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Beaches
Puerto Vallarta has more than 42 kilometers (26 miles) of beaches, where the calm waters of the Pacific Ocean caress the shore. The following beaches stand out from the rest:
- Only 21 kilometers (13 miles) southwest of Puerto Vallarta and located on the estuary of the La Puerta River, this beach features an authentic Mexican-style villa overlooking the clear waters, which was built for film director John Houston. An excellent spot for diving.
- This beach is 3 kilometers (2 miles) southwest of Puerto Vallarta along Highway 200. Natural tide pools have formed between the rocks, which serve to hold back the surf in an area extending 220 by 50 meters (240 by 55 yards). The clarity of these waters allows a crystal clear view of the bottom of the sea and the creatures that dwell there.
– This long beach stretches nearly 2 kilometers (1.2 miles). Here you can hire boats for both tours and sportfishing ,paragliding and water-skiing are also available.
- Just 3 kilometers (2 miles) from downtown, this beach is about 600 meters (660 yards) long. It offers fine, light gray sand, green-blue water and gentle surf. Sports activities you can do here include paragliding, water-skiing and boating.
- Located on Francisco Medina Ascensio Boulevard, this beach offers moderate surf, fine gray sand, a moderately sloped beach, and blue-green waters. Each hotel has marked off its beach property with rocks, yet along the entire beach you can find services for water-skiing, paragliding, and boat rentals.
- These are two beaches with fine gray sand, moderate surf and a slightly sloped beach; each one is about 100 meters (110 yards) long. They are located 9 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of Puerto Vallarta. You can rent boats for water-skiing and touring.
- Located near the Vallarta Marina, you’ll find restaurants, hotels and golf courses along this beach’s 1.5-kilometer (1-mile) stretch.
- Due to its proximity to downtown, this is one of the most visited beaches by both international travelers and Puerto Vallarta locals.
- An entertaining one-day excursion will take you to this wildlife sanctuary inhabited by more than 40 different bird species. The waters around the islands are full of marine life, making it an excellent location for all kinds of water activities. From November to April, you can spot giant manta rays, turtles and whales.
- This is a beach with down-to-earth accommodation and a high sense of adventure. The Bora Bora trimaran makes daily excursions to this beach from Puerto Vallarta.
- Surrounded by forested mountains, this beach was the famous location site of "The Night of the Iguana," of which some traces are still visible. This beach offers practically every kind of water sport including paragliding.
- Palms line this 700-meter (770-yard) long beach offering such activities as surfing, paragliding, water-skiing and horseback riding.
- This small villa has great open-air restaurants with palm leaf rooftops and pools to take a refreshing swim.
– Nestled in a cove in the southern part of the bay lies the hamlet of Yelapa. Though there is a road that goes to the town, it is easier to reach it by boat. Various restaurants along the beachfront serve fresh seafood and cold beer. A short walk leads to a waterfall 50 meters (165 feet) high in the middle of the forest. The golden-sand beach is a magnificent place for swimming, snorkeling and paragliding.
Culture
In the marketplaces and galleries which line the streets of downtown, you will find a wide variety of handmade objects such as: hats, baskets, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and crafts made by the indigenous Huichol people. In addition, you’ll come across wood sculptures, paintings and miniature replicas of the statues on the Malecon, where you can admire the craftsmanship and creativity of local artists.
Puerto Vallarta is a destination where you can witness and take part in multiple celebrations and colorful traditions such as: The popular May Festival takes place between May 21 and June 5; the mariachi festival is held in September; and on Dec. 12, people celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico’s patron saint) with dance, parades, processions, firework displays and Mass.
A walk through Puerto Vallarta’s cobblestone streets will familiarize you with some of the most important monuments and buildings of this picturesque town.
- Located in downtown Puerto Vallarta, this square was built in 1918 by the city. It has a pavilion where local bands play on Thursday and Sunday. It also has a monument honoring Ignacio L. Vallarta and a garden with a fountain.
– This city hall building, located on the corner of Independencia and Juarez, was built in 1981 by architect Alejandro Zohn. It has a mural by Manuel Lepe, in the naïf style, which depicts the founding of Puerto Vallarta.
- This church, located in Puerto Vallarta’s main square, was built on Oct. 12, 1921. Its cupola, now a city symbol, is a replica of the crown used by the Empress Carlota in 1860.
- Located on the corner of Lazaro Cardenas and Aguacate, Joaquin Rodriguez Pedroza began building this parish church in 1954 and completed it in 1975
Entertainment & Dining
This destination has many places to do shopping, including the following malls and stores: Plaza Puerto Paraiso (near the Cabo San Lucas Marina), Plaza del Mar, Sol Dorado, Plaza Bonita, Almacen Goncaseco, and Copal. You’ll find smaller shops, outdoor markets and exclusive boutiques selling such items as rustic furniture, silver jewelry, hand blown glass products, ceramics, masks and other crafts.
Food connoisseurs will find a great variety of world-class cuisine in Puerto Vallarta, everything from regional specialties and traditional Mexican cooking to delicious seafood dishes.
You won’t want to miss out on such local favorites as marlin, dogfish or shrimp skewers. You should also try octopus or bream ceviche, fish meatballs, and the tasty shrimp al tequila or shrimp in calabaza (a type of squash) sauce. These are just a few examples of Puerto Vallarta’s varied and rich cuisine. You can accompany your feast with local drinks such as coconut juice and jamaica and tamarind flavored waters.
You can aso enjoy a tejuino, a carbonated drink made with corn, brown sugar, ice, salt and lemon.
For dessert, you can delight your palate with coconut and tamarind sweets, as well as the traditional Pose, made from corn dough, sugar and prickly pears, which give it its distinctive color. And then there’s Cuala, a dough based sweet, ,made from the combination of milk, sugar and coconut oil; some people like to add a dash of pineapple. Other sweets you should try are cajeta de mango, coconut biscuits and candied coyules
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