Puerto Vallarta travel guide: Travel tips, reviews, photos, & videos from real travelers.

Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos

All it took was a movie. Before 1963, Bahía de Banderas, one of deepest bays in the Western hemisphere, was visited mostly by black marlins and fishermen. Then came Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Burton came to this beautiful bay on Mexico’s Pacific coast for the filming of “Night of the Iguana,” based on the Tennessee Williams play with the same name, and Taylor came to be with him. And with the beautiful couple came the paparazzi. All of a sudden there were daily reports in the world press from Bahía de Banderas and Puerto Vallarta, at the center of the bay. The set in Mismaloya, the small village where the actual filming took place, is still there and has been turned into a restaurant.

Today, Puerto Vallarta is a bustling resort, with large—and rather generic—hotels in an uninterrupted row along the beach. Not into crowds? The bay is framed by a hundred miles of beaches. Head far enough up, or down, the coast and you’ll find a secluded beachfront cabana. Away from the beach, Río Cuale makes its way through downtown, past colorful market stalls and cafés playing mariachi music, circling around the small island of Isla Cuale, before meeting the ocean. Puerto Vallarta may be Mexico's gay-friendliest town. In Zona Romántica, bars, clubs and hotels cater to mainly gay and lesbian travelers and there are whale-watching trips, scuba diving excursions and horseback rides in the surrounding Sierra Madre specifically for gay travelers.

Tags: Beach, Family-friendly, Fishing, Gay, Luxury, Mexico, Night-life, Ocean, Relaxing, Romantic, Sailing, Scubadiving, Singles, Surfing, Warm/tropical, Wedding, Worldclassrestaurants

Directions

Estimated travel time: 2 hours, 30 minutes by air (from Dallas, TX)

Roughly five miles north of downtown, close to Marina Vallarta—one of Mexico's largest yachting marinas with over 450 boat slips—is Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport. Among the many airlines serving the airport are America West, American Airlines, Continental and Mexicana. Getting to and from the airport is easy with an efficient bus system, and taxis are everywhere.

Weather

Current conditions
Partly cloudy. Warm. Temperature of 83.46°F. Winds NW 10.11mph. Humidity will be 30% with a dewpoint of 49° and feels-like temperature of 81.61°F.
Hi: 83° F, Low: 62° F.
Tomorrow's forecast

Sunny. Warm. Temperature of 85.84°F. Winds W 9.92mph. Humidity will be 26% with a dewpoint of 47° and feels-like temperature of 83.16°F.
Hi: 86° F, Low: 57° F.

Weatherbug's weather page.

Reviews(Average Rating: 90% for 4 reviews)

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zieak
- Top member
Reviews: 7
Posts: 5
A good first destination in Mexico
12/07/2008
Rating
95%
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
I have been to Cancun, Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, and Puerto Vallarta. Cancun had great beaches, ample party scene, and Mayan ruins. Ixtapa was just built for tourists. Zihuatanejo had real Mexican shops and a market a short walk from a great beach. But Puerto Vallarta has it all. A great beach, party spots, big hotels and yet the real Mexico isn't far. If your heart is set on seeing Mayan ruins then you're out of luck bu there is still plenty to see and do around Puerta Vallarta. Walking along the beach at night yields different people than the peddlers encountered during the day. Street performers and a young crowd are mixed with families and locals. Learn to use the local public transit system of buses to get a true taste of the town. For a few dollars you can travel the entire length of the city.
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mmmogren
- Top member
Reviews: 11
Posts: 13
Our Lady of Guadalupe Bonanza
08/25/2008
Rating
97%
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
I'm not Catholic. In fact I can't remember the last time I went to church when there wasn't a birth, death or wedding. However, if you're in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Built between 1918-1951, it's really the city's focal point, with a gilded crown that tops the church (it's a replica of the crown worn by Carlota, empress of Mexico in the 1860s). On a less historical note, I went there for Christmas midnight mass about five years ago. Candles, costumes and sort of awkward but endearing "Christmas Story" scenes depicted throughout the place. Much of the program was in Spanish, but I think this made the experience. Regardless of your beliefs, mass here is worth your time.
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Jessica_Nunemaker
- Elite member
Reviews: 16
Posts: 100
The NEW place to play, Mexican style!
08/05/2008
Rating
100%
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Forget Cancun! Puerto Vallarta really is an “authentic” Mexican town, as displayed by the occasional burro and owner loping along the warm cobblestone streets. Though lacking that soft as silk sand, the many miles of uncrowded coast more than make up for it. It is easy to do as much, or as little, as you want! Plenty of activities like snorkeling, deep sea fishing, or just lazing on the beach, but my pick is the Los Veranos Canopy tour! Situated on an ecological preserve, it is the safest and longest canopy tour here. Go in the morning to beat the heat and spritz on the bug spray! After a nature walk, orientation, stair climb, and three “practice runs,” off you go! They take your picture during the first run - ten bucks and it‘s yours. Enjoy zipping along over tree tops and the fantastic gorge then cool off in the river or eat at the restaurant. Those intimidated by the heights and thirty mile an hour speeds can enjoy the neat nature center and petting zoo; hold monkeys, birds, a Tarantula or Python! or just wait in the bar and chat to friendly locals. Hey…mango margaritas! Need I say more?
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VacationHmQueen
- Top member
Reviews: 23
Posts: 6
Where the artists go.......
06/22/2008
Rating
67%
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked in Puerto Vallarta as we were passing through town on the way to my friend's wedding in Sayulita. Two things I learned about PV that I didn't know before: 1) real estate is HUGE! and 2) art is everywhere, especially in old town PV. As we drove through the cobble-stoned village part old PV, we meandered through a maze of shop after colorful shop, selling wares of Mexican souvenirs and beachware. As you walk along the boardwalk, you will see sand sculptures of pyramids, iguanas, suns, turtles, religious figurines -- all sculpted to perfection until the tide takes over. The boardwalk is clean, well lit, and is lined with high-end shops and lovely open air restaurants. (see pics) There were also interesting bronze sculptures of other worldly creatures (see pics). And of course, the famous sea horse -- at the heart of old PV. We also caught a glimpse of several art stores where you can see artists creating sculptures, painting, and piecing together interesting mosaics --- all very beautiful and colorful. With PV being such a popular destination for Americans, it doesn't surprise me at all that it is a popular place for retirees to buy vacation homes. I had no idea that over $2 billion of money flowed through PV in 2006 for vacation home purchases. You could see real estate billboards and for sale signs everywhere. I could see why Liz Taylor and Richard Burton fell in love with PV's charm. I regretted not stopping by their former home in Gringo Gulch, but I guess that will be a great excuse to come back again soon!
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Visit Puerto Vallarta
07/28/2008
Official website for Puerto Vallarta, with information about attractions, accommodation and events.
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Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport
07/28/2008
Information about the airport serving Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita, and surrounding cities.
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