Come and discover
puerto vallarta
| Puerto Vallarta is located on the west coast of Mexico, just to the east of the Bay of Banderas, the largest Bay in Mexico. The city spans 1,300 square kilometers with approximately 350,000 inhabitants. Its tropical climate allows for about 300 sunny days per year, with an average temperature of 28° C (82° F)
With so much to offer, Puerto Vallarta's sure to meet your individual desires. Find yourself strolling back in time as you wander down the streets of the historic area of town, or the village of San Sebastian or follow your own steps to the rhythms of the Mariachi. Not to mention Puerto Vallarta's pristine white sand beaches! Take some time to just lie on the beach, as Puerto Vallarta is the ideal location for glorious, sun-soaked relaxation. Your eyes can feast on beautiful textiles as well as original works of art from local artists. Your mouth will water with anticipation for the authentic Mexican cuisine, while chefs from around the world serve up delicacies in renowned international restaurants. Sites of interestsvisitpuertovallarta.com |
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the gorgeous beaches
of puerto vallarta
Playa Los MuertosPlaya Los Muertos is a very popular beach on the south side of Old Town. It is the center of daytime activity as well as being a favorite for sunsets. Where tourists and locals effortlessly mix, it is a gathering place for all ages and boasts some of the best restaurants in town, several with gorgeous palapas situated right on the sand. The hub or water activities, Playa Los Muertos also offers rental equipment for water sports such as wave running, parasailing and fishing charters.Directions: Walk about a block down the hill to the Mismaloya/Conchas Chinas highway. This is the main northbound thoroughfare into Old Town which will take you to the Malecon boardwalk and main plaza/Cathedral. Across this road is a shortcut down to Basilio Badillo street, also known as Restaurant Row. Next to the Coldwell Banker sign is a stairway down to Constitution street, continue 2 blocks and turn left on Basillio Badillo and towards the ocean. From this intersection you are 3 short blocks to Los Muertos Beach and the Olas Altas area/Romantic Zone. The staff will help give you walking directions once at the villa. Playa Conchas ChinasOn the southern outskirts of the town is Playa Conchas Chinas, a long coastline of beautiful sandy beaches set in small coves separated by volcanic reefs. This paradise is great for swimming as well as snorkeling. However, beware of strong currents and high tides in Conchas Chinas; the rocks are sharp and may have sea urchins.Directions: You can access the beach if you are dining at the beachfront restaurant Lindo Mar. Other public accesses to Conchas Chinas beach are found at the first entrance to lower Conchas Chinas below Casa Pedro, at the second entrance to Lower Concha Chinas below Sagitario street and at the cut off before Hotel Conchas Chinas, another downhill street that ends at the ocean, all on the Mismaloya highway. Mismaloya BeachMismaloya Beach is located about 10 km south of Old Town. Mismaloya is the main launching point for fishing and snorkeling inside the bay. Mismaloya is an authentic Mexican jungle village and popular beach with locals featuring rustic palapa restaurants. It has also been the site of many Hollywood movies including “The Predator and “Night of the Iguana, the notorious movie starring Richard Burton that put Vallarta on the map in the early 1960's.Directions: You can take the Boca/Mismaloya bus or taxi to the entrance of La Jolla de Mismaloya hotel, walk towards the ocean down the path that runs between the hotel and the river all the way to the beach. Los Arcos IslandsLos Arcos Islands National Marine Park is a huge rock formation and Vallarta's most well known geological landmark, located at the mouth of Mismaloya cove. An excellent spot for snorkeling with large reefs made of volcanic rock, it is like swimming in an aquarium. There you can find one of Mismaloya's most reliable diving company Mismaloya Divers, owned by two brothers, Chato and Chipol. They can take you snorkeling, diving, fishing or just out for a leisurely cruise on their boat. |
fabulous cuisine
for wining and dining
Variety of retail
and cultural experiences
ShoppingThere are a variety of wonderful boutiques, art galleries and jewelry stores in Puerto Vallarta. One of the most popular areas of Puerto Vallarta is Olas Altas street, a charming tourist area that runs parallel to Los Muertos beach. Its delightfuly adorned with cafés, coffee shops, Internet centers, bookstores, beauty salons and resort clothing boutiques (5-10 minutes walk).Two areas of town in particular that are great for shopping are Basilio Badillo Street, starting at Olas Altas near Los Muertos beach. There are several fabulous shops next to each other. Some of our favorites include: La Sirena, La Ponciana, Serafina and Jewelry (5 minutes walk). In the downtown/Main Plaza/Malecon area, be sure to stop by these following stores: Queribines, Suneson Jewelry, Daniel Espinosa Jewelry and Casa del Tequila (10 minutes walk). In Marina Vallarta, three shopping centers are highly recommended; Plaza Neptuno, Arte Primitivo and Nomada. Art GalleriesPuerto Vallarta is an extraordinarily cultural town and boasts an amazing amount of art galleries featuring countless talented artists. Every Wednesday evening from November to April the galleries located downtown host cocktail parties and art openings called “Art Walk”. While we suggest you visit them all, given a limited time span, a few of our favorites are:Galeria Pacifico - Aldama Street BargainingThe fine art of bargaining is only for beach & street vendors or in the flea markets. The recommended system is to start at about 60% of the asking price and go from there. Boutiques & stores frown on bargaining, but will often accept diplomatic requests for discounts on cash purchases.Touring CompaniesVallarta AdventuresCanopy Tours del los Veranos |
Things to know
about Puerto Vallarta
Quick FactsLocation Pacific coast of Mexico along Banderas Bay, Mexico's largest natural bay, in the northwest corner of the state of Jalisco. Airport Currency Electricity Population Economy Local Time Law Restaurants Beaches The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe Wildlife Casa Kimberly What to WearMid December through mid March nights can be chilly and breezy. During the winter months, once the sun goes down and the wind starts to blow, you will want long sleeves or a light jacket. Pashminas and shawls work well and are easy to pack and carry around while walking.Because we are in the tropics, our summer months are humid and hot. The sun is more intense at this latitude in the summer so it is best to stay in the shade or close to the water from 10 am – 6 pm. Light weight natural fabrics such as cotton are a must as well as sleeveless tops, skirts and shorts. Rainy season runs from mid June thru mid October, with sporadic tropical storms taking place mostly in August and September. Rains usually start in the late afternoon or evening, so even during rainy season, the better portion of the day is sunny. It is best to avoid wearing white when strolling through town in rainy season!! CurrencyMexican currency is known as Pesos. US Dollars are accepted at most establishments. Exchange rates are usually best at the bank, slightly less than in the Money Exchanges, retailers and restaurants. Most of the major banks are located in the Old Town area within walking distance of the Main Plaza and Los Muertos Beach.Bilingual, easy to use ATM's can be found outside all banks and in many grocery and convenience stores. You can access money directly from your bank account or credit card through the ATM's. Exchange rate is calculated the same as the bank. However, a normal service charge does apply depending on your bank. Most ATM’s only allow withdrawals of $300 US dollars per day. |