Bike Rental in Puerto Vallarta

[wilmingtech]

Has anyone had a good experience renting/riding bikes in PV?  

My wife and I are avid cyclists and are looking for decent bikes to rent for the day.  Preferably a hybrid or mountain bike with helmets and lock.  Not looking for beach cruisers or heavy rent by the hour city bikes.  

We are looking to go for a 30-40 mile ride around the city and into the mountains a bit.

Thanks!

 

-Sean

[Ine]

Knowing the very busy (not always in grat cndition) roads in and around PV I think you better not bike there. Just a few people bike.  I bike in The Netherlands but in PV.

[riffatsea]

There are no bike lanes on the main road and it is VERY busy with traffic.

I'd not want to ride there at all! It is not like Europe where tons of people bike everywhere.

[4hunters]

100% agree with the two responses you've received so far, OP.  👍

[wilmingtech]

Thanks for the feedback.  I appreciate the concern.  

That being said there are quite a few cycling tours available online, one specifically with over 150 reviews that are all 5 stars.

 

Have any of you @4hunters, @riffatsea, @Ine, done a bike tour or ridden 20-30 miles through and around PV on a bike?  Not being negative, I just don't know your ages, experience with cycling or athletic ability and I am looking to qualify the responses. 

 

A response from an avid cyclist who rides 4000-5000 miles a year who has visited PV would be more qualified than someone who rides a bike around town a few miles a week who has visited PV (or even lives there) and decides its too dangerous.  It's like if I asked about surfing in PV and got a response that the waves are dangerous and there are sharks in the water.

 

So back to the original question and maybe I should expand -

Has anyone rented bikes in PV and/or done a cycling tour and have any feedback based on their experience?

 

Thanks!

 

-Sean

 

[riffatsea]

Hi again,

A cycling tour is very different from a tourist just renting a bike and attempting to ride through the city of Puerto Vallarta!  I have not done this but I would certainly take a bike tour if one was offered and I was an avid cyclist! You did not ask about a tour but asked about renting a bike which made it sound like you were wanting to do this on your own.

I would not recommend that because of the serious traffic issues and no bike lanes.

[wilmingtech]

27 minutes ago, riffatsea said:

Hi again,

A cycling tour is very different from a tourist just renting a bike and attempting to ride through the city of Puerto Vallarta!  I have not done this but I would certainly take a bike tour if one was offered and I was an avid cyclist! You did not ask about a tour but asked about renting a bike which made it sound like you were wanting to do this on your own.

I would not recommend that because of the serious traffic issues and no bike lanes.

Big waves and sharks, got it!  Thanks!

[4hunters]

Born and raised in SoCal, ridden some but never got super into it. 46 year old male in good shape. That being said, based on what I’ve seen regarding the traffic patterns I still would not ride down there - ymmv. Maybe the tours take you to less congested and crazy areas?  I hope Someone chimes in and you get the answer you’re looking for. Happy cruising/riding!

[wilmingtech]

22 minutes ago, 4hunters said:

Born and raised in SoCal, ridden some but never got super into it. 46 year old male in good shape. That being said, based on what I’ve seen regarding the traffic patterns I still would not ride down there - ymmv. Maybe the tours take you to less congested and crazy areas?  I hope Someone chimes in and you get the answer you’re looking for. Happy cruising/riding!

 

Thanks for the feedback,  I think we would definitely look for something off the beaten path.  I am seeing a lot of dirt roads and foot trails in google maps along with some back roads to get us around which is why I think we would want to do a mountain or hybrid bike.  I am seeing bike tours going from Nuevo Vallarta up to El Colomo and looking at that in google maps there seems to be a well marked hwy with a little bit of shoulder and back roads trailing most of the way up.  In addition it looks like there is a canal that runs from El Naranjo all the way up to El Colomo with a pretty well maintained paved/dirt road running along side it.

 

I think the biggest challenge would be getting out of the cruise port and across the river as the highways that cross the bridges look like they have no footpath or marked shoulder that I would want to ride a bike along.

 

Maybe a tour.  Who knows, It's all about the adventure 🙂

 

-Sean

 

 

 

 

[Ine]

The only tours I know and have ever seen in Vallarta is from time to time at Wednesdaynight from the Marina area biking into old town. It is a large group and escorted by police.  Sometimes a local canadian or american person organises a group tour, indeed longer distances but often on weekends. However that is not a regular basis. You might try to contact him e.g. though the fb page Puerto Vallarta: Everything You Need Or Want To Know.

Again even the backroads can be dangerous. People often drive like crazy, no bike lanes, unexpected big holes, traffic rules are not always existing. Indeed the bridge and highway across Rio Ameco has no bikepaths. It is a very busy road. 

Age re biking has nothing to do with it, I have and still bike all my life in The Netherlands, but will never do it in Vallarta. People even admire me that I dare to drive our car there,,,,,,,,,,,,

[wilmingtech]

15 hours ago, Ine said:

The only tours I know and have ever seen in Vallarta is from time to time at Wednesdaynight from the Marina area biking into old town. It is a large group and escorted by police.  Sometimes a local canadian or american person organises a group tour, indeed longer distances but often on weekends. However that is not a regular basis. You might try to contact him e.g. though the fb page Puerto Vallarta: Everything You Need Or Want To Know.

Again even the backroads can be dangerous. People often drive like crazy, no bike lanes, unexpected big holes, traffic rules are not always existing. Indeed the bridge and highway across Rio Ameco has no bikepaths. It is a very busy road. 

Age re biking has nothing to do with it, I have and still bike all my life in The Netherlands, but will never do it in Vallarta. People even admire me that I dare to drive our car there,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks for the feedback.  This is good information.

 

How about once you get out of the city, how are the roads over in the Nayarit once you get out of the populated areas?

 

Looks like lots of farm country over there.  We are looking at riding from Nuevo Vallarta to San Juan de Abajo and if it goes well maybe continue to El Colomo or toodle around in Valle de Banderas for a bit.  Not too far of a ride.  San Juan de Abajo is only about 20k or 12 miles and its only another 10k or 6 miles to El Colomo.  I'm planning on a 10mph average but we can average 17mph on the road bikes and 12-14mph on the mountain bikes off road at home.  I figure we would just head out and see where we end up.  

 

We love exploring new places and getting out of the touristy areas.  Nothing better than meeting locals and learning about the culture where people live.  We are both in good shape.  My wife and I did a ride together earlier this year that was over 100 miles and close to 8000' of climbing, that was a tough one.  We are both well traveled and have been to many places around the world (I've ridden in India, Singapore, Great Britain, Canada, Australia).  I certainly appreciate the word of caution about riding through the city but it certainly won't deter us from jumping on some bikes and going exploring.  I don't think Mexico is any crazier than trying to ride a bike in India.

 

Any information on those other towns?  Any places worth a stop by or visit?

 

Thanks Again, your knowledge is appreciated.

 

-Sean

 

 

 

[Ine]

It is a good idea to start in Nuevo Vallarta and not in Puerto Vallarta. That way you skip a very busy part of Hwy 200. Nuevo is easy to bike, but as soon as you come to Hwy 200 it is different. No special bikelanes, on some parts there is a parallel road called Lateral. In that case the main lanes are for cars only. However trucks, buses etc MUST use the lateral, so ride careful and defensife.  Realise there is hardly any compassion for bikers on all roads!.  Max 40 often means minimum 40 to Mexicans!!

We often go to San Jose del Valle to have some Pescado Sarandeado. San Juan Abajo is more north of it. Both small villages with some nice local shops, nice squares with the local churches and sometimes local markets.

From Nuevo (take the most northern exit !) you have to go to Hwy 200 and get off at Mezcales. Mezcales is still industrial, after that it is more  agricultural. Part of the road is 4 lanes, sometimes 2 lanes and sometimes one way. Many topes (speedbumps) and not very well marked. We havenot been as north as El Colomo, but I assume the road will be the same.

You can make a roundtour  by returning  the northern route towards Bucerias. From BUcerias you will have again the busy Hwy200 to Nuevo with no bike lanes etc.

On Internet I found this website with bike tours to and from Bucerias. Maybe some good information for you too.

http://bicibucerias.com/

Going to Bucerias or Nuevo Vallarta  is easy to do by public bus leaving from opposite the cruiseterminal. At the busstop there is a guy with a clipboard who can point you to the right bus. Better have some Pesos ready as US$ arenot always acccepted. 

In case you are on facebook or twitter you might check Rip Rupinsky, that is the guy in Vallarta organising tours from time to time and an avid biker himself. On you tube you will find some information too.

 

Edited November 15, 2019 by Ine