About PV

Puerto Vallarta is a place where people can have the best of both worlds -- whether you come here for a vacation or for a longer period of time, our objective is to give you some sense of what Puerto Vallarta has to offer, and to make sure that your time here is well spent. Come with us and explore Mexico's "Riviera", and discover the heart and soul of Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta - Where it is

Puerto Vallarta is at the center of one of the world's largest bays - the "Bahia de Banderas”, or "Bay of Flags". The giant horseshoe shaped Bay has over 40 miles of coast along its circumference and measures about 20 miles from land's center to the open ocean and about 25 miles across, with depths of up to 2 miles. The depth and calmness of the Bay afford the perfect location for some of the best snorkeling and fishing in the world. In addition, from December to April of each year, the bay is full of dolphins, sea turtles, giant manta rays with "wingspans" ranging from 16 to 30 feet, and gray and humpback whales that come to visit the Bay during the winter months.

The open end of the Bay faces west. This makes it a natural barrier against hurricanes, and other harsh realities of the Pacific Ocean. This also means that Puerto Vallarta residents and visitors are treated to spectacularly colorful sunsets as the sun follows its nightly westerly dip into the Bay.

Puerto Vallarta is situated in the State of Jalisco, twenty minutes north of the Nayarit State border, home of the Huichol Indians. Rich in abundance and tradition, Jalisco has originated such Mexican mainstays as Tequila - the national drink, the "charro", the national costume, and "mariachi", the most widely accepted music of Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta Then and Now

Unlike other vacation destinations in Mexico (and elsewhere) Puerto Vallarta was not a planned resort town. Puerto Vallarta has always been here. Back in the 1500's the Bay was named the "Bahia de Banderas" (Bay of Flags) by a Spanish sea adventurer whose arrival was greeted by thousands of natives waving feathered flags.
Later in the 16th Century, the "Bahia de Banderas" continued to be a popular place to visit. Spanish seamen moored their vessels in the calm, protective waters of the Bay while they loaded up with local seafood, fruit, vegetables and firewood, before continuing on their way north to Baja California.

The area surrounding the Bay was then called "Ciutla" (meaning feathers and grassland) by the Indians until about 1850, when Guadalupe Sanchez Torres, a salt-shipper from inland Jalisco, decided to move his family to live here. He named the small fishing village "Las Penas de Santa Maria de Guadalupe" because the day that he arrived (December 12) marked the day of the traditional celebration and procession honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe, which continues to be a tradition today.

By 1900, Las Penas had grown to nearly 2000 residents, and in 1918, it became a municipality and was named "Puerto Vallarta" after Ignacio Vallarta, the former Governor of the State of Jalisco.

As late as the 1960’s, Puerto Vallarta was still a small fishing village of fewer than 10,000 residents. However, when John Huston decided to choose Mismaloya Beach (just south of Puerto Vallarta) as the site for the filming of the movie, "The Night of the Iguana", it didn't take long for things to change. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had houses built in town. Reporters wrote articles about the quaint little Mexican fishing village. Soon after, hotels and restaurants began to spring up everywhere. And now, some 30 years later, Puerto Vallarta has grown to its current population of about 250,000 people.

Puerto Vallarta - The City

One of the reasons that Puerto Vallarta is fast becoming one of the world's most popular travel destinations is because it offers a unique blend of traditional, "Old Mexico" charm mixed with the modern amenities of a cosmopolitan setting. Cobblestone streets and old Spanish-colonial style white stucco houses with red clay tile roofs climb the mountain sides with red and pink bougainvillea spilling from balconies and roof-tops. The sound of church bells, roosters crowing, and the clatter of donkeys' hooves on the cobblestones continues to be an everyday occurrence, just as it was 150 years ago. Yet, only 10 minutes away, you'll find world-class hotels, a first-rate marina harbor, and luxurious amenities of every kind.

Climate

Puerto Vallarta is one of the few places on Earth that can boast an "ideal" climate. It is temperate, but with sub-tropical vegetation. A dense, green palm jungle covers the mountains behind the town, nestled in a bowl at the base of the Sierra Madres. The Bay offers shelter from harsh Pacific winds and hard weather. Vallarta enjoys 345 days of sunshine each year, with average daytime temperatures reaching into the high 80's, but at night, the onshore breeze from the Bay descends bringing cool air and cool night temperatures that make for pleasant sleeping conditions - without air conditioners. Vallarta also has one of the least intrusive rainy seasons found this far south. From mid-June to about the beginning of October, there is rain almost daily. However, the rain doesn't usually start until late in the afternoon (4 or 5 o'clock) and this leaves most of the day clear for activities. The summer months are hot and humid, but they are still livable and many retirees and long-term visitors do live here year-round.