Puerto Vallarta Blog

Puerto Vallarta, situated in the Banderas Bay, the second largest bay of the world, has about 26 miles or 42 km of different beaches. Some of the beaches are different in kind of sand, the visitors quantity, accessability and also regarding the wind and ocean activity. To find the romantic beach, the family beach, the party beach, the surfers beach and each kind the traveler could be looking for, we listed the most interesting beach areas around Puerto Vallarta below, including information about the different options offered at each beach and a short “How to get there” guide.

Puerto Vallarta Beach Map

 

1) San Francisco Beach
San Francisco is a small village at the northern end of Banderas Bay visited by just a few US tourists. The village is still an authentic mexican one, no mayor hotels are build there until now. With about 1 mile of golden sand, the beach is a quite place, where the traveler may relax a day at the palms. Restaurants at the beach offer a variety of food. On one hand of the beach is a small natural lagune, with many bird species. The ATM bus needs from Wal Mart bus stop in Puerto Vallarta to this beach about 1 hour. No water sport options.  

2) Sayulita Beach
Just ten minutes from San Francisco Beach to the south lays another small village, Sayulita. As it is very well known by families and surfers, Sayulitas beach is visited by many people. Nearly all services are available, including surf schools. 50 minutes with the ATM bus.  

3) Burros Beach
A secret beach for surfers. As Sayulita is crowded by beginners and tourism, the experienced surfers visit the Burros beach. Services are not available. To get there ask for the Flamingos Hotel in the ATM bus. Once arrived, enter the small street which leads down to the hotel, first street to the left You see some parked cars. There walk along the small path through the trees, You cant miss the beach, 5 minutes walking and You are at the surfers secret home.  

4) Manzanilla Beach
Investigations made by the Universities ecologic department say, that the water quality of La Manzanilla beach  arround Puerto Vallarta. In 40 Minutes with the ATM bus to the small village La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a very nice, small and authentic fishers village with some tourism and beachfront properties. This year, 2007, the village receives its own marina, so properties will raise in price. Just walk down the small street passing for the village and You will find the beach easily, there walk to the right to get to the Manzanilla area. Some services as restaurants are available. Mostly mexican tourism there. Read the rest of this entry »

Nuevo Vallarta isn’t a city or a village, Nuevo Vallarta about 10 miles north to Puerto Vallarta, is a planned vacation resort area, featuring the most sophisticated and modernst hotels in Mexico. A special feature is the spacious hotel area at the 3 mile long beach together with the big marina, with about 7 miles shippable water channels. The Paradise Village hotel for example ownes 400 acres and offers all a traveler can imagine. The three 18 hole golf  courses in Nuevo Vallarta and about 20 hotels are all of upper or high class.

In Nuevo Vallarta the tourist finds everything from a unique nature to extraordinary things to do. He has the choice between relaxed beach vacations, health and spa vacations and activ sport vacations. A must see for any Puerto Vallarta traveler.

Ok, nobody wants to use them, but if they are necessary its good to know where to find them for Puerto Vallarta.

Here I have some important phone numbers for the community:

Emergencies  060
Red Cross  065
Fire Department  (322) 293 17 12
Police  (322) 290 05 07 or ..12 or ..13 
   
Hospitals  
Amerimed Hospital  (322) 221 00 23
San Javier Hospital  (322) 226 10 10
CMQ Hospital  (322) 223 08 78
Medcare Ambulancia, Air and Land  (322) 222 33 55
Medasist Hospital  (322) 223 04 44
Cornerstone Hospital  (322) 224 94 00
Ambulancia Global  (322) 226 10 14
Servicio Medico de la Bahia  (322) 222 26 27
Clinica Intermedica  (322) 223 19 91 
   
Consulates  
U.S. Consulate   (322) 222 00 69 Fax:(322) 332 33 01
Local 4 - Int 17  or in Guadalajara 24 hrs: (333) 268 21 45
2nd floor Paradise Plaza  
Nuevo Vallarta 
   
Canadian Consulate  (322) 293 00 98 Fax: (322) 293 28 94
Blvd. Francisco M. Ascensio 1951  or 24 hrs: 01 (800) 796 29 00
Puerto Vallarta   
   
Immigration Office Puerto Vallarta (322) 224 76 53 
  
Tourism Office Puerto Vallarta (322) 221 26 76 or ..77 or ..79 or ..80 
   
Credit Cards  
American Express   (322) 223 29 55
Mastercard  01 (800) 366 31 00
Visa  01 (800) 706 6600

Puerto Vallarta newspapers are posting today, that a new runway will be added to the actually one-runway-airpot here in Puerto Vallarta. The airport is located between the Marina area and the Nuevo Vallarta hotels area, still within Jalisco.

The new landing strip could be very helpfull to realise a bigger capacity for the airport. This is interesting for the tourism because otherwise the per flight cost would be growing because of limited air traffic. Also the security reason is important, because it isn’t the best if just one runway is for starting and landing.

Well, i will inform You if I know exactly where it will be build and when it begins.

Yes, it happened. Britney Spears visited Puerto Vallarta ! Ok, not EXACTLY Puerto Vallarta, but the famous Four Seasons hotel at Punta Mita. The north point of the Banderas Bay, 25 miles to Puerto Vallarta. The hotel is known as one of the best Puerto Vallarta offers. If You now ask around in the city, everbody has seen Britney Spears and everyone took some photos. Just, nobody has one !!! Corious not ?

At least we dont have, and if so, we wouldnt post them ! Why ?? Very easy, people come to relax and it doesnt matter who they are. Why a star isnt allowed to have some relaxing days ??

However, Puerto Vallarta is happy about Britney Spears visit, it is the best publicity for the area. We hope that she and her friend had some nice and relaxing hours, and that they forgot for a time all the trouble ! You are welcome when ever You want Mrs. Spears !!

If You are looking for relaxed Puerto Vallarta vacations, surely an all inclusive Puerto Vallarta Vacation Package is a good idea. Actually it is the most popular choice for many traveleres. As there are hundreds of companies offering different prices on the more or less same Puerto Vallarta Vacation Package we can not give You an idea where to book.

Also the European Plan Puerto Vallarta Vacation Packages are sold very often. These normally do not include the meals and this kind of packages is different in the price. It depends on Your preferencies. If You want to stay at the pool in Your hotel and relax only, an all inclusive package is very well, if You are interested to see the city, te surroundings, dicover things around or if You dont like hotel food, better choose the european plan with breakfst only. Read the rest of this entry »

Important: To avoid communication problems You should have the written destinations adress on hand.

Airport Taxi: At any Airport or Overland Busterminal in Mexico You find buths to buy a Taxi Transport to Your destination. Payment is in advance, transport is secure and all drivers are registered. There are luggage carriers also, which are not included, if You use their service please be friendly with tipping. It’s a very hard job.

Taxi: Once You are at Your destination and Your luggage is secured You may also use the normal yellow taxis You find all over the city. Before entering a Taxi ask for the quote. Quotes are fixed by zones but this matter is within the knowledge of the taxidrivers, You dont have a control option. Within the city You get to any place at prices between 30 and 60 Pesos. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people tend to swim at the Vallarta beaches, but sometimes they are afraid to do so. This is a very well thinking, because there are some risks. Everywhere, where the water is very dark, it becomes very fast very deep, and where are no waves it is the same thing. Close to the rivers the traveler should be very careful, because the water moves very fast towards the ocean and because of the incalculable currents it can become a mayor risk. There are no attacking fishes or sharks around the beaches, I know just about one Fish which lives close to the ground with a lot of prickles. If some one steps over it, it can poison the person. All the areas where many people swim are sure.

Many nice Puerto Vallarta hotels offer their services during the whole year, about 100 in total with a big number of 5 star or grand tourism class hotels. From all inclusive to european plan, from city hotel to beach resort, from adult club to family friendly, everything is available. Booking a Puerto Vallarta vacation package is not so complicated.

If You want a hotel close to the city or down town, You should choose one at the hotel zone south or north, if You want it more exclusive have a look to the Marina area or the dreams resort. For really quite and relaxed vacations best choice are the hotels in Nuevo Vallarta, but they are about 45 minutes by bus from the old Puerto Vallarta down town area.

To give You just one tip, the most mentioned hotels are the Crown Paradise hotels close to the marina. Offered are one for families and one for adults only. I mention this because in the statistics of internet researches this hotel is the most researched. Others are the Dreams Resort and Spa, 5 minutes south to Vallarta or the Grand Velas. Riu and Mayan Palace, both in Nuevo Vallarta are also mentioned many times.

For the experienced traveler, who knows that the nicest zone in Puerto Vallarta is the romantic zone at Olas Altas or Playa Los Muertos, dont forget to have a look to the mostly older and smaller hotels at this area. The romantic zone is the oldest touristical area around Puerto Vallarta, that for its more traditional and closer to the most interesting restaurants, bars, shops and galeries. 

Finally there are two more top notch tips for people with some money: the Four Seasons at Punta de Mita in the north, or the Hotelito Desconocido at the south, each of them about one hour by bus to Puerto Vallarta.

If You have other tips for the readers of this Puerto Vallarta vacation blog, we would be happy to read Your review. Just register and You can partcipate immediately as an author.

One of the best features for the traveler is the fabolous Puerto Vallarta weather. From mid October to mid June the temperatures are allways between 20 and 30 degrees celsius without rain fall. During the summer the temperatures go up to 38 or 40 degrees, with one or two hours of summer rain mostly in the afternoon.

The travelers prefer the time between November and May, because they can be sure to have sun more or less all days.

Traditionally november, december and january is the time with the most visits. I prefer the time between march and may, because there are less tourists and the oceans water is well temperatured. Also the hotels prices are lower during this time.

On the provided links in the link area You find some more weather information including some tables and links to other sources.