Puerto Vallarta
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Puerto Vallarta - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in Puerto Vallarta - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Continuing down the road from the contaduría brings you to El Templo de la Virgen del Rosario. Note the new floor in the otherwise ruined structure; the governor's daughter didn't want to soil the hem of her gown when she married here in 2005. A bit farther on, San Blas's little cemetery is backed by the sea and the mountains.
El Salado Estuary is a natural reserve set in the middle of Puerto Vallarta. Considering it's in an urban area, the biodiversity is impressive. They offer boat tours across the estuary, where you will see crocodiles roaming free in their habitat, as well as several species of water birds.
You know how in New York they reserved a huge piece of much-coveted land for Central Park? Well, something like that happened in Puerto Vallarta with the Estero El Salado. This estuary right in the middle of the city has been declared a protected area featuring spectacular examples of biodiversity. Boat tours go deep into El Salado from Tuesday to Saturday at 11 am and 3 pm. Get ready to see plenty of crocodiles up close and personal in their natural habitat, as well as a variety of birds and impressive vegetation. There is a museum and a tower offering stunning views of the estuary and the city. Call or write ahead (via the website) to book a tour.
Mascota's pride is La Iglesia de la Preciosa Sangre (Church of the Precious Blood), started in 1909 but unfinished due to the revolution and the ensuing Cristero Revolt. Weddings, concerts, and plays are sometimes held here under the ruins of Gothic arches. Note the 3-D blood squirting from Jesus's wound in the chapel—you can hardly miss it.
On one corner of the plaza is the town's white-spire Iglesia de la Virgen de los Dolores. The Virgin of Sorrow is feted on September 15, which segues into Mexican Independence Day on the 16th.
Iglesia de San Sebastián is a restored 1800s-era church that comes to life in the days preceding its saint's day, January 20.
In late January, you can attend the International Festival of Migratory Birds for bird-watching tours and conferences with experts and fellow enthusiasts.
Each of the nine islands set in front of Chamela Bay can be reached by boat. However, not all of them have such a beautiful beach as Isla Cocinas. Get a boat from Punta Pérula or Playa Chamela for as little as $15, and in 20 minutes you’ll be sunbathing on one of the most extraordinary beaches you’ve ever seen. The island is uninhabited, so privacy and quiet are guaranteed. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming.
This 35-foot-high, 88-foot-in-diameter, Burning Man–style sculpture is one of the defining sights of Costa Careyes. Created by Gian Franco Brignone, who also founded the Careyes community, it is a representation of a woman getting the gift of life directly from the sun (Copa del Sol means "Cup of the Sun"). During music festivals at Playa Teopa the Copa becomes a very popular meeting point.
This modern marina may surprise visitors who arrive by land, as its modern design and large scale seems out of place. Boaters call it home for several months every winter, and it has a couple of very good restaurants.
Lago Juanacatlán is a lovely lake in a volcanic crater at 7,000 feet above sea level. Nestled in the Galope River valley, the pristine lake is surrounded by alpine woods, and the trip from Mascota past fields of flowers and self-sufficient ranchos is bucolic.
There was a time when Los Muertos Pier was a sad piece of concrete extending a few meters into the sea, but that changed in 2013 when it was replaced by a beautifully designed pier that underwent years of renovations. The new pier was an instant hit and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in Puerto Vallarta. It's perfect for a romantic walk, for reading a book while listening to the sound of the waves, and for viewing at night when it lights up the buzzing Los Muertos Beach. Oh, and it also serves as a pier! You can get a boat from here to visit the amazing beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, such as Yelapa, Quimixto, Las Animas, and many more.
There was a time when Los Muertos Pier was a sad piece of concrete extending a few meters into the sea, but that changed in 2013 when it was replaced by a beautifully designed pier that underwent years of renovations. The new pier was an instant hit and has become one of the most recognizable landmarks in Puerto Vallarta. It's perfect for a romantic walk, for reading a book while listening to the sound of the waves, and for viewing at night when it lights up the buzzing Los Muertos Beach. Oh, and it also serves as a pier! You can get a boat from here to visit the amazing beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, such as Yelapa, Quimixto, and Las Animas.
The rock formations around the Majahuitas cove hide many sea caves inhabited by marine creatures in different colors, shapes, and sizes. Moorish idols with striking black, white, and yellow bands are the most common residents of the area, but you may also spot sea cucumbers, parrot fish, puffer fish, schools of surgeonfish, eels, and many other tropical fish.
Dozens of fishing boats arrive here every morning to sell their catch of the day. It's a great place to stock up on some fresh seafood.
A block beyond the other end of the plaza, the Museo Arqueologico de Mascota is worth a look. It has some pictures of petroglyphs of the area as well as remnants of the pre-Hispanic era.
This small museum managed by the Mexican Navy has a permanent exhibition about Mexico's relationship with the sea, from the Spanish conquest through modern times. You'll see interesting pieces of antique artillery and silver jewelry, and learn about the history of the Nao de China, a Spanish sailboat that used to navigate the Pacific all the way to China and the Philippines in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The old customhouse has been partially restored and is now a cultural center with sporadic art or photography shows and theatrical productions.
Around the corner from the Mascota Museum, the Palacio de Cultura y el Arte has rotating exhibits of photography and art.
This parish was recently upgraded and now has a/c and painted walls. It's not particularly beautiful, but still worth a visit.
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