About Puerto Vallarta

[Harry Paul]

About Puerto Vallarta

Tucked away in the middle of the Bay of Banderas you will find a gorgeous tourist town rapidly becoming one of the most popular holiday spots in the world. Puerto Vallarta is reported to be the most repeated holiday destinations on earth. By that I mean more people return here for a second and third and on and on number of holidays than any other place they go.
But it wasn't always that way. Back in the fifties and early sixties Puerto Vallarta was a very small fishing village, home to several thousand locals and a lot of fruit and vegetable plantations. But then came Hollywood with Richard Burton and his girlfriend at the time, the beautiful Liz Taylor. They were here to shot the movie Night of the Iguana. The romance between Richard and Liz was hot Hollywood gossip and with them came the paparazzi, all looking to get the best shot of the popular couple... this is the stuff that sold gossip rags, so popular with movie fans of the era. The resulting coverage not only sold their magazines it also drew people to this lush tropical paradise and made Puerto Vallarta grow into what it is today.

Today Puerto Vallarta hosts an international airport that has easily doubled in size just in the last ten years. With only one major highway going into and out of the city this town of now over three hundred thousand is alive with a buzz of international tourism, drawing huge numbers from the US and Canada as well as a growing European influx. This town is amazing.

Entering Puerto Vallarta from the north you pass the airport and right away start to see the North American influence here with shopping malls, Plaza Marina is the first of many you will encounter and many high end furniture stores, art galleries and chain restaurants familiar in American and Canadian cities. Mc Donald's, Starbucks, The Outback, Hard Rock Café, Bubba Gump's, to name just a few, they are all here.
he first area of interest you will come across is the Marina, turn right at the huge whale statue fashioned by local artist Octavio. The Marina is home to many foreign investors. The area got it's name, most obviously because it is built around docking facilities for thousands of boats of all descriptions from canoes, kayaks and jets skis to tour boats and multi-million dollar yachts. You will find all types of activities in this area. Check out the shopping and restaurants available at dock side and look the area up on the internet for some great resorts that make for a perfect all inclusive holidays if that is your style. Shopping, restaurants, day tours, beautiful beaches everything is here.

Continuing along highway 200, now narrowed to the main street, you enter the Hotel Zone. This area of course is where you find a bevy of hotels, many familiar American names. The beach here is gorgeous and you will find some great dining. In particular this writer's favorite is Sunday Brunch at The Sheraton Bugambilias
Cross over the bridge and you enter Centro. Now you are in the center of the action. Here you will find shops too multiple to describe... jewelry shops, art galleries, clothing stores, more time share offers than you can believe, souvenir shops by the score, restaurants with just about any kind of food you taste buds desire. This is the most diverse area of town. On the right you will find the ocean with terrific views from one tip of the bay to the other while on the left the street is lined with shops. Check out the wonderful collection of statues all crafted from bronze, stone and concrete that adorn the wide sidewalk known as the Malecon. These wonderful works of art were all donated by local artisans to help renew and beautify this area after the hurricane of 2001, and indeed it has been wonderfully restored. At the south end of the Malecon you will find crafts, arts, snacks, music, street performers and in general warm hospitality offered up by the local merchants. Meander the side streets for hours and you will find delightful little discoveries guaranteed to satisfy your hunt for an usual gift. Get your hair braided, get a tattoo, or just take a stroll through the colorful crowds, people watching here is a treat onto itself. If you get a chance take in the Art Walk, happening every Wednesday, a casual stroll of the many art galleries in this area complete with snacks and a drink offered at participating galleries. Just look for an Art Walk flyer, you will find them at shops all over this area. And while you are here by all means check out Casa Kimberley, the love nest of Richard and Liz that put Puerto Vallarta on the map. If it is night life you want check out The Malecon after the families and love birds have thinned out this area parties into the wee hours of the morning.
Continuing south from the Malecon you will cross another bridge, over the River Cuale into Zona Romantica. I guess you could call Centro and The Malecon the center of this city. Zona Romantica is the heart, the magic, if you have not by now fallen in love with this town Zona Romantica will win you over. Taste the flavors of Mexico at a variety of eateries, from roadside vendors where you can eat for a couple dollars to local Cenadurias, all the way up to five star North American style fine dining experiences on the beach. Don't be afraid to explore here, both on a culinary level and on a cultural level. Try some local dishes like pozole, molcajete, fried cheese tacos, mahi mahi, it's all delicious. Let one of the small sidewalk cafes or bars lure you in with offerings of great service, fabulous food and just a plain magical experience. Explore the side streets, this area is safe and full of hidden surprises, you won't find them if you don't let your body, mind and taste buds wonder freely. Shopping, beaches, day tours, restaurants, art galleries, local merchants all too plentiful here and all truly a magical experience. This is Zona Romantica, cross over the bridge and discover the romance for yourself.
bove Zona Romantica on the hillside you will find lots of foreign influence again with beautiful villas and condos owned primarily by foreigners and ex patriots most of which can be rented. Conchas China is known as the Beverly Hills of Puerto Vallarta, lots of fine accommodations here. Other noteworthy areas are Amapas and Alta Vista.

If you are looking for a more Mexican flair head inland just a bit and check out areas like Pitillal or Buenos Aires. You will find that the further you go inland the more the neighborhoods take on a Mexican flair.

Puerto Vallarta is no longer just a cute little Mexican town. It has grown into a diverse, culturally rich tourist destination making its mark proudly on the map. As world commerce grows and travel becomes more and more accessible to the masses Puerto Vallarta has kept pace and in many cases surpassed others as the place to be for your next exotic vacation.