Leave Cancun and Acapulco behind and instead travel to Puerto Vallarta, located right along the Pacific Ocean. This Mexican paradise offers visitors a dozen sandy, sun-kissed beaches, plenty of colorful festivals and celebrations, tropical jungles to explore and many a mountainside to traverse. Don’t forget to add trips to this relatively young city’s many beautiful churches, local fish markets and snorkeling sites for a taste of local life. Use our Puerto Vallarta travel guide to plan the perfect trip to this gorgeous town and prepare for the vacation of a lifetime.
Things Not to Miss in Puerto Vallarta
• Visit Los Arcos Marine Natural Area and snorkel in the city’s crystalline waters, which stay warm nearly year round
• Explore the Ixtapa Archeological Zone, a historical site dating back more than a thousand years
• Smell the roses (and orchids and marigolds) at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens
• While the day away at any one of the city’s spas and resorts
• Take to the water on a jet ski or take to the sky on a paraglider
• Stroll through the Zona Romantica, or Old Town, and take in its many restaurants, bars and cafés
• Purchase the catch of the day at the fish market in the Lázaro Cardenas neighborhood
• Breathe the ocean air while walking along the Malecón boardwalk
When to Go to Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is known for its tropical wet and dry climate, meaning rainy summers (especially in the month of August) and relatively dry winters. The ideal time to plan your Puerto Vallarta travel itinerary is during the dry season, which starts in November and lasts until April. At this time of year, daytime temperatures hover in the 80s while the nights tend to be cool and pleasant in the mid-60s. And remember, no matter what time of year you visit Puerto Vallarta, the water is nearly guaranteed to be warm.
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