|
 Puerto Vallarta is a located in the western part of the state of Jalisco in central México right on the Pacific Ocean. Puerto Vallarta is the second-most visited resort in all of México and got all the amenities of any classic beach resort, but offers so much more things that can be enjoyed, like the whale watching, sport fishing, golf, motorcycling, art, diving, hot air balloons, culture, surfing and gourmet food, among other things.
Puerto Vallarta has evolved to meet the needs of today’s modern tourist with its great Hotel Infrastructure: luxury hotels with high-tech meeting facilities and all-inclusive resorts, also offering great golf courses and upscale shops. Fortunately Puerto Vallarta has retained its original charm. Picturesque colonial and whitewashed buildings, red Spanish tile roofs, cobblestone streets, that reflect its historic past and a jungle-like fauna differentiate Puerto Vallarta from any other destination. Puerto Vallarta is geographically diverse, surrounded by great mountains, jungles, beaches, rivers, waterfalls, and much more. Puerto Vallarta is where Mexico Comes to Life!
Puerto Vallarta sightseeing
Many companies offer sightseeing and excursion packages that includes activities such: Horseback Riding, City Tours, Tequila Distilleries Tours, Bass Fishing, Hiking Tours, Mountain Bikes, etc.
Dining and cuisine at Puerto Vallarta
After a full day of great Vallarta activities you are going to be looking forward for a great meal. Fortunately, Puerto Vallarta has a restaurant or two… okay, maybe more.
Indeed, Puerto Vallarta has come a long way from a simple fishing village that used to roll up the sidewalks at sundown.
Hundreds of restaurants serving everything from Seafood, a specialty, to French to Swiss, German to Italian, Argentinean to, believe it or not! Authentic Mexican is found throughout town in establishments ranging from casual cafes to high end restaurants to beach bars. Most of the restaurants are in Vallarta’s downtown area. Others are in the major hotels and scattered up and down the coast.
Dolphin and whale watching in Puerto Vallarta
Each winter season a growing number of travelers enjoy excursions to view the migrating humpback whales that either visit or live in it. Among them we find dolphins like bottlenose dolphins and spotted dolphins, which always get a great smile from everyone.
During the months that the whales are not in the bay, there is an excursion named “Dolphins in the Wild” where they take small groups (maximum of ten people), out into the bay to interact and observe the dolphins in their own natural habitat.
Ecotourism in Puerto Vallarta
In a world in which communicating with nature increasingly means a visit to the "Discovery Channel," more and more travelers want Ecological Adventures. Puerto Vallarta has always been, and will continue to be ideally suited to Eco-Adventurers.
Puerto Vallarta is a natural for eco-tourists. Surrounded by lush tropical jungle, full with sparkling rivers and gushing waterfalls that flow to the foliage covered shores and spill into the island-dotted waters of Banderas Bay.
Puerto Vallarta offers visitors paradise-like adventures both on land and in the sea. The brilliant greenery from the Sierra Madre mountain foothills to the coast is home to an exuberant collection of wildlife including four-foot-long iguanas, butterflies, and 366 bird species.
Visitors can choose a wide variety of eco-tours from nature hikes and bird watching to wild rides through hidden streams and jungle roads on bicycles, in open-air ATV’s and dune buggies. Many ranches offer horseback rides, often with lunch and a chance for a dip. Jungle Jeep Safaris use specially adapted all-wheel-drive trucks and travel in convoy through the jungle and beyond. Another way to view the densely forested slopes is to soar above it all in a light plane or a hot air balloon.
Golf at Puerto Vallarta
Tropical greens, beautiful palm trees, meandering fairways and an epic view of the Sierra Madre Mountains and Pacific Ocean describe Puerto Vallarta's five championship golf courses. If you happen to run into a friendly iguana or crocodile while teeing off at any of the golf courses, fear not, it's just par for the course.
Horseback riding
The hilly, nearby jungle and long stretches of shoreline has made Horseback riding a favorite activity since Liz and Dick made "Night of the Iguana". A variety of tours are available featuring visits to mango orchards, cattle ranches and farmland, small rural villages, and a river where visitors can swim. On Sundays, horseback rides include a trip to a typical Mexican rodeo. Longer trips, up to five days on horseback are offered for small groups into the Sierra Madre mountains and with visits to sites including the old mining town of San Sebastian del Oeste.
Night life in Puerto Vallarta
So, when you have seen all there is to see, done all there is to do, eaten all there is to eat and still aren’t ready for bed. No problem Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of night life options. Many visitors are captivated by the colonial charm of Puerto Vallarta and enjoy relaxing over a cognac or dessert wine, enjoying the cool night air and romantic views and listening to some pleasant music.
Others can take advantage of the many nightspots and the number of leading restaurants that have live bands. Nightlife also centers on the hotels and most have attractive lobby bars where visitors and locals alike gather. For those who want to party the night away to hot tunes and flashing lights, Puerto Vallarta offers a wealth of cool clubs, discos, and open-air beach places.
Shopping in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta offers rich opportunities for shoppers. Almost everything made in México is available: silver, blown glass, pottery, sarapes, clothing, sandals, masks and other arts and crafts. Also, the city’s reputation as an art center sets it apart from most other Mexican beach resort cities. Visitors have the unique opportunity to purchase pieces by some of Mexico’s most well known contemporary painters and sculptors, as well as internationally renowned artists.
Excellent shops are scattered throughout. Some are near the beach, some in major hotels and many are located on the main downtown shopping area along Juarez and Morelos Streets.
Fishing in Puerto Vallarta
The waters of Puerto Vallarta provide sport fishing opportunities that are second to none. As with other coastal resorts along the Mexican Riviera, the waters off Puerto Vallarta rank with the best in the world for both deep sea fishing and small game fishing. November through May is the best season for sailfish. Smaller fish are plentiful year round.
These include red snapper, rooster fish, bass, sea bass, dorado, swordfish, tuna, bonito, and others. There are many fishing boats available and most offer catch-and-release sports fishing trips. Each year in November, a deep sea fishing tournament is held in Puerto Vallarta. For more information visit www.fishvallarta.com.
Scuba diving & snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta provides outstanding scuba diving & snorkeling opportunities all year long. Diving in the tropics is enjoyable for many reasons, due to the need for minimal or no wetsuit, long range visibility, and the variety of marine life to observe and interact with are a few. The rugged coastline with its large rock formations provides exciting underwater adventures. The best places for diving and snorkeling are Los Arcos, Quimixto, Playa Las Animas and Punta Mita, or the Marieta Islands, located about an hour’s boat ride from Puerto Vallarta. Several tour companies provide excellent services for snorkeling and dive trips. Most day trips include transportation, snorkeling gear, and lunch. |
Information about Puerto Vallarta, Mexico