Select your Vacation Area of Puerto Vallarta

Vacationers looking for a lively area might like the Romantic Zone, the Hotel Zone, Marina Vallarta or private beach in the South Zone, Yelapa, Mismaloya, Las Animas.

What would be your best areas and neighborhoods for your vacayion in Puerto Vallarta:
6 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Puerto Vallarta
Zona Romantica. Best for LGBT Travelers & Couples
Marina Vallarta. Best for Families
Zona Hotelera. Best for Beach & All Inclusive Resorts
Conchas Chinas. Best for Romantic Getaways
Centro & 5 de Diciembre. Best for Budget Travelers
Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone. Best for Beach Getaways

Why is Puerto Vallarta so popular? Questions and Answers https://promovisionpv.com/why-is-puerto-vallarta-so-popular-questions-and-answers/

That means many places have great mountain or beach views, and pretty much every part of the city is close to a beach.

Best Area For LGBTQ Travelers, Dining & Nightlife

Zona Romantica is the most walkable area of Puerto Vallarta and is home to many of Puerto Vallarta’s best restaurants, bars, and top things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

The Romantic Zone is also the center of Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant LGBTQ scene, and popular with LGBTQ travelers.

Zona Romantica feels like a mini town within Puerto Vallarta. It is fairly compact, but packs so much into that space that many travelers who stay here barely leave the neighborhood.

The Old Town / Romantic Zone area is also home to the popular Los Muertos beach. But staying here means it is also easy to get to the less crowded and more tropical southern beaches like Mismaloya or Yelapa. Zona Romantica also connects to the Malecón, Puerto Vallarta’s beachfront boardwalk that extends into the neighboring Centro Puerto Vallarta area, multiple restaurants.

Pros of Staying in Zona Romantica:
Most walkable part of Puerto Vallarta
Home to fantastic restaurants and bars
Easy to get to the southern beaches
Tons of boutique hotels around Old Town / Romantic Zone
Very safe area

Cons of Staying in Zona Romantica:
Some parts of the Old Town area can be loud at night
You have to cross the city to get to Puerto Vallarta International Airport
You may have to walk up and down the hills a bit, depending on where you are staying in Old Town
No large supermarkets

Top Attractions – Muelle de Playa de los Muertos (beautiful pier), beaches, parasailing

Marina Vallarta

Located on the north side of Puerto Vallarta, Marina Vallarta is a developed area of beach resorts, hotels, and condos surrounding the Puerto Vallarta Marina. The Marina itself is a worthy attraction, and is worth a visit for a stroll even if you choose to stay elsewhere.

Marina Vallarta is also very close to the airport, which makes it easy to get in and out of town if you only have a short time in Puerto Vallarta. It is also home to the city’s best golf course. Plus it is a very quiet and safe area.

Pros of Staying in Marina Vallarta:
The Marina is fantastic for taking an evening stroll or grabbing a bite
Very close to the Puerto Vallarta airport

The Marina is one of the safest areas of Puerto Vallarta

Cons of Staying in Marina Vallarta:
Located far from the (better) southern beaches

PUERTO VALLARTA’S TOP ATTRACTIONS THINGS TO DO https://promovisionpv.com/puerto-vallartas-top-attractions-things-to-do/

Hotel Zone

The largest concentration of hotels can be found in the aptly named Hotel Zone. This area is a narrow strip that runs between the main road and the beach between downtown and the Marina. Apart from two shopping malls (Galerias Vallarta Shopping Mall and the La Isla Shopping Center), there is really much here except a ton of beaches and a ton of beach hotels.

The Hotel Zone is reasonably central and you have many of the best hotels in Puerto Vallarta to choose from.

Pros of Staying in the Hotel Zone:
Easy access to some of the best and largest stretches of beach in Puerto Vallarta
Lots of all inclusive hotels to choose from.
Very centrally located, so easy to get around

Cons of Staying in the Hotel Zone:
It is a fairly empty area, so be sure to pick a good hotel

Conchas Chinas is gorgeous, just be prepared to climb the hill!

For a romantic getaway or for a peaceful and relaxing retreat.

Located around a mountain bend just south of Zona Romantica, this hillside neighborhood offers some of the most fantastic views over Banderas Bay. If you are visiting during whale watching season and squint, you can probably even see a whale from your hotel room’s private balcony or rooftop terrace!

It is important to understand that Conchas Chinas is geographically separated from the rest of Puerto Vallarta by the hills. This makes it quiet, serene, and peaceful. But it also means it is not the liveliest area, and you do have to contend with steep inclines on most of the streets. Still, for a romantic getaway, this is the place to be.

Pros of Staying in Conchas Chinas:
Very quiet, safe, and secluded
Conchas Chinas is a hidden beach that is rarely crowded

Cons of Staying in Conchas Chinas:
It is very hilly so you need Ubers or need to hike
Very few restaurants, no bars, and only one convenience store

Centro / 5 de Diciembre (“Downtown Puerto Vallarta”)

Centro and 5 de Diciembre are technically two different neighborhoods, but together they essentially comprise Puerto Vallarta’s downtown area. This is where you will find the city’s Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and iconic landmarks like the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Malecón boardwalk.

Puerto Vallarta can be very touristy and foreigner-dominated, but this is one area where there is a bit more of a mix of Mexican tourists, locals, and foreigners. Also, if you are traveling on a budget, you will find plenty of affordable hotels, hostels, and boutiques here.

Pros of Staying in Centro or 5 de Diciembre :
Central, with easy access to the Malecón boardwalk
More affordable accommodation options
A slightly more authentic Mexican vibe than other popular parts of Puerto Vallarta

Cons of Staying in Centro or 5 de Diciembre:
Parts of these neighborhoods can be a bit lively, and thus loud

Centro & 5 de Diciembre. Best Area for Budget Travelers

Top Attractions – Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, The Malecon, Mirador el Cerro de la Cruz

Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone & Southern Beaches

Mismaloya beach is just stunning

Want to know a secret about Puerto Vallarta? The best beaches are not actually within the city limits: they are actually dotted along the southern coastline where the lush Sierra Madre Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Vallarta’s south zone includes secluded beach areas like Mismaloya, Playa Palmares, and Boca de Tomatlan. Further south via water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan, you can find even more secluded tropical beach towns like Yelapa, home to a stunning golden sand beach.
You can find many all inclusive resorts and luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta here.

Just realize that Ubers and taxis to Puerto Vallarta can be scarce at night, so the South Zone is really a place to stay only if you do not plan to leave your all inclusive resort or if you are renting a car.

Pros of Staying in Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone Beaches:
Some of the most beautiful golden sand beaches in Mexico
Quiet, peaceful, and secluded

Cons of Staying in Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone Beaches:
It is 20-40 minutes from central Puerto Vallarta, along a winding mountain road, so you need a car or taxis to get around.
Very few restaurants or conveniences outside of the resorts.

Best Area for Beach Getaways, Mismaloya Beach, Los Arcos National Marine Park

What about the rainy season Puerto Vallarta? https://promovisionpv.com/what-about-the-rainy-season-puerto-vallarta/

During the summer Puerto Vallarta gets a ton of rain. While it is fortunately usually not the kind of rain that runs all day, when it rains it really pours – so much so that the streets often flood.

The best time to visit Puerto Vallarta for good weather is generally between November and May, when it is sunny and dry. Just note that December through March is the high season, so prices are higher during this time.

Come for Whale Watching Season

High season in Puerto Vallarta coincides with whale watching season. Banderas Bay absolutely fills up with humpback whales from mid-December to early March. If you come during this period, you are more or less guaranteed to see a whale. You are also likely to see dolphins on your cruise and, if you are lucky, maybe even manta rays or sea turtles.

Coming for New Year’s to see Banderas Bay lit up front end to end is an absolute spectacle. But, no matter when you visit Puerto Vallarta, you are likely to catch a few fireworks in the evenings.

The InDriver App Works Better Than Uber

Uber does work in Puerto Vallarta, but often wait times can start to get a little excessive. Most locals and local drivers prefer another app called InDriver. It works pretty similarly to Uber, but the key thing to know is that you have to pay in cash (and the drivers usually do not have change). I usually find that InDriver has way more cars available in Puerto Vallarta than Uber.

The Romantic Zone is the best area for LGBT and younger travelers. The Romantic Zone is walking distance to many beaches, attractions, and fine dining restaurants.

Puerto Vallarta Zona Romantica, or the Romantic Zone, where many of the best restaurants, boutiques, and attractions are located.

Puerto Vallarta Travel Safety Common Sense https://promovisionpv.com/puerto-vallarta-travel-safety-common-sense/

In general it is safe to walk around Puerto Vallarta at night, as long as you are sticking to the main tourist neighborhoods located within a kilometer of the beach. Puerto Vallarta is generally very safe for travel, and is often cited as one of the safest destinations in Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta – Riviera Nayarit Archive Aug 5 2024 https://promovisionpv.com/puerto-vallarta-riviera-nayarit-archive-aug-5-2024/ 300 pages you may have missed: events, culture, destinations, travel guide, travel video, travel tips, retirement, real estate, law, LGBTQ, Jalisco, Nayarit,

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/