Join the Free Río Pitillal BioBlitz and Discover Puerto Vallarta’s Hidden Natural Treasures

Hey fellow expats and digital nomads in Puerto Vallarta! Get ready to step into the great outdoors and help document the local biodiversity! Starting this Friday, September 18, the fifth Home River BioBlitz will take place along the Río Pitillal, running through Sunday, September 20. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore and contribute to a global effort to record the plants, birds, insects, and other wildlife that call this urban river home.

To join in, all you need is a curious mind and the free iNaturalist app, known as Naturalista in Mexico. Download the app, join the project titled The Home River BioBlitz 2026, Río Pitillal, and start adding photos or short audio clips of the fascinating flora and fauna you encounter. The BioBlitz is organized by the Centro Universitario de la Costa and its Laboratorio de Ecología, Paisaje y Sociedad, and it aligns with the worldwide Home River BioBlitz, supported by National Geographic. Guided groups will be available, but you can also explore on your own, so check the local dates and meeting points before you head out.

The Río Pitillal runs through one of Puerto Vallarta's largest neighborhoods, El Pitillal, and it’s just a short drive from downtown. If you're already planning a longer nature walk, the Vallarta Botanical Garden is another great spot to explore. Just remember to bring some water, stay on public paths, and leave everything you find undisturbed. The goal is to create a public record of the river's ecosystem, not to take trophy photos.