Yelapa, Jalisco, México We recommend going to Boca de Tomatlán by land, a public bus charges some $0.60 dollars from Puerto Vallarta there, and from Boca, jump on a water taxi (panga) to Yelapa. It's $120 pesos one way from Boca de Tomatlán to Yelapa (2021 exchange rates = USD$ 6.00 dollars) You'll arrive at the eastern side pier in Yelapa (main Yelapa beach) or at the town pier if you want to go straight to the waterfall.
Nurse Sharks It's the most common shark in the Puerto Vallarta area, they are what you would call a vacuum shark which is how they normally feed. They tend to stay most of the time invisible and completely still in the sands of shallow waters. Whitetip Sharks Recognizable for the white tip on the tip of their dorsal, tail and pectoral fins. You need to go searching for them to see them as they rarely wander within the bay because they live in deeper and colder waters. Whale sharks One shark species that is a not so rare visitor in the bay is the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), a harmless plankton-feeding shark, the largest fish in the ocean.
Do you need to be concerned about sharks in Puerto Vallarta or the Banderas Bay area? The short answer is: No! Are there sharks in Puerto Vallarta? Yes, either small ones that are not a danger to human beings, that, more often than not, end up on the table of the local fishermen, or big huge ones, that are “veggie”-sharks, well, plankton-eating sharks, the whale sharks. Any reason to feel scared while you swim in Puerto Vallarta? Are there any pirañas, barracudas or sharks ready to eat you up? Absolutely NO! Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) Puerto Vallarta's beaches are contained with a bay and are considered extremely safe for watersports, scuba, snorkeling and swimming. For various decades, shark attacks have been mostly unheard of. This doesn't mean fans of them can't find them beyond the bay and within the deeper waters of the ocean around Banderas Bay.
In general, I would say the sand on the beaches in Puerto Vallarta is not white and never equivalent to the ones in the Caribbean. There is a logical explanation for this, there are many coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and these when they die and erode become white sand. On the Pacific Ocean side, the ecosystem and deeper waters don't sustain large reefs, so the sands are created by geological processes. Furthermore, beaches in Cancun are actually artificial and have to be filled up with trucks each time a hurricane washes them away, so what would you prefer, nice clear yellow natural sand beaches or the fake/artificial option? ;-) In any case, there are a variety of colours on the local beaches, I've noticed the lightest coloured ones are Playa de Oro and Flamingos (Nuevo Vallarta), the southern beaches tend to have a golden yellow colour and granulometry varies from medium-coarse to fine. Camarones Beach (Playa Camarones), drone view looking south, downtown Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone Olas Altas Beach (before sunset), Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico Los Muertos Beach 2019 Las Amapas Beach, Puerto Vallarta Another view Conchas Chinas ...
Because Puerto Vallarta is located within a protective bay, Banderas Bay, the waters are much calmer and offer much better swimming conditions than out to the Pacific Ocean. The city and its surroundings offer many great options, not only for those interested in a good swim, but also if you enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling, and kayaking.
Yes, definitely. You will feel much safer in most parts of Puerto Vallarta than in most cities in the United States or Canada. You're far more likely to get in trouble in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Miami or other big USA cities and even there the likelihood isn't very high. There is very little crime here, and what does exist is usually petty compared to the U.S. People who get in trouble in Mexico are those looking for illegal substances or deals. Unless you are looking for trouble, tourist cities in Mexico are some of the safest and best places to go. The tourist police here are friendly and very helpful. Use your common sense, and be careful. Leave your fancy jewelry at home, etc. After dark, stay on the main streets, do not wander on the beaches unless you are in well-lit areas or close or together with other tourists. Never flash large amounts of money, etc, the common sense stuff There are some things that can be unsafe in Puerto Vallarta, these are: Crossing the street where it isn't safe Though we don't recommend it, you can jaywalk and cross with a red light as long ...
The idea is to pay in pesos so you don't lose money with the fluid and the normally negative exchange rate you are offered around town (there are a few occasions it's been better to pay in dollars, but they are few and far in between). Don't forget to tell your bank you'll be using your bank card at ATMs in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas so they don't block it. Once you are off the plane and have gone through immigration, baggage claim, the shark-tank and you're out in the airport lobby, that's the place to look for a bank-affiliated ATM (not before the lobby!). There should be some from the official ones, like Scotiabank, Banorte, Banamex, Santander, HSBC or BBVA Bancomer, these are the ones to use (avoid anyone saying Cashola!). You can withdraw up to 7000 pesos, some 350 dollars each time, the service fee depends on the bank ATM, but is around 25 to 40 pesos (1.5 to 2 dollars) and what your bank charges you on the other side. All things considered, that's a very low charge for the service and the best exchange rate you'll find in town. Once you are in town find ...
USA dollar bills (though not the coins) are widely accepted in most tourist-oriented restaurants and shops around Puerto Vallarta. Do pay in Mexican pesos whenever it is possible, however, if you want to get a better price and not lose money. So in the end, you don't need to bring large amounts of dollars, in the past, when banks were primitive and ATMs didn't exist, maybe, but not now. Pesos are king and you'll normally just get a bad exchange rate and lose money. Even so, I would recommend bringing a few hundred in cash as plan C :-)
For decades Puerto Vallarta’s water has been certified for human consumption – one of the few places in Mexico to receive this honor, but that doesn’t mean you should necessarily drink it. It means it’s safe when it leaves the water treatment plant, but after going through the water pipes, what comes out the other end may not be! Stick to purified water, which is now served in all restaurants, hotels, and bars throughout Vallarta, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. In most hotels, you’ll receive a couple of complimentary water bottles, either in the bathroom or in the refrigerator. In most hotels and restaurants, you will get purified water when opening the tap, if in doubt – ask: (Agua purificada?). Buy bottled water; why not be completely safe? Read our forum topic on Puerto Vallarta Water
I.V.A. (Impuesto al valor agregado), is Mexico’s value-added tax (VAT), it is 16% in the state of Jalisco and you will notice it added on all your bills, many items that you wish you purchase will have a notice “IVA incluido” (tax included) or “+ I.V.A.”(tax not included in the total price).
Representative in Puerto Vallarta:
Leonel Manzo
57, Calle Circuito Andaluz 126, Club Hipódromo, 48290 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
WhatsApp: +523221435305
Land line phone: +52 (322) 299-6179
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