Puerto Vallarta holiday guide
Never a dull moment on Mexico's Pacific coast
One of Mexico’s most picturesque coastal cities, Puerto Vallarta boasts the facilities of a cosmopolitan hub and the simpler pleasures of a Mexican village. There is almost limitless outdoor recreation for the holiday-maker, from any kind of water sport to hiking tours.
Puerto Vallarta is the second-largest holiday resort on the Pacific coast, with a 14-mile bay area offering sandy beaches in a tropical island atmosphere. Luxury hotels, restaurants, bars and shopping centres have spread along the coast, enabling the historic old town to grow without sacrificing any of its colonial charms – its graceful centre is embellished with quaint cobblestone streets lined with white adobe houses and flower-filled wrought-iron balconies.
Every type of holiday-maker is catered for in Puerto Vallarta. Fans of water activities will find it hard to choose between windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, water-skiing, whale-watching and swimming with dolphins. Other activities on offer include excursions to secluded beaches, hiking and biking tours, canopy tours, horse riding, golf, deep-sea fishing and bungee jumping.
Shoppers should head to downtown Puerto Vallarta, where there is a vast choice of shops and shopping centres, boutiques selling traditional Mexican sandals and clothing, and flea markets where you can bargain for inexpensive handicrafts and holiday souvenirs. Puerto Vallarta has also developed a reputation as an arts centre, with art galleries and shops offering local arts and crafts such as pottery, ceramics and hand-blown glass.
Puerto Vallarta is home to some of the best restaurants in Mexico, with thousands of places to dine ranging from award-winning venues and family-run restaurants to coffee houses and beachside cafes. A wide range of international cuisine is available, from Italian to Japanese, and local Mexican shrimp specialities are always good.
Puerto Vallarta never sleeps, and even after dark offers something for everyone in the resort, be it a wild night on the Malecon Strip or a drink with the locals in a hotel bar. As well as nightclubs, all-night discos, cocktail bars and restaurants offering live bands, you’ll find folkloric dancing, Mexican fiestas and, on the South Side alternative entertainment including gay bars and strip shows.
If you’re thinking of Puerto Vallarta for your next holiday destination, come to Co-op Holidays to find you the best package deal.