Puerto Vallarta

Located in Jalisco State, Puerto Vallarta is nestled on the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags), the second largest bay on the American continent, and surrounded by the majestic Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains. The city offers 40 km of golden beaches on the Mexican Pacific and is characterized by its impressive colonial and modern buildings, deluxe hotels, luxurious yachts and sailboats, shopping malls and golf courses. These attractions have made the city a favorite among vacationers and retirees, who now call the city home. Jalisco is steeped in tradition, many of its cultural features have become synonymous with Mexicanness, such as mariachis, cowboys and tequila!

Riviera Nayarit

This Pacific coast destination, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, tropical jungle areas and the Sierra Madre mountains, has developed into an important tourist resort over a relatively short period of time. The beaches, small islands and coral formations in this state make it an unbeatable place to spend your vacation. Many traditions of the pre-Hispanic people persist, as you’ll see in the colorful crafts. It offers top-notch hotels, luxurious boats at the Marina de Riviera Nayarit, excellent spas and world-class golf courses. Climate: Puerto Vallarta enjoys a typical tropical climate, with near constant temperature. Puerto Vallarta usually experiences 322 days of sunshine a year and average temperatures between 20° C and 30° C. Rainfall is heavier in June and October. Even during the rainy season precipitation tends to be concentrated in large rainstorms with insignificant precipitation on most days.

Attractions & Sights

The best way to enjoy Puerto Vallarta is to wander through Viejo Vallarta, with its traditional cobbled streets, white-walled houses, wrought-iron balconies and red tiled roofs. Plaza de Armas is the city’s main plaza where visitors can often see public concerts. Visit the Parroquia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, with its unusual dome, a replica of the crown worn by Empress Charlotte in 1860, or admire the original murals by the artist Manuel Lepe in the Palacio Municipal. Walk along the Malecon with its esplanade of bronze statures and wide variety of shops with something for everyone; explore the galleries displaying contemporary Mexican art. Saucedo Theatre Building, built in 1922 in a Belle Epoque style has been converted to retail use. Various pre-Colombian objects were found at the Puerto Vallarta archaeological site and they are now on display at the local Cuale Museum of Archaeology. If you want to know more about the history and culture of the place, this museum is a must. The University of Guadalajara’s Coastal Center features several public attractions including the Peter Gray Art Museum and a Crocodile Farm. The Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens has agaves and other native plants and orchids. The Puerto Vallarta Zoological Gardens is home to 350 animals. There are many boat excursions available along the bays of Banderas, Yelapa, Caletas, Quimixto, Playa Animas and Marietas Islands.

Currency

The currency is the Mexican peso (MXN/MXV). Automated banking machine services are available throughout the country. Canadian debit and credit cards are widely accepted; however, Canadian currency and traveller’s cheques are not. There is a limit to the amount of U.S. dollars that both residents and foreigners can exchange in Mexico, depending on your immigration status in Mexico. Although the rule does not apply to Canadian dollars, some financial institutions, hotels, and currency exchange bureaus are not making the distinction.