Visit Puerto Vallarta

Tiled rooftops clinging to the Sierra Madre, a seafront promenade dotted with sculptures and coves you can only reach by boat: Puerto Vallarta is the gateway to Banderas Bay. Come between December and March to spot humpback whales from the shore or on a guided trip.

Why choose Puerto Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta, on the Pacific coast of Jalisco state, combines a walkable old centre, city beaches and direct access to the wild coves in the south of Banderas Bay. From December to March, humpback whales come here to calve, and the dry season brings clear skies.

Puerto Vallarta highlights

Between colonial town, beaches and marine reserve, five experiences that sum up the bay.

Malecón sculptures

A pedestrian seafront where bronzes by Mexican artists follow one another, including the Seahorse that became the city's emblem, best walked at sunset.

Guadalupe Church

The downtown parish topped by an openwork crown visible across the city, at the heart of the Virgin's festivities that fill the streets every early December.

Los Arcos islets

Granite rocks pierced with arches south of town, protected as a marine park, where you snorkel among tropical fish in clear water.

Whale watching

From December to March, humpback whales come to Banderas Bay to calve; guided trips leave from the Marina and from Los Muertos pier.

Yelapa village

A fishing hamlet with no road access, reached by boat from Boca de Tomatlán, with a sheltered beach, a jungle waterfall and pies sold on the sand.

What to see in Puerto Vallarta, from the old town to the coves?

El Centro and the malecón

The malecón runs along the sea for about a kilometre between the 5 de Diciembre neighbourhood and the Cuale River, lined with bronze sculptures added over the decades. Behind it, the cobbled streets of El Centro climb towards the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, recognisable by its crown. Save a late afternoon for the walk: the sun sets over the bay and street performers get going after 7 pm. This is the beach showcase of Pacific Mexico, the opposite of the Caribbean resorts.

Zona Romántica and Cuale Island

South of the river, the Zona Romántica, also called Old Vallarta, packs small hotels, galleries, bars and grilled fish restaurants around Los Muertos beach and its pier with a stylised sail. Cuale Island, set in the middle of the river, has a shady craft market reached by suspension bridges. It is the liveliest area at night and the departure point for water taxis to the coves, which leave the pier every morning. Two or three nights here are enough to enjoy it on foot.

The south coast: Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlán and Yelapa

Highway 200 heads south high above the sea: Mismaloya, about twelve kilometres away, is where John Huston shot The Night of the Iguana in 1963. The granite islets of Los Arcos, just offshore, form a protected marine area popular for snorkelling. At Boca de Tomatlán the road ends: Yelapa, Las Ánimas and Quimixto can only be reached by boat, in 30 to 45 minutes. Keep a full day for Yelapa and its waterfall, and head back before the last afternoon boat.

The Marina, the hotel zone and the north of the bay

North of the centre, the hotel zone and then Marina Vallarta line up large resorts and a yacht harbour, right next to the airport. Beyond the Ameca River lies Nayarit state: Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías and then Sayulita, a surf village roughly an hour's drive away. The Punta de Mita headland closes Banderas Bay. For a first stay, base yourself in El Centro or the Zona Romántica and treat the north as a day trip: the resorts there are isolated and a car quickly becomes essential.

Frequently asked questions about Puerto Vallarta

Where to stay in Puerto Vallarta: Zona Romántica, El Centro or the Marina?
To go out on foot at night and catch boats south, the Zona Romántica is the most practical. El Centro suits a quieter stay near the malecón. The Marina and the hotel zone are aimed at all-inclusive resort stays close to the airport.
When can you see humpback whales in Banderas Bay?
The official season runs from mid-December to the end of March, peaking in January and February. Trips leave from the Marina, Los Muertos or Nuevo Vallarta. Pick an operator that respects the approach distances set by the Mexican authorities.
How do you get from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa?
No road reaches Yelapa. Take a water taxi from Los Muertos pier, or ride the bus to Boca de Tomatlán and board there for a shorter crossing. The sea can get choppy in the afternoon, so go in the morning.
Can you visit Sayulita as a day trip from Puerto Vallarta?
Yes, the surf village is about an hour's drive north, in Nayarit state, served by regular buses from the hotel zone. Leave early: parking is difficult and the main beach fills up by late morning, especially at weekends and in high season.
Can you reach the Marieta Islands from Puerto Vallarta?
Yes, on an organised trip from the bay, but access has been strictly regulated since the temporary closure in 2016: daily visitor numbers are capped and access to the hidden beach is supervised. Book ahead and check the current conditions.
Is Puerto Vallarta LGBTQ+ friendly?
The city is known as one of Mexico's most welcoming destinations for LGBTQ+ travellers, with many bars, hotels and beach clubs around the Zona Romántica, especially near Los Muertos beach.

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