| |
Guide to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
|
Click to go to Flight Prices for Puerto Vallarta
|
Puerto VallartaPuerto Vallarta
Placed among a majestic backdrop of mountains, rivers, and touching the waters of the Pacific, Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican city that resembles a colonial dream town. It is a city where cobblestone streets complement homes of white and where the most profoundly influential market is that of where the tourists roam. Long gone is the quiet town where the simple life was its most charming attribute, but there are many additions that have not so much taken away from the city's beauty as given it a new level on which to sit. Restaurants and bars are livelier than ever, and the main artistic venues - even though galleries have increased their presence - are seaside walkways. Pedestrians are treated to the sounds of street-side musicians in the evenings, while when daylight shines the sands of the beaches are strewn about by families at play, and one can float about in the bay and watch the dolphins and whales greet one another before setting out further on their migratory patterns. The influx of resorts in Puerto Vallarta may be a bit disconcerting when associated with a destination of little notoriety, but though the flash is definitely evident, life's normalcy has changed little in the city, and you're more likely to taste some authentic cuisine and see historic sites than you would in Mexico's main tourist haunts, such as Cancun, Acapulco, or Cozumel.
When to go:
Summer seems the traveler's choice for visitations to Puerto Vallarta, but temperature shifts are hardly noticeable throughout the calendar year, and you can enjoy the best of the city without fighting for a bus seat if you make time for travel in the off-season, preferably in autumn. Tropical storms tend to occur in spring, but there's no telling when an emergency situation might come underway. Tsunami warnings have grown in the Pacific sector of the world, but the devastation wrought by the disturbances in the Indian Ocean in 2004 goes to show you cannot be too careful. Check with the weather authorities in Puerto Vallarta before heading out to the coast.
Getting there and around:
Puerto Vallarta's international airport is by no means a major hub for overseas travel, and flights from the UK will have to go to the US first. Flights connecting Puerto Vallarta to Los Angeles and Chicago are numerous, with Asian travelers going through LAX while European fliers utilize Chicago's terminal. When you finally arrive in Puerto Vallarta, it's good to know that buses and taxis are not far off from each other in pricing. A taxi will of course run you out of more funds, but factor in the added burden of following a schedule, and the benefits of a semi-private chauffer will start to seem astronomical. Bicycles are always a welcome sight in the city and along the coast, and if you happen to forget your wheels at home, you can rent one from a number of vendors located near the sands.
Attractions:
A stunning mark upon the earth near Puerto Vallarta is the Bahia de Banderas, the remaining crater from an inactive volcano. Situated right along the coast, you can view an amazing array of aquatic live from this point. Diving is quite common, and an expert underwater guide will probably be necessary to get a full scope of the 1800-meter deep Bay of Flags.
|
|
|
