Located on the coast of Jalisco among lush, jungle-covered mountains and golden beaches, Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's most visited resorts, second only to Cancún. An extremely versatile city, Puerto Vallarta features both the simple pleasures of a small town and the sophisticated charm of a cosmopolitan city. Indeed, its unparalleled combination of colonial Mexican culture and modern luxury lend Puerto Vallarta its unique and attractive atmosphere. Despite its wealth of hotels, shops, restaurants, galleries and nightlife, Puerto Vallarta offers incredible natural beauty, and now features activities such as mountain biking, whale watching, ocean kayaking and scuba diving. The city's population is about 350,000, many of whom are American and Canadian expatriates who have made Puerta Vallarta their permanent home.
History
What is now Puerto Vallarta was originally called Puerto las Penas, and was discovered by the Spanish conquistador Don Pedro de Alvarado in 1541, though the nephew of Cortés, Francisco Cortés de Buenaventura, is usually credited for its discovery in 1524/1525. During the Conquest, Cortés de Buenaventura traveled along the coast and stopped there for provisions.
He descended with his troops to explore the valley and shoreline, and were met by an indigenous group who was ready for war. After unsuccessfully attempting to convince the indigenous to surrender, Cortés de Buenaventura was about to order a retreat when his second-in-command, Angel Villafaña, convinced him that this presented an ideal opportunity to prove the strength of the Spanish conquistadores. Before fighting, they began to pray to the Virgin Mary for guidance.
It was then that a miracle occurred—as Cortés de Buenaventura was about to give the order, the flag carried by Juan de Villadiego, emblazoned with an image of the immaculate conception, was suddenly illuminated by a ray of light which formed a halo on the Holy Virgin. Both the indigenous and the Spanish were dumbfounded, and immediately retreated from battle. The site was named Valle de las Banderas (what is now the Bahía de Banderas), the Bay of Flags.
Highlights
Fiestas del Mar
Each year at the end of November, Puerto Vallarta celebrates the sea with a series of festivities. Among them are the Gourmet Dining Festival, which showcases food from all over the world, a Cultural Festival, art exhibitions, tennis tournaments, regattas and more.
Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe
As in other parts of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta celebrates the country's patron saint in December, but unusual is the city's custom of celebrating from the 1st through the 12th. This is by far one of the most authentic displays of culture and tradition, with various pilgrimages made by local neighborhoods and businesses to the church. There they present offereings and are blessed by the priest in return. The processions include various celebrations, including dancing, music, costumes and fireworks.
Malecón
Ask people what you should see in Puerto Vallarta and the first thing they'll usually suggest is to take a walk on the malecón, the waterfront boulevard. This street is lined with beautiful sculptures and colorful restaurants, shops and bars. Many residents and visitors congregate here to take in the ocean from the best seat in the house. One of the more impressive aspects of this promenade are the sculptures that line the walk along the malecón.
Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church
Located on Calle Hidalgo 370, this church is perhaps Puerto Vallarta's most unique landmark. It was completed in 1963 and features one of the more distinct religious icons—a concrete crown that is a replica of one worn by Empress Carlota in the 1860s, which is held up by angels.
The Río Cuale
This river runs through the city and features a tiny island between its two banks. Take calle Libertad to reach the bridge, passing through the local Puerto Vallarta Market. The island in the river provides a nice view of either side of the city, and also features the quaint Museo Río Cuale, which despite its small size, offers a nice permanent exhibit of pre-Columbian objects.
Beaches
Playa de los Muertos
This beach lies south of the Río Cuale, and is the most easily reached from the city of Puerto Vallarta, located off Calle Olas Altas. The wide open beach is lined by various restaurants and bars, and activity-minded folk will delight in all it has to offer, from parasailing to volleyball to jet skiing. The southern edge of this beach is known as the "Blue Chairs" area, and is a popular gay beach.
Playa Mismaloya
Located six miles south of the city, Playa Mismaloya is somewhat famous for the movie filmed there in 1963, Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton and Ava Gardner. This movie is actually what brought Puerto Vallarta its international attention, as the filmmakers captured the beauty of the place and transformed what was a silver processing port into the tourist hub it is today. Visitors may enjoy stopping in at the restaurant inside the La Joya Mismaloya Resort and Spa for a tribute to the movie—the restaurant was built on the former set of the movie. The beaches at Mismaloya are beautiful, and the clear water makes it ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling.
Marina Vallarta
If the beach itself is not a big priority, then you'll enjoy this area of PV, which is almost like a city within itself. While the beach itself is sometimes awash with stones, the culture of this resort more than makes up for the lack of white sand. Restaurants and good shopping abound, as do art galleries, and there is also an 18-hole golf course at the Marina Vallarta Golf Club. The beach here is also popular among surfers, as the waves are a favorite of thrillseekers.
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