Shaded Hot Spring, Massage and Mex Grill in Puerto Vallarta

The best part of this Puerto Vallarta day trip is the change of pace. You leave the city for Nuevo Ixtlan’s warm mineral pools, where mountain air, fresh fruit, guacamole, and a grilled Mexican lunch turn a simple soak into a full day out. I especially like the local market stop and the one-hour massage beside the sea in Bucerias.

The catch is the drive. The journey takes roughly two hours each way, and the final roads are unpaved and bumpy. The tour is described as small, with a maximum of 10 in one section and up to 12 in the additional details, so confirm the expected group size if privacy matters to you.

Key points to know before booking

• Fresh food chosen on the way: You help select fruit and vegetables at a local market, then eat them as snacks and in the grilled lunch.
• A real countryside outing: The route passes farms, small towns, and rural communities far beyond Puerto Vallarta’s hotel zone.
• Several hot spring pools: Nuevo Ixtlan offers pools at different temperatures, plus changing rooms and bathrooms.
• Antonio adds personal touches: The guide may be Jose Antonio Garcia Rivas, known as Antonio or Tony, or Jose, and guides are praised for careful driving, local stories, and cooking.
• The massage completes the day: A one-hour full-body massage overlooking the ocean in Bucerias gives you a calm finish after the long ride.
• Plan for a full day: The 8-hour schedule includes substantial time in the van, so this suits you if you value rural Mexico as much as the springs.

Leaving Puerto Vallarta for the countryside

The day begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Sam’s Club on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio 2880. The meeting point is easy to locate, and the activity ends there as well, although the guide may sometimes arrange a hotel drop-off, depending on the day and circumstances.

From the start, this feels less like a quick trip to a spa and more like a rural excursion. Your guide drives away from Puerto Vallarta toward farming country, explaining local history, agriculture, plants, animals, and the communities along the route.

Jose Antonio Garcia Rivas is the named provider. In the personal accounts of the day, he is also called Antonio or Tony, while Jose is named as a host on other outings. The important point is that the guide is not simply driving you from one attraction to another. The guide prepares the meal, talks with you during the ride, and adjusts the day when possible.

That long drive is both the strength and weakness of the outing. You get to see a side of western Mexico that you will miss from a resort or beach promenade. You also need patience. Expect a winding route, and expect the road near the hot springs to become rough and bumpy.

The van has been described as comfortable and well kept, and careful driving helps on the rough section. Still, if you dislike long rides, motion sickness, or unpaved roads, this may not be your ideal day trip. Bring water, wear comfortable clothes, and consider sitting where the ride feels easiest for you.

Choosing lunch in a local market

One of the smartest parts of the itinerary comes before you reach the pools. The group stops in a small town, often identified as San Juan de Abajo, to buy fruit and vegetables for lunch.

This gives you a direct role in the meal. You may help choose produce for the grill, snacks, guacamole, and salad rather than receiving a standard prepacked lunch. It also gives you a brief look at everyday shopping outside Puerto Vallarta’s tourist areas.

The food described for the meal includes chicken, beef, vegetables, potatoes, corn, pineapple, chilies, and cactus salad. The exact selection can depend on what the group chooses at the market. That flexibility is part of the appeal, especially if you enjoy food and want to see how a Mexican meal comes together.

The group also visits a tortilla-making business or factory. You can try a tortilla while it is still hot, along with chips used later for guacamole. This is a small stop, but it adds something that a restaurant lunch cannot: you see a basic local food being made, then eat it fresh.

The schedule is not a formal cooking class. You are helping select ingredients and watching food production, while Antonio or another guide handles the grilling. If you want a food-focused tour with extensive instruction, this is not that. If you like eating well and seeing where lunch comes from, it works very well.

Soaking at Nuevo Ixtlan’s mountain pools

The hot springs are the heart of the excursion. Nuevo Ixtlan is reached after the long country drive, in an area described as lush, quiet, and far removed from the city. The warm mineral water is comfortable rather than painfully hot, and the property has several pools with different temperatures.

That variety matters. You can move to a warmer or cooler pool depending on how your body feels, rather than being stuck in one temperature. You get about two to three hours at the springs, enough time to settle in, soak, eat, and still enjoy the setting without rushing.

Changing rooms and bathrooms are available. A small convenience store at the springs may also sell drinks, including beer. Bring cash if you want to buy something there, since the tour details do not specify payment methods or included drinks beyond what the guide serves.

The guide usually brings fruit from the market while you are in the pools. Fresh lemonade or limeade, guacamole, and chips may follow. These little servings help break up the soaking time and make the stop feel generous rather than bare-bones.

A mud facial may be available for a small extra charge, reported as about $4. It is not part of the stated tour price, so treat it as an optional add-on rather than an included feature. If you like simple spa treatments, it can be a fun extra. If not, the pools provide plenty of relaxation on their own.

The springs are not a luxury hotel spa. You are visiting a rural facility in the mountains, with a more informal and local feel. That is precisely the point for many people. You trade polished resort service for a quiet setting, mineral water, and a meal cooked nearby.

A market-fresh Mexican grill by the pools

Lunch is prepared during your time at the hot springs, often over wood and charcoal. That cooking method gives the chicken and beef a smoky flavor, and the guide’s role as cook is one of the unusual features of this tour.

The meal is substantial. You may receive grilled meat, vegetables, fresh tortillas, guacamole, fruit, corn, potatoes, and cactus salad. Fresh lemonade or limeade and a fruit plate may arrive before lunch, so you are unlikely to leave the springs hungry.

I like that the meal connects several parts of the day. You choose some ingredients in the market, taste the tortilla at the earlier stop, relax with fruit and guacamole in the water, then eat the grilled food at the springs. It creates a sense of place without turning lunch into a staged performance.

There are practical limits. The group shares ingredients, and the available choices depend on the market stop. If you have strict dietary needs, tell the provider in advance and confirm what can be accommodated. The supplied information does not promise vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy-specific menus.

This is also a good reason to bring a small snack of your own. The tour provides plenty of food, but the day is long, and personal preferences vary. You should also carry water, swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and dry clothes for the ride back.

Returning through Bucerias for the beach massage

After the springs and lunch, the van returns toward Puerto Vallarta and stops in Bucerias. Here you receive a one-hour massage with a view of the beach and ocean.

The massage is not a brief foot rub added as an afterthought. It is described as a full-body treatment, and it gives the day a clear second act. First you spend hours on the road and in the mountains. Then you finish near the coast, listening to the waves while someone works out the stiffness from the drive.

This order is sensible. A massage before a long ride and hot springs would be pleasant, but a massage near the end lets you relax without needing to hurry into another major activity. You may still have a ride back to the meeting point afterward, but the final stretch is easier after the treatment.

Bucerias is a useful stop because it links the mountain and beach sides of the region. You are not spending the entire day at a resort, but you also are not returning from the countryside without a coastal finish.

Extra treats may appear after the massage, including chocolates, electrolytes, or a wine cooler. These are personal touches associated with some departures, not features I would treat as guaranteed inclusions. The included one-hour massage is the main point.

What the $165 price includes in real value

At $165 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a day near Puerto Vallarta. You are paying for far more than admission to hot pools. The price covers transportation, a guide, the market experience, tortilla stop, hot springs visit, fruit and drinks served during the day, a cooked lunch, and a one-hour massage.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise pay separately for a countryside excursion, a meal, and a spa treatment. You also avoid arranging several transfers yourself. The guide handles the long route, the shopping, the cooking, and the timing between stops.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a short soak. In that case, the long drive may feel excessive, especially since the journey takes much of the day. You are paying for the road and the cultural stops as much as for the water.

The tour is typically booked about 31 days in advance, which suggests you should reserve early for a particular vacation date. Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this outing if you want a break from Puerto Vallarta’s resort zone and like days built around food, scenery, and conversation. Couples often fit the pace well, but families and friends can enjoy it too if everyone is comfortable with the long drive.

It is especially suitable for you if you enjoy:

• Rural roads and small-town stops
• Warm pools with time to relax
• Freshly prepared Mexican food
• A guide who talks during the drive
• A beachside massage at the end of a busy day
• Small-group travel with some room for personal requests

You can ask to spend longer at the springs or take more time at the market when the schedule allows. That flexibility is useful, but it is not unlimited. The massage appointment and return drive still shape the day.

The activity requires a moderate fitness level and is not recommended for people who have difficulty walking or moving easily. You will need to manage the meeting point, van stops, changing, and movement around the springs. The provider offers the experience in English.

Should you book the Nuevo Ixtlan hot springs tour?

Book it if you want a full-day escape that combines rural Mexico, warm mineral pools, a market-selected grill lunch, and a one-hour massage in Bucerias. The guide’s cooking, the fresh tortilla stop, and the contrast between mountain springs and ocean views give this outing more character than a standard spa transfer.

Skip it if you want a quick, polished resort experience or if long, winding roads make you miserable. The drive is unavoidable, and one larger group had up to 15 people despite the stated maximum details, so confirm the expected group size before paying if a very intimate outing is important.

For most people who value authentic food, local scenery, and a carefully packed day, the $165 price is fair. Pack a swimsuit, towel, water, sun protection, and patience for the road. The reward is a day that feels far removed from Puerto Vallarta without requiring you to plan every piece yourself.

FAQ

How long does the hot springs and massage tour last?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Sam’s Club, Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio 2880, Puerto Vallarta, and ends back at the same meeting point.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour details describe a small group with a maximum of 10 people, while the additional information states a maximum of 12 travelers. Confirm the expected group size when booking.

Is lunch included?

Yes. The guide prepares a Mexican grill using food selected during a market stop. The meal can include chicken, beef, vegetables, tortillas, guacamole, fruit, and other fresh produce.

Is the massage included?

Yes. The itinerary includes a one-hour massage in Bucerias with a beach view.

How much time do you spend at the hot springs?

You can expect roughly two to three hours at the springs, depending on the day’s timing.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is the tour suitable for someone with limited mobility?

No. The activity requires a moderate physical fitness level and is not recommended for people who have difficulty walking or moving easily.

Can you cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not refunded. If poor weather causes the provider to cancel, you will be offered another date or a full refund.