Things to do in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta curves around the Bahía de Banderas, with mountains rising straight behind the beaches. The Río Cuale splits the old town in two. Things to do in Puerto Vallarta start from one bank or the other.

The old town and beyond

• The Malecón. The seafront promenade, lined with sculptures, among them the seahorse.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe. A church with a crown-shaped tower, a few blocks inland.
• Isla Cuale. A small island in the river, with craft stalls and cafés.
• Zona Romántica. South of the river, around Los Muertos Beach and its pier.
• Marina Vallarta. The yacht harbour and hotel strip to the north, towards the airport.

South along the coast

The road south passes Mismaloya, where The Night of the Iguana was filmed in 1964. Past Boca de Tomatlán, Las Ánimas, Quimixto and Yelapa have no road and are reached by boat. Humpback whales use the bay from December to March.

Road trips from Puerto Vallarta

Everything booked from Puerto Vallarta is a private car. Nuevo Vallarta, across the state line in Nayarit, is a separate pickup point.

• Guadalajara. The main run, from the coast up to the Jalisco capital, with a stop of up to two hours at Sayulita or Tequila.
• Mazatlán. A one-way run north to the Sinaloa port, and a long day by road.
• Sayulita. A surf town about 40 km north, a beach stop just off the northern route to Guadalajara.

Practical

• Weather. Highs average about 29C in January and 32C in August, with nights near 18C and 25C. Rain falls mainly from June to October and peaks in September.
• Storms. The Pacific hurricane season runs from mid-May to November, and September and October carry the most risk for this coast.
• Taxis. They usually have no meter, so agree the fare before you get in.
• Cash. Water taxis, beach stalls and small restaurants want pesos.
• Cancelling. Private cars can usually be cancelled free of charge more than a day ahead. After that the fare is due in full.