VALLARTA

Things to do

Water Sports & Deep Sea Fishing

The dynamic Mexican town of Puerto Vallarta is about 550 miles west of Mexico City. Located in Jalisco State, Puerto Vallarta is nestled on the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags), the second largest natural bay on the American continent. It’s surrounded by sandy beaches and the majestic Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains. The closest major airport is Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, a.k.a. Puerto Vallarta International (PVR).

The city offers 25 miles of golden beaches on the Mexican Pacific and is characterized by its impressive colonial and modern buildings, deluxe hotels, shopping malls and golf courses. These attractions have made the city a favorite among vacationers and retirees, who now call the city home. It has a population
of 180,000. Puerto Vallarta is situated on the same latitude as Hawaii and so it enjoys a similar sun-drenched and tropical climate. Puerto Vallarta is on the Central Standard Time Zone.

Today’s Weather in Puerto Vallarta

Here’s 4 additional weather resources:

CNN.com WEATHER

VallartaOnline.com WEATHER

AllAboutPuertoVallarta.com WEATHER

Weather Underground: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The LAST link above also allows you to search for weather in any city, state, zip code or country—and in 56 different languages!

Dining

Puerto Vallarta has over 400 eating establishments—from street stands to gourmet restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. The majority of the restaurants in Puerto Vallarta use only purified water and ice, and their salads are washed to assure
your safety. You can enjoy them with confidence. Here are some places for great dining:

El Palomar is a lovely Spanish colonial home, set in the hills overlooking the bay, serving original Gonzalez family recipes featuring jumbo shrimp, lobster, filet. Located at Auacate 425. Phone for reservations at 222-0795 or 222-2795.

The River Cafe on Cuale Island, near the west bridge. Award winning international cuisine featuring shrimp, seafood and steak. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner. Phone 223-0788.

Cafe Maximilian serves traditional Austrian dishes and Mexican cuisine. 6-11PM. Located at Olas Altas 380, on the beach in Old Town. Phone 223-0760.

Coco Tropical at Basilio Badillo on the beach in Old Town. European cuisine and imported USDA charcoal grilled steaks. 10AM-12PM. Phone 222-5485.

Puerto Vallarta Restaurant Guide …provides a great list of restaurants, cafes and bars featuring everything from budget selections to the most exquisite gourmet food.
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Art

Puerto Vallarta is a leading art center with fine art on display in more than 30 galleries and public buildings. The Malecon boardwalk along the beach is adorned with modern and traditional sculptures, enhancing the charm of this colonial village setting.
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Shopping

Having hundreds of interesting shops to browse through, this is a shoppers paradise! Fine jewelry in silver, gold and precious stones. Handicrafts of glass, ceramics, leather, wrought iron, copper and wood. Photographs, clothes, antiques and souvenirs. Besides the fun of looking, there are great prices!
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Sarape of Princesa Cruises

Water Sports & Deep Sea Fishing

With a wealth of 25 miles of tropical beaches along the second largest bay in the Americas, Puerto Vallarta abounds in the entertainment of the sea. There is water skiing, wind surfing, deep sea fishing, sailing, scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, catamaran and yacht excursions, and more.

Princesa Cruises offers a choice of 5 vessels voyaging to isolated beaches and natural waterfalls. One of the best ways to see Vallartas exotic places.

If you ever wanted to learn how to dive, or if you’re an experienced diver, Chico’s Dive Shop, Scuba diver is the place for you! Dive trips, snorkeling expeditions, scuba courses, whale watching and jungle tours.

Scuba dive the beautiful waters of Banderas Bay with the tours of Twin Dolphins Resort Center. Scuba trips, sales and rental, charters and dolphin encounters.

Vallarta Adventures has several exciting tours. Swim with the dolphins, go scuba diving, take a snorkel tour, whale watch, go sailing, or charter a private flights right from Nuevo Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta Fishing: With the lowest prices on fishing charters in Puerto Vallarta. Deeply discounted shared fishing and private charters, plus a free Puerto Vallarta Discount Card!
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Eco Tours

The friendly faces of Puerto Vallarta Tours. Discounts on every tour and excursion in Puerto Vallarta plus a free discount card to boot. Choice of tours includes: ATV tours, canopy tours, dune buggies, golf, hiking, horseback riding, hot air balloon, jungle tours, mountain biking, nightlife, sea turtles, sightseeing, boat charters, day cruises, deep sea fishing, dolphin encounter, sailing trips, scuba classes, scuba diving, sea lion swims, snorkeling, sunset cruises, water parks, whale watching. 24-Hour toll-free customer service. Let us help you have a wonderful vacation here in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

Rancho El Charro offers a variety of horseback riding tours. From 3 hours to a full day in the tropical countryside, enjoy a meal, the sights of wild orchids, and exotic birds!

For a list of additional tours try this link to Go2Vallarta.com.

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Birding Tours

With more than 300 species of birds, Puerto Vallarta is called “El Paraiso” or “The Paradise”—including some rare birds such as the Russet-crowned Motmot, Laughing Falcon, Citroline Troggon, Blue footed Booby and Military Macaw. Come and have a relaxing stay at Our Dream Condo between your birding excursions!

Puerto Vallarta is the place to go for birders. Four birding tours from this Birding Mexico site.

Discover coastal-marshland and mountain slope Birding in Puerto Vallarta.

A good birding research site is wingsbirds.com.

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Golf

Puerto Vallarta is becoming a major golf destination with important golf tournaments here each year.

Vista Vallarta Club De Golf
La Vista is located about 3 miles from Marina Vallarta towards the mountains. It is an 18 hole course designed by Jack Nicklaus, and an 18 hole course designed by Tom Weiskopf, with clubhouse and restaurant. Reservations required.

El Tigre, Paradise Village Nuevo Vallarta
An 18 hole course designed by Ernesto del Castillo, working with North American Landscape Architects. The course features seven artificial lakes with two holes set on small islands with a theme of Mayan artifacts.

Punta Mita Golf Course at the Four Seasons
1 hour north of the airport. This Nicklaus-designed course is set within vistas of white-sand beaches and the surrounding Sierra Madre Mountains. Spread over 81 hectares (200 acres), it takes full advantage of its location. Eight holes border either the Pacific Ocean or Banderas Bay. The green of one truly unique hole is located on a natural island in the ocean. The Punta Mita peninsula’s tropical landscape of palm trees and flowering trees add to the pleasure of playing this course, which is challenging for experienced golfers yet friendly for the beginner.

Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta
The Mayan Palace course was designed by Jim Lipe of the Jack Nicklaus Associates.

Marina Golf Club
Located at Marina Vallarta. A 10 minute drive from downtown. Designed by American golf architect Joe Fingers. Facility includes a driving range, putting green and pro shop.

Flamingos Golf Club – Bucerias, Nayarit
This course, designed by Percy J Clifford, is located 12 miles north of Puerto Vallarta. There have been many improvements on this course and the clubhouse. If you have not played here in awhile check it out it is much improved.
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Points of Interest

Church of Guadalupe. A must see! Off the Malecon at the main square.
Famous seahorse sculpture on the Malecon by the ‘Lighthouse.’
Stroll the Malecon. Enjoy the surf, sculptures and shops.
Los Arcos (the Arches). Across from the main square. Here plays and dances are performed.
Los Muertos Pier.
Olas Altas Beach.
Isla Cuale. Rio Cuale splits Puerto Vallarta in half. The island hosts numerous shops and dining spots.
Mismaloya—where Night of the Iguana was filmed.
Gringo Gultch. In the hills behind the Cathedral. In this neighborhood is Casa Kimberly—the former home of Elizabeth Taylor.
Marina. Shops, dining, yachts. One of the best marinas in the world!
Stroll the streets of Juarez and Morelos. Visit Bucerias, Sayulita, Punta Mita for beautiful shops, beaches and flea markets!
Old Town. Shops, dining, history and more.
Go North from Nuevo Vallarta to Bucerias, Sayulita, and Punta Mita to enjoy charming towns, filled with flea markets, quaint shops, surfing and whale watching.