Until the 1960s, Puerto Vallarta was a quiet fishing village near Banderas Bay on the coast of Mexico. Hollywood has changed that. In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor celebrated the shooting of Iguana Nights with Richard Burton. The drums of Paparazzi and the resulting film showed off the beautiful beaches and landscapes of Puerto Vallarta. A new star has appeared. Today, Puerto Vallarta is the second most popular beach tourist city in Mexico with resorts that follow the beaches outside the city and state lines. Don't let the growth spur you away - PV still keeps a quiet, clean city.
While beaches are the biggest draw, a visit to Puerto Vallarta would not be complete without a visit to its city center. Buses stop near most resorts and can take you cheap (but not necessarily uncomfortable) to the city center. Business owners and residents keep cobbled streets clean. Everything that can be seen in the center of the city moves easily. The most recognizable bridge in the city center is the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadeloupe. It is decorated with fiberglass tiara, as the original was damaged by an earthquake in 1995. Most upscale specialty shops are located near the cathedral.
A walk along the Malecon - a path along the bay - is obligatory. You will pass several sculptures, in particular, one of the boys, riding on a sea horse. It became a symbol of Puerto Vallarta. Malecon underwent a major overhaul after Kenna was damaged in 2002. At the western end of the Malecon is the mouth of the Rio Quale. Walk a few blocks upstream and you’ll find two huge merchant markets that sell food, hats, blankets and other crafts. Try your Spanish and work on handmade souvenirs. In addition, in this area there is a small archaeological museum of the island of Rio Kuale. He exhibits artifacts from residents to a Spanish-speaking area.
If you lie on the beach, it only shows interest in parts of your vacation, you are lucky, because in the Puerto Vallarta area other activities are offered to keep you busy. The land around Puerto Vallarta encompasses several ecosystems. All tourists see the tropical coastline, but for a 45 minute drive, you can see almost all the biomes that Mexico has to offer. For each ecosystem there is an activity or two that you need to dive into. Travel companies offer horseback riding, trekking, jeep safaris, bungee jumping, overhang lines and quad trips through the jungle and mountains. The sea, there are several opportunities for scuba diving, sail, fishing and viewing wildlife.
In Puerto Vallarta there are several opportunities all year round to view wildlife. Bird watchers can observe 350 bird species in and around PV. Whale watchers have a high success rate, watching humpbacks and killer whales on their annual migration from December to March. Some tourist yachts have sound equipment so you can listen to whale songs. Dolphins love to watch the boats in the bay, and it is not uncommon to see them play. From late summer to autumn, visitors to Puerto Vallarta can see mother turtles laying eggs in the sand. Those who go on tour will be able to release some of the hatched baby turtles into the wild. To see the wildlife under the water, Banderas Bay has several places for diving and snorkeling. Los Arcos are islands that have been established as a refuge for wildlife. The area around them can be explored, and happy snorkelers can see dolphins, manti and possibly whales.
If you can’t go to a beach point without dreaming about boarding a ship, Puerto Vallarta’s world fishing grounds can also fulfill your fishing fantasies. Bring the sun and sunscreen, and one of several fishing shells can get you on tuna, marlin, perch, swing ahi and sailboat. Charter companies can organize a trick to freeze it, to send it home, or to have a copy of your fish intended for display at home.
Depending on the time of year your trip takes you to Puerto Vallarta, you may find an opportunity to take part in one of several annual festivals. The Mayo Festival in May is a traditional festival with musicians, artists and other artists throughout the city. In November, a gourmet festival takes place in Puerto Vallarta. Cooks from around the city and around the world vie for the attention of the judges and culinary experts. Also in November, the annual fishing tournament Marlin and Sailfish is held. Thousands of participants are fighting with huge fish for cash prizes. This tournament has attracted fishermen from all over the world for over 50 years.
Whatever you come to Puerto Vallarta for endless sunshine and relaxation, to get adrenaline, or something in between, PV has something for you.
