Shaded Hot Spring, Massage and Mex Grill in Puerto Vallarta

The best thing about this day is the change of scene. You leave Puerto Vallarta’s hotel zone for farm country, small towns, mountain roads, and the Nuevo Ixtlan hot springs, then return by way of the beach for a one-hour massage. It is a full day, not a quick spa stop.

I like the personal touch of choosing produce for lunch at a local market, and I like the way the food, soaking, and massage fit together. Antonio, also identified as Jose Antonio Garcia Rivas, often drives, cooks, and shares stories about local agriculture and Mexican history. The main drawback is the long, winding drive, including bumpy unpaved roads near the springs.

Key points to know before booking

• Three-part day: Country markets and tortillas, hot springs and lunch, then a beach massage in Bucerias.
• Antonio makes the difference: He may drive the van, explain local life, prepare the meal, and add small touches such as fruit, guacamole, lemonade, chocolates, or drinks.
• Expect a long road outing: The journey to Nuevo Ixtlan takes roughly two hours in each direction, depending on conditions and stops.
• Lunch is part of the experience: You help select fresh fruit and vegetables before eating grilled chicken, beef, and produce at the springs.
• The hot springs feel local: You soak in several pools at different temperatures, with changing rooms and bathrooms available.
• Best for flexible, able-bodied visitors: The day includes transport, walking around markets, getting in and out of pools, and a massage stop. The activity is not recommended for people who have difficulty walking or moving easily.

Leaving Puerto Vallarta for the country

Meet at the Sam’s Club on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio at 8:00 a.m. The listed meeting point is easy to find, and the activity ends there. Some arrangements may include pickup and drop-off at your accommodation, but confirm that detail when booking rather than assuming it is included.

The first stretch takes you away from Puerto Vallarta and toward the farming towns inland. This is one of the strongest parts of the experience for me because the road itself becomes part of the day. You see a less polished side of the region, with agricultural areas, ranch country, and small communities that most beach visitors never reach.

Antonio is often singled out for making the drive useful rather than dead time. He explains local plants, animals, farming, ranching, and the area’s past. That matters here. The hot springs are not simply a pool complex at the end of a highway. They are tied to a rural community, and the drive helps you understand where you are going.

Still, be honest with yourself about the transport. The ride is long, winding, and rough in places. Near the springs, unpaved roads can be bumpy. Antonio is described as driving slowly and carefully, but no careful driver can turn a mountain road into a smooth one. If you get carsick, sit where you can see out, bring water, and consider taking whatever motion-sickness steps normally work for you.

Choosing lunch in San Juan de Abajo

A stop in or near San Juan de Abajo gives you a hands-on role in the meal. You help select fruit and vegetables at a local market, rather than receiving a fixed lunch prepared far away from the source.

That small choice changes the feel of the day. You can see what is being sold locally, ask your guide about unfamiliar produce, and understand how the meal will come together. The food is not just a boxed picnic. It is bought for your group and cooked later over wood and charcoal at the springs.

The market stop also gives you a glimpse of ordinary commerce outside the resort strip. Go slowly, notice the colors and smells, and let Antonio point out items you may not recognize. The supplied information does not promise a set menu, so the exact vegetables can vary. Past meals have included pineapple, chilies, broccoli, corn, potatoes, cactus salad, fresh fruit, chicken, and beef.

Hot tortillas, fresh off the press

The next stop is a tortilla-making operation or bakery. You get to see the process and taste a warm tortilla while it is still fresh. This is a quick stop, but it adds a valuable local detail that a standard spa outing would miss.

Fresh tortillas also make sense as part of the meal later. You may have chips, tortillas, guacamole, and other items from the stop while relaxing at the pools. If you enjoy food traditions, this is one of the day’s most memorable moments because it connects the market purchase to the finished lunch.

The order and length of these stops can vary. The tour is designed as a small-group outing with some room to adjust the pace. You can ask to spend more time at the springs or take a different look around the market, within the day’s overall schedule.

Soaking at Nuevo Ixtlan

Nuevo Ixtlan is the heart of the outing. The medicinal waters are described as comfortably warm, with several pools offering different temperatures. You can move between pools to find the level that suits you, then settle into the quiet mountain setting.

This is not the same as booking a quick hot tub near your hotel. The setting is rural, the air is fresh, and internet access may be limited or absent. One family described the area as authentic and unplugged, which is a useful way to think about it. Bring your attention to the place, not your phone.

The pools are reported to be clean and well organized, with changing rooms and bathrooms. There is also a small convenience shop where you might be able to buy drinks. The day’s supplied information does not give a complete facility list, so pack sensible basics such as a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, and a change of dry clothes.

Allow yourself roughly two to three hours at the springs, depending on the group and the schedule. That is enough time to soak without turning the visit into a rushed photo stop. Antonio brings food and drinks to you, so you do not have to leave the pools whenever you feel hungry.

Fruit, guacamole, and a charcoal lunch

The food service is one of the most praised parts of this experience. While you soak, Antonio may bring plates of the fruit you helped choose, along with fresh guacamole, chips, and homemade lemonade or limeade.

Lunch follows with grilled chicken and beef, fresh vegetables, tortillas, and additional guacamole. The cooking is done over wood and coal, which gives the meal a smoky flavor and makes the setting feel more like a Mexican countryside cookout than a resort buffet.

The menu is not presented as a formal restaurant meal. It is a generous outdoor spread, and the exact produce depends on what you choose at the market. Past menus have included grilled pineapple, potatoes, corn, broccoli, chilies, and cactus salad.

I appreciate that you have a hand in selecting the ingredients. It gives the food a story, and it makes the lunch feel tied to the towns you passed through. The meal is also a practical reason to pace yourself at the market. If you see fruit or snacks you want for the road, ask your guide about buying them.

One optional extra mentioned during the day is a mud facial, available for about $4. It is not listed as a required part of the tour, so treat it as an add-on and carry a little extra cash if it appeals to you. Exact payment arrangements are not specified.

The return to Bucerias and the beach massage

After the hot springs, the van heads back toward the coast, stopping in Bucerias for a one-hour full-body massage with an ocean view. This is a smart final act. You have spent much of the day riding, soaking, eating, and changing clothes, and the massage gives the day a calm finish before the return to Puerto Vallarta.

The massage takes place by the beach, so you hear the waves rather than spa music. Descriptions include both relaxing and deep-tissue treatments, but the exact style may depend on the provider and what you request. Tell the massage therapist about pressure, sore areas, or anything to avoid before the session begins.

Bucerias is not just a transfer point in this plan. It brings the day back to the coast in a different mood from Puerto Vallarta’s hotel zone. The beach view helps bridge the rural morning and the city return.

A particularly thoughtful touch has appeared after the massage: chocolates, electrolytes, or a wine cooler waiting at the van. These extras are not guaranteed menu items, but they show the kind of hosting Antonio tries to provide. You should see them as pleasant surprises, not as reasons to book.

How the small group affects the day

The experience is promoted as intimate, with a maximum listed as 10 in one description and up to 12 in the additional details. One past outing had only four people, while another account described a van with around 15 people and felt that the group was too large.

That discrepancy is worth taking seriously. Ask for the expected group size when you reserve, especially if a personal guide and flexible schedule are important to you. A small group makes it easier to ask questions, adjust time at the springs, and get a fair share of the food.

The van itself has been described as comfortable and well kept, but comfort depends partly on how full it is. If you dislike tight seating or long rides, the group size matters as much as the destination.

The guide is another major factor. Antonio is described as the owner in several accounts, while Jose is also named as a guide. Both names may refer to people operating the experience, but the exact guide is not guaranteed. If you specifically want Antonio, confirm who will lead your date.

Is $165 a good value?

At $165 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day near Puerto Vallarta. It is also not simply an admission ticket to hot pools. The price covers a long round trip, a guide, market and tortilla stops, the hot springs, fruit and snacks, a cooked Mexican lunch, and a one-hour beach massage.

Booked separately, those pieces would take time and coordination. You would need to arrange transport to Nuevo Ixtlan, find the springs, buy ingredients, organize lunch, and then reach a massage provider in Bucerias. The tour links those stops into one day and includes a guide who handles the driving and cooking.

The value is strongest if you want variety. In eight hours, you see the countryside, learn about food production, eat a substantial meal, soak in warm pools, and receive a massage. It is less compelling if you want a short spa visit or a restful day with almost no time in a vehicle.

I would also avoid judging the price only by the time in the pools. The road journey and market stops are part of what you are paying for. If you see transport as wasted time, the cost may feel high. If you want a guided look at rural life with relaxation built in, the combination is reasonable.

Who should book this day?

I would point this tour toward couples, friends, and families who want an outing beyond Puerto Vallarta’s main tourist areas. It suits people who enjoy food, local stories, scenery, and a flexible schedule as much as they enjoy soaking and massage.

It is especially good for:

• A first full day outside Puerto Vallarta
• Couples looking for a relaxing shared experience
• Friends who enjoy a long lunch and a massage
• Families with older children who can manage the transport and pool access
• Anyone curious about Mexican farming, tortillas, and rural communities

I would hesitate if you have trouble walking, getting in and out of pools, or tolerating winding roads. The experience requires a moderate level of physical fitness, and it is specifically not recommended for people who have difficulty walking or moving around easily.

I would also choose another activity if you want nightlife, beach time all day, or a tightly timed sightseeing schedule. This day works best when you let the countryside set the pace.

Practical details that matter

The activity begins at 8:00 a.m. and lasts about eight hours. Wear a swimsuit under easy-to-change clothes, and bring a towel, water, sun protection, and a dry outfit for the ride back.

Because you move between a market, a hot spring, and a beach massage, dress for several settings. Comfortable shoes will help at the market and around uneven areas. Keep valuables simple, especially since the day may take you far from the city.

Mobile tickets are accepted, and the tour is offered in English. Confirmation is provided at booking. The experience depends on good weather, so poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund. Cut-off times use local Puerto Vallarta time.

My call: book it if the road is part of the appeal

I would book this experience if you want a full day with several distinct parts rather than one isolated attraction. The fresh tortillas, market shopping, charcoal lunch, quiet pools, and beach massage create a well-rounded outing, and Antonio’s personal hosting appears to be a major part of its appeal.

The honest warning is simple: you will spend a lot of time in the van. Confirm the group size, ask about pickup, and prepare for bumps near Nuevo Ixtlan. If you can accept that tradeoff, the tour offers a rare chance to connect rural Mexico with a very comfortable finish by the sea.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Sam’s Club at Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio 2880, 48290 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 8:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The listed end point is back at the Sam’s Club meeting point. Some experiences may arrange accommodation pickup and drop-off, so confirm this before booking.

How long does the experience last?

The full activity lasts approximately eight hours.

How far is the drive to the hot springs?

The drive to Nuevo Ixtlan is described in the available details as roughly two hours, with a similar return journey. The exact time can change with traffic, stops, and road conditions.

How large is the group?

The activity is described as a small-group tour. One description gives a maximum of 10 people, while the additional details list a maximum of 12. Confirm the expected group size for your date.

What food is included?

The guide shops for ingredients with the group and prepares a Mexican barbecue. Food described during the experience includes grilled chicken and beef, vegetables, fruit, guacamole, chips, tortillas, and lemonade or limeade.

Is the massage included?

The itinerary includes a one-hour massage in Bucerias with a beach view on the return to Puerto Vallarta.

Are the hot springs suitable for people with limited mobility?

The activity requires moderate physical fitness and is not recommended for people who have difficulty walking or moving around easily.

What happens if the weather is poor?

Because the experience requires good weather, a cancellation caused by poor conditions results in the option to choose another date or receive a full refund.