Conveniently located among the lush palm-covered Sierra Madre Mountains and providing more than 40 miles of coastline, Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s thriving and most sophisticated resort destinations, which first appeared as a dot on the map of Mexico in 1918. Drenched in year-round sunshine, and loaded with archaeological wonders and iconic architecture, the city promises a perfect vacation, complete with visits to hidden caves and artsy enclaves, and this is just the beginning.
Also called simply Vallarta or PV by locals and many aficionados of the city, Puerta Vallarta is an ensemble of possibilities, always waiting to offer you the best in terms of activities, sightseeing and relaxation.
Beaches
Puerto Vallarta is known as Mexico’s best beach town and not for nothing. It is home to over 40 distinct beaches, each one greatly different from the next. You can choose from soft sandy beaches to rocky cliffs that kiss the sea, as well as coves surrounded by beautiful forests that reach the shoreline, and all offering breathtaking scenery and playful activity from surfing and parasailing to sailing and scuba diving.
Los Muertos, the only beach in downtown, is a lovely, fun scene, featuring shoulder-to-shoulder venues for eating and drinking under the shade, numerous shops, along with water-sports equipment rentals, available on weekends only, during the rainy season.
Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone Beach is another tourist playground in PV, lined with luxurious resort hotels, where it’s quite east to have an adventure. The beach is a perfect place to laze out on golden sands and soak up the sun, as well as indulge in a myriad of water adventures, including whale watching.
Popular are also Mismaloya Beach on a beautiful jungle-fringed cove south of Puerta Vallarta; Boca de Thomas Beach – a tranquil, long sandy retreat, which is an ecologist’s paradise with one of the area’s most important refuges for wildlife; and Playa de Oro beach, popular with both locals and tourists because of its diversity of water sports.
Jardines Botanicos de Vallarta
Nestled high in the Sierra Madre Mountains, some 12 kilometers south of the city, one can find the spectacularly beautiful Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens, which like to have been plucked right from the Garden of Eden, and which since its opening has won international accolades as a must-see attraction of any trip to this wonderful city. Ideal for nature lovers and families, Vallarta Botanical Gardens offer visitors a rich diversity of wildlife and hundreds of collections of native tropical plants from orchids to agaves to anthuriums, as well as colorful flowering trees lining the jungle pathways. Make sure to take an educational walking tour of the gardens. The Botanical Gardens’ elegant and beautiful surroundings are also a superb location for weddings and special occasions.
Banderas Bay Pirate Sailing Cruise
PV has great activities for daytrippers off a cruise ship. Sail on Marigalante Pirate Ship – Puerto Vallarta’s most popular party boat on Banderas Bay, and enjoy a wonderful day, filled with games and activities to keep busy every member of the ship. You’ll anchor at the beach and spend time swimming, kayaking and snorkeling before jumping back on the ship. The natural beauty you’ll enjoy on your way is a truly unforgettable experience. Night dinner cruises are also available.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Another place of interest that is a must for anyone visiting this safe city, is the iconic Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located in downtown (or El Centro). This is a beautiful example of local architecture, featuring a unique combination of several architectural styles. What you’ll like about the church interior is its simplicity with plain, white washed walls, which are dramatically embellished with richly detailed moldings. Of special interest are also the sun glassed windows, through which the sunlight penetrates, illuminating the gilt-trimmed altar. The majestic Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe dominates the city’s skyline in countless postcards, and is considered the most precious monument in PV.
From taking a surf on one of the beaches the city has on offer to whale watching and indulging in other great natural tours, to visiting Los Mangos Library to walking the new Malecon, Puerto Vallarta is this and more…
