Puerto
Vallarta
General Information
Description:
Nestled
on the Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags), between
the towering Sierra Madre Mountains and the crystalline
waters of the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Vallarta, once a refuge
for 17th Century seafarers and pirates, is today one of
Mexico’s most exciting vacation and incentive destinations.
Puerto
Vallarta’s authentic old Mexican village charm and
world class resort allure attract thousands of visitors
each year from around the globe (especially from the U.S.
and Canada) seeking adventure, romance, rest and relaxation,
or simply to experience the “real Mexico”.
Puerto
Vallarta or “Vallarta” (as it is called by locals)
can sincerely boast to have it all: Prodigious weather (average
temperature is 80° F.), beautiful pristine beaches and
unspoiled coves, lush emerald jungle teeming with exotic
wildlife and, most important of all, the incomparable warmth
and hospitality of its people.
It is
this endearing quality of the “Vallartenses”
(people of Vallarta) that earned the city the honorific
of “Friendliest City in The World” in 2001,
awarded by Condé Nast Travel Magazine readers, and
which is ratified year after year by the numerous visitors
that make the trip back.
Puerto
Vallarta is more than just a quaint fishing village by the
sea. Under its “Old Mexico” guise, there lies
a modern tourist infrastructure that includes a 500-boat
slip Marina, seven signature championship golf courses,
several world-class resorts offering luxury amenities and
a newly expanded docking terminal for cruise liners.
Vallarta
is also the back drop for a number of prestigious events
that add to the town’s already magical atmosphere.
Such is the case of The Puerto Vallarta Film and Gourmet
Festivals, (both eagerly awaited by residents and visitors
alike), The Vallarta Pro-Am Golf Cup, and the Sailfish &
Marlin Fishing Tournament.
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Location:
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SOME
POINTS OF INTEREST:
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Information of Interest
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Population |
| Puerto
Vallarta has a population of around 300,000, including some
5000 American Ex-pats. |
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| Climate |
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Puerto
Vallarta was blessed with a mild sub-tropical climate, providing
for the lush green carpet of vegetation that covers the
hills behind the town. Average daytime temperatures reach
into the high 80’s and the nights are cool due to
the action of the ocean breeze. The summer months are hot
and humid, and though it is the rainy season, it usually
rains in the evenings, seldom affecting daytime activities. |
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Vallarta's
Weather for next days
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| Useful
Facts |
Accommodations:
Finding the right hotel or resort in Puerto Vallarta (or
Nuevo Vallarta to the North) is not a problem; there are
plenty of world class establishments to choose from, each
one unique in its own right. Where you decide to stay will
only depend on the nature of your trip, the size of your
party or group, and whether you favor the view over the
distance to the golf course. IVI Puerto Vallarta DMC’s
commitment is to assist you find the right property.
Airport:
The Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport
(code PVR) is conveniently located just four miles north
of downtown Puerto Vallarta. Several commercial flights
from all over the United States, Mexico and Canada operate
on a regular basis, as well as chartered and private flights.
Please visit our ground services section for information
on transfers.
Attractions:
Puerto Vallarta’s ideal location amidst the Sierra
Madre Mountains and the Bay of Banderas (third largest
natural bay in North America) and modern tourist infrastructure,
offer a wide variety of attractions that will appeal to
beach and nature lovers alike, as well as those that demand
to be catered to.
Here
is a list of some of Puerto Vallarta’s most notorious
attractions:
•
Beautiful soft sandy beaches
• “Los Arcos” Marine National Park
• Migration of Humpback whales from the Gulf of
Alaska
• Exuberant Jungle teeming with exotic plant and
animal life
• Prestigious International Events like the Film
and Gourmet Festivals
• Old Spanish mining towns of San Sebastian Del
Oeste and Mascota
• Prodigious Big Game Fishing (specially Blue Marlin
& Yellow Fin Tuna)
• Old Town & Malecón
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| Language |
| Even
though Spanish is the official language of Mexico, English
is the language of the hospitality industry. Communicating
won’t be a problem. As an interesting fact, about 50
indigenous languages are still spoken in Mexico, including
Nahuatl (language of the Aztecs), Maya and Zapotec. |
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| Currency
& Money Exchange |
| The
Mexican Peso is the official money of Mexico and comes in
bills and coins of different denominations. There are 100
Centavos to a Peso. Although the US dollar is widely accepted
in town, expect Pesos as change. You can exchange your dollars
at the airport, your hotel, some banks and Money Exchange
Outlets throughout the city. |
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| Time
Zone |
Puerto
Vallarta runs on Central Standard Time (just like Nuevo
Vallarta in the North) and Daylight saving time applies
on the same dates as in the US. |
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| Airport |
The
Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (code PVR) is located
four miles north of downtown Several commercial flights
from all over the United States, Mexico and Canada are available,
as well as chartered flights. Please visit our ground services
section for transfers information. |
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| What
to see & what to do ? |
Please
visit our Ground Services section for information on day
tours, golf, dining out and is PUERTO VALLARTA’s extraordinary
nightlife.
More Information
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| Dress
Code |
PUERTO
VALLARTA’s weather allows you to dressing informal.
Short pants, miniskirts and all kinds of beachwear are appropriate.
Suit and tie or jacket is not necessary. The most exclusive
restaurants have a dress code that restricts access if wearing
short pants, bathing suit, tank tops or sandals. If you
take a tour by boat, please use tennis shoes or low-heeled
shoes. |
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| Electricity |
| Electric
Current in Mexico is 110vlts. just as in the US and Canada,
so your hair dryer and other appliances will work fine down
here. The only thing to consider is that most establishments
are NOT wired for three- prong grounded electrical outlets.
Three-prong to two-prong adapters are available at any supermarket
or hardware store in town, just in case you forget to pack
them. |
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| Phone
Calls |
| There
are several ways to call home from P.V. You can call from
your hotel, but keep in mind that you will have to pay a service
charge (that includes calling cards and toll free numbers)
and a much higher rate than usual . A better alternative may
be to purchase a prepaid long distance call card (Ladatel),
available at any convenience store and use it in a TELMEX
phone booth outside your hotel. It will give you a rate of
5 pesos per minute (.50cents). |
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| Valuables |
| Safety
deposit boxes are available at most hotels. |
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