Puerto Vallarta Hotels

If you want to walk everywhere, Old Vallarta (downtown, which includes El Centro and the Romantic Zone) is the place to be. El Centro's hilly streets provide excellent views and aerobic workouts. South of the Cuale River, the Romantic Zone has even more shops, restaurants, and Los Muertos Beach—and no hills. Most hotels here are inexpensive to moderate.

South of town, the Zona Hotelera Sur has many condos as well as luxury and a few moderately priced hotels—most with dramatic ocean views. Downtown is a short cab or bus ride away. The beaches and views aren't as appealing in the Zona Hotelera Norte. The long stretch of mid-range and higher-end chains is interspersed with malls and mega-grocery stores. Marina Vallarta, with its luxury hotels, is close to golf courses and is a good place for biking and strolling.

Nuevo Vallarta is a planned resort on a long, sandy beach about 12 miles north of downtown PV—about 40 minutes by car or bus when traffic complicates things. This is a good place to stay if you're content to stay put and enjoy your all-inclusive, high-rise hotel. Bucerías and the towns of southern Nayarit (north of PV) call to adventurous souls. Several hours south of Vallarta, the Costalegre is a place of extremes. High-priced hotels on gorgeous beaches attract celebs and honeymooners, while small towns like Barra de Navidad have modest digs and a more authentically Mexican experience—and nice beaches, too.

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