Visit Mexico  > Puerto Valarta

Once a quiet fishing village, Puerto Vallarta was "discovered" by director John Huston, who filmed "Night of the Iguana" with Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Since then, "Vallarta" has developed into a lively resort with wide appeal.

Part of Puerto Vallarta's allure is its blend of the old and new. White stucco houses with red-tiled roofs and flower-filled balconies line cobblestone streets, and Mariachi music streams from downtown bars. But that's just half the story here. You'll also find resorts for every taste and budget along 25 miles of beaches; plus water sports, golf, horseback riding through the jungle, Sport Fishing and much more. Whether you want to stay in the heart of the action or in blissful seclusion, one of Vallarta's five zones has just what you're looking for. The Southern Area offers a peaceful setting of palms and cliffs, while Downtown is in the center of Old Vallarta's colonial charm.

Puerto Vallarta's Old Town
Puerto Vallarta's Old Town has a rich and colorful history. Throughout the 1500 and 1600's, pirates and Spanish galleons visited this quaint fishing village to take on fresh supplies and water. In 1851 Puerto Vallarta was born under the name Las Peñas de Santa Maria de Guadalupe. It was an important port, supplying salt and other needed supplies to the nearby silver mines.

It's unique charm lives on, from the traditional melody of church bells echoing down rustic coblblestone streets, to the rich aroma of fresh food sizziling oven open flames. It's buildings painted in tones that reflect the brilliance of an inspirational, tropical sunset, Puerto Vallarta sits nestled between the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains and Bahia de Banderas, one of the most beautiful bays in the world. Old Town has become gathering place for a cosmopolitan blend of local inhabitants, international travelers and foreign residents. You never know who you may run into in this popular seaside destination.

Visit some other highlights of the area: Mismaloya Beach, Gringo Gulch, and Conchas Chinas, the Beverly Hills of Puerta Vallarta.