Puerto Vallarta, colloquially known as Vallarta, is a resort city on Mexico's Pacific Coast that spreads out from the Zona Romantica, its historic old town core. Around the Bay, beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and sparkling waterfalls offer many opportunities for the adventurous, while five-star resorts, world-class shopping, and gourmet restaurants satisfy even the most sophisticated traveler.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Puerto Vallarta was founded in December 1851 as a village known as Las Penas. It remained small until the early 1960s, when the Hollywood motion picture The Night of the Iguana was filmed at Mismaloya to the south. The massive publicity surrounding the film brought worldwide attention to Puerto Vallarta and launched the development of its modern tourism industry. Today, a statue of the film's director John Huston celebrates his role in creating Puerto Vallarta. The beautiful Bay of Banderas is one of the largest and deepest in the world. It is home to a wide variety of aquatic life.
Uber covers the city. Hotels may provide a price list for cabs. Hotels will also offer (expensive) transport from airport to hotel, but it is much cheaper to take a taxi. Be prepared for fast speeds, as the cab drivers have schedules to adhere to. Not all cabs have working seatbelts or even speedometers. Tip only if the taxi driver did something above and beyond normal transportation (e.g., helped with bags, waited while running an errand). Taxi drivers tend to gather at the intersection close to the liquor outlet in the Centro District. They are friendly and you can negotiate trips outside of Puerto Vallarta at a very reasonable cost on slow days.
For those who just want to relax, Puerto Vallarta's many golden sand beaches offer one of the best ways to experience the beauty and magic of the Bay of Banderas. The best season is between December and May. 1 Los Muertos Beach. The beach along the Zona Romantica. You will find some beachfront restaurants with "palapas" that you can rent per day or have drink in. It is a perfect place to relax and meet people who party all day. Also, there you will find the trendiest place of the moment, where to go, what to see, the best shows. (updated Mar 2015) 2 Muelle de Playa Los Muertos. A pier into the ocean with contemporary design. 3 Malecón.
Puerto Vallarta has many activities and excursions to keep you entertained. The adventurous can hike or mountain bike in the hills, explore the jungle and hidden trails on horseback, take a jeep safari, snorkel, scuba dive, charter a yacht or sailboat, or take a cruise on one of the many party boats, make a personal photoshoot. Oftentimes they are easily booked online. Mardi Gras/Carnaval. Feb. The parade takes place in the Zona Romantica. You will also see the gay charm around downtown. Vallarta Pride Parade. May. The city hosts a large LGBT celebration downtown culminating in the Vallarta Pride Parade along the malecon on Saturday Marathon. First weekend of November.
The rich cultural diversity of Puerto Vallarta is reflected in the cuisine that its many restaurants have to offer. From the most casual taco stands, to tropical beachfront palapas, to upscale rooftop restaurants with panoramic views, there are literally hundreds of restaurants serving exactly what you are hungry for. Be careful with what you eat and drink, particularly from street food vendors and small beach snack bars to avoid travellers' diarrhea. There are many beachside restaurants to tempt you with tropical drinks, but bottled beer may be a safer option. You are never far away from a taco stand. Just ask a local where you can find one.
1 Steve's Sports Bar, Basilio Badillo 286, Emiliano Zapata (Basilio Badillo & Calle Constitucion), ☏ +52 322 222-0256. Daily 11:00-01:00. (updated Aug 2017) 2 Roxy Rock House (Club Roxy), Ignacio Vallarta 217, Emiliano Zapata (along Ignacio Vallarta between Francisco Madero and), ☏ +52 322 225-6901. Daily 22:00-05:00. Live R&B Hit among people over 30 with live blues and rock (updated Aug 2017) 3 La Dolce Vita, Paseo Díaz Ordaz 674, Centro, ☏ +52 322 222 2204, +52 322 222 3852. M-Sa 11:30 - 00:00, Su 16:00 - 23:00. Lively Italian restaurant that's a popular night spot featuring live music and drink specials. (updated Feb 2025) 4 Mandala, Paseo Díaz Ordaz 633, Centro. Daily 18:00 - 04:00.
The beaches and hotels have security people who are familiar with the area and tend to ward off most undesirable characters. As in many "tourist destinations", there are local "tourist police", who concentrate on keeping the area safe for visitors. They, and the locals, understand the value of visitors and make life very difficult for those who may consider preying on visitors. Avoid confrontations with the police. In the event you do have a disagreement with them, expect to be treated poorly and expect to pay many a peso to regain your freedom. Respect and co-operation goes a long way with them, disrespect usually will not be tolerated. For digestive issues, use Immodium.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Puerto Vallarta typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 23 rainy days.
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