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Puerto Vallarta information, history, tips, etc

Enchantment. Puerto Vallarta is steeped in it. Sea, sand, sun, magic, tradition, romance, art, good cheer and a warm welcome all await you in this storybook seaside village. Puerto Vallarta is a tropical paradise that combines the delightful rustic atmosphere of white stucco buildings with red-tiled roofs lining narrow, cobblestoned streets with round the clock fun and some of the world's best beaches.


This sun-drenched region on Mexico's Pacific Coast is both dramatic in setting and diverse in its appeal. In Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas, you will find golden beaches on a beautiful bay, accommodations for every budget, great dining and a sizzling nightlife, excellent shopping and art galleries, world-class golf and tennis, and exciting activities and excursions! With so much to do on both land and sea, Puerto Vallarta provides all of the ingredients for a warm and wonderful vacation.


Puerto Vallarta is located on the west coast of Mexico, right in the middle of the Bay of Banderas, the largest bay in Mexico, a formation of the Pacific Ocean Coastline that includes parts of the states of Nayarit to the north and of Jalisco to the south.

Because of the town’s sheltered location and the topographical protection offered by the Sierra Madre mountains that surround the Bay, none of the hurricanes spawned in the Pacific have entered the Bay since the beginning of the regional record-keeping. Hurricane Kenna did come close, but made landfall in the State of Nayarit north of here. PV-as it is affectionately called by the locals- is situated on the same parallel as the Hawaiian Islands, thus, the similarities in the climate of the two destinations.

 Area

1,300 squared kilometres

 
Population

Approximately 300,000 inhabitants

 
Climate

Tropical, humid, with an average of 300 sunny days per year. The temperature averages 28 C (82 F) and the rainy season extends from the late June to early October.

 
Flora & Fauna

Regional flora is mainly tropical forest: palms, rubber trees, and other tropical species. Nearby Sierra Vallejo hosts a great variety of animal species such as iguana, guacamaya, deer, raccoon, etc.

 
Sanctuaries

Bahía de Banderas encloses two Marine National Parks, “Los Arcos” and the Marieta Islands, where diving is allowed under certain circumstances but fishing of any kind is prohibited. 
Every year, the Bay receives the visit of the humpback whales, dolphins, and manta rays in the winter. During the summer, sea turtles, a protected species, arrive to its shores to lay their eggs.

 
Economy

Local economy is based on tourism, construction and to a lesser degree on agriculture, mainly tropical fruit such as mango, papaya, watermelon, pineapple, guanabana, cantaloupe, and bananas.

 
Means of Communication

Vallarta can be reached by land through Federal Highway 200, by sea or by air.

 
Currency

The Mexican Peso is the legal currency in Mexico although Canadian and American dollars are widely accepted.

 
City Transportation

In Puerto Vallarta, there is a system of urban buses with different routes. Current fare is $5 Pesos per ticket and passengers must purchase a new ticket every time they board another bus. There are no “transfers”. The rate for longer distances –such as to Mismaloya- is $20 Pesos. Try to carry exact change whenever possible.

There are two kind of taxi cabs those at the airport and the maritime port are usually vans that can only be boarded at the airport or harbor. City cabs are mostly Nissan yellow cars and they charge by the ride, not by passenger. It is a good practice to always agree on the price of the ride before boarding the cab.

 
Time Zone

The State of Jalisco is on Central Time, but the neighboring State of Nayarit (Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Punta Mita, etc.) is on the Mountain Time. Nevertheless, most hotels and restaurants there function on Central Time to accommodate tourists to the Bay of Banderas as a whole.

 
Cellular Phones

Most cellular phones from the U.S. and Canada may be programmed for local use, through Telcel and Iusacell, the local carriers. However cellphones work normally in Mexico due to company agreements. To dial a cellular phone from a land line, or another cell, use the prefix 044-322, then the seven digit number of the person you are calling.

 
Local Custom

Tipping is usually 10%-15% of the bill at restaurants and bars. Tips bellboys, taxis, waiters, maids, etc. depending on the service. Taking siesta is a Mexican tradition.

Some business and offices close from 2 pm to 4 pm, reopening until 7 pm or later. In restaurants, it is considered poor manners to present the check before it is requested, so when you are ready to leave, ask “La Cuenta por favor” and your bill will be delivered to you.

Puerto Vallarta Beaches - The Bay of Banderas is the sixth largest bay in the world and the only bay in all of Mexico that is listed as one of the "Most Beautiful Bays in the World." One of the Pacific Ocean's largest, deepest bays, Banderas Bay boasts a variety of beaches in the states o f Jalisco and Nayarit, offering golden sand, sparkling sunshine and blue waters. Whether you are looking for a secluded stretch of sand, a fun filled day of beach activities and water sports, or just lazing in the sun while people watching - the Bay of Banderas has the beach for you.


Puerto Vallarta Restaurants - A vast array of restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines can be found here in Puerto Vallarta. Serving everything from fast food to fine dining, the restaurants in Puerto Vallarta are busy dishing out food and beverages for every taste and budget. Award winning chefs from a variety of international locales have come to make Vallarta their home, and their influences have given the town a distinctive flavor. In addition to restaurants serving Seafood and Mexican fare, Puerto Vallarta dining choices have broadened to include Greek, Oriental, Italian, French, and Spanish cuisines.


Puerto Vallarta Tours And Activities - Puerto Vallarta is an excellent place for water sports such as scuba diving, snorkeling, sportfishing, sailing and kayaking. The Sierra Madre Mountains offer plenty of chances to explore, with environmental tours that include visits to cold, clear rivers and waterfalls hidden in the jungle, horseback riding, or excellent hiking in beautiful natural surroundings. Just recently, Puerto Vallarta has emerged as one of Mexico's top golf destinations with seven golf courses designed by some of the world's greatest golf course architects including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Robert von Hagge.


Puerto Vallarta Shopping, Art and Culture - If shopping is your bag, Puerto Vallarta is a shopper's paradise with hundreds of shops and boutiques where you can buy everything from souveniers, silver jewelry and leather goods to Mexican handcrafts and original art. Hailed by critics as Mexico's Art Mecca, Vallarta is a major international art center with over 30 art galleries and museums featuring art in all mediums. Paintings, sculptures, pottery and folk art created by emerging artists are proudly displayed beside works by Mexico's celebrated masters in the art galleries found in and around Puerto Vallarta.



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