Places to Explore

Upon booking with us, we will send you a comprehensive welcome package that includes helpful information with grocery shopping, our favorite restaurants and information on the many activities to enjoy.

MISMALOYA:

Romantic memories will linger forever around La Jolla de Mismaloya, located just 15 minutes south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. Generations of lovers are inspired to visit Puerto Vallarta in pursuit of unforgettable romance.  Some believe Mismaloya Bay possesses a special magic that naturally takes your breath away.

Mismaloya is the small bayside fishing village set on the outskirts of a jungle and river and perched on the sands of secluded Mismaloya Bay where in 1963 Hollywood director John Huston chose to make the movie "Night of the Iguana" which changed the face of Puerto Vallarta forever. The publicity created by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's love affair and interest in the Mexican town where it occurred put Puerto Vallarta on the world's map. Since then, this tropical paradise, where the jungle vegetation of the Sierra Madre mountains meets the crystal clear waters of Banderas Bay, has been passionately linked to Puerto Vallarta's history.

You may want to head 7 km (4.5 miles) upriver to El Edén de Mismaloya, into the jungle just above Mismaloya to have lunch and swim the river at El Eden Restaurant where Arnold Schwartzenegger (and Minnesota governor Jessie "The Body" Ventura) acted in Predator. The kids (or the kid in you) will love it!

PUERTO VALLARTA:

Majestically perched on the shores of Bahia de Banderas, Puerto Vallarta is a picture-book city of red-tiled roofs, white stucco buildings and cobblestone streets that offers a treasure trove of spectacular sights and activities.  Just a 15 minute drive from Mismaloya brings you to the downtown district of Puerto Vallarta with its charming cobblestone streets and its blend of old and new Mexico.

As late as the 1960's , Puerto Vallarta was still a small fishing village of under 1100 residents. However, when John Huston decided to choose Mismaloya Beach (just south of Puerto Vallarta) as the site for the filming of the movie, "The Night of the Iguana", it didn't take long for things to change. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had houses built in town . Reporters wrote articles about the quaint little Mexican fishing village. Soon after, hotels and restaurants began to spring up everywhere. And now, some 30 years later, Puerto Vallarta has grown to its current population of about 250,000 people.

One of the reasons that Puerto Vallarta is fast becoming one of the world's most popular travel destinations is because it offers a unique blend of traditional, "Old Mexico" charm mixed with the modern amenities of a cosmopolitan setting. Cobblestone streets and old Spanish-colonial style white stucco houses with red clay tile roofs climb the mountain sides with red and pink bougainvillea spilling from balconies and roof-tops. The sound of church bells, roosters crowing, and the clatter of donkeys' hooves on the cobblestones continues to be an everyday occurrence, just as it was 150 years ago. Yet, only 10 minutes away, you'll find world-class hotels, a first-rate marina harbor, and luxurious amenities of every kind.

Puerto Vallarta is one of the few places on Earth that can boast an "ideal" climate. It is temperate, but with sub-tropical vegetation.  A dense, green palm jungle covers the mountains behind the town, nestled in a bowl at the base of the Sierra Madres. The Bay offers shelter from harsh Pacific winds and hard weather. Vallarta enjoys 345 days of sunshine each year, with average daytime temperatures reaching into the high 80's, but at night, the onshore breeze from the Bay descends bringing cool air and cool night temperatures that make for pleasant sleeping conditions without air conditioners.

Puerto Vallarta is divided by the Río Cuale, with the older hotels, the commercial district and the new resorts to the north and the residential area to the south. The seaside promenade, or malecón, is the center of activity in downtown Puerto Vallarta; it is lined with shops, restaurants, bars and several sculptures.

At its southern end is the Plaza de Armas, the town’s main square.  And just west of the square is the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the local cathedral. Topped with a crown supported by angels, the church’s bell tower is the town’s most recognizable landmark.

Puerto Vallarta's main flea market is located by the Rio Cuale's northbound ridge.  Dozens of stalls on two levels carry a myriad of souvenirs including T-shirts, straw bags, silver jewelry, leather sandals, colorful blankets, hammocks, ponchos and rugs. Typical Mexican lunches are served upstairs. Haggling is par for the course in flea markets and with beach vendors. The first asking price generally leaves a wide margin for bargaining. The only rule of the game is that both sides maintain mutual respect while vacillating between desire and indifference. In most cases, about 30% under the asking price is a reasonable first counter offer, with the result tending to be somewhere between that figure and the original asking price. Mexicans are experts at this, so test your mettle!  But don't expect to negotiate prices in exclusive shops, chain outlets or department stores. There are several large arts and crafts markets in the traditional stall style downtown, in the hotel zone, and at the Marina where the large cruise ships dock.

If you want to take in the local color while soaking up some rays, one of the most popular beaches is "Playa Los Muertos" on the South Side of town. Since the very beginning, this beach has been the favorite of local Mexican families. Now, during the winter, this beach is covered with beach goers of all types, both young and old, locals and vacationers either sitting on the wall eating their box lunch, lounging under "palapa" (palm-covered) beach umbrellas sipping margaritas, or just watching the crowds.

Sparkling beaches combined with a warm year round climate plus the choice of around-the-clock activity or peaceful seclusion make Puerto Vallarta ideal for visitors.