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.
The 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.
 Above 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.
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| Temperatures and Wet Days |
| |
High |
Low |
|
| Celsius |
Fahrenheit |
Celsius |
Fahrenheit |
Wet Days |
| January |
25 - 26 |
77 - 79 |
16 - 19 |
62 - 67 |
2 |
| February |
25 - 27 |
77 - 80 |
16 - 18 |
60 - 65 |
1 |
| March |
24 - 28 |
75 - 82 |
16 - 18 |
60 - 65 |
0 |
| April |
26 - 29 |
79 - 84 |
17 - 19 |
63 - 67 |
0 |
| May |
28 - 31 |
82 - 88 |
19 - 21 |
66 - 70 |
1 |
| June |
29 - 32 |
84 - 90 |
19 - 22 |
67 - 72 |
10 |
| July |
31 - 33 |
87 - 92 |
23 - 26 |
73 - 79 |
15 |
| August |
32 - 35 |
90 - 95 |
24 - 27 |
74 - 80 |
15 |
| September |
32 - 35 |
90 - 95 |
25 - 27 |
76 - 80 |
14 |
| October |
29 - 33 |
85 - 91 |
24 - 26 |
74 - 79 |
5 |
| November |
28 - 31 |
83 - 87 |
18 - 21 |
65 - 70 |
1 |
| December |
26 - 29 |
79 - 84 |
18 - 21 |
65 - 70 |
2 |
|
|
Currency: Mexican Peso written as $1 MN (moneda nacional)
Electric: 110/120 (same as Canada & USA )
LOCAL CUSTOMS & LAWS:
- Tourist Card – when you arrive in Mexico you will require an Immigration document called a “Tourist card”. You don’t need to carry this document with you, but you will need to present when departing the country.
- Legal drinking age – is 18 years. It is illegal to drink in public. Drug laws are harsh.
- Siesta time – 2-4pm, many businesses close during this time.
- Tipping – is similar to Canada & the U.S. 15% - 20% in restaurants & bars.
- Restaurants – you may wonder why it takes so long for someone to bring you the bill. In Mexico it is considered rude to bring the bill until you request it. To local culture it infers that the client is being asked to leave. So when you are ready to leave, you should ask for the bill.
MONEY
- Exchange rates – usually best in the banks, slightly less in the Money Exchanges (Casas de Cambio) & businesses.
- Travelers Cheques – you will need picture ID to exchange
- Bank Machines / Automatic Teller Machines – are bilingual & easy to use, you can access money directly from your account or specified credit card. They usually give an exchange rate as good or better then the banks. Normal service charge is $1 - $2 depending on your bank and accessible 24 hrs/day.
- Coins – there are 100c (centavos) in one ($1) peso. Since some coins have such a low value you may not get exact change in some stores. They do not accept foreign coins
- Bank hours: average is 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Saturdays 10am – 2 pm .
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WATER
Puerto Vallarta ’s water purification system has been certified safe by International standards since 1992. However we still recommend you use only purified bottled water (Agua Purificada) for drinking and making ice unless there is a purification system in the building you are staying in.
Ice Cubes – in restaurants & bars are made from purified water.
Fruits & Vegetables – any fruits or vegetables not being cooked or peeled should be treated with MICRODYN (a bacteria killing treatment).
- Wash the fruit or vegetables
- Soak for 20 minutes in a non-metal container in tap water with 1-4 drops of Microdyn for every litre of water
- Rinse with purified water.
All staff in villas & restaurants will follow this procedure.
LONG DISTANCE
Please check with the staff of your accommodations for long distance options. Usually the best option is to charge long distance calls to your calling cards.
You can purchase international long distance calling cards in most convenience stores (SIX) and pharmacies (CMQ and Farmacia Guadalajara, both open 24 hours).
You can also make international calls from most Internet cafes such as PVcafe.com, located at Olas Altas and Basilio Badillo, where they charge about $6 pesos per minute to call the US .
TRANSPORTATION
Taxis -Local Taxis do not have meters; instead they have set rates per each zone. Within the downtown area the rate is usually about $2 USD or $20 pesos. All taxis carry official rate sheets, when in doubt ask to see it. Taxi drivers are notorious for not having change; when possible try to be prepared with exact change or small bills.
Several Taxi stands have telephones to order taxis for pick up:
La Jolla de Mismaloya- Sitio 11 222-8099, or call hotel and ask for taxi, 226-6688
Sitio 9- located on the South Side of Old Town, corner of Constitution and Francisco I. Madero, 223-2806
Dreams Resort-221-5368, hotel 221-5000
Transport Service - For a private driver, call Noe 044(322)294-2215 or 222-2278
Bus -The green and blue bus from town to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan (last cove on the bay accessible by car) runs every 10 mins. The bus stop in town originates at the corner of Constitución and Basilio Badillo, cost $4.50 pesos. Boca de Tomatlan is the end of the line, the bus turns around and heads back to Puerto Vallarta . From Boca de Tomatlan you can pay for a water taxi to take you to any of the beaches on the south shore only accessible by boat: Las Animas, Quimixto and Yelapa.
Car Rental – you must be over 21 years of age and have a credit card to rent a car. Rate start at about $50 USD / day.
Airport Taxis – the Airport Taxi’s are a separate system from the local Yellow Taxis and are only allowed to pick up passengers from the airport or Marina which are Federal Zones.
MAIL
The mail service in Mexico tends to be rather slow. It will take aprox 2 weeks for mail to reach the U.S. or Canada . The post office is located downtown on Mina Street just off the Malecon. Hours are 9am – 7 pm Monday – Friday & 9am – 12 noon on Saturdays.
Stamps to the U.S. & Canada are about 45c USD. You can also buy stamps in many of the shops & there are mail boxes conveniently located around town.
EMAIL & INTERNET
There are numerous Internet Cafes in Puerto Vallarta . They are convenient and inexpensive. You can send and receive email messages for about $1 - $2 USD per hour. If you have a laptop and access to a telephone line you can have local service set up, cost is about $23 USD per month. Call PVNET at 223-1127 to confirm details. To program your laptop for this service, you will have to go to their offices on the north side of town in the hotel zone, across the street from the Sheraton Hotel, Taxi drivers know the location.
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GROCERY STORES/SHOPPING
There are many large supermarkets in the Vallarta area:
South Vallarta
Gutierrez Rizo: (called "El Rizo" by the locals) Constitution and Aquiles Serdan at the River Cuale. Open 8am – 11pm daily. Wide selection of food and produce in addition to hardware, pharmacy & liquor items. There is also an import section if you are looking for a special product not made in Mexico.
Agro Gourmet – Open Monday– Saturday, 9:30 am – 6pm . Basillio Badillo #22
North Vallarta/Hotel Zone
MEGA Commercial Mexicana
Gigante
Sam’s Club: you can get a free day pass to shop if you are from out of town, known for their selection of USDA beef. You will need to show ID to prove your out of town address.
Walmart
The fine art of Bargaining is only for beach & street vendors or in the flea Markets. The recommended system is to start at about 60% of the asking price and go from there. Boutiques & stores frown on bargaining, but will often accept diplomatic requests for discounts (especially for cash purchases).
CHURCH
The Cathedral in the center of town is a Catholic Church “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. Services are:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am , 12 noon , 7pm & 8pm
Saturday: 7:30 am , 12 noon , 7:30pm & 8:30pm
Sunday: 6:30am, 8am , 10am , 12 noon , 6:30pm , 7:30pm & 8:30pm
Dress appropriately. There is also a Baptist Church , Kingdom Hall & other denominations..
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
The airlines request that you be at the airport 2 hrs ahead of
Departure time for international flights & 1 hour for national flights.
- Most airlines have the departure tax prepaid
- You will need to present your tourist card when you depart
- Customs declarations; U.S. citizens $350 USD each time you leave the country for over 7 days, Canadian citizens $500 Canadian each time you leave the country for over 7 days.
- Liquor: 1.5 liters of Alcohol & 200 cigarettes per adult
- It is illegal to take back any plants, produce or products made from an endangered species (Iguana, Sea turtle, Boa, Python, Anaconda snakes & Armadillos)
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