Trails around Puerto Vallarta climb quickly: you gain altitude through tropical forest, cross rivers and finish at viewpoints over the bay.
Humidity is the real challenge, not distance. Start early, carry at least two litres of water per person and expect to sweat far more than on a dry-climate hike.
Rivers rise fast in the rainy season, from June to October. Crossings that are ankle-deep in April can be impassable after a storm, which is why we always check conditions the same morning.
Guided hikes make sense here because trails are rarely signposted and side paths are easy to confuse. A local guide also knows where the water is clean enough to swim.