Puerto Vallarta is a paradise in the Mexican Pacific Coast, a mystic place that combines excellent climate, gorgeous gold sandy beaches, day and night fun for all ages!
Holidays and "fiestas" provide additional reasons to celebrate the beauty and joy of time spent in Puerto Vallarta.

Bring the kids or your loved one and make memories that will last forever.

Puerto Vallarta is within easy reach of the US and Canada.

It is encircled by the Sierra Madre mountains to the east and fronted by the Bay of Banderas, the largest bay in North America.

This bay meanders among:

• Islands
• Islets
• Rocks and cliffs

The bay stretches all the way to the beautiful beaches on the eastern end of Puerto Vallarta. Here, the terrain rises abruptly. It creates the Sierra Madre Occidental, with its endless emerald jungle.

Puerto Vallarta is located:

• 885 km (553 mi) N.W. of Mexico City
• 339 km (212 mi) W. of Guadalajara
• 285 km (178 mi) N.W. of Manzanillo
• 447 km (278 mi) S.E. of Mazatlán
• 239 km (149 mi) S.W. of Tepic

Cool breezes blow from the mountains along the Río Cuale. This river runs through the center of Puerto Vallarta. Whimsical public sculptures grace its boardwalk (malecón). This boardwalk is bordered by lively restaurants, shops, and bars. The malecón attracts both residents and visitors.

They meander along the main walkway to enjoy:

• An ocean breeze
• A colorful sunset
• A perfect moonlit wave

Other parts of Mexico may be beautiful, but Puerto Vallarta, remains a visitor’s favorite part of this colorful country. It offers an unrivaled combination of simple pleasures and sophisticated charms.

Puerto Vallarta is the only place in Mexico that offers both:

• The best of the country's natural beauty
• An authentic dose of its vibrant culture

The seductive innocence of Puerto Vallarta enchants visitors. It beckons them to come back, and to bring friends.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has:

• Cobblestone streets
• A graceful cathedral
• A welcoming atmosphere

But Puerto Vallarta also offers a wealth of natural beauty and man-made pleasures, among them:

• Hotels in Puerto Vallarta of for any budget and category
• Over 250 restaurants
• A sizzling nightlife
• Enough shops and galleries to tempt even jaded shoppers
• A huge variety of activities and Tours
• Amazing beaches

All these pleasures make Puerto Vallarta a perennial favorite.

Ecotourism activities flourish in Puerto Vallarta.

Ecotourism Puerto Vallarta activities include:

• Mountain biking in the Sierra foothills
• Whale-watching
• Ocean kayaking
• Diving with giant mantas in Banderas Bay
• ...

In Puerto Vallarta, forty-two km (26 mi) of beaches extend around the bay. Many are located in pristine coves accessible only by boat.

Puerto Vallarta History, Culture and the Huichol Indians Art

The mystical Huichol Indians dwell high in the Sierra Madre. They still live in relative isolation, to protect their centuries-old culture from external influences.
Vallarta (so-called by locals) was never the "sleepy little fishing village" that many call it. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico started as a silver-processing port. It processed silver brought from mines in the Sierra Madre.

Then Puerto Vallarta, Mexico was forever changed by a movie director and two star-crossed lovers. In 1963, John Huston brought stars Ava Gardner and Richard Burton to Puerto Vallarta. They filmed the Tennessee Williams play Night of the Iguana. Burton's new girlfriend, Elizabeth Taylor, came too. She wanted to ensure the romance stayed strong. Excited, the international paparazzi showed up and photographed the famous couple. They also took photos of Gardner water-skiing back from the movie set. She was surrounded by a throng of beach boys. The paparazzi also photographed the beauty of Puerto Vallarta.

Luxury hotels and shopping centers have appeared north and south of the original town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This development has allowed Vallarta to grow into a city of 250,000. But it has not given up its considerable charms. Puerto Vallarta boasts the services and infrastructure of a modern city. It also retains the authenticity of a colonial Mexican village.

Puerto Vallarta also has a considerable population of American, Canadian, and European residents. Perhaps they feel that the mountains surrounding Puerto Vallarta offer the equivalent of an ongoing, comforting embrace. They add to the sense of welcome that so many visitors to Puerto Vallarta feel as well.