Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is nestled in a tropical setting on Mexico's Pacific Coast, in the State of Jalisco. It has lush, green hills and a
picturesque bay, Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags). Puerto Vallarta's weather is gorgeous in the winter, and that is why it is a
popular winter resort and 'snow bird' retiree location. The population of Puerto Vallarta is estimated at 350,000. There are more
than 33,000 hotel rooms to accommodate the many tourists.

When you think of the Mexican Riviera, with its palm-fringed beaches, luxuriant jungle vegetation and posh resorts, lots of places
come to mind. But no resort better typifies the classic Mexican beach vacation than does Puerto Vallarta (Pwer-toe Vah-YAR-tah).
From its sleepy, seaside village roots, it has grown into one of Mexico's most loved destinations. Of all of Mexico's resorts, Puerto
Vallarta comes closest to being all things to all visitors. It delivers 'round-the-clock activity (or blissful seclusion), sophisticated
amenities, and a romantic dream- like natural setting. It's considered the ideal vacation spot for the first-time Mexico visitor, while
also boasting enough diversity of activities to keep people coming back over and over again.

As you arrive by plane, the town's romance and beauty begin to take hold: a blanket of lush tropical jungle surrounds the quaint
colonial city as it climbs away from the blue Pacific, into the Sierra Cuale mountains. Nestled on the shores of Bahía de Banderas
(Mexico's largest natural bay), Vallarta traces its history back to the 1500's, when it was visited by Spanish explorers. It later
became known as a respite for pirates plying the Pacific Coast. It was not until 1851 that the area was first inhabited. By 1918 (the
year it was officially made a municipality), the village was a modest fishing community of 1,500 residents. It was also a port for
silver shipments from nearby Cuale mines.

For the next 50 years, not much happened in the way of development. Then, in 1963, director John Huston came to film Tennessee
William's "Night of the Iguana," and the rest is history. Liz Taylor and Richard Burton left their mark as well, giving Puerto Vallarta
an international jet set reputation. It is now a bustling town of 250,000 residents that attracts 1.5 million annual visitors.



Despite its popularity and the recent flurry of new resort development, the city itself retains much of its "Old Mexico" flair. The city
is graced with lovely architecture, cobblestone streets, and white stucco buildings (by city ordinance, all buildings are white),
crowned by flower-covered balconies and red tile roofs. You may even see an occasional burros headed for market, clip-clopping
along the city's streets.

Throughout the resort, a distinct cultural flair from the State of Jalisco punctuates Vallarta's ambiance. Mariachi music blares and
tequila flows from downtown bars, Huichol Indians sell their distinctive art in the city's colorful markets, and charros (Mexico's
ornately dressed rodeo riders) perform, along with brightly costumed senoritas at Vallarta's excellent "Fiesta Night" celebrations.


Following an explosion of growth in the 1980's, a great effort has been made to beautify the northern hotel zone and downtown
areas. An attractively landscaped four-lane highway leads from the airport into town. Similarly, the downtown area benefits from a
highway bypass that diverts bus and truck traffic off of the city's bumpy cobblestone streets. Note: The city has been certified by
the Secretary of Health to have one of Mexico's purest water supplies.

A band of "tourist police" in spiffy white uniforms stroll downtown streets, assisting with questions and making streets more
pedestrian friendly. Note: A strong earthquake in October, 1995 (centered near Manzanillo) resulted in only superficial damage. The
town's signature landmark (Guadalupe Church) lost its crown-shaped steeple. It has since been replaced.