Puerto Vallarta trips and vacations

Wrapping around the Bay of Banderas on Mexico’s Pacific Coast are the gorgeous white sand-beaches that’ll make you want to book flights and hotels to Puerto Vallarta. Playa Los Muertos — and its iconic pier — is the main beach. Playa Majahuitas can only be reached by boat, while Playa de Oro is perfect for water sports.

Love tacos? You’re in luck — this part of Mexico is home to the world-famous ‘birria’, a tasty slow-cooked beef or goat stew served with deep-fried corn tortillas. From tacos ‘al pastor’ (shepherd style) to fish tacos, there’s plenty to try on the taco menu on your vacation to Puerto Vallarta.

As well as numerous beaches, Puerto Vallarta also boasts spectacular leafy nature reserves. Hike to jungle-clad waterfalls in the Sierra Madre Mountains and be awed by volcanic crater beaches in Isla Marietas National Park. Between December and March, always keep an eye out for migrating whales in the Bay of Banderas.

Relive the iconic Hollywood love affair between Burton and Taylor with a stay in Zona Romantica. The resorts here overlook El Malecon, the city’s famed boardwalk leading down to the golden sands of Playa Los Muertos. On Saturdays browse the Olas Altas Farmers Market, then stroll to the beach, pull up a lounge chair and order a margarita on white sands.

Good for: Beaches, boardwalk, farmers market

A classic choice for vacationers wondering where to stay in Puerto Vallarta, ‘Zona Hotelera’ (the Hotel Zone) is lined with all-inclusive resorts, shopping malls, bars and clubs. This is where you’ll find that vacation atmosphere (it’s a bit like Cancun, but not quite so rowdy), and great beaches like Playa de Oro.

Good for: Clubs, bars, resorts

If you’re looking for upscale hotels and fine dining, the best neighborhood to stay in Puerto Vallarta is Marina Vallarta. Stretching north from the Hotel Zone, Marina Vallarta is packed with yacht clubs, beach clubs and boats. The marina’s waterfront is best enjoyed at sunset, when the Pacific Ocean is ablaze with color.

Good for: Fine dining, beach clubs, marinas

If you’re looking for things to do with family in Puerto Vallarta, then why not take the kids down to Playa Conchas Chinas? A short drive south of Centro, Playa Conchas Chinas is known for its calm waves, sheltered sands and rock pools. Keep going south, and a tropical day out can be had by all the family at Vallarta Botanical Garden.

For local buys, head down to Mercado Municipal de Rio Cuale, where you can shop for ‘mole’ (a Mexican chocolate sauce), fresh corn tortillas and super spicy chilis. On Thursdays handicrafts, tequila and homemade preserves are all for sale at Art & Market Marina Vallarta. Looking for souvenirs? The Old Town Market is perfect for shopping in Puerto Vallarta.

There’s more to Puerto Vallarta than its beaches. If you take a stroll among the colorful colonial streets of Downtown, you’ll spot murals of Frida Kahlo, Aztec warriors and even Albert Einstein. The Choco Museum is one of the best museums in Puerto Vallarta. On Wednesday evenings you can join the city’s Art Walk, when galleries across the city open doors to visitors.

Away from popular, central spots like Playa Los Muertos, you’re spoiled for beaches in Puerto Vallarta. Playa Amapas is sheltered by rocks and shaded by palms, while Playa Camarones is the perfect spot for a cheeky ‘cerveza’ (beer). There’s no charge to lounge on the sand, making a beach day out one of the best free things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

Skip the resort buffet and head to Basilio Badillo — otherwise known as ‘Restaurant Row’ — in the Zona Romantica for everything from pizza to Tex-Mex. If you’re a foodie, you’ll be in taco heaven when you’re gorging on birria and fish tacos on El Malecon, while Marina Vallarta is the place to go for fine-dining restaurants in Puerto Vallarta.

This is a party city, and the nightlife in Puerto Vallarta is dominated by the clubs and bars that spill out onto El Malecon when the sun sets over Playa Los Muertos. After all those ‘michelada’ (a beer and lime juice cocktail) and margaritas, you might leave with a heavy head, but the bars in Puerto Vallarta won’t disappoint.