Puerto Vallarta Travel Overview

Puerto Vallarta is situated on Bahia de Banderas (Banderas Bay) and is the most visited tourist destination in Mexico after Cancun.  Puerto Vallarta itself retains much of its colonial charm.  Unlike Cancún, Puerto Vallarta was a traditional village before becoming a world famous tourist destination.   PV, as its known, was first popularized in the 1960's when the movie "Night of the Iguana" was filmed in nearby Mismaloya Bay.  Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor cast the little town as a backdrop not just for the movie, but for themselves as well.  Visitors to the area can enjoy mountains, jungle, and over 25 miles of beachfront along the bay.

Little fishing villages like Punta Mita, Bucerías, and Yelapa dot the coastline surrounding PV, and many visitors enjoy the trek to see how real Mexican life unfolds.

View Map of Puerto Vallarta

What to do outside the resorts:

Bucerias - Bucerias ("place of the divers") is a quiet little town on the north shore of Banderas Bay.  Here visitors can get a taste of a small traditional Mexican town, and enjoy a fine 5 mile stretch of beach.

La Corbeteña - La Corbeteña is a 2 hour boat ride north west of PV, and is considered to be one of the finest advanced dive sites in the world.  Here you can dive with an amazing array of sea life including manta rays, marlin, tuna, and many shark species.

Marietas Islands - The Marietas Islands are located off the north coast and serve as a sanctuary to many species of wildlife such as dolphins, turtles, marine birds, and scores of tropical fish.  Divers and eco-tourists will find plenty to occupy themselves.

Nuevo Vallarta - Nuevo Vallarta is located in the state of Nayarit about 25 minutes north of the airport.  It is a destination unto itself with upscale resorts, beaches, condominiums, and restaurants.

Punta De Mita - If you go 40 minutes to the northwest tip of Banderas Bay you will  find Punta Mita.  Here you will find a laid back community, with two beautiful beaches.  The master plan for the area calls for additional resorts to be developed here, but for now you can hit the Four Seasons which has its very own Jack Nicklaus designed golf course.

Yelapa - Yelapa (place of reunion) is often called the Tahiti of Mexico, and is only accessible by water.  It is a tranquil place where you can watch the boats in the harbor, have lunch by the water, dive, or go hiking or horseback riding in the hills.  During the December to March you can also watch the humpback whale migration.

Articles: Puerto Vallarta Mexico Vacation

Consular Information

PUERTO VALLARTA, Consulate of Canada Address: Edificio Obelisco Local 108, Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio 1951, Zona Hotelera Las Glorias, 48300, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Postal Address: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico Tel.: 52 (322) 293-0098/9 Fax: 52 (322) 293-2894 E-mail: vallarta@canada.org.mx     U.S. Consular Agency Puerto Vallarta New temporary address: Paradise Plaza Paseo de los Cocoteros Local #14, Int. #17 Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit 63732 Phone 01-322-222-0069 Fax 01-322-223-0074 E-Mail: consularagentpvr@prodigy.net.mx

Top Vacation Package Deals at Expedia.com

Your Trip, Your Way at Expedia.ca