Puerto Vallarta

Understand

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. 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. To the east, the jungle clad Sierra Madre Occidental mountains, which quickly rise to over 8,000 ft (2,400 m), encircle and protect the town from the winds and regulate the semi-tropical and humid weather. The residents are friendly and generally willing to help with directions and other requests. Puerto Vallarta also has gained a reputation as one of several cities in Latin America that enthusiastically welcomes LGBT tourism. The area in and around the Zona Romantica is particularly known for having many small boutique 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, when the cities empty out as Mexicans and tourists flood to the beaches.

Orientation At the far southern tip of the city, the historic Zona Romantica was once a traditional old town, and is now the center of Puerto Vallarta's nightlife and dining scene. For a beach resort, it retains a surprising amount of character. Across the Rio Cuale to the north, Centro (or Downtown) squeezes in between the Malecon beach promenade and the hillside residences, filled with all kinds of shops catering to beach-goers. The city becomes less touristy as you venture further north and east of Hwy 200 through the 5 de Diciembre and Versalles neighborhoods. Along the west of the highway loom the large resorts of the Hotel Zone.

Climate Puerto Vallarta has a tropical climate, with dry winters and rainy summers. The average daily high temperature is 27 °C (81 °F) in January (the c

Getting there

By plane 1 Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR IATA), Km. 7.5 Carretera a Tepic, Área Militar de Vallarta (8 km (5.0 mi) north of Zona Romantica), 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Marina Vallarta and 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Nuevo Vallarta as the crow flies; it is 13 km to drive around the runway to reach the main passenger terminal from Nuevo Vallarta).

Airlines and destinations International flights are offered from Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom year round. Additional direct flights from additional cities in North America and from Europe are offered seasonally, usually between November and March. Domestic flights are offered from major Mexican cities including Mexico City (from both MEX and NLU), Tijuana, Monterrey, Querétaro and Guadalajara. The following airlines offer regular service to Puerto Vallarta:

Sala A - Concourse A: Aeromexico/Aeromexico Connect, TAR, VivaAerobus, Cabo Flight Center / Señor Air, and Volaris. Sala B - Concourse B: Alaska Airlines, Air Canada, Air Transat, American Airlines, Delta, Copa Airlines, Porter 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, augmenting their year-round schedule.

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 waste hours of vacation time in timeshare sales presentations, do not engage in conversation with anyone in those rooms. Walk quickly past the touts and hucksters and continue walking past the rope-line out to the main arrivals area.

Ground transportation The airport terminal is right along the main highway through the city. Buses, Uber, and city taxis typically pick up from either side of the 2 Airport Pedestrian Bridge crossing the busy road. Go out the doors of the terminal 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 bridge. The airport side of the road is for southbound traffic into the city center, across the bridge is northbound traffic to central bus st

Getting around

By ride 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 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. They will wait for you while you dine or shop as well as photograph you and your mates.

By bus Bus trips cost M$10 (Jan 2026), paid to the bus driver when you get in. Drivers can often make change from small bills. That fare covers one bus ride; there are no transfers. 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. Not all stops are marked; look where other people wait for the bus on the sidewalk. You need to flag down a bus in order to stop. 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. There are no routes or timetables published online. Moovit and Google Maps cover the city, and Rutas Vallarta has the most complete route information, if unofficially. Look for your travel location on the bus windshield:

Buses marked Centro drive along the main road a block or two from the beach, passing through both the Marina area and the Hotel Zone. Buses marked Tunel skip downtown and head directly to the old town/Zona Romantica via the tunnel bypass underneath the hills to the east. Northbound buses marked Walmart take you to the transfer point for all local buses headed north into Nayarit (including Nuevo Vallarta, Punta Mita, and Sayulita). Buses run quite frequently, as often as every 5 minutes. They buses are 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.

By car Be very careful if you choose to drive. The police seem to pull tourists over at the drop of a ha

See

Beaches

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. The beachfront promenade stretching over 12 blocks of Centro, first built in 1936. It is lined with restaurants, souvenir stores, craft vendors and a collection of sculptures. (updated Feb 2026) 4 Los Arcos. 4 arches on the Malecon. Free shows, music festivals and folk dance performances are held there. 5 Las Glorias Beach. Quiet beach near the Hotel zone that generally caters to the all inclusive resorts nearby, but still has lots of activities (e.g. jet skis and parasailing. Public access to the beach is through side roads off of Route 200. (updated Apr 2023) 6 Playa De Oro. Beach at the convergence of many different resorts north of the city center. Some of the resorts have events and dance floors that front the beach. Generally pretty popular during the weekends, but still plenty of space to spread out. (updated Apr 2023)

Museums 7 Museo del Ópalo y Minerales Mexicanos. 8 Naval Museum Secretary of the Navy of Mexico (Museo Naval), C. Zaragoza 4, Centro, ☏ +52 322 223 5357. Modern museum that tells the story of the Mexican Navy, with its roots in the Spanish Armada during the Spanish Empire. The museum features a large gallery of ship models, from the era of sailing ships, to today's modern patrol boats and sea going vessels. Lots of historical relics including cannons and military uniforms. Interactive displays where you can try your hand at piloting a modern ship.

Art galleries 9 Galeria Dante, Basilio Badillo 269, Zona Romántica. M-F 10:00 - 17:00, Sa 10:00 - 14:00, closed Su. This hacienda shows paintings & sculptures by local artists. (updated Feb 2025) 10 Galeria Colectika, #858 G. Sánchez, Centro (corner of Calle Allende). M-F 10:00 - 20:00, Sa 10:00 - 18:00, closed Su. Extensive collection of Mexican wood carvings and Huichol Indian yarn art and bead work. (updated Feb 2025) Galería Arte Latinoamericano. Two-floor gallery. Participates in art walk. (updated Apr 2026) 11 Galería Corsica,

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

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. Vallarta holds the Half Marathon and 5-km race. Everyone is welcome to enjoy it. November Festival. Middle of November. Cocktail parties, wine and tequila tastings, cooking classes, concerts, gala dinners, art expos, screenings Virgin of Guadalupe. December 12th. Mexico's patron saint, the Lady of Guadalupe, is celebrated throughout Mexico. 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.

Wildlife Whale watching: Puerto Vallarta’s 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. Whale watching tours take you to see humpback whale mothers and their calves in Banderas Bay. 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.

Water sports

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 Vall

Buy

Credit cards are not accepted everywhere. Hotel complexes, high end restaurants and shops do, but smaller businesses oftentimes do not. ATMs are available throughout the city.

In the airport and in the centro is Santander. In the Zona Romántica is a 1 BanBajío ATM In the centro is (citi)banamex.

Crafts and souvenirs 2 Galeria Indigena, Juarez 628. 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. 3 La Casa del Habano, Aldama 170, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 322-223-2758. Vallarta's best selection of real Cuban cigars. They also have a cigar bar. 4 Mercado Río Cuale. Daily 9:00-20:00. A block-sized indoor market all your hokey beach souvenir needs. You can find better and cheaper crafts anywhere else in Mexico without a cruise port, but if this is your only stop, it'll check your boxes. (updated Feb 2026)

Groceries Oxxo (All over the city, every few blocks). Most open 24 hours. Best place to buy beer or snacks, save Walmart (hassle, bus ride). They are all over the city & will save you tons of money. Most have cash machines. A great place to make small change for the bus. Walmart. Cheapest place to buy most groceries. Huge produce department. Good variety of Mexican & some US products. Good place to buy smokes or liquor before flying home. Can be inconvenient to bring back groceries via local bus.

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. 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.

Street food You are never far away from a taco stand. 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)

In the neighborhood 5 De Diciembre 2 Tacos Chilo. You get a small taco for M$6 (Nov 2021). It's at in the Calle Honduras/Colombia. There is another 1 Tacos Chilo in the Calle San Salvador/Colombia. You can sit directly in front of the fry top. They are open 24/7. (updated Apr 2022)

In Pitillal 3 Street food on the Plaza del Pitillal. Here you find a quite good variety of street food which you may not have eaten before. The stalls are open in the evening. (updated Nov 2021)

Budget

In the Zona Romántica 4 Cafe de Olla, Basilio Badillo 168, Emilio Zapata (Zona Romantica) (middle of the block along Basilio Badillo between Olas Altas & Pino Surez; about a block half in from the beachfront), ☏ +52 322 223-1626. W-M 10:00-24:00. They have good, cheap food. Try the pork ribs or chicken. (updated Feb 2025) 5 Coffee Cup, Rodolfo Gómez 146, Emilio Zapata (Zona Romantica) (SW corner of c. Rodolfo Gómez & Olas Altas, one block in from the beach and across from La Piazzetta Restaurant), ☏ +52 322 222-8584. Daily 07ː00 - 20ː00. An American-style coffee house that serves espresso, latte and cappuccino with local baked goods. It is still rare to find this type of coffee in Puerto Vallarta. Local art is displayed on the walls. M100. (updated Feb 2025) 6 Takos Panchos, Basilio Badillo 162, Emilio Zapata (Zona Romantica) (middle of the block along Basilio Badillo between Olas Altas & Pino Surez; about a block half in from the beachfront), ☏ +52 322 222-1692. Daily 18:00-02:00. Right next door to Cafe de Olla has awesome al pastor tacos. Opens around 18:00 and is open late. Get there early to avoid a wait. M100. (updated Feb 2025) 7 Maria Baja, Carr. Costera a Barra de Navidad 496, Alta Vista (on Hwy 200, one block from the main grid). Del

Drink & nightlife

Old Town/Zona Romantica 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)

Centro/Malecon 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. Popular dance club where the beats keep pulsing into the wee hours. Very clean, professional with good security. M$400 (cover). (updated Feb 2025) 5 La Bodeguita del Medio, Malecón 858, Centro (Calle Allende and the Malecon), ☏ +52 322 223-1585. Daily 11:00 - 04:00. Look for the distinctive round yellow sign. Good solid Cuban food, great drinks, and a cigar shop up front, but the real attraction is the excellent salsa bands, often imported from Cuba. The dance floor is a delightful mix of young people showing off their moves and older couples who can still cut a rug. (updated Aug 2017) 6 EL Zoo Bar, Paseo Díaz Ordaz 630, Centro (entrance facing Morelos (main road) between Abasolo & Aldama), ☏ +52 322 150 4152. Daily 11:00-03:00. This dance club is quite small but very fun. The dance floor doesn’t offer much room to bust a move but offers a great time to be had. Located on the Malecon it is in the center of everything. 7 Señor Frogs, Paseo Díaz Ordaz 786, Centro (Paseo Diaz Ordaz and Pipila), ☏ +52 322 222-1444. Daily 11:00-02:00. The Tuesday night foam party is the best and this place is the larger than most clubs. It has two bars and the service is awesome.

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.

Budget

Zona Romántica 1 Tradicional Hotel Villa Del Mar, Francisco. I. Madero 440; Col. E. Zapata, ☏ +52 322 222 2885, fax: +52 322 222 0785, [email protected]. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. The hotel offers 49 beautiful and affordable rooms and 10 suites with kitchenette. Many of the rooms have private balcony. (updated Feb 2025) 2 OYO Hotel Bernal, Madero 423, ☏ +52 800 696 7666. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. One of the cheap hotels on the street F. Madero. (updated Feb 2025) 3 Hotel Lina, Calle Francisco I. Madero 376, ☏ +52 322 222 1661. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. One of the cheap hotels on the street F. Madero. (updated Feb 2025) 4 Hotel Cartagena de Indias, Madero 428, ☏ +52 322 222 6914. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. In the old town (Zona Romantica), Calle Francisco Madero hosts a bunch of similar, simple but clean hotels at a very affordable price. It is a 5-10 minute walk away from the Malecon. (updated Feb 2025)

East of Zona Romántica 5 Oasis Hostel, Libramiento #222, Col Benito Juarez, ☏ +52 322 222-26-36. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. (updated Apr 2022)

Centro 6 Casa Kraken Hostel, Juarez #386, Puerto Vallarta Centro, ☏ +52 322 222 9282, [email protected]. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. 1 minute from the beach, opened in 2009, they have free Internet - WiFi and a public computer and a massive TV with cable. right in the heart of the city and they have a beautiful terrace where you can have a beer and watch the sun set. The staff its very friendly and the food its good & clean they always have an option for vegetarians. The security lockers here are very small. M$400. (updated Apr 2022)

Mid-range 7 Hotel Mocali, Nicaragua 286, Centro, ☏ +52 322 222 4201. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. In downtown Puerto Vallarta, 2 blocks from the beach and 7 from the pier or "Malecon". Located near restaurants, drug stores, and night clubs. M$1250. (updated Feb 2025) 8 Hotel Belmar, Insurgentes 161, ☏ +52 322 223 1872, fax: +52 322 223 1872, [email protected]. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. Family-owned hotel with personalized service. 30 rooms with TV. Air conditioning is optional. (updated Feb 2025) 9 Cas

Go next

All of these towns have hostels and private rooms:

To the north or northwest To the north are the beaches of Nayarit where the hills give way a little. Here you will find mile-long stretches of golden sand beaches with smaller, more laid back surfer 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.

Nuevo Nayarit – 5 km. A resort community that is home to luxury villas and canals lined with tropical gardens. 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 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 To the south is the Costalegre region where 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, some of which are still accessible only by sea.

Mismaloya – 15 km. Famous for being the location for the movie The Night of the Iguana, directed by John Houston. You can tour the location. Yelapa – 86 km. 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. 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 The Sierra Madre Mountains of Jalisco and Nayarit are the Mexican Outback. Discover authentic Mexican villages and through the sub-tropical forest with its extraordinary ecology and wildlife.

San Sebastián del Oeste – 80 km. Colonial era mining town with boutique hotels and raicilla. 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.