4 hours, small group, nature spotting with expert guide.
“Katja took us on an excellent hike through the forest/jungle in the hills above Sayulita.. Along the way she pointed out numerous plants, insects, birds and animals and how they are all inter-related. Her knowledge of the the ecology of the area is expansive and she shares it with humour and enthusiasm. I would recommend her tour to anyone who wants to know what lays behind the beautiful beaches and streets of Sayulita! Thank you, Katjia!”
