Puerto Vallarta is fast becoming an international tourist destination. Around 50,000 tourists arrive every month by air, and thousands more by cruise ship, cars, and buses. Development is rapidly expanding north and south of the city, allowing the main downtown area to maintain its village atmosphere. It is a picturesque city with cobblestone streets, and whitewashed buildings. North of Puerto Vallarta can be found Marina Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Bucerias and Punta Mita, all becoming major development areas.

Further north are several small beach front towns with many winter and permanent residents from Canada and the USA.

Puerto Vallarta is a city squeezed between palm covered mountains and the sea. This has restricted development to a north-south strip along the water. The mountains generate cooler breezes at night, so the summer climate is more bearable than further south. Puerto Vallarta's weather is gorgeous in the Winter, and that is why it is a popular winter resort and 'snow bird' retiree location. The population of Puerto Vallarta is estimated at 350,000. There are more than 33,000 hotel rooms to accommodate the many tourists. One favorite activity is to stroll along the Malecon in downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Direct flights from many North American cities make it easy for tourists to come to Puerto Vallarta. Thousands of these tourists have now decided to make this area their home, and they call the city PV. English is spoken everywhere. There are English language newspapers, supermarkets like many in the US or Canada, and world class restaurants, including many American chains. The ocean water is like bath water much of the year, and just warm the rest of the time.

Puerto Vallarta has a wide variety of hotels from world-class Grand Tourism resorts, like the Paradise Village Beach Resort , to affordable accommodations for any budget. Old town (South of the downtown area), has some real bargains in hotels.

Click here for a zoomable map of the greater Vallarta Area

---

PUERTO VALLARTA CLIMATE

Puerto Vallarta is in the tropics at the same latitude as Hawaii, so temperatures do not change much from month to month, and most of the rain falls in the summer months. The humidity does get high in the summer.

---

PUERTO VALLARTA REAL ESTATE

Link to the Puerto Vallarta MLS Service. Click on the search button to search for properties for sale. Prices are quite high in the area, but there are beautiful properties. You need to purchase using a bank trust deed until you get at least 50 kilometers inland.

---

PUERTO VALLARTA SHOPPING AND SERVICES

Many stores can be found here. Including shops in air conditioned malls. Some stores carry products imported from the U.S.A. Books and magazines in English can also be found. Affordable surgery is also available.

---

PUERTO VALLARTA DINING

There are more than 1000 restaurants in the Puerto Vallarta area. This city is blessed with some world class restaurants too, but the prices reflect that fact. More economical dining can be found, especially away from the beaches and big hotels.

Have you ever wondered how to make the perfect Margarita? Here's the recipe!

Links to other web sites:

Local News from BanderasNews       Inside Vallarta Magazine.     Puerto Vallarta Fishing Charters.

The Puerto Vallarta Travel and Business Directory features a growing list of travel related websites, where You can find additional information.

---