Puerto Vallarta



Puerto Vallarta, colloquially known as Vallarta, is a city on Mexico's Pacific Coast. While it is established as a modern resort town, the Old Town (the Zona Romantica district) south of the River Cuale is more of a traditional Mexican city.

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. Stretching from the south end of Old Town to central downtown, a newly extended and refurbished boardwalk along the ocean, called the Malecon, passes by any number of shops, restaurants, and hotels, and often plays host to mimes, breakdancers, clowns and artists.

Understand
The residents are friendly and generally willing to help with directions and other requests. Puerto Vallarta also has gained a reputation as one of the few cities in Latin America that enthusiastically welcomes LGBT tourism. The area in and around the Zona Romantica is particularly known for having many hotels, bars, shops and restaurants that cater to gay tourists. There is also an annual Pride festival held in May.

English is widely spoken, and as a tourist destination, prices are higher than many other places in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is very crowded at holidays, if you're planning a visit to Mexico that coincides with a major holiday, consider visiting Mexico City or Guadalajara instead. The cities empty out as Mexicans and tourists flood to the beaches.

To the north, the hills give way a little. Here you will find mile-long stretches of golden sand beaches, rich plantations of papaya and mango and, tucked back along tumbling rivers and streams, small villages where life seems to move at a different pace. There are many different ways to explore the Bay.

To the south, the hills cascade towards the sea creating a rich palette that mixes the vivid green foliage with the deep blues of the water. At their feet nestle secluded coves and small fishing villages, many of which are still accessible only by sea.

To the east, the jungle clad Sierra Madre Mountains, which quickly rise to over, encircle and protect the town from the winds and regulate the semi-tropical and humid weather.

And, to the west, the Bay of Banderas is home to a wide variety of aquatic life. Humpback whales come here to mate every year from December to March, and sea turtles nest on the beaches from May to October. Schools of dolphins and giant manta rays also inhabit these waters. The Bay and the Marietas Islands offer an amazing kaleidoscope of tropical fish, attracting snorkelers, scuba divers and sport fishermen alike.

Airlines and destinations
International flights are offered from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom year round. Direct flights from additional cities in North America and from Europe are only offered seasonally, usually between November and March. Domestic flights are offered from major Mexican cities including Mexico City (from both MEX and NLU) and Monterrey.

The following airlines offer regular service to Puerto Vallarta:
 * Sala A - Concourse A: Aeromexico/Aeromexico Connect, Calafia, Magnicharters, TAR, VivaAerobus and Volaris,
 * Sala B - Concourse B: Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, Air Transat, American Airlines, Delta, Copa Airlines, Southwest, Sun Country, Spirit, Sunwing, TUI Airways, United, World2Fly and Westjet. The following carriers only come seasonally: Frontier, Finnair and airlines chartered by Apple Vacations. Even the carriers that come regularly, year round, (listed in the former) offer seasonal flights from additional cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico than they do at other times of the year.

Inside the airport
Upon exiting from customs, the next two rooms outside of customs are plagued by timeshare hucksters. They will offer to arrange a cab ride, arrange for a tour, offer free meals, cash etc for you in an effort to rope you into a high pressure timeshare sales presentation. Unless you are looking to buy timeshare or to burn hours of vacation time in timeshare sales presentations, do not engage in conversation with anyone in the next two rooms. Walk quickly through the next two rooms - the ones housing the hucksters - continue walking past the rope-line out to the main arrivals area.

From the airport by e-hailing
The is on the opposite side of the main road from the airport terminal under the pedestrian bridge.

From the airport by taxi
Look for the official taxi kiosk or car rental desks out in the main airport arrivals hall. You can purchase your taxi trip here. All other offers of cab rides you will receive between customs and the kiosk will be from the timeshare hucksters. Ignore every one of them. The bad experience of those taken in can ruin one's first hours in PVR, and that would be a shame. Or hire private transportation.

From the airport, there are two types of taxis available to get you to where you are going. The white federal taxis are available immediately upon exiting the airport but are more expensive. Cross the pedestrian bridge over the highway for the cheaper yellow taxis that are more common in other parts of the city.

From the airport by bus
If you've packed lightly you can take the city buses into town. Go out the doors and turn left towards the main road next to the building. Turn left again at the corner of the building and go through a small taxi and shuttle parking lot towards the pedestrian bridge. Under the pedestrian overpass is the Wait for a bus (5 minutes or so) marked "Centro" (but not marked Pitillal or Bobadilla), wave it down, pay your M$10 (Nov 2021), and enjoy the ride. The bus stops all throughout the town. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes for the bus to get to its farthest southerly stop. You need exact change for the bus, as you throw the coins into a box as of November 2021. By taking the city bus you've just saved US$20!

If going towards central bus station, Nueva Vallarta, Bucerias, Sayulita or anywhere north, go up to the pedestrian bridge and walk over to the other side of the road. The bus stop for buses going north is under the pedestrian bridge at the opposite side of the road and also where to get off if coming back to the airport from town.

For going to the bus station take the northbound bus going towards "Ixtapa" or "Juntas" and get off Las Palmas which is the Cerveza Corona building at Km 9 and walk back two blocks along La Palmas or take the "Victoria Guadalupe" bus which makes the turn towards the actual bus station in Colonia Victoria Guadalupe.

From the airport by private transportation
If you are visiting Puerto Vallarta, you should consider private pre-arranged transportation directly from your airport to your hotel. This transportation can be arranged by contacting a company by phone or booking online. This will save you time and money. There are several companies that can take you anywhere in Puerto Vallarta and surrounds.

By carpooling
For example from or to Guadalajara is for around M$300 (Nov 2021) on Blablacar.

By boat
Major cruise ships loaded with thousands of tourists from the United States as well as Europe dock in the city's main port typically spending an entire day there. Other port accommodations are available for those wishing to travel along the coast.

By intercity bus
Bus service in Mexico is quite reliable and comfortable. Several lines serve Puerto Vallarta. Buses have air conditioning (except some "economy" ones), and often show movies and have refreshments.

(Central de Autobuses) To go there you can take an Uber for around M$100 (Nov 2021), a taxi for around M$200 or a local bus (Guadalupe Victoria, Ixtapa or Juntas) for M$10 (Nov 2021) from the city. Buses go to Tepic (3 hours), Guadalajara (4-5 hr), Mexico City (12-13 hr), Manzanillo (5 hr), Mazatlan (6 hr), Barra de Navidad, Zihuatanejo (14-14½ hr) and to other locations. The main bus station is in the northeastern part of town, at Bahia de Sin Nombre 363, a couple blocks behind the Corona Building at Km 9 Carretera Tepic-Puerto Vallarta (Hwy 200) along Av Las Palmas in Colonia Guadalupe Victoria. It is 3 km past the airport terminal and 9 km NE of the downtown core (el centro). The following bus lines offer services into and out of the Central Bus Terminal:

The following do not serve the main bus station:

The following are local city buses going north to the Riviera such as Bucerias, Sayulita, Punta Mita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Mezcales, and Nuevo Vallarta. in Nayarit state. Buses going towards Nayarit can only stop in front of Wal-Mart, next to the airport and in front of the Cerveza Corona Building at Km 9 along Carr. Tepic-Vallarta (Hwy 200):

Going south there are white and orange buses going to Mismaloya, the Puerto Vallarta Zoo, Boca, and the Botanical Gardens plus all the small towns along the way. They pick up in front of Oxxo at Basilio Badillo & Constitucion in Col. Emiliano Zapata (Zona Romantica)

In town there's an additional bus stop at the NE corner of Aguacate & Venustiano Carranza in Zona Romantica (Colonia Emiliano Zapata) for first & second class buses going south to El Tuito, Manzanillo and anywhere along the way. Tickets can bought from vendors in front of Abarrotes Don Chalio on 402 Venustiano Carranza; Farmacia Guadalajara on the SE corner of Insurgentes & Lazaro Cardenas; or Superior Tours on Ignacio L. Vallarta 228 (SW of Ignacio L Vallarta & Calle FCO Madero ). Fares for second class buses can be paid to the driver at boarding.

If coming into town from the south ask to get off in Zona Romantica (along Insurgent) if going to downtown or Zona Romantica, otherwise stay on the bus to the bus station (north) to continue north to Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Sayulita, Tepic, or anywhere in the Riviera.

By car

 * Carretera_federal_200.svg The Carretera Pacifico (Fed Hwy 200) begins 162 km north in Tepic (3 hr) and winds down through the Riviera and eventually into Puerto Vallarta from the north as Carretera Tepic-Pto Vallarta and Blvd Francisco Medina Ascencio. Going south into town the highway splits into local one way streets through 5 de diciembre and Zona Centro as Av Mexico and Av Morelos and as Ignacio Vallarta through Zona Romantica south of the Rio Cuale. The main highway continues south towards Manzanillo (273 km) through Mismaloya. From the south the highway enters as Carretera Pto Vallara-Cihuatlan and into Zona Romantica as Av Insurgentes. It becomes Av Juarez and than Av Colombia going north through Zona Centro and 5 de Diciembre.


 * Carretera_federal_15D.svg & Carretera_federal_15.svgg from Guadalajara (322 km) go west along Fed Hwy 15D towards "Tepic" to the "Chapilla-Pto Vallarta" exit and continue west towards Hwy 68D through Chapilla to the roundabout junction with Hwy 200, southwest of Compostela. Alternatively you can also exit off the main highway by following the signs for "Tepic Libre" (Fed Hwy 15) after entering into Zapopan instead of continuing along the "Tepic Cuota" (main toll highway on Fed Hwy 15D). Exit again at Fed Hwy 70 going towards "Tala Ameca". The road winds through Tala, Ameca and Mascota; becomes State Hwy 544 west of Mascota and enter Pto Vallarta as Las Palmas through Col. Ixtapa northeast of town.

By e-hailing
Uber covers the city.

By taxi
Hotels may provide a price list for cabs. Hotels will also offer (expensive) transport from airport to hotel, but it is much better to take a taxi. If you've booked with a travel agency, they will most likely provide you with transportation to and from the airport.

Be prepared for fast speeds, as the cab drivers have schedules to adhere to. Many of the cabs do not have working seatbelts or speedometers as well. 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. They will wait for you while you dine or shop as well as photograph you and your mates. Tip only if the taxi driver did something above and beyond normal transportation (e.g., helped with bags, waited while running an errand).

By bus
To find a connection, Moovit and Google Maps cover the city. Bus trips cost M$10 (Nov 2021) that you pay to the bus driver when you get in. For that fare you can go through the whole city on one bus. In the city buses you don't get change. If paying for two persons with a M$20 bill, you can fold it and push it through the coin slot inside the bus. Make sure to keep the ticket you are provided by the driver in case an inspector gets on the bus, both for your sake and the driver's sake.

You can only enter and exit at a bus stop, which are shown for example in Google Maps; additionally you can have a look where other people wait for the bus on the sidewalk. You need to flag down a bus in order to stop. Buses run quite frequently. Look for your travel location on the bus windshield. Buses at peak hours tend to get crowded and can get hot, so be ready for that. Some buses have air-conditioning. If you are a man, be ready to give up your seat to women if the bus becomes crowded.

The buses are very reliable and quite handy to get to places like Pitillal (the rapidly growing suburb to the northeast) and Ixtapa (including the nearby U of Guadalajara campus with its gallery and crocodile farm). They are also useful for traveling from the hotel zone and marina area to the downtown or old town areas. Any bus marked "Centro" will pass through both. Buses marked Tunel will skip downtown and head directly to the old town/Zona Romantica via the tunnel bypass.

By car
Be very careful if you choose to drive in Puerto Vallarta. The police seem to pull tourists over at the drop of a hat during spring break. When you pick up a rental, check that all the lights work. Also when you are pulled over for a light violation, do not be surprised if the police holds out an open palmed hand, while holding your driver’s license hostage in the other. Most police officers are underpaid and will for the most part demand a small bribe to let you off the hook.

Public beaches
Beautiful Banderas Bay, one of the largest and deepest in the world, may be admired from many of the surrounding hills exuberant in lush vegetation. Located right at the mouth of the Bay, straddling both sides of the River Cuale lays a charming and picturesque little town with true Mexican spirit, Puerto Vallarta.

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.

Art galleries

 * Galería Arte Latinoamericano - Two-floor gallery. Participates in art walk
 * Galería Corsica - Contemporary Mexican fine art
 * Galería Omar Alonso - Dedicated to antique and contemporary photography, engraving and sculpture
 * Gallería Pacificio - One of Vallarta's leading galleries since 1987; sponsors the Public Sculpture Walking Tour that starts at 21:30 every Tuesday on the Malecon, Nov-April.
 * Galería Omar Alonso - Dedicated to antique and contemporary photography, engraving and sculpture
 * Gallería Pacificio - One of Vallarta's leading galleries since 1987; sponsors the Public Sculpture Walking Tour that starts at 21:30 every Tuesday on the Malecon, Nov-April.

Do
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.

Events around the year
Mardi Gras/Carnaval: The parade takes places in the Zona Romantica. You will also see the gay charm around downtown.

November: The first weekend of November Vallarta holds the Half Marathon and 5-km race. Everyone is welcome to enjoy it. "http://www.maratonvallarta.com/"

December: Mexico's patron saint, the Lady of Guadalupe, is celebrated throughout Mexico on December 12th. Puerto Vallarta's celebration starts around December 1st, Local people, hotel, condominium owners, and organizations go on a pilgrimage parade through downtown around 18:00 until 21:00 everyday. You´ll see traditional dancers, mariachis, bands, and individuals offering tribute to the Virgin. A festival with regional foods and games takes place in the main square.

Botanical gardens

 * Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a nonprofit institution. The Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens was founded in 2004 and was opened to the public in 2005.
 * Hacienda de Oro Visitor's Center with spectacular mountain views, is also where you will find Hacienda de Oro Restaurant, with a courteous staff, delicious brick oven pizzas, salads and other Mexican specialties. Hacienda de Oro Restaurant was designed by Santa Rosa, California, native and world-renowned fine artist, Anthony Sbragia. Also, in this area are the famous "classy" restrooms. Located in the heart of an old growth native forest, with thousands of native and ornamental plants, a short ride from town - by car, bus, taxi.
 * Hacienda de Oro Visitor's Center with spectacular mountain views, is also where you will find Hacienda de Oro Restaurant, with a courteous staff, delicious brick oven pizzas, salads and other Mexican specialties. Hacienda de Oro Restaurant was designed by Santa Rosa, California, native and world-renowned fine artist, Anthony Sbragia. Also, in this area are the famous "classy" restrooms. Located in the heart of an old growth native forest, with thousands of native and ornamental plants, a short ride from town - by car, bus, taxi.

Adventure and sports
Whale watching


 * Puerto Vallarta’s whale watching season runs from December to March of every year. Humpback whales are the top liners of this fantastic nature show, but you can also see dolphins, porpoises and other animals. Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Tours take you to see humpback whale mothers and their calves in Banderas Bay.

Golfing
 * La Marina Vallarta Golf Course-Have to have good accuracy for this one due to narrow fairways that are guarded by water
 * Los Flamingos Golf Course-Known as one of the easiest to play
 * The Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta Golf Club, 18-hole par 71 course designed by Jim Lipe. Address: Paseo de las Moras S/N, Fraccionamiento Náutico Turístico, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit . Fun course with many obstacles is on the spectacular beaches of Vallarta between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Bahia de Banderas bay. The Vallarta course offers interesting competitive advantages and challenges to golf lovers for the vast fairways appear to be the easy part but the lakes complicate the game for the most expert golfers.
 * El Tigre Golf Club-Long course with many traps and water
 * Vista Vallarta-Hosted the 2002 EMC World Cup Championship

Scuba diving
 * Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's top dive destinations. There are many rental shops along the beaches.

Surfing
 * The beaches in Puerto Vallarta are not ideal for surfing, but a daytrip out of town up along the coast of Banderas Bay will take you to some great surf spots! Passing the Ameca river along the way to these spots, you find yourself in the next door northern state of Nayarit. Such trips can be coordinated with a local surfing instructor or done solo.
 * There are many surfing spots in the state of Nayarit: ranging from beginner waves, to perfect reef breaks for experienced surfers. The names of some of the more popular surf spots are: Veneros, Burros, la Lancha, Punta de Mita, San Pancho and Sayulita. The drive from downtown Vallarta to points inside the Bay takes roughly 45 minutes, and a bit over an hour to get to renowned Sayulita on the Pacific coast. Sayulita is a small village which is frequented by many tourists because it is easily accessible and a vast array of businesses cater to beginner surfers. You can find surfboard rentals, surf lessons and great beaches. Sayulita is known for producing some of the best surfers in Mexico like Tigre Cadena, Kalle Carranza, Diego Cadena and Adan Hernandez amongst others.
 * The main beach at Sayulita has consistent waves and the place is crowded during the winter months particularly. There are waves small enough for beginners and large enough for the locals and experts. Most of the adventure companies don't offer surfing lessons and you might need to find an independent instructor.

Snorkeling
 * The most popular snorkeling areas are Los Arcos underwater caves and Marietas Islands caverns. Vallarta Adventures snorkeling trips combine an extraordinary day of sun, fun, and adventure with just the right mixture of entertainment, learning and challenge, while snorkeling, sea kayaking, and exploring the tropical ecosystems on the secluded islands and beach hideaways that surround beautiful Banderas Bay.

Explore the Sierra Madre
 * The Mexican Outback in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit offers an opportunity of discovery and adventure: A culturally and ecologically trained guide can take you into authentic Mexican villages and through the sub-tropical forest with its extraordinary ecology and wildlife. Vallarta Adventures´ Sierra Madre Expedition takes you in specially designed all-terrain vehicles on an off-road voyage of discovery, past forgotten villages into the heart of the Sierra Madre.

Canopy tour and zip lines
 * Puerto Vallarta is well known for its canopy and zip line tours. Experience the exhilarating rush as you fly over the tree tops, securely fastened, from platform to platform.

Sailing
 * Banderas Bay is the second largest bay in North America, behind Hudson Bay. The deep, calm waters offer a very rich biodiversity, stunning beauty, romantic sunsets and relaxed sailing. Vallarta Adventures offers day sailing, sunset sailing, sailing with whales and private charters.

Kitesurfing
 * Kitesurfing is becoming more and more popular in Banderas Bay. Especially in Bucerias, a fishing village north of Nuevo Vallarta, you can see up to 30 people kitesurfing on a Sunday when the wind is good. The calm waters of Banderas Bay, the extended shoreline and the fact that it´s not too crowded with kitesurfers (yet) make it an excellent place to take lessons, for example from Jamison Smith, an IKO Level 2 Senior Certified International Kiteboarding Instructor. The season is from February until May.

Parasailing
 * You are able to parasail at pretty much every beach. The sky high trip usually last around 15 min.

Jet skiing
 * Jet skis can be rented at most beaches by the hour.

Fishing Horseback riding
 * Banderas Bay is home to annual Puerto Vallarta International Fishing Tournament held since 1956. Fish types include sailfish, dorado, marlin, bonita and yellowfin tuna, roostertail, jack crevalle, pargo, red snapper and more denizens of the deep, black, blue and striped marlin.
 * PV Charters - Offers fishing charter services. Phone +322 888-576-0329
 * There are many ranches in town that offer horseback Riding into small villages and through the forests. They can last from a few hours to a few days.

Turtle-watching & repatriation
 * Some tour companies offer educational programs combined with hands-on activities to help save Mexico’s turtles. After the female turtles lay their eggs in nests they create in the sand, volunteers dig up the eggs and re-bury them somewhere safe from predators. After about 45 to 60 days, the eggs hatch. Without help, only about 1 in every 1,000 baby turtles will survive to adulthood because most are caught by predators before they make it back to the safety of the ocean. However, turtle repatriation volunteers keep the babies safe until it is time to set them free to head for the ocean (at night when predators are less active). You can be part of these programs.

Hiking
 * . Bus lines C32T and C32C bring you to their final stop at the trail.
 * . The bus C04 brings you to the final, where you can hike from.
 * . Take the bus line PT21-AT or PT21-AC to Lomas De San Nicolás.
 * . The bus C04 brings you to the final, where you can hike from.
 * . Take the bus line PT21-AT or PT21-AC to Lomas De San Nicolás.

Trails outside of Puerto Vallarta are shown in the Out of town trips.

Yoga

Water parks




Entertainment
November Festival

It usually occurs in the middle of November and includes:
 * Many cocktail parties
 * Wine and tequila tastings
 * Cooking classes
 * Concerts
 * Gala dinners
 * Art expos
 * Screenings

Music

You can also find blues, pop-rock and jazz.
 * Electro Beach Puerto Vallarta - a yearly Electronic Dance Music (EDM) festival featuring talent like Tiesto, Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, and Hardwell.
 * Malecon - You'll find live Cuban, jazz, rock, Latin American ethnic, Mexican ranchero and Mariachi
 * South Side - Los Muertos Beach offers jazz at Daiquiri Dick's happy hour
 * Marina Vallarta & Nuevo Vallarta-You can have a Mexican dinner and listen to mariachi, marimba, romantic trios and folk harp.
 * North Shore - Offers a variety of live music.

Hiking trails

 * . One short and interesting hike is: Take a water taxi to Yelapa. On the main beach in Yelapa, walk to the right and cross the creek. Hike upwards a few meters to the cobblestone trail. Turn right, and then follow the trail over a ridge and up the adjacent valley. After hiking about 1½ km through a tropical deciduous forest, your persistence will be rewarded. The waterfall is about 10 m high, with a pool for bathers at the base. The falls are more impressive during the rainy season (northern summer). Furthermore OsmAnd or Mapy.cz show some hikings paths near Playa Estaca, Playa Palmares and Mismaloya.
 * . One short and interesting hike is: Take a water taxi to Yelapa. On the main beach in Yelapa, walk to the right and cross the creek. Hike upwards a few meters to the cobblestone trail. Turn right, and then follow the trail over a ridge and up the adjacent valley. After hiking about 1½ km through a tropical deciduous forest, your persistence will be rewarded. The waterfall is about 10 m high, with a pool for bathers at the base. The falls are more impressive during the rainy season (northern summer). Furthermore OsmAnd or Mapy.cz show some hikings paths near Playa Estaca, Playa Palmares and Mismaloya.
 * . One short and interesting hike is: Take a water taxi to Yelapa. On the main beach in Yelapa, walk to the right and cross the creek. Hike upwards a few meters to the cobblestone trail. Turn right, and then follow the trail over a ridge and up the adjacent valley. After hiking about 1½ km through a tropical deciduous forest, your persistence will be rewarded. The waterfall is about 10 m high, with a pool for bathers at the base. The falls are more impressive during the rainy season (northern summer). Furthermore OsmAnd or Mapy.cz show some hikings paths near Playa Estaca, Playa Palmares and Mismaloya.

Further destinations

 * and – Bucerías lies 25 km in the north-west. By bus it's M$20 (Nov 2021). Punta Mita is 45 km in the north-west and costs M$36 (Nov 2021). The easiest way to both towns or points in between is to catch a city bus to Walmart/Sams. Walk 100m in the driving direction to the
 * – It's 15 km in the south and famous for being the location for the movie The Night of the Iguana, directed by John Houston. You can tour the location. For M$10 (Nov 2021) take one of the The bus departs from the Zona Romantica at the intersection of the street Basilio Badillo and Calle Constitucíon. The ride is beautiful. These buses offer you change and depart around every 10 minutes.
 * . A wildlife park in Mismaloya.
 * . Adventure park with canopy zip lines in the jungle, a river and natural swimming pools.
 * – 25 km in the south. A river valley with rock formations and picnic/restaurant.
 * – 86 km in the south. It is a lovely little beach town that time forgot, near the southwest corner of Banderas Bay. It's a long and bumpy bus ride from Puerto Vallarta, or if the fishing business is slow you can usually hire a local charter boat to take you over there.
 * – 70km in the east. For a trip back in time to the 1600s and 1700s; a day-trip up to the old silver mining town is worth the time.

Buy
ATMs are available throughout the city. In the airport is Santander. In the Zona Romántica is a. And in the centro are (citi)banamex and Santander.


 * La Playa liquors and wines. At least two outlets - one in the old town and one in the centro. This is the place to go for reasonably priced tequila. Most of the flashy tequila shops are either factory stores or time-share gimmicks. Neither are good options for buying tequila at a decent price/quality ratio.
 * Manta Maya a shop selling contemporary variations on traditional Mexican cotton clothing. The clothing is made in their shop in Zapopan, on the outskirts of Guadalajara. Basilio Badillo at Ignacio Vallarta.
 * Galeria Indigena a shop specializing in Huichol art as well as art from other indigenous peoples. You'll see bead art everywhere, but this is one of a few shops that sell something at least a little more authentic than colorful beaded lizards and such. Juarez 628.
 * Arte Mágico Huichol another Huichol art shop. In addition to the usual bead art and yarn art they also sell piece of more traditional Huichol handicrafts. Coronoa 179.
 * La Casa del Habano Vallarta's best selection of real Cuban cigars. They also have a cigar bar. Aldama 170, Zona Centro. habanospv@yahoo.com

Eat
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.

However, care should be taken to avoid travellers' diarrhea. There are many beachside restaurants to tempt you with tropical drinks, but bottled beer is a much safer option.

When taxi drivers, water taxis or other guides seamlessly hand you off to their "amigos" at a beachside restaurant, do not be bashful about seeking other options, or just order a bottled beer to be opened in front of you. Do not trust that your guide has made a good decision, he will be gone with your tip (or that of the restaurant owner for bringing you) long before you show any symptoms. Any restaurants listed in reputable guidebooks and/or are popular with locals are a fairly safe bet.

Street Food
You should not be far away from a taco stall. Just ask a local where you can find one. Some are open only around lunch time, others only in the evening. Prices are around M$20 for a normal taco and around M$55 for a normal sized quesadilla. (updated Nov 2021)

Centro (Downtown) along the beachfront walk

 * La Dolce Vita-Live Music
 * Stars-Disco/Dancing

Sleep
Accommodations around the Bay of Banderas range from well-known international hotel chains and upscale villas and condominiums in the hotel zone, Marina Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and Punta Mita to moderately priced hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, apartments villas, and condominiums in Old Town Vallarta. The south end of Old Town has a number of gay-friendly hotels.

Emergency numbers

 * Emergency, Police and Fire: 060
 * Fire Dept: 223-9476, 223-9478
 * Police Dept: 290-0507, 290-0512
 * Red Cross & Ambulance: 222-1533
 * Motor Vehicle Dept: 224-8484
 * Consumer Protection (Profeco): 225-0000
 * Immigration Office: 221-1380
 * American Consulate: 222-0069, 223-0074 - After hours: 01-333-268-2145
 * Canadian Consulate: 293-0098, 223-0074 - After hours: 01-800-706-2900

Hospitals
 * Ameri-Med: 226-2080
 * CMG: 223-1919
 * Cornerstone: 224-9400
 * I.M.S.S.: 224-3838
 * Medasist: 223-0444
 * Regional: 224-4000
 * San Javier: 226-1010

General safety
Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful holiday destination, but this is not an excuse to leave your common sense at home. You should not treat the city as if it is a huge beach resort existing solely for your pleasure.

Exercise caution here as in any place that you are unfamiliar. Keep an eye on your possessions (purses, cameras, etc.) at all times.

Do not flaunt large amounts of cash and wear a concealed money belt to secure large bills and your passport. Make sure you always have small bills and coins on hand to pay for small items.

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. It is sold over the counter and works for most issues.

Beach activities
Unfamiliar waters can be dangerous. Observe the warning flags on public beaches as there may be a strong undertow. And never dive into unfamiliar waters as there may be rocks hidden below the surface. Leaving your valuables (cameras, purses, passport) alone on any beach in Puerto Vallarta is an invitation for theft.

Cope
Few places take credit cards. Some larger hotel complexes, high end restaurants and shops do, but most do not. It is very much a cash only economy with ATMs available in convenient locations and a bank downtown where in-person withdrawals can be made.

For the budget traveler - time your visit outside of peak holiday periods (e.g. Santa Semana/ Easter week). Accommodation prices during peak times can double or triple and the beaches become insanely crowded.

If you are traveling around Mexico leave your souvenir shopping until Guadalajara as prices in Puerto Vallarta are higher, sometimes bordering on exorbitant.

Consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Connect
Telcel has the best coverage in Mexico. A SIM card for the Telcel brand amigo express is for M$29 (Nov 2021) for example in an Oxxo store. You can activate the SIM card by recharging M$50 (Nov 2021) in the Oxxo store or online. All rates be seen here. WiFi is available in all major hotels and most restaurants and bars in town. Cell coverage throughout Puerto Vallarta is very good with 5G being the norm in town. Expect 4G (or less) as you get out into the countryside or explore the Nayarit coast or the Costalegre.

Go next
All of these towns have hostels and private rooms:

To the north or northwest

 * Bucerias – 25 km. A small coastal village with a long uninterrupted white sand beach
 * Punta Mita – 45 km. A relaxed beachfront village.
 * Sayulita – 45 km. You can do hiking into the jungle. The water at the beach is shallow.
 * San Sebastián del Oeste – 80 km. Colonial era mining town with boutique hotels and raicilla.
 * San Francisco (Mexico) – 50 km. At a beach, surrounded by a jungle and notable for its floral diversity.
 * Tepic – 175 km. It's the capital of Nayarit.
 * Mazatlán – It is recommended to take a flight into and out of the city.

To the south

 * Costalegre – hundreds of kilometers of rocky coastline punctuated with sandy beaches, sleepy fishing towns, surfing hot spots, and small unpretentious places to eat, drink, and escape reality

To the east

 * Guadalajara – 330 km. You can take an intercity bus, go by carpooling or take a non-stop flight. From there further to San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende or Querétaro.

By plane
Puerta Vallarta has direct low-cost flights for example to:


 * Querétaro
 * Guadalajara
 * Mexico City