Shopping · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Shopping in Puerto Vallarta
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Puerto Vallarta is good for Mexican crafts, especially Wixárika (Huichol) beadwork and yarn paintings, silver, ceramics and raicilla, plus art galleries in the old town. Best souvenirs: Huichol beadwork, Raicilla and Tequila.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Huichol beadwork
Where to shop
Zona Romántica
Boutiques, galleries and craft shops along Basilio Badillo and Olas Altas.
Centro
Galleries and craft stores in the streets behind the Malecón.
Galerías Vallarta and La Isla
Shopping malls in the Hotel Zone for international brands and supermarkets.
Markets
Mercado Municipal Río Cuale
A two-storey craft market by the river with silver, leather, ceramics and T-shirts, plus small food stalls upstairs.
Isla Río Cuale stalls
Craft stalls along the river island's shaded paths.
What to buy
Huichol beadwork
Beaded masks, jaguars and jewellery made by Wixárika artisans from the Sierra Madre.
Raicilla
A bottle of Jalisco's coastal agave spirit from a specialist shop.
Tequila
100% agave tequila from Jalisco's highland distilleries.
Mexican silver
Jewellery stamped '.925', sold in established shops rather than by beach vendors.
Talavera and ceramics
Hand-painted pottery and tiles from Puebla and Tlaquepaque.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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
Gallery · Zona Romántica
Galleries of the Centro and Zona Romántica
Puerto Vallarta has a large community of artists and galleries, selling Huichol beadwork and yarn paintings, Mexican contemporary art and sculpture.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Art
- Free
- After dark
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Raicilla, Tejuino, Tequila and Coconut and fruit cups. Mezcal and raicilla bars in the Zona Romántica, where tasting flights are often offered. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Zona Romántica | $$$ | Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars |
| 5 de Diciembre | $ | A local residential district just north of the Malecón |
| Marina Vallarta | $$$ | A yacht marina with a boardwalk, golf course and resort hotels |
| Nuevo Vallarta | $$$$ | Long sandy beaches and big all-inclusive resorts across the state line in Nayarit |
| Conchas Chinas and Amapas | $$$$ | Hillside villas and boutique hotels above rocky coves south of town |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in MXN. 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. Grocery baggers and petrol station attendants expect small change.
- Cover swimwear when walking away from the beach, especially near the church and in shops.
- Bargain politely at the Río Cuale market, but not in galleries or shops with fixed prices.
- Pay in pesos and use bank ATMs inside branches or shopping centres.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in September; the busiest months are December–March.
- November: Festival Gourmet International — guest chefs in local restaurants (usually November)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Puerto Vallarta?
Huichol beadwork, Raicilla, Tequila and Mexican silver.
+Where is the best shopping in Puerto Vallarta?
Zona Romántica: Boutiques, galleries and craft shops along Basilio Badillo and Olas Altas.
+What are the best markets in Puerto Vallarta?
Mercado Municipal Río Cuale and Isla Río Cuale stalls.