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    Puerto Vallarta

    Mexico

    Puerto Vallarta

    City

    Puerto Vallarta is a port and resort city of around 220,000 residents on Jalisco's Pacific coast, on Bahía de Banderas at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Mexico
    7. Jalisco
    9. Puerto Vallarta
    Puerto Vallarta is a port and resort city of around 220,000 residents on Jalisco's Pacific coast, on Bahía de Banderas at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental. You come for the beaches, the Malecón boardwalk with its sculptures, and the Old Town, its whitewashed houses ascending the hillside around the Church of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. South of the Río Cuale is the Zona Romántica, home to Playa Los Muertos, the city's largest public beach.

    Sights in Puerto Vallarta

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Parish Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
    Church

    1Parish Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe

    The Parish Church, with the crown on its bell tower, is the landmark of the Old Town and stands two blocks from the Malecón. The crown fell during the earthquake of October 9, 1995, and was then replaced.
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    Church

    2Parroquia Nuestra Señora del Refugio

    Parish church on Calle Perú in 5 de Diciembre district, north of Old Town and few blocks from the sea.
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    Malecón
    Attraction

    3Malecón

    The waterfront promenade in Centro was rebuilt in 2002 and 2003 after Hurricane Kenna, and renovated in 2010. Along the path are bronze sculptures, including works by Sergio Bustamante and Alejandro Colunga; in the evenings, street artists and strollers arrive.
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    Attraction

    4Los Arcos del Malecón

    The stone arches at the Malecón's south end and a small open-air stage form the meeting point opposite the main square. Evenings often feature performances and concerts.
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    Market

    5Isla Río Cuale

    The narrow island in the Río Cuale separates the Old Town from the Romantic Zone. Following the 1971 flood caused by Hurricane Lily, residents were relocated. Today, it hosts market stalls, restaurants, a cultural park, and the archaeological Museo del Cuale.
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    Attraction

    6Jetty of Los Muertos Beach

    The pier, with its sail-shaped tip, stands on Playa Los Muertos beach in the Zona Romántica. From here, water taxis depart for the coves south of the city, such as Yelapa.
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    City walks in Puerto Vallarta

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Puerto Vallarta: Malecon, Art & Romantic Lanes

    Discover the vibrant charm of Puerto Vallarta on this 2-hour walk. From the lively Malecon with its sculptures to the iconic church and the romantic cobblestone lanes of the Zona Romántica, experience the soul of the city. Immerse yourself in art, culture and the relaxed atmosphere of Mexico.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Natureza Versalles

    Café-restaurant with breakfast in the Versalles district, north of the Old Town on Calle Lucerna.
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    2

    La Isla de Marin's Seafood

    Family restaurant serving fish and seafood on Calle Matamoros, above the Old Town.
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    3

    La Dolce Vita Malecon

    Italian restaurant with pizza and bar on Paseo Díaz Ordaz, right on the Malecón overlooking Bahía de Banderas.
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    4

    El Patron de Vallarta

    Restaurant with Mexican cuisine and seafood on Avenida de las Américas, north of the city center.
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    5

    Café des Artistes

    Chef Thierry Blouet's restaurant on Calle Guadalupe Sánchez, in the alleys above Old Town and Malecon, operating for over three decades. The cuisine combines French and Mexican, served in small dining rooms, on terraces, and in a garden.
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    6

    Pancho's Takos

    Simple Taquería on Calle Basilio Badillo in Zona Romántica, right in the restaurant area south of Río Cuale.
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    7

    Tintoque

    Restaurant of Vallarta-native chef Joel Ornelas, opened in 2016, in a restored Casona on Calle Aquiles Serdán by the Río Cuale in the Zona Romántica. Its modern Mexican Pacific cuisine also uses Japanese techniques, offering rotating tasting menus.
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    Food and Drink in Puerto Vallarta

    On the coast, fish and seafood are the focus, with evening tacos available at stands in the Zona Romántica.

    Pescado zarandeado

    Butterflied fish, marinated and grilled over charcoal. The dish comes from neighboring Nayarit.

    Ceviche and Aguachile

    Raw fish or shrimp, cooked in lime juice, prepared as Aguachile with a spicy chili sauce.

    Tacos de marlin

    Tacos with smoked Marlin, a specialty of the Pacific Coast.

    Raicilla

    Agave spirit from Jalisco's coastal mountain region, served neat in city bars.

    History and Culture

    From the Port to the ResortLas Peñas was founded on December 12, 1851, and later named after the jurist and governor Ignacio Vallarta. In 1963, John Huston filmed “The Night of the Iguana” in Mismaloya, after which the town developed into a seaside resort. The Malecón was rebuilt after Hurricane Kenna in 2002; today, it features sculptures by artists such as Sergio Bustamante and Alejandro Colunga. The Zona Romántica is considered the center of the city's LGBTQ scene.ExcursionsLos Arcos and Mismaloya: Rock islands in the national marine park, good for snorkeling, about 12 km south.Jardín Botánico de Vallarta: Botanical garden with an orchid collection, approximately 23 km south on Highway 200.Yelapa: Bay with no road access, reachable by water taxi from Los Muertos Pier.Sayulita: Surf town on the Riviera Nayarit north of the bay.

    Nightlife

    Puerto Vallarta offers you a diverse nightlife, ranging from relaxed cocktail bars to lively dance clubs. Especially in the Zona Romántica, you'll find a concentration of bars and clubs, including established venues like The Palm Cabaret and Bar for shows or Garbo for jazz.
    1

    Americana Sports Bar & Grill

    Sports bar with grilled food on Calle Mina, in Centro a few blocks from the Malecón.
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    2

    El Colibrí Cocktail Bar

    Cocktail bar with live music on Calle Morelos, in Centro near the Malecón.
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    3

    The Palm Cabaret and Bar

    Cabaret and bar on Calle Olas Altas in the Zona Romántica, with evening stage shows.
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    4

    La Crudería

    Bar with seafood and karaoke on Calle Colombia, in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood north of Centro.
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    5

    Piano Bar & Jazz Garbo

    Piano and jazz bar on Calle Púlpito in the Zona Romántica, with live music in the evening.
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    6

    La Gata Foro Bar

    A bar and cultural center with a cafe on Calle Matamoros, above the Old Town, featuring concerts and events.
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    7

    Mestizo Artists' Bar

    Bar on Calle Allende in the Centro, a few steps above the Malecón.
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    8

    La Traviata

    Bar with Italian cuisine on the fifth floor of a building on Calle Honduras, north of Centro.
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    Out and about in Puerto Vallarta

    Centro and Zona Romántica are compact and easy to explore on foot, though the hillside alleys are steep and cobbled. City buses connect the center with the hotel zone, marina, and airport; pay cash to the driver.For taxis, it's best to agree on the price before the ride; alternatively, use ride-sharing apps. For southern coves like Yelapa, take a water taxi from the pier at Playa Los Muertos, and for Mismaloya and the Botanical Garden, take the bus on Highway 200.

    Accommodations in Puerto Vallarta

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    Nearby

    Punta de Mita

    Punta de Mita

    Punta de Mita is a peninsula on the northern edge of Bahía de Banderas, on the Riviera Nayarit north of Puerto Vallarta. Within these private grounds are luxury resorts like the Four Seasons and St. Regis, as well as two golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus. In the town itself, fish and beach restaurants line Avenida El Anclote, and from here boats also depart for the Islas Marietas.
    Riviera Nayarit

    Riviera Nayarit

    Riviera Nayarit is the roughly 300 km long coastline of the state of Nayarit, stretching between the mouth of the Río Ameca near Nuevo Vallarta and the old port of San Blas. In the south, on Bahía de Banderas, are towns such as Bucerías and Punta de Mita; further north lie Sayulita, San Pancho, and Lo de Marcos, with surf beaches and small fishing villages. From December to March, humpback whales come into the bay.
    Sayulita

    Sayulita

    Sayulita is a small surf town on Riviera Nayarit's Pacific coast, about 40 km north of Puerto Vallarta airport. Come for the consistent main beach waves, perfect for surf lessons, and the relaxed town center with beachside bars and galleries. Since 2015, Sayulita bears the title Pueblo Mágico; surfers have been coming here since the 1960s.
    San Pancho (San Francisco)

    San Pancho (San Francisco)

    San Pancho, officially San Francisco, is a quiet village on the Riviera Nayarit, approximately 7 km north of Sayulita. The wide beach is significantly less visited than in Sayulita, but the surf can be strong. The town is known for its community projects such as the EntreAmigos Cultural Center and a children's circus school.
    Lo de Marcos

    Lo de Marcos

    Lo de Marcos is a traditional fishing village on the Riviera Nayarit, north of San Pancho. Unlike Sayulita, the village is hardly geared towards tourism: You'll find a long sandy beach, simple fish restaurants and a quiet village life.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI