Puerto Vallarta's top attractions

Weather, money, general tips, help and more... your Puerto Vallarta trip made easy.

Moderators:admin, Moderators

Locked
User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts:2794
Joined:Thu Nov 09, 2000 7:40 pm
Puerto Vallarta's top attractions

Post by webmaster » Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:39 am

http://www.puertovallarta.net/news/puer ... ctions.php

What would you guys add?

Greetings

M.

1. Puerto Vallarta's Malecon
First we’ll mention one of the most typical and fun attractions for all ages, we are talking about the seaside walkway called “malecón” in downtown Puerto Vallarta. Here you can take a pleasant walk admiring the bay, the beach, the sand and bronze sculptures and during the afternoon, the unique sunsets of this wonderful place. Get a feel of the real Mexican ambiance, watch the families out having fun, the local salesmen, the balloon man, and so on. If you’re done with enjoying the majestic natural scenery and want to do some shopping, cross over to the other side of the malecón, enjoy a delicious meal at the many fabulous restaurants that are there, at night enjoy the bars, discos and nightclubs. The fun never ends on the malecon.

2. Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Another very representative attraction you can’t miss is the "cathedral" of Puerto Vallarta, the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This church has a very peculiar combination of styles including folk art and contemporary Mexican art details, among others, making it a beautiful work of art on the inside and the outside too, it’s really worth visiting, don’t miss it.

3. Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone (Old Vallarta)
Of course the romantic zone of Puerto Vallarta is another place you must visit when you are in town. Here you can enjoy the Mexican style, both its architecture and the delicious dishes offered by various restaurants in the area. If you prefer there are also restaurants offering food from around the world. At night you can also find all kinds of bars, dance clubs, or just spend a pleasant and enjoyable evening. This romantic zone is located south of the Cuale river.

4. Playa de los Muertos
The most famous and popular beach in Puerto Vallarta can’t be missed, it’s over a mile long (2 kilometers) and is within walking distance from the malecón. We are talking about Playa de los Muertos, which has this somber name there was a cemetery in the area, some have since tried to rename it to Playa del Sol, but it didn’t catch on. There are many hotels that offer many different water activities. You can enjoy delicious dishes at many of the restaurant along the way, while we enjoy the sand between our toes. On the pier (which is being remodeled) you’ll find water taxis out to the beautiful placid and clear water beaches of Quimixto, Yelapa and Las Animas. In this area we can also find many kinds of bars that every evening are colored playfully by the beautiful and renowned Puerto Vallarta sunsets.

5. Isla Rio Cuale
Just steps away from beautiful downtown Puerto Vallarta, is Isla Rio Cuale, an extraordinary place of cobbled passages and dense trees with large iguanas hidden among the branches, which provides an atmosphere of peace and tranquility away from the bustle of the city, right in the middle of downtown Puerto Vallarta and Vallarta's Romantic Zone. You just need to cross the bridge halfway and then go down a few steps and you are transported to this beautiful place full of picturesque and authentic crafts where we can also enjoy meals in beautiful restaurants overlooking the Cuale River. This place usually is not found in guidebooks, but it’s really worth taking the time to visit and wander around the handcraft market, one of the largest in city, where you can find talavera, hats, beautiful designs in silver and much more.

6. Mismaloya Beach
There is a beautiful beach surrounded by the jungle south of Puerto Vallarta, where a creek meets the sea, we refer to Mismaloya. This beach has an length of ??about 300 meters (900 feet) and is surrounded by thick tropical vegetation and the mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental which are home to pumas, jaguars, deer, various birds and more jungle flora and fauna. This renowned beach in Puerto Vallarta was the natural setting for an Hollywood film called "The Night of the Iguana" in the year 1964. Today it offers excellent accommodations, restaurants, palapas and all kinds of entertaining activities. There are also small shops offering jewelry and local crafts.

7. Naval Museum
On the boardwalk, next to the outdoor theater is the Naval Museum. Here you can find interesting information about Mexico and its relationship with the sea, and the conquest of the Mexican Pacific coastal regions. There is also mention of the birth of naval aviation and the General Directorate of Naval Oceanography of Mexico, among other things. On display are scale replicas of ancient and modern boats, topographical views of Mexico and some of its harbors, navigation equipment, uniforms, cannons, whale bones, and more, in addition to a continuously changing temporary exhibition. Upstairs there is a cafe that has a beautiful panoramic view of the bay.

8. Marina Vallarta
Another attraction that you should not miss is Marina Vallarta, this luxurious area is located just 15 minutes from downtown Puerto Vallarta. You’ll find beautiful Grand Tourism hotels that offer the best restaurants and spas, but if you just want to visit this area, do not forget to take a walk along the marina boardwalk and visit some of its shops and restaurants. One of the most famous is El Faro, this outdoor restaurant offers delicious food and a beautiful marina view from above watching the hundreds of yachts and sailboats that moor here, or if you prefer, there are boats that offer activities such as fishing or maybe just a cruise around the bay.

9. Los Arcos
Take a cruise around Bandera bay and go south, here you’ll enjoy a visit to Los Arcos National Marine Park. This beautiful and natural place, has the deepest waters in the bay and if you venture in the waters either snorkeling or scuba diving, you’ll see deep tunnels, arches, caves and reefs that are home to a stunning variety of tropical fish.

10. Manuel Lepe’s art
Finally do not leave Puerto Vallarta without enjoying the art of one of the great artists from this beautiful city, we refer to Manuel Lepe. His mosaic mural "Fish Vendors" is displayed of the ground floor of the Naval Museum. This work was painted by Manuel Lepe in acrylic and silkscreen. His paintings of small angels, children and Puerto Vallarta landscapes can be found in the homes of presidents and art collectors. The Queen of England, Elizabeth II, has one of his paintings at the Royal Mews Museum at Windsor Castle, also other celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Ronald Reagan, John Travolta and others understood what John Houston thought of the artist: "Manuel Lepe paints to bring joy to the hearts of the child in all of us".

User avatar
katnsocal
PV Oracle
PV Oracle
Posts:1538
Joined:Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:17 am
Location:So. Calif.

Post by katnsocal » Tue Jan 24, 2012 7:46 pm

M
I think it looks great for a basic list. It covers all the main areas of town that a tourist would want to make sure to visit. I think if you make it too "place" specific it makes it hard for people, especially first time visitors, to keep it all in perspective.

People can always post and ask about specific places they want more information about.

User avatar
webmaster
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts:2794
Joined:Thu Nov 09, 2000 7:40 pm

Post by webmaster » Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:21 am

Making a map would make it easier... anyone know how to make a Google Map with a lot of locations in an easy way?

When you say place specific... what do you mean? Referring to very specific places?

Greetings

M.

User avatar
katnsocal
PV Oracle
PV Oracle
Posts:1538
Joined:Mon Nov 21, 2005 12:17 am
Location:So. Calif.

Post by katnsocal » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:17 am

M,
Exactly, place specific, as in specific recommended places. I think it gets overwhelming for people who have never been there before to try to remember this place sounds interesting it is in Centro and this place is in the Marina and this place is on the Southside. Pretty soon they feel totally confused because until they get a feel of the town they don't have a clue what is where or the distances between. JMHO

Locked