Explore Isla Río Cuale: When was the last time you walked Isla Rio Cuale from end to end? If you are visiting our destination for the first time, we won’t hold it against you if you have not. For that matter, you may not even be aware that Puerto Vallarta is divided, by the Cuale River, with the island, a long and narrow stretch of land.
Specialized, a Hub for Local Cyclists: Almost a year after opening its doors at Puerto Vallarta’s popular shopping center, Galerías Vallarta, Specialized has become a must-visit spot for local amateur and professional cyclists. A very popular brand in the United States, Specialized franchises their bicycle and accessory lines to many countries, worldwide.
Night and Day in Puerto Vallarta's South Shore: The South Shore’s tropical beauty, due to development restrictions, remains largely unchanged and only accessible by boat beyond Boca de Tomatlán. Fortunately for us, there are several unique ways to discoverit , by day and by night, according to the type of experience you wish to enjoy along with your family or friends.
Puerto Vallarta Musts: Trust the Locals: What makes Puerto Vallarta such an appealing destination for so many people of different ages, nationalities and lifestyles? Undoubtedly it is the broad variety of attractions, activities and amenities available within Banderas Bay.
Paddle Surfing Makes a Splash in Banderas Bay: Called both paddle surfing and paddle boarding, and known internationally as stand-up paddle surfing or SUP paddle surfing, this increasingly popular sport first appeared in Banderas Bay in 2007.
Bicentennial of Mexican Independence and Centennial of Mexican Revolution: Commemorating two hundred years since the outbreak of the Creole revolution against Spanish rule and one hundred years since the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, Mexico is celebrating the Bicentenario de la Independencia de Mexico y Centenario de la Revolucion Mexicana throughout 2010.
Petroglyphs in the Region: These stone carvings were a means of communication between indigenous communities and their gods, a physical manifestation of the rites performed to ask for more rain and a better harvest.
Step City: The fact that a fair amount of Puerto Vallarta’s El Centro is built on a hillside means that those who live there can always enjoy privileged views of our bay.
Gary Thompson’s Weekly Sculpture Tours: Hats off to Galeria Pacifico owner Gary Thompson, who year after year takes time from his busy schedule to introduce Puerto Vallarta tourists to one of our town’s most enduring landmarks: our extensive collection of public sculptures, most of which are located on the Malecon.
Responsible Whale Watching Catches On: Local whale-watching evangelist Keith May couldn’t be happier.
Puerto Vallarta Zoo: Even if being kissed on the lips by a full-grown giraffe is not your cup of tea, the Puerto Vallarta Zoo (Zoologico de Vallarta) in Mismaloya offers up-close and personal encounters with a variety of species, large and small, less than 25 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta.
North of the Cuale River: Often overlooked, this tranquil neighborhood bordered by Libertad and Ignacio L. Vallarta streets, along with the Rio Cuale, is home to Vallarta’s two main markets and springs to life during daylight hours.
Beyond the Malecón: This particular stretch along Puerto Vallarta’s main access road just north of our town’s immensely popular promenade is certainly no underdog.
Widened Malecon Sidewalks Welcome Pedestrians: Enjoying the colorful, atmospheric Malecon is now better than ever, thanks to the enlargement of sidewalks on Diaz Ordaz street, including the installation of planters.
Most Happening Town for Evening Events: Bucerias: Kudos to the businesses and associations in Bucerias who, over the past year, have not only held many more special events and activities but also have gotten much better at promoting them.
Keith May Advocates for Banderas Bay Whales: Every year between from November to April, Banderas Bay becomes the winter home and birthing grounds for numerous humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae).
Banderas Bay Offers Diverse Snorkeling Opportunities: Using simply a mask, snorkel and fins, you can take an ordinary water experience and convert it into memories that last a lifetime!
Vallarta Golf: Puerto Vallarta has certainly matured from the days when it offered just two golf courses.
Marietas Eco-Discovery Tour: A veteran guest on various day cruise “party boats” around North America, I was ready for a change from that type of excursion, which often includes rowdy crowds, rushed itineraries and, frequently, unexpected charges in these alleged “all-inclusive” tours.
Strolling Around Gringo Gulch: Climb up any of the step-lined streets that lead to this charming hillside neighborhood and you will quickly understand why Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton chose to have homes built there back in the 1960s.
Women Sailors, A Success Story: Fifteen years ago, Laura Mestre de Legorreta decided to form a women’s sailing team to take advantage of her son’s boats, which had been sitting unused for two years.
Behind the Scenes at Rhythms of the Night: An accomplished pianist plays Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 as if it were the melody line of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and a gifted chef prepares a perfect Grand Marnier soufflé as easily as you or I would take the lid off a container of ice cream and scoop some into a dish.
Neighborhood Profile: Emiliano Zapata: Let’s face it: The phrase Emiliano Zapata just doesn’t have the same allure as Olas Altas, Romantic Zone, South Side or even Basilio Badillo. These are, in fact, names of well-known streets and areas in one of Puerto Vallarta’s most happening colonias, or neighborhoods: Emiliano Zapata.
The Concierge, Always Ready to Make a Recommendation: Generally, the first person a guest sees upon arriving at a hotel is the concierge, seated at his desk ready to offer recommendations about the destination’s attractions. The position of concierge originated in the castles of France almost a thousand years ago, where they were responsible for the keys, as well as meeting the needs of the owners and their royal guests.
Puerto Vallarta as a Homeport: It’s been two years since Puerto Vallarta’s Maritime Terminal underwent a gargantuan expansion, increasing its capacity to receive three full-size cruise ships simultaneously, along with a variety of smaller vessels.
America's Cup Tour: Although I’d worked as a “two-stripe” officer on the largest cruise ship in the world prior to returning to Puerto Vallarta, I had never stepped onto a sailboat before. All I knew about America’s Cup sailboats was that they were racing vessels with gigantic sails.
Hot Spot: Malecón Extension: The Malecon extension that connects the original Malecon to the South Side is home to an eclectic collection of shops, eateries and services. In the stretch between the Los Arcos Amphitheater and the Benito Juarez parking lot, you can find everything from coffee to vanilla liqueur, from funky clothing to t-shirts, from fine dining to a quick snack.
Enjoying Your Best Game of Golf: Puerto Vallarta has certainly matured from the days when it offered just two golf courses. While those two clubs were very professional, Vallarta was not known as a destination for golfers. But when the EMC World Cup was held at Vista Vallarta in 2002, international attention brought additional investment to the area, and the existing seven local courses grew to nine with another on the way.
The Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Forum: “The Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching Forum is a privately funded, ecological group that promotes education and responsible whale watching activities in and around Puerto Vallarta and the Banderas Bay.”
San Sebastian: A World Away in 15 Minutes: Until recently, I hadn’t had the pleasure of knowing this neat, former silver-mining town in the mountains that’s as pretty and peaceful as I’d imagined real traditional Mexico could be.
