ATTRACTIONS

Beaches in Puerto Vallarta

• Playa Camarones (Shrimp Beach) - This is the northernmost public beach in the City of Puerto Vallarta proper. It is named after the shrimp fishermen who once landed their launches on the beach to unload their catch. While you are searching for Puerto Vallarta resorts, also keep an eye on the possibility of easy traveling options to this popular beach.
• Playa Olas Altas (High Waves Beach) - In spite of the name, the waves offshore are not particularly high, and the beach is a popular place to swim, especially for locals and tourists. You will find many casual outdoor restaurants in this area. Surfing, sailing, or boogie boarding, the beach offers several options for individuals participating in Puerto Vallarta tours.
• Playa Los Muertos (Beach of the Dead) - The city's largest public beach. The South Side of the beach is a popular gathering spot for gay and lesbian tourists. The North end is frequented mostly by locals, and tourists. The city has recently tried to change the name of the beach to Playa del Sol.
• Playa Boca de Tomates (Mouth of Tomatoes) - a beach located near the mouth of the Ameca River. The beach is not very popular due to the rocks that come ashore, especially in the summertime. Its proximity to the Ameca River, which carries muddy rainwater in the summertime, causes the water to lose its clarity making it appear dirty. For individuals lodging in one of the nearby luxurious hotels in Puerto la Cruz, the beach brings in inexpensive and interesting seafood options to enjoy.

Beaches South of Puerto Vallarta

• Playa Gemelas - an undeveloped beach just North of the mouth of the Mismaloya river. The beach lies close to Los Arcos Marine Natural Area and can be used for access to the park from shore. One of the most beautiful beaches in the area, it is certainly one of the major place of attraction for tourists staying in one of the nearby hotels in Puerto Vallarta.
• Playa Mismaloya - at the mouth of the Mismaloya River. The beach was featured in several scenes from Night of the Iguana and the main set was located on hillside to the South of the beach. The beach is developed with a number of restaurants.

South Shores beaches

A number of beaches along the South shore of the bay are accessible only by boat (from Boca de Tomatlan or the Los Muertos Pier). Easily accessible to major Puerto Vallarta hotels, the list of the developed beaches include (east to west): Las Animas, Quimixto, Majahuitas and Yelapa. These and other smaller undeveloped beaches can be reached by launch from Boca de Tomatlán

• Playa Las Animas - a narrow wide white sand beach developed with several restaurants.
• Playa Las Caletas - a secluded beach, now a wildlife preserve. There is a living natural reef close to shore which makes the beach a popular destination for snorkelers.
• Playa Quimixto - a somewhat rocky and secluded beach with a small village. There are horse/guide hire availabilities in the town which lead visitors through a canyon to some magnificent waterfalls.
• Yelapa - once a small electricity free fishing village and a popular 'hide away' for Gringos, now it has electricity, telephones and the internet. Visited by tourist boats for about 3 hours a day, it reverts to its laid-back ways when they leave. With its idyllic surrounding, the village offers a change in the view for all the residents in the luxurious hotels in Puerto Vallarta.

Beaches north of Puerto Vallarta

The north shore of the bay is lined with beach towns that offer good wading beaches and the usual tourist amenities. These include (east to west): Bucerias, Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Playa la Manzanilla, Playa Destiladeras, Playa Pontoque, and Punta Mita (well known for luxury yachting and luxury yacht clubs), all in the State of Nayarit.

To See and Do in Puerto Vallarta

• Parish Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe - Col. Centro
• Púlpito and Pilitas (Pulpit and Baptismal Font) - Col. Emilio Zapata - two rock formations at the South end of Los Muertos Beach. El Púlpito is the tall headland and Las Pilitas are the formation of rocks beneath it. Las Pilitas was the original location of the Boy on a Seahorse sculpture (El Caballito) now located on the Malecón. There are two streets in the Olas Altas area named after the rock formations.
• Playa Conchas Chinas (Chinese Shells Beach) - Fracc. Amapas - the city's most secluded beach, located to the South of the headland which forms the boundary of Los Muertos beach.
• The Malecon - paved walkway along the seashore in Col. Centro - especially popular during the Sunday evening paseo. It features a collection of contemporary sculptures by Sergio Bustamante, Alejandro Colunga, Ramiz Barquet and others. The Malecon was extensively rebuilt in 2002-2003 following damage from hurricane Kenna.
• Mercado Isle Cuale and Mercado Municipal Cuale - there are two large public markets in the Centro along the banks of the Cuale selling a variety of artisanal and souvenir goods, and the Isla Cuale has a number of souvenir vendor shops as well. The Isla Cuale was also famous for its cat population. The Island was a lower class suburb until flooding during Hurricane Lily (1971) forced residents to be relocated. They were moved to Palo Seco (which means for dry stick) and the Island was converted into a site for restaurants, shops and a cultural center.
• Cuale Archaeological Museum - on the West side of the Isla Cuale, the museum presents a significant collection of local and regional pre-Hispanic art in a number of informative displays. The museum also houses a small gallery for showing contemporary art.
• John Huston statue on Isla Cuale - dedicated on the 25th anniversary of the film's release and honoring Huston's contributions to the city. John's son Danny was married in a ceremony that took place at the statue in 2002.
• Plaza de Armas (Ignacio Vallarta) / Aquiles Serdan Amphitheater (Los Arcos) - the city's main plaza - site of public concerts both at the bandstand in the Plaza de Armas and on the stage in front of the arches across the street.
• City Hall - a modern city hall laid out using a traditional courtyard plan. There is a tourist office in the SW corner, and on the landing of the main (West off the courtyard) stairwell there is a modest mural by local artist Manuel Lepe.
• Saucedo Theatre Building (Juarez at Iturbide) - Built in 1922 in a Belle Epoque style reminiscent of architecture of the Porfirato. The theater presented live shows and films on its first floor, and the second floor housed a ballroom. The building has been converted to retail use.

Points of Interest South of Puerto Vallarta

• Los Arcos Marine Natural Area - offshore of Mismaloya 12 km south of Puerto Vallarta. The area has been a National Marine Park since 1984. The area is protected as a breeding ground for pelicans, boobies and other sea birds. The park is a popular snorkeling destination both for the rocks themselves and for the dead coral fossilized coral beds that surround them.
• Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens - agaves and other native plants, orchids, restaurant, river swimming – 12mi South of Puerto Vallarta
• Puerto Vallarta Zoological Gardens - with 350 animals, and located in a forested setting in Mismaloya

Points of Interest North of Puerto Vallarta

• University of Guadalajara's Coastal Center - North of Pitillal and West of Ixtapa, the campus features several public attractions including the Peter Gray Art Museum and a Crocodile Farm.
• Ixtapa Archeological Zone - north of the town of Ixtapa along the banks of the Ameca River there is an archeological site with remains going back several thousand years. The site comprises 29 mounds. The largest measures 40 meters in diameter and 8 meters in height. The site also includes the remains of ceremonial ball court. The original inhabitants of the site were vassals of the Aztatlán kingdom which was located in Western Jalisco between 900 and 1200 AD. The site is the oldest explored in Western Jalisco. The digs have uncovered a number of residential and ceremonial sites, a wealth of pottery (incense burners, bowls, amphora, etc.). Many of these objects are on display at the Rio Cuale Island Museum.

Points of Interest East of Puerto Vallarta

• Terra Noble Art and Healing Center - a New Age spa, meditation center and artist retreat on the hills east of Puerto Vallarta along the edge of the Agua Azul Nature Reserve overlooking Banderas Bay. The complex, built to resemble an early Mexican home was created by architect Jorge Rubio.

For booking, please contact Alex Guzman at MyConcierge

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