Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta (literally, "Port of Vallarta") is a city in the state of Jalisco, México. English language speakers often call it P.V. for short, due to the difficulty some may have in pronouncing the double L in Vallarta which is sounded as a Y.
Puer·to Val·lar·ta: pwrto vä-yärt, -tä

The city fronts the Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags) on the Pacific Ocean. The city is important primarily as a tourist destination. Shipping traffic consists of cruise ships, arriving almost daily, and occasional visits by U.S. Navy frigates. It has been used since the 16th century as a stopover point for ships making long sails along the western coast. Today it is one of Mexico's largest resort developments, known for its sports fishing and luxurious facilities. The Mexican Navy maintains a base at the port. In 2003. Puerto Vallarta reported an estimated population of 165,800 and about 5 million overnight stays by tourists.

 "The sun is beginning to set now and people are digging into their bags for cameras, as am I.  As the sun descends into the ocean ahead, a plethora of colour and mosaics reflect against the ocean and the sky behind; I’m sure no one will capture the essence of this natural magic on film or digital image; you just have to be here to experience it."

Matthew Harrup-Mexperience.com

"The town of Puerto Vallarta has a charming colonial look and atmosphere. I travelled into town last night and returned this afternoon. There are no “big” attractions here like a majestic cathedral or overwhelming Government Palace. The whole town is addictive; the cobbled streets beg to be explored; the shopping areas have real shops, not just never-ending rows of pre-fabricated same-looking franchise operations selling the same old same old; shopping here is fun; an adventure in its own right!

The streets are lined with small market stalls; but not so many that you are choked by them. Small boutiques line the roadside selling jewellery, clothing, art and crafts. Cafés and restaurants abound."

Golf nearby- variety of 7 different 18-hole professional golf courses
  - La Marina Golf Club - 25 minutes from the hotel
  - Flamingos Golf Club - located in Nuevo Vallarta about 45-55 minutes from the hotel
  - El Tigre Golf Club - located in Nuevo Vallarta about 45-55 minutes from the hotel
- Vista Vallarta I Golf Club - located 35 minutes from the hotel
  - Vista Vallarta II Golf Club - located 35 minutes from the hotel
  - Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta Golf Club - located 45-55 minutes from the hotel
  - Four Seasons Golf Club - located in Navarit about 1 hour and 20 minutes from the hotel

Unlike Cancún, Puerto Vallarta was a traditional village before gaining worldwide recognition as a travel destination.

The village was originally founded on December 12, 1851 by Don Guadalupe Sánchez Torres, who named it "Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe" ("the rocks of Saint Mary of Guadalupe"). The name was eventually truncated to "Puerto Las Peñas" ("Port Las Peñas") meaning "Port of the Rocks." The original reason for the port was to enable the transshipment of silver from nearby mines.

In 1918, the village was elevated to the status of municipality and renamed after former state governor Ignacio L. Vallarta.

In 1963, it became famous worldwide after director John Huston decided to make the film version of Tennessee Williams's play Night of the Iguana in what was then a quiet fishing village.

During the filming, the paparazzi had a field day covering Elizabeth Taylor's scandalous affair with Richard Burton, as well as the constant tension between Huston and the film's four stars. The subsequent publicity helped to attract foreign investors in the 1970s, which resulted in the massive expansion of Puerto Vallarta to its current size.

Today, there is a statue of Huston in the park on Isla La Cuale in the center of the city. A nearby plaque dedicated on the 25th anniversary of the film's release honors Huston's contribution to the city's fame.

Puerto Vallarta is also the location where the movie Predator (starring California governor and former actor Arnold Schwarzenegger) was filmed.

Eco tour operators, travel shops and local service tour providers offer a wealth of travel experiences: horse riding, whale watching (in season), boat tours, buggy rental, jungle tours… take your pick. All you need is time.