All terrain 4X4 Viking tour in Puerto Vallarta

This tour takes you into the hills of the Sierra Madre above Puerto Vallarta in a four-wheel-drive RZR (Viking) built for two. The operator describes rugged terrain, tropical vegetation and mountain views. The listed duration is 210 minutes, and a bilingual professional guide leads the group.

The ride climbs into the mountains and takes on the bends of the trail until you reach the Rio Cuale waterfall, which has a river-fed pool where you can cool off with a swim. From there the route continues to a plateau, where besides the surrounding mountains you may spot local fauna and wildlife. The next stop is a tequila tasting of locally made tequila, which the operator says cannot be bought outside Mexico and has traditional, distinctive flavours.

The tour then reaches a restaurant on the banks of the Rio Cuale, described as a local favourite. Food and drinks are not included, so plan to pay for anything you order there. A ride back down to the city closes the tour.

Safety equipment and the tequila tasting are included, as is the RZR ride for two. Transportation, gratuities, food and drinks are not. A credit card is needed to pay for the damage deposit before the tour. The minimum age to drive alone is 18 with a valid driver's licence, and the minimum age to take part at all is 8. For safety reasons, people under the influence of alcohol or drugs cannot participate.

The tour is for travellers with at least a moderate level of fitness. It is not recommended for people with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy. No meeting point is listed, so confirm where and when to arrive, and bring swimwear if you want to take advantage of the waterfall pool.