We booked the Canopy River RZR tour through the AMSTAR representative at our hotel, eagerly anticipating a new off-road adventure. Typically, my friends and I spend weekends back in the States riding dirt bikes in the high desert, tackling rough terrain and seeking new challenges. We expected this experience to be similar to previous off-road adventures we've had on other vacations, which often involved rundown horse properties turned parking lots and junkyards, filled with old buggies, UTVs, quads, and perhaps a broken-down jungle truck or two.
To our pleasant surprise, this tour exceeded all our expectations.
We started from a travel office near our resort, boarding a truck with 5 or 6 rows of bench seats, open-air with a canopy roof and bars for doors and sides. The ride took us through downtown streets and skirting the Zona Romantica, without any frills or tour guide commentary. Puerto Vallarta's humidity was intense, so dressing for the heat is essential.
After about 40 minutes, we turned into a canyon following a small river into the jungle. We passed a few areas resembling what we had imagined: rundown horse stables with quads parked in grassy pastures. We also saw a small village with houses typical of rural Central America or the Caribbean, which many Americans might consider "rough" living.
As we wound through the village, large homes began to appear on the hills, and eventually, we glimpsed a massive palapa-style building at the top of the canyon. I remember thinking, "That place is huge; I wonder who lives up there." In just a few minutes, we arrived at that very resort, the base camp for Canopy River tours.
The base camp was impressive. The large building we saw houses a restaurant and entertainment hall, where we received a briefing before our ride. There's a bar, a stage for entertainment, and below that, areas for zip-lining, canyoneering, and trekking adventures. This level also hosts tequila tastings and a gift store. An infinity pool overlooks the jungle and canyon below; had I known about it, I would have planned to spend some time there.
The off-road portion of the tour was a fantastic experience. Despite riding hundreds, if not thousands, of miles on twisted, rocky roads annually, this RZR ride stood out due to two unique features. First, the purpose-built bridges were remarkable, although horses don't cross them. Second, we stopped after the first bridge and descended rustic steps cut into a steep canyon wall, leading to a swimming hole with a waterfall you can jump off. Don't miss this spot!
The 7-mile ride through rocky canyons and dusty trails included driving through a small man-made water feature. The well-maintained RZRs made the ride enjoyable and not overly challenging. An average car or truck wouldn't manage these roads, justifying the "off-road" label.
The final stop was a rustic jungle bar, constructed from tree limbs and logs, with a view of the base camp and the expansive bridge. After the nearly two-hour round trip, including the swimming hole and jungle bar stops, we were dirty but exhilarated. While I would have preferred another, faster pass through the trails without following in the dust, it was just the right amount of adventure for my wife.
Clean restrooms and dressing rooms allowed us to freshen up before lunch. The restaurant offered good food, far superior to what you usually get on such tours, and reasonably priced. A photographer took pictures throughout the tour, but there was no hard sell, just a pleasant reminder of the experience.
If you're looking for an adventure in Puerto Vallarta, I highly recommend Canopy River Park. They appear to be building a small hotel on the premises, and I'll definitely plan a future trip around staying there. The sunsets are sure to be stunning! read more