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Puerto Vallarta
4.6

Puerto Vallarta

Mexico · North America

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About Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is what Cancun might be if it cared more about cobblestone streets and less about bottle service. The Malecon boardwalk stretches along the Pacific, lined with bronze sculptures and street performers, ending at Los Muertos Beach where the pier's sail-shaped arches have become an Instagram landmark. The old town — the Zona Romantica — has the best restaurants, with ceviche and whole grilled fish at beachside palapas for under $10. Take a water taxi south to the hidden beaches of Las Animas or Yelapa, accessible only by boat. The Sierra Madre jungle starts right at the city's edge, and the zip-line and ATV tours actually deliver on the adventure promise. Whale watching season runs December through March, and the humpbacks come close enough to shore that you can sometimes see them from your dinner table.

Highlights

  • 1Walk the Malecon boardwalk and its open-air sculpture gallery
  • 2Take a water taxi to the secluded beach of Yelapa
  • 3Watch humpback whales breach from December through March
  • 4Eat fresh ceviche at a beachside palapa in Zona Romantica
  • 5Zip-line through the Sierra Madre jungle canopy

Articles About Puerto Vallarta