Puerto Vallarta vacation info, Mexico
From Puerto Vallarta weather to Puerto Vallarta beaches and Vallarta golf
One of Mexico’s top vacation destinations, Puerto Vallarta is
situated on the Pacific Coast, roughly at the midpoint of Banderas Bay,
the largest bay in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest bay in the world.
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Puerto Vallarta is basically a one-stop vacation destination, where an idyllic
locale is complemented by a full spectrum of luxury amenities. It combines a leisurely,
slow-paced ambience with such expected big resort features as fine dining and flashy nightlife,
Vallarta beaches and many golf courses to choose from.
The main Puerto Vallarta vacation spot to see has to be the Malecon,
or boardwalk, where restaurants, bars and discos make the city shine at all
times of day. Puerto Vallarta has now expanded to some more modern
zones like Marina Vallarta which is practically a city unto itself.
It encompasses major hotels like
Marriott Casa Magna Puerto Vallarta or
Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta, a flurry of upscale condominium developments,
an enormous yacht club, an 18-hole golf course, a maritime terminal with departure
to Yelapa and Las Animas beaches.
Nowadays Puerto Vallarta is Mexico's most eclectic vacation spot.
Puerto Vallarta is more about secluded beaches and ecotourism than Mexico's other beach vacation destinations.
You can find regular beach activities like jet skiing, parasailing and even windsurfing anywhere in Vallarta!
You'll also find several whale watching tours (Dec-Mar) and endangered sea
turtle programs (Jun-Oct).
There are a number of different art galleries, each with their own unique artistic style on display.
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's few beach vacation spots with a full size zoo
(Mismaloya),
and the only one with its own hanging gardens, located near Mismaloya, where
John Huston's movie "night of the Iguana", starring Elizabeth Taylor, was filmed.
There are 8 spectacular golf courses within the Bay of Banderas.
Among others, Jack Nicklaus, the von Hagge group and Tom Weiskopf
have designed several courses here.
Most of which provide amazing views and are versatile enough to prove challenging
for even the most experienced golfers, while still allowing beginners to enjoy
them.
Puerto Vallarta history
The first known settlement in Puerto Vallarta, then called Puerto
Las Peñas,
was established in 1851. It consisted of families who farmed, raised cattle
or imported salt used in the refining process for silver-mining
operations in the surrounding area.
In 1918, the town’s name was changed to Puerto Vallarta, in honor of a Jaliscan lawyer and state
governor Don Ignacio L. Vallarta, who helped draft the Mexican Constitution.
Tourists began to arrive in Puerto Vallarta around the 1930's, and Mexican
warships fired a 21-gun salute when Puerto Vallarta celebrated its centennial
in 1951.
Much of Puerto Vallarta's publicity was due to the 1964 filming of John
Huston’s “Night of the Iguana”,
that showcased the tropical beauty of Mismaloya Beach in Puerto Vallarta.
However what really put Puerto Vallarta on the
map, was the torrid romance of Hollywood film stars Elizabeth
Taylor and Richard Burton that occured during the filming of the movie.
Improved roads and air accessibility led to the construction of first-class hotels in Puerto Vallarta,
and soon agriculture (which was the main source of income) took a back seat to tourism.
Growth since then has been swift and steady in Puerto Vallarta, fueled by
the annual invasion of sun-seeking Puerto Vallarta vacationers. Hotel and
resort development, which was spread both north and south of the original
village, is extensive but somehow does not overshadow the prevailing sense of charm that makes Puerto
Vallarta (or “PV” as it is often called) so appealing.
The tourist influx peaks between mid-December and mid-April;
if you plan for a Puerta Vallarta vacation during this
period, reservations will need to be booked several months in advance.
Nuevo Vallarta, 15 min driving from Marina Vallarta, is just over the Nayarit state line at
the mouth of Rio Ameca. This planned resort area has condominiums, luxurious time share resorts, beach
front homes, a yacht marina, and a sprinkling of all-inclusive hotels and accommodations.
Come and enjoy the Puerto Vallarta beaches, golf courses and weather on
your Puerto Vallarta vacation!
Puerto Vallarta vacation top
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