Travel guide · Mexico
Puerto Vallarta travel guide
A Pacific bay town of cobbled streets, jungle hills and winter whales
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Puerto Vallarta sits on the Bahía de Banderas, one of Mexico's largest bays, where the forested Sierra Madre drops straight to the Pacific. The old town keeps cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with red-tile roofs and the crown-topped Guadalupe church, linked to the beach by the seafront Malecón. South of the Río Cuale, the Zona Romántica is the liveliest area to stay, while the Hotel Zone, Marina Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta hold the larger resorts. Humpback whales visit the bay in winter, and boats reach coves and villages with no road access. Plan 6 days for a first visit; the best months are November–April.
Key facts
- Country
- Mexico
- Best time to visit
- November–April
- Ideal stay
- 6 days
- Main airports
- PVR
- Mid-range daily budget
- $100–$200 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- The Malecón, Zona Romántica, Humpback whales and Los Arcos
Why visit Puerto Vallarta
- The Malecón seafront promenade, lined with bronze sculptures, links the old town with the beaches of the Zona Romántica on foot.
- Humpback whales calve in the Bahía de Banderas from about December to March, and whale-watching boats leave from several marinas.
- Boat-only beaches and villages such as Las Ánimas, Yelapa and Colomitos lie along the jungle coast south of town.
- Jalisco food is a draw: pescado zarandeado, aguachile, birria, raicilla and tequila from the state's highlands.
- Zona Romántica is one of Mexico's most established LGBTQ+-friendly destinations.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 15 things to do.
Waterfront · Centro
The Malecón
Puerto Vallarta's seafront promenade runs for about a kilometre along the old town, lined with bronze and stone sculptures such as the seahorse rider and the ladder-climbing 'In Search of Reason'.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- After dark
- Art
- Kids
Religious site · Centro
Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
The parish church, a short walk from the Malecón, is the town's landmark thanks to its open-work crown on the bell tower, modelled on one worn by Empress Carlota.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
Beach · Zona Romántica
Playa Los Muertos and the pier
The town's most popular beach is lined with restaurants, beach clubs and loungers, with volleyball, vendors and a lively LGBTQ+-friendly section towards its southern end.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · Marina Vallarta
Whale watching in the bay
Humpback whales arrive in the Bahía de Banderas to breed and calve from about December to March, and boats from Marina Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Los Muertos pier go out to watch them breach and sing.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
Park · Zona Romántica
Isla Río Cuale
A narrow island in the Río Cuale between the Centro and the Zona Romántica, reached by footbridges and shaded by fig trees, with craft stalls, cafés, a small archaeological museum and a statue of film director John Huston.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Kids
- Outdoors
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Viewpoint · Centro
Mirador de la Cruz
A steep climb of streets and several hundred steps from the Centro leads to a white cross and lookout above the town, with views over the red rooftops, the church crown and the whole bay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Zona Romántica is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and couples
Zona Romántica
Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars
$$ · Best for culture, first-timers and couples
Centro
The historic core around the Malecón and the Guadalupe church
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and food lovers
5 de Diciembre
A local residential district just north of the Malecón
$$$ · Best for families, beach and first-timers
Zona Hotelera
Large beachfront hotels between the town and the marina
What to eat
Full Puerto Vallarta food guide.
- Pescado zarandeado — A whole fish butterflied, rubbed with a chilli and citrus marinade and grilled over wood embers in a hinged basket, served with tortillas and salsas to make your own tacos.
- Smoked marlin tacos — Shredded smoked marlin cooked with onion, tomato and chilli, folded into tortillas, often with melted cheese; a Pacific-coast speciality.
- Aguachile — Raw shrimp 'cooked' briefly in lime juice blended with green chillies, served with red onion, cucumber and tostadas.
- Birria — Jalisco's slow-cooked goat or beef stewed in a chilli broth, served as a stew or in tacos dipped in the consommé.
- Pozole rojo — A hearty hominy soup with pork and red chilli broth, topped at the table with shredded cabbage, radish, oregano and lime.
- Tortas ahogadas — A Guadalajara speciality: crusty birote bread stuffed with pork carnitas and 'drowned' in tomato sauce and chilli.
When to go
The best time to visit Puerto Vallarta is from November to April, the dry season, with sunny days, comfortable humidity and, from about December to March, humpback whales in the bay. May is hotter but quieter. The rainy season from June to October is very humid with storms, and September has the highest hurricane risk and the lowest prices.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | November–April | Sunny, dry and pleasant, with cool evenings, whale watching from about December to March and peak prices. |
| Late dry season | May | Hot and still dry, with quieter beaches, lower prices and Vallarta Pride. |
| Rainy season | June–August | Hot and humid with frequent evening thunderstorms, green hills, warm sea and summer-holiday families. |
| Storm season | September–October | The peak of hurricane risk and humidity in September, easing in October; hotel prices are at their lowest. |
- Puerto Vallarta in January
- Puerto Vallarta in February
- Puerto Vallarta in March
- Puerto Vallarta in April
- Puerto Vallarta in May
- Puerto Vallarta in June
- Puerto Vallarta in July
- Puerto Vallarta in August
- Puerto Vallarta in September
- Puerto Vallarta in October
- Puerto Vallarta in November
- Puerto Vallarta in December
Getting there and around
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is about 7 km north of the Centro, near Marina Vallarta, and the drive to the Zona Romántica takes about 20–30 minutes. Airport taxis charge fixed fares; cheaper city taxis and buses stop on the main road across the pedestrian bridge outside arrivals. Ignore timeshare sellers posing as information desks in the arrivals hall.
The Centro, the Malecón and the Zona Romántica are close together and best explored on foot. Local buses run cheaply along the coast road to the Hotel Zone, the marina and south to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán, and water taxis reach the beaches and villages with no road access.
Plan your days
Three days covers the Malecón, old town, Los Muertos beach and a boat trip to Los Arcos or Yelapa. Six days adds the botanical garden, Sayulita, a whale-watching or Marietas trip and slow beach days.
Practical information
- Currency
- MXN
- Language
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 127 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- The municipal utility treats tap water, but pipes and storage tanks in older buildings vary, so most visitors drink purified bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tip 10–15% in restaurants, 20 pesos or so per bag for porters, and tip boat crews, guides and water-taxi drivers who help with luggage.
Strong surf and undertow affect some open beaches in the Hotel Zone, so follow the flags. Petty theft from beaches, overcharging by taxis and timeshare sellers at the airport are the most common problems, and crocodiles live in the marina and estuaries.
Flights to Puerto Vallarta
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Puerto Vallarta?
Three days covers the Malecón, old town, Los Muertos beach and a boat trip to Los Arcos or Yelapa. Six days adds the botanical garden, Sayulita, a whale-watching or Marietas trip and slow beach days. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
The best time to visit Puerto Vallarta is from November to April, the dry season, with sunny days, comfortable humidity and, from about December to March, humpback whales in the bay. May is hotter but quieter. The rainy season from June to October is very humid with storms, and September has the highest hurricane risk and the lowest prices.
+What is Puerto Vallarta known for?
The Malecón, Zona Romántica, Humpback whales, Los Arcos, Jungle coves, Seafood and raicilla and LGBTQ+ travel. The Malecón seafront promenade, lined with bronze sculptures, links the old town with the beaches of the Zona Romántica on foot.
+Is Puerto Vallarta expensive?
Puerto Vallarta is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $100–$200 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Puerto Vallarta?
No for the town, where walking, buses, taxis and water taxis cover everything. A car helps for exploring the Riviera Nayarit towns and the mountains, though buses run to Sayulita and Bucerías.