PUERTO VALLARTA in Mexico’s Pacific Coast

Puerto Vallarta is a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in Jalisco state. It is known for its beaches, water sports and nightlife scene. Its cobblestone center is home to the ornate Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church, boutique shops and a range of restaurants and bars. El Malecón is a beach side promenade with contemporary sculptures, as well as bars, lounges and nightclubs.

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Set amidst a backdrop of the towering Sierra Madre Mountain range, fringes of swaying palm trees grace yellow-sand beaches that hug the shores of the sparkling Pacific Ocean. Here, you will find the bustling coastal haven of Puerto Vallarta.

Originating as a quaint fishing village, PV, as it is commonly known, has become one of Mexico’s most popular beach resorts. An iconic vacation destination, PV has sprouted from its humble origins, first finding fame in the 1960s as the filming location for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s Night of the Iguana.

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Although teeming with resorts, shopping malls, housing developments and tourists, PV has retained its authentic Mexican magnetism as the ultimate hotspot in the enigmatic state of Jalisco – birthplace of tequila and mariachi music. Downtown, explore cobblestoned streets and historic architecture reminiscent of PV’s early roots.

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Snaking along the oceanfront, the well-known boardwalk of El Malecon carves through the city’s most popular highlights, home to food stalls and street performers, and stands as the cultural artery of PV. The nightlife here is renowned, none more so than in the beating heart of the Zona Romantica, which hosts a thriving LGBTQ+ scene.

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Venture beyond the resorts to rolling hills, jungle-clad mountains and fields of blue agave. Discover beaches suited to any traveller, from secluded coves to well-catered swathes of sand with an inviting array of marine excursions centered around the horseshoe of the Bay of Banderas.

An established gourmet city, PV sets taste buds tingling with traditional Mexican fare, and cosmopolitan restaurants showcasing creativity and imagination with world-class chefs.

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Once labelled ‘La ciudad más amigable del mundo’ (The Friendliest City in the World), PV offers a warm welcome to travellers.

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Puerto Vallarta likes to showcase the city’s genuine hospitality and the natural charm that has won over couples, families, LGBTQ+ travelers, wellness enthusiasts, and others who return time and again to enjoy the sunsets over Banderas Bay, the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains, unspoiled jungle interior, and the charming cobblestone streets and historic architecture of the downtown area. With access to more than 50 outdoor activities, including swimming with wild dolphins, guided street food tours, and horse riding, travelers can find their own space in Puerto Vallarta – whether that’s in the heart of the city, amid the buzz and excitement of the Malecon, or on the secluded southern beaches of Quimixto and Yelapa.

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The demand for foodie tourism, wellness travel, and responsible travel experiences has significantly grown in popularity and is now joined by pet-friendly travel, multi-gen travel, and medical tourism. Puerto Vallarta is becoming a destination of choice for specialist cosmetic procedures and so we are working with our hotel and travel partners to better engage this market.

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Further, in the last few years, Puerto Vallarta is becoming a favored second home destination. This is a great asset for Puerto Vallarta and an organic trend that has evolved in part due to Puerto Vallarta attracting a significant number of repeat visitors, with many choosing to visit once or twice a year.

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Puerto Vallarta is blessed with nature-rich landscapes, fauna and flora, and so it is important that we continue to integrate sustainable travel practices into travel programs, tour itineraries, and hotel operations, so that travelers can support our preservation efforts. Highlights from Puerto Vallarta’s nature and community-focused experiences include:

Ejido El Jorullo is home to Jorullo Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world for vehicles. El Jorullo was founded in 1940 by 180 inhabitants and 157 shareholders, and today it is managed by the North Coast of Jalisco Association of Foresters, mainly dedicated to the cultivation of various rare and indigenous plants, which are seeded using a local method adapted to the mountainous area.

A wildlife conservation area located in the jungle interior of the Sierra Madre Mountains, visitors can enjoy the peaceful surroundings from eco-chic cabins, a restaurant, pool, and nine hot spring pools. Activities include cycling, zip-lining, hiking, and bird watching.

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The creation of the Gardens has provided an unprecedented opportunity for us to share with the world the wonderfully vast diversity of Mexico’s plant species. Visitors can tour the plant species, including Mexico’s largest collection of orchids, in a safe environment with guided viewing trails.

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The butterfly sanctuary originally opened in March 2020 and re-opened in March 2021, with butterflies of various species, sizes, and colors.

Turtle release programs

From July through December, visitors can participate in sea turtle release programs, helping to find on average 70 to 230 nests and, depending on the location, release approximately 60 to 200 sea turtles per day during the season. Protecting these nests and safeguarding every hatchling journey ensures that sea turtles will return to Puerto Vallarta for generations to come. While participation in a sea turtle release in Puerto Vallarta creates a unique and memorable experience, it is also an outstanding opportunity for visitors to support local conservation work.

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Puerto Vallarta has seized the opportunity to attract new demographics, specifically millennial travelers, as well as expand experience offerings within niche interest segments like wellness, ecotourism, and multi-gen travel. Travelers today are also more appreciative of the opportunity to explore new destinations and want to know that they are giving back to the communities they visit, so our resorts and alternative accommodations that offer authentic and responsible experiences are contributing to a faster economic recovery for our city.

Eat:

Vallarta Food Tours specializes in taco crawls that offer local insight into PV’s thriving food scene. Sample fish tacos and taste exceptional asada tacos, marlin tacos, elote with pork belly, pastor, churros and tejuino in other nearby hotspots.

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Venture beyond the crowded tourist center of PV to the neighborhood of Versalles, and you will find the local gem of Barrio Bistro. Fresh ingredients combine in a vibrant array of daily specials, washed down with the locally produced distilled agave drink of raicilla, all conjured by culinary genius

Justifying its status as ‘The Friendliest City in the World’, as voted by Travel + Leisure Magazine, PV has long been acknowledged as a haven of inclusivity.

Often cited as the number one gay beach destination in Latin America, PV has been established as an LGBTQ+-friendly destination since the first waves of openly gay and lesbian travelers from Mexico City, the US and Canada in the 1980s and 1990s. So much so that since that time, this particular demographic of travelers has come to represent a major contributor to the tourism industry’s income stream that is receiving significant support and recognition from the municipal government.

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PV hosts Mexico’s biggest ‘gayborhood’ – the Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone). This effervescent downtown area is home to lively night-club fiestas, live music events, a host of gay bars and clubs and even a dedicated beach. It is here where thousands gather in May every year for the city’s iconic eight-day Pride festival. Vallarta Gay Pride has escalated significantly since inception in 2013 as a hugely popular event, that is now held annually to coincide with US Memorial Day weekend.

THE BEACHES OF PUERTO VALLARTA IN FOCUS

Beaches are PV’s calling card. The two most central favorites include Los Muertos and Olas Altas, as the closest to the city’s main square. These are some of the most easily accessible spots for water sports and boat excursions.

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From the 60-metre pier on Playa de Los Muertos, take a boat ride to head away from the crowds to the quieter southernmost reaches, where secluded coves boast pristine snorkeling sites. Some of the best are to be found near the villages of Yelapa, Quimixto and Playa Majahuitas – a favorite amongst scuba-divers.

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Meanwhile, Playa Mismaloya is well-noted as an iconic stretch of sand, thanks to the beach’s appearance as the backdrop for the Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor film, the Night of the Iguana. The beach is also close to the remarkable Los Arcos Marine Park.

LANDMARK ATTRACTIONS

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Los Arcos

PV hosts some of the Pacific Coast’s best diving destinations, and this protected national marine park is one of the finest. Whether scuba diving, swimming, or snorkeling, enjoy waters teeming with marine life including moray eels and manta rays. Translating from the Spanish for ‘the Arches’, marvel at the vast grey granite islands rising from the sea.

Zona Romántica

One of PV’s most popular areas to explore, this cosmopolitan neighborhood is packed with restaurants, bars and coffee shops and truly comes alive at night time. By day, admire cobbled streets and a colorful arts and culture scene. On Saturday mornings, be sure to stop by the vibrant Farmer’s Market for artisanal local produce.

Botanical Gardens of Vallarta

The Vallarta Botanical Gardens encapsulate the tropical diversity of the Sierra Madre mountain range. A wander through the Cactus Garden, Tropical Fruit Orchard and the Orchid Conservatory – home to over 300 native Mexican species – offers an idyllic way to spend an afternoon. Stroll deeper into the forest and traverse a hanging bridge to explore the wilder side of these beautifully maintained grounds.

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The downtown area is easily walk-able, offering atmospheric cobbled roads and quaint backstreets that are perfect for a wander. For those staying in hillside hotels, downtown beaches are still easily reached within walking distance. The mile-long boardwalk of the Malecón is dedicated to pedestrians and presents a sight-filled promenade that will lead you through the oceanfront highlights.

For further distances, PV has an efficient bus network to reach other resort towns. Many prefer not to rent a car here, since it can be a costly option, albeit offering comfort and convenience. Alternatively, ride-hailing service Uber is a reliably popular choice. While this is available for airport drop-offs, it is worth nothing that Uber drivers are not permitted to pick up arriving passengers, unless first exiting the airport and ordering one from the street.

PV’s principal airport is Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR), which offers connections to other major cities throughout the country and direct flights from the US. It is also 205 miles (330km) from Guadalajara – the capital of Jalisco state – which has many connections with international cities.

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We provide information and resources for visitors to Puerto Vallarta, areas of The Riviera Nayarit and other destinations in both states of Jalisco and Nayarit . You will find variety of content, including articles, blog posts, videos, photos, descriptions and interviews, all of which are designed to help visitors plan their trip, including attractions, restaurants, and events. https://promovisionpv.com/