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Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Destination guide

Puerto Vallarta

Mexico

Puerto Vallarta, colloquially known as Vallarta, is a resort city on Mexico's Pacific Coast that spreads out from the Zona Romantica, its historic old town core. Around the Bay, beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and sparkling waterfalls offer many opportunities for the adventurous, while five-star resorts, world-class…

AI insights

AI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and the video stats on this page

  • If you are staying in the Zona Romantica, skip the hotel transport and look for simple, affordable accommodations along Calle Francisco Madero, which puts you within a short walking distance of both the beach and the main nightlife hubs.

  • For the most authentic street food experience, head to the Plaza del Pitillal in the evening; it offers a wider variety of regional dishes than the standard tourist-facing menus found along the Malecón.

  • When planning your dining, arrive at popular spots like Takos Panchos as soon as they open in the early evening to secure a table, as these local favorites fill up quickly and often maintain a queue throughout the night.

  • Avoid the stress of driving a rental car, as local traffic enforcement frequently targets tourists; rely instead on the local bus system, which costs M$10 per ride. Have small bills ready, as drivers can often make change for small denominations but may struggle with larger ones.

  • To experience the city’s cultural heart, time your visit for early December when the nightly pilgrimage parades for the Virgin of Guadalupe fill the downtown streets with traditional dancers and music, turning the main square into a community festival.

How we vet these picks

Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.

Best time to go

Best window: December–April

September is the month to avoid — very heavy rain. The window below is when it is genuinely pleasant.

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IdealGoodOkayOff-season

Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.

Getting around

By bus

Bus trips cost M$10 (Jan 2026), paid to the bus driver when you get in. Drivers can often make change from small bills. That fare covers one bus ride; there are no transfers.

By taxi

Hotels may provide a price list for cabs. Hotels will also offer (expensive) transport from airport to hotel, but it is much cheaper to take a taxi. Be prepared for fast speeds, as the cab drivers have schedules to adhere to.

By car

Be very careful if you choose to drive. The police seem to pull tourists over at the drop of a hat during spring break. When you pick up a rental, check that all the lights work.

Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What to see

Los Muertos Beach

The beach along the Zona Romantica. You will find some beachfront restaurants with "palapas" that you can rent per day or have drink in. It is a perfect place to relax and meet people who party all day.

Las Glorias Beach

Quiet beach near the Hotel zone that generally caters to the all inclusive resorts nearby, but still has lots of activities (e.g. jet skis and parasailing. Public access to the beach is through side roads off of Route 200.

Los Arcos

4 arches on the Malecon. Free shows, music festivals and folk dance performances are held there.

Muelle de Playa Los Muertos

A pier into the ocean with contemporary design.

Playa De Oro

Beach at the convergence of many different resorts north of the city center. Some of the resorts have events and dance floors that front the beach. Generally pretty popular during the weekends, but still plenty of space to spread out.

Vetted sources

What to do

Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.

Malecón

Worth it

Also recommended by Lonely Planet

A oceanfront boardwalk lined with bronze sculptures running through downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Vetted sources

La Marina Vallarta Golf Club

Good accuracy is a must for this course due to narrow fairways that are guarded by water

Marathon

Vallarta holds the Half Marathon and 5-km race. Everyone is welcome to enjoy it.

Virgin of Guadalupe

Mexico's patron saint, the Lady of Guadalupe, is celebrated throughout Mexico. Puerto Vallarta's celebration starts around December 1st, Local people, hotel, condominium owners, and organizations go on a pilgrimage parade through downtown…

Vetted sources

Vallarta Pride Parade

The city hosts a large LGBT celebration downtown culminating in the Vallarta Pride Parade along the malecon on Saturday

Vetted sources

November Festival

Cocktail parties, wine and tequila tastings, cooking classes, concerts, gala dinners, art expos, screenings

Vetted sources

Mardi Gras/Carnaval

The parade takes place in the Zona Romantica. You will also see the gay charm around downtown.

Vetted sources

What to eat

Café des Artistes

Worth it

Also recommended by Eater

French-Mexican fusion fine dining from the late chef Thierry Blouet, a long-running Puerto Vallarta institution.

Vetted sources

Takos Panchos

middle of the block along Basilio Badillo between Olas Altas & Pino Surez; about a block half in from the beachfront

Right next door to Cafe de Olla has awesome al pastor tacos. Opens around 18:00 and is open late. Get there early to avoid a wait.

Maria Baja

on Hwy 200, one block from the main grid

Delicious Baja-style fried fish tacos and generously-sized burritas (fish burritos). Order enough so that you can try them with each of the house salsas.

Cafe de Olla

middle of the block along Basilio Badillo between Olas Altas & Pino Surez; about a block half in from the beachfront

They have good, cheap food. Try the pork ribs or chicken.

Tacos Chilo

You get a small taco (Nov 2021). It's at in the Calle Honduras/Colombia. There is another marker type=eat name= Tacos Chilo alt= url= email= address= lat=20.6203208 long=-105.2297756 directions= phone= tollfree= fax= hours= price=…

Vetted sources

Coffee Cup

SW corner of c. Rodolfo Gómez & Olas Altas, one block in from the beach and across from La Piazzetta Restaurant

An American-style coffee house that serves espresso, latte and cappuccino with local baked goods. It is still rare to find this type of coffee in Puerto Vallarta. Local art is displayed on the walls.

Vetted sources

Street food on the Plaza del Pitillal

Here you find a quite good variety of street food which you may not have eaten before. The stalls are open in the evening.

Vetted sources

Where to stay

Hotel Mocali

Nicaragua 286, Centro· Expensive

In downtown Puerto Vallarta, 2 blocks from the beach and 7 from the pier or "Malecon". Located near restaurants, drug stores, and night clubs.

Tradicional Hotel Villa Del Mar

Francisco. I. Madero 440; Col. E. Zapata

The hotel offers 49 beautiful and affordable rooms and 10 suites with kitchenette. Many of the rooms have private balcony.

OYO Hotel Bernal

Madero 423

One of the cheap hotels on the street F. Madero.

Casa Kraken Hostel

Juarez #386, Puerto Vallarta Centro· Expensive

1 minute from the beach, opened in 2009, they have free Internet - WiFi and a public computer and a massive TV with cable. right in the heart of the city and they have a beautiful terrace where you can have a beer and watch the sun set.

Hotel Lina

Calle Francisco I. Madero 376

One of the cheap hotels on the street F. Madero.

Hotel Cartagena de Indias

Madero 428

In the old town (Zona Romantica), Calle Francisco Madero hosts a bunch of similar, simple but clean hotels at a very affordable price. It is a 5-10 minute walk away from the Malecon.

Vetted sources

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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.