Puerto Vallarta - Jalisco, México

Easily accessible from key U.S. gateways including Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Phoenix. Puerto Vallarta is a located in the western part of the state of Jalisco in central Mexico overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From the moment visitors step off the plane, they will be awestruck by the natural beauty of this popular Mexican destination. As such. Puerto Vallarta has involved meeting the needs of today’s modern tourist (luxury hotels, allinclusive resorts, new golf courses and restaurants have opened at rapid pace in recent years).

On the Pacific Coast on one of the largest bays in the world. Member of "The Most Beautiful "Bays in the World Club".

During the first part of the 19th century, at the mouth of the Cuale River - at that moment in time, inhabited mostly by crocodiles - there were practically no human dwellers. Between the rugged sierra, the ocean and the powerful Ameca River, this beautiful piece of Mexican geography remained isolated from the rest of the world. The hubs of economic activity were up in the mountains, in the towns of Cuale, San Sebastian and Mascota, where silver mines abounded but where salt, an essential element for the metal processing wasn’t found. Today, visitors to Puerto Vallarta Mexico can enjoy a breathtaking view from any of the hills that surround the city of Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is located on the Pacific Coast on one of the largest bays in the world (member of "The Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club" Bandera’s Bay measures 96 kilometers from north to south. The northernmost limit of the bay is at Punta Mita, which is the end of the Sierra de Vallejo Mountains and, to the south; the bay ends in Cabo Corrientes, part of the foothills of the Sierra del Cuale range.

The bay has been known since the XVI Century when Spanish soldiers, during the expeditions to Lower California (or island of pearls, as they called it), landed on the bay’s beaches in order to supply their ships with water, firewood and fresh food. There are many chronicles from that time that mention the beauty of the coastline, the fertility of the land and the safe harbors that the bay offered ships. During the XVI Century, safe harbors all along the Pacific Coast were a vital necessity so that ships returning from the Philippines would have a place to find refuge in case of attack by pirates. These harbors were also necessary during the long journeys, to and from the Orient so that ships could be repaired if necessary and crews could take on provisions.

One of the first to propose a settlement on Bandera’s Bay was Captain Pedro de Unamuno after the trip he made in 1587 from the Philippines. Famous navigators like Sebastian Vizcaino, Lopez de Vicuna and Gonzalo de Francia more than once landed on these beaches and also proposed the establishment of a colony, but their petitions never received any attention.

It is known that a shipyard was built on the bay in 1644 (probably where Mismaloya is located today) and two ships were built for Bernardo Bernal de Pinadero that would be used in the colonization of Lower California.In document and in ships logs dating from the XVIII Centuries, constant references are made to whaling ships and fishing boast that harbored in the bay. At the time, Banderas Bay was also known as Humpback Bay (Bahia de los Jorobados) because of the number of humpback whales that were seen in the bay.

Things have changed since the first airplane landed here in 1931. Today Puerto Vallarta has hotels that range from small, economical inns to magnificent luxury hotels. Important national and international airline companies provide services that connect Vallarta to the principal cities of the U.S. and Europe. Luxury cruise ships dock here on a daily basis and a good highway connects the town to Tepic, Guadalajara and the rest of the country.

Puerto Vallarta Mexico offers a multitude of things to do and places to see, but there are also some great two-day or weekend trips nearby available. These getaways are for those who frequent Puerto Vallarta Mexico or perhaps live here full-time and are looking for something new. You can travel by car, bus, and boat or by airplane, and the accommodations can range from small countryside inns to luxurious villas long the coast - something for all budgets.

All around PV, just minutes from downtown, there are easily reached areas of great natural beauty, ideal for a day’s outing or a picnic. Some even have there own hotels where it is possible for a visitor to "get away from it all" for a few days. Some of the favorite spots are Bucerias, Mismaloya, Quimixto and Yelapa, most of these only reachable by boat. The real estate market for Puerto Vallarta Mexico continues to expand, not only in terms of value but also in the size of territory. Real estate agents now realize they have to be knowledgeable with what is happening in real estate with properties as far south Boca de Tomatlan, and as far San Pancho. It no longer is just Puerto Vallarta Mexico. For some time now we have referred to this area as Costa Vallarta.

For shopping and strolling, downtown Puerto Vallarta Mexico can’t be beat. It has what must be the best boardwalk (Malecon) in all Mexico, lined with restaurants, nightclubs, and fine shops. There is also an open-air market with artists. In this area is where you’ll find many of Vallarta’s landmarks such as the Church of Guadalupe, the sculpture of the boy on the seahorse and the open-air theater of Los Arcos. Right through the center of Puerto Vallarta Mexico. runs the Cuale River. In the middle of the river is Isla Rio Cuale, a picturesque island with shops and restaurants scattered throughout. This is a great place to take a break from busy day of shopping and sightseeing. The area between Marina Vallarta and downtown is where you can find most of the hotels and tour shopping malls with over 100 shops offering everything from traditional souvenirs to fashionable boutiques and modern grocery stores as well restaurants and coffee shops. Marina Vallarta is Mexico’s most sophisticated marina and one of the most popular. It includes an 18-hole golf course, a 450-slip marina, a waterpark, several 5-star & Grand Tourism hotels. Along the marina boardwalk are numerous shops, boutiques, galleries, cafes, and restaurants.

South of Puerto Vallarta Mexico are some of the most prestigious residential areas, featuring homes with spectacular architecture nestled in the jungle, with fabulous views of the Puerto Vallarta Mexico and the bay. This is where the Sierra Madre Mountains meet the shores of Bandera’s Bay, creating an environment of beautiful beaches with a rich jungle backdrop. The Federal Government, in conjunction with the state governments of Jalisco and Nayarit as well as some private enterprises, have begun an important program for the development of tourism in the entire Bandera’s Bay area. Puerto Vallarta is the ideal place for anyone who likes water sports. Here one can skin dive, water ski, go deep-sea fishing, windsurfing or even try the exciting parasailing. One of the most important annual events in PV is the International Sailfish Tournament held during the first week of November. Ardent fishermen from all over Mexico and U.S. participate. Vallarta is also the site of important conventions and business meetings.