The town offers every kind of vacation experience, from the romantic to the adventurous, and from peaceful to action packed. The city is bound to beckon you back again and again.

Puerto Vallarta originated as a somnolent fishing village. Its natural bay of Bahía de Banderas developed into a port of call for ships laden with silver from the nearby mines. Today, Puerto Vallarta is an energetic, busy town but still holds on to its Old World enchantment. The architecture is charmingly nostalgic: red tiled roofs on white stucco villas, balconies bedecked with flowers and streets of cobbled stone.

Six and a half kms away from downtown is the Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport. The airport terminal has car rental facilities along with frequent vans transfers to the city. Though traffic is a problem inside the city, taxis and the city bus service are the only modes of transport that you will find to get around.

It is better if one chooses the lodging zones wisely, depending on whether one is keen on a quiet holiday or one filled with action. There are five lodging zones to choose from: Nuevo Vallarta which has numerous condos and resorts near the airport, Marina Vallarta that is to the south and boasts of a golf course and marina, the Hotel Zone, the Downtown Area with good shopping and dining and the Southern Zone which is a little isolated. The hotels here are situated along the rugged shore. They have a secluded atmosphere with their own private coves.

Dining in Puerto Vallarta is an experience in itself. The midday meal generally is barbecued fish at the beach. Cliff side bars offer the romantics a glorious sunset along with snacks and drinks. There are Mexican restaurants that serve local specialties and seafood. Besides there are establishments that serve continental and Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Most of the bars and restaurants play live jazz or Mariachi music. All hotels have fiesta nights at least once a week which are celebrations of Mexican music, dance and cuisine.

The city has beautiful beaches and coves that can be reached by boat. Take a trip to Yelapa, or to Playa Quimiquito, both tropical paradises. Or ride on a Bora Bora trimaran, a huge sailing ship, to Playa Las Animas. You will enjoy walking on the city’s seaside promenade and the Malecón with its bistros, restaurants and shops. Otherwise there is golf, tennis, water sports, fishing, snorkeling and diving to keep you busy.