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87°F / 31°C
(Scattered Clouds. Warm.)
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Puerto Vallarta offers visitors a wealth of things to see and do, whether it’s shopping, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, golfing, clubbing, visiting ruins or just plain relaxing on the beach. Regardless of what your budget is, or what your interests are, “Vallarta offers unlimited fun, day or night.
Sun and Fun
Puerto Vallarta has 26 miles of the most beautiful beaches in all Mexico, maybe even the world, and these beaches are one reason that this area has been dubbed, the “Mexican Riviera. Banderas Bay is the focal point and popular gathering place for visitors, providing easy access to many beaches. Virtually everywhere you turn there’s a beach vendor renting everything from boogie boards and water bikes to jet-skis and wind surfing equipment. Thrill seekers (who don’t mind heights or spending $25 per each 10 minutes), might want to try their luck parasailing. Try Club Bananas Water Sports Center at the Las Palmas Hotel. The view from aloft is a spectacular panorama of the city and the miles and miles of surrounding coastline and jungle terrain.
Each local beach is unique in its own right and seems to serve a different purpose. Playa Los Muertos is a centrally-located, lively restaurant and vendor-strewn hot spot, regardless of its ominous-sounding name. To the north there is Punta de Mita, which has beautiful white coral beaches, making it extremely popular among sunbathers. Playa Anclote, nestled within a small cove, is perfect for swimming and surfing. Playa Pontoque offers visitors crystal clear waters, making it perfect for snorkeling. To the south (and accessible only by boat) are three beaches worth making the trip to: Playa Las Animas, another cove protected, white-sand beach popular with swimmers and sunbathers and those with small children; Quimixto another beach perfect for snorkelers; and, Vallarta's southernmost beach, Playa Yelapa, located in the well-known, once hippie-inhabited town of Yelapa.
Cruising Along the Deep Blue Sea
There’s always a sense of intrigue and adventure surrounding taking to the sea in ships. Maybe it’s something we dream up on our own, or maybe it’s something Mother Nature instills in us. Whichever the case, it has become a pastime that many people enjoy, and while in Puerto Vallarta, there is no reason not to indulge this whim.
Hop aboard the 116-foot Alegre Cruise ship for a day of fun in the sun or a romantic sunset cruise. Ecological cruises have become increasingly popular in these waters and elsewhere; Humpback whale enthusiasts may fancy a whale-watching voyage with Sailing and Fishing Unlimited. The first time you see a whale it’s sure to leave you speechless, and the waters surrounding this area is rife with just such opportunities from mid-November to mid-March. Those with adventure in their blood (and a playful nature) may want to try their luck aboard the pirate ship Marigalante, a day-long, round-trip voyage that’s guaranteed to make you dream of pieces o’ eight.
Back on Dry Land
Puerto Vallarta’s rich art culture dates back centuries to the Aztec culture and much of the artwork you’ll find here—from the pottery of its indigenous peoples to gleaming streamline modern sculptures—is steeped in historical significance. One gallery not to be missed is the Galería de Ollas, which is devoted to exhibiting and selling the works of art created by the areas finest Mata Ortiz potters. Pre-Columbian and Talavera designed pottery is the trademark of Studio Terra Cotta Ceramica. This gallery also offers lessons to visitors interested in learning the trade. At Museo Munoz Acosta, visitors will see the exceptional plastic panorama handiwork that famed Ernesto Munoz Acosta has been perfecting since the 60s.
More contemporary works can be seen at the Manuel Lepe Museum Gallery, which showcases the work of the area’s most renowned artist. Lepe's colorful works of art (dating back to the 60s) allow you to see a more natural side of Puerto Vallarta, a side that only Lepe has been able to bring to life. The Galeria Pacifico is a great starting point for novice art enthusiasts, offering an eclectic array of paintings and sculptures by up and coming local artists.
Shopping opportunities abound despite the fact that there are no major shopping malls here. In fact, many of the bargains to be had here come directly to you as you relax on the beach. Locals, hawking their wares, offer a wide variety of souvenirs, necessities and local folk art to visitors as they relax in the shade of a palapa—be sure to haggle over the prices, it’s expected.
For those who simply must get a little browsing in while on vacation, be sure to stop by the municipal market in the Rio Cuale area. Everything from the mandatory souvenir T-shirt to fine silver jewelry is available there. If you get hungry while shopping up a storm, check out the food market upstairs; it serves some of the best traditional Mexican dishes around. Once fortified, you’ll be ready to do the town.
Dance the Night Away
Puerto Vallarta’s nightlife used to be pretty tame, but within the last couple of years there has been a surge in the dance party scene. Take the Malecón, for example. This area used to be filled with shops and restaurants, but not anymore. Nowadays it’s the place to come dance ‘til dawn. Carlos O'Brian's and Star's are the area hot spots and great places to get your party started.
Those who think disco is dead are in for a rude awakening. The area’s hottest nightspot is The Christine Discotheque and Disco is still king here. The laser light show and pulsating Donna Summeresque music keep the crowds boogying until the wee hours of the morning. Drag queens (and kings) can be found strutting their stuff across the runways of Club Paco Paco three nights a week (Friday-Sunday). This mind-boggling show packs the house every weekend. If you arrive early you may be able to participate in the “Ranch Hands Show (run three times nightly).
For those who appreciate a less raucous form of nighttime entertainment, the Marina Vallerta section of town may be more suitable. Dozens of martini bars and jazz clubs offer a more subdued repose from the day’s activities. Love is in the air--110 feet up in the air, to be precise--at the El Faro Lighthouse Bar. Mostly couples can be found here enjoying a panoramic view of the city and listening to live jazz music.
Another way to wind down your day is to attend one of the “fiestas hosted by several of the local hotels. These productions combine costume, lights, music and food while giving visitors a glimpse at Mexico’s diverse culture. Some of the best are the hosted twice weekly by the Krystal Vallarta Hotel.
Day or night, Puerto Vallarta offers plenty of opportunities for visitors to do it all—or nothing at all.
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