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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is home to some fantastic wildlife. After all, the jungle is literally right on the edge of the city, so you may expect wildlife in Puerto Vallarta to be abundant. What you may not realize though, is that Puerto Vallarta is full of dangerous wildlife too.
The dangerous wildlife in Puerto Vallarta in the list below are all creatures we encountered during our short six-week stay in the city.
Check out this post for more animals of Puerto Vallarta! Don’t worry, there are loads of non-dangerous animals in the city too, not just at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens!
A Quick Note About Wildlife in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is located in the heart of Banderas Bay. Within the bay, there are ample opportunities to spot loads of marine life! You can even go on wildlife tours to see things like dolphins and turtles, and go whale watching too! The marine life in the Puerto Vallarta area is amazing.
Likewise, with Puerto Vallarta being surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains, you’ll find the natural habitat for much of the wildlife intersects with the city. You’ll find great bird watching of many different species of the area right in the city.
With that said, this post isn’t about the animals of Puerto Vallarta.. we did a completely different post on that. Find it here.
Instead, in this post, we’re focusing on the dangerous wildlife found right in the city, along with dangerous wildlife you’ll encounter while swinging from zip lines and even right at Marina Vallarta.
Dangerous Wildlife in Puerto Vallarta | Land
Crocodiles
Yes, crocodiles in Puerto Vallarta. It doesn’t take long to find signs warning of crocodiles in the area. You can bet that anywhere there is water, you’ll have the chance of encountering an crocodiles.
There’s one crocodile in particular that hangs out right under the bridge on the Malecón, near the Romantic Zone. You’ll be quick to see it when you see all the tourists pointing down at the water and taking pictures. Thankfully, it’s a way down from the bridge, so you’ll not really encounter this guy when walking around.
While the guy that hangs down by the Malecón isn’t much concern, the public beach access from Las Glorias is home to crocodiles. These ones you want to look out for, as they have been spotted on the actual walkway! And, the water they lounge in is very close to the walkway, so be sure to stay alert!
We also saw quite a few signs warning of crocodiles in Nuevo Vallarta. I think with more standing water in that area, the crocodiles are more present!
Iguanas
While iguanas are super cool to see and even watch, they can be quite dangerous if they feel unsafe. We were warned by a couple of different people to keep our space from the iguanas as they whip their tails at people when they feel in danger!
I’m laughing as I’m writing this, but it’s so true.. look out for iguanas falling from the trees too. When we were in Yelapa, we almost got destroyed by an iguana falling from a tree above us. We never even knew it was there until it literally splatted on the ground mere inches away from Jay.
You really have to be in the wrong place at the wrong time for them to land on you, but do be sure to look up when choosing a place to relax under a tree!
Mosquitos
You may think we’re crazy for including mosquitos on the dangerous list, but to some people, they are extremely dangerous. Obviously, mosquitos are really annoying to literally everyone, and there are diseases to worry about contracting from mosquitos in some parts of the world, hello, malaria, but luckily that’s not the case in Puerto Vallarta.
What makes the mosquitos dangerous to some people are the proteins mosquitoes release into your system when they bite. This is especially dangerous for people with autoimmune diseases.
Jason and I both got bit by loads of mosquitoes when we were hiking to Palo Maria Waterfall, but his reaction to the bites was way worse than mine. His foot was so swollen he couldn’t fit into his shoes. And then a few days later, his leg got so swollen he couldn’t bend his ankle or knee, and couldn’t walk on it without extreme pain.
While these reactions typically heal on their own after a handful of days, it is still extremely scary to deal with. Be sure to cover up and use bug spray when in the jungles of Puerto Vallarta.
Dangerous Wildlife in Puerto Vallarta | SEA
Poisonous Water Snakes
Okay… this one gives me the heebie-jeebies just writing about it. Yes, there are poisonous water snakes in Puerto Vallarta. And yes, we did encounter them two different times in the ocean.
When the purple flags are flying on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, it’s imperative that you stay out of the water. Purple flags mean there is dangerous marine fauna (wildlife) in the water. In both cases we saw the purple flags, they were up due to poisonous snakes in the water.
Pay attention to the flags, and stay on shore if purple is flying!
**One reader commented that there are not poisonous snakes in Puerto Vallarta, instead they are venomous snakes. While it’s not 100% clear which is accurate online, we were told the snakes were poisonous by workers at the resort we stayed at with family. So maybe a translation error, but either way poisonous snakes or venomous snakes, you want to stay out of the water when the purple flag is flying.
Jelly Fish
My sister got flipping destroyed by jellyfish larvae when on a tour with Vallarta Adventures. They say it was mosquito bites, but she was getting bit in the water, and everything from pictures to the reaction pointed to jellyfish larvae.
Jay and I also got stung by small jellyfish when we were snorkeling off the rocky coast in Yelapa. While our stings didn’t cause major reactions for days, my sister’s did.. and that’s something that can totally ruin a vacation.
Simply be aware of the water, and check for jellyfish before jumping in!
Sea Urchins
You know those black spikey things found along the rocks.. yeah, those things hurt! They’re sea urchins, and while they aren’t necessarily extremely poisonous, they hurt like a mother trucker if you step on them or rub against them.
Before standing on rocks in the ocean, be sure to check for sea urchins. They’re very easy to see and avoid, as they don’t move.
Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dangerous Wildlife In Puerto Vallarta
In the end, the wildlife in Puerto Vallarta is not anything that will come and get you out of nowhere. Most of the dangers of the wildlife can be avoided by simply being aware of your surroundings and taking the necessary precautions.
When we visited Puerto Vallarta, we had no clue about the dangerous wildlife in the city. We were shocked to see the alligator signs and hear of the tail whips from iguanas. However, what surprised us most was the mosquitos.
It really was scary how sick Jay got from the mosquito bites .. and yes, we know it was mosquitos because he saw them bit the spots that were inflamed. Just go into your trip prepared, and maybe bring some topical itch gel from home, just in case you encounter reactions to the different things listed above.
Being Prepared For The Puerto Vallarta Wildlife
The following are things you can pack with you to minimize dangerous encounters with wildlife in Puerto Vallarta. We truly do want you to be safe and comfortable while in Puerto Vallarta and we believe these items will help.
Anit-Itch Cream
Bringing along an anti-itch gel is a great idea for any jungle destination. While the exact one linked above is technically 3.5 ounces and is not carry-on friendly, there are a couple of anti-itch gel sticks that can go in carry-on luggage within the link as well!
This gel will help for all bug bites, jellyfish stings, and bee stings too!
Long Sleeve Lightweight Shirt
Long sleeves are a great way to protect yourself from not just the sun but from insect bites too. This shirt is a lightweight shirt that is perfect for the hot temperatures in Puerto Vallarta.
Bug Spray Without Deet
We don’t like to use bug spray because we don’t like lathering ourselves with all those chemicals. However, had we done a bit of research, we would have definitely brought along this bug spray without the deet. This is a three-ounce bottle, perfect for packing in your carry-on.
Googles
We actually brought with us our snorkel set, yes, even in our carry-on, but small goggles like these are great for those with limited space. A quick look in the water with goggles will help you locate sea urchins and jellyfish too!
More Puerto Vallarta Travel Advice
LEARN MORE | Animals of Puerto Vallarta | a nature escape right in the city
SEE MORE | Grocery Stores in Puerto Vallarta + Actual Food Costs
READ MORE | the BEST tacos in Puerto Vallarta (with geotagged locations)
READ MORE | Searching for the Best al Pastor Tacos in Puerto Vallarta
READ MORE | A Day Trip to San Pancho (less touristy than Sayulita)
General Travel Resources
We’ve been traveling pretty regularly since getting married back in 2013. We’ve backpacked for six months in South America, moved to Scotland, traveled Europe in a campervan, and are now traveling in the states in our newest van build. Here are some travel resources we think may help ease stress and finances on your trip abroad.
READ MORE | A Toiletry Travel Kit (for carry-on travel)
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