Puerto Vallarta is located in the western part of the state of Jalisco in central México, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The second-most visited resort in all of México, Puerto Vallarta attracts over 2 million tourists per year. You will find great beaches, and lots of bars, pubs, and restaurants along the bay. Luxury hotels, all-inclusive resorts, golf courses, and upscale shops have opened at a rapid pace in recent years.
Fortunately, the town has managed to retain its charm. Picturesque colonial and whitewashed buildings, cobblestone streets that wind in and out, red Spanish tile roofs — these set Puerto Vallarta apart from other seaside resorts. The main sight is the Church of Guadalupe on the main plaza. The red-brick bell tower is topped by a crown modelled after the one worn by Mexico's 18th-century Empress Carlota. The Malecón seafront promenade and the cobbled Zona Romántica old town fill in the picture; up the hill, Casa Kimberly still draws Burton-and-Taylor pilgrims half a century after The Night of the Iguana.
The area around the resort is strikingly diverse. Tropical-forested mountains and mineral-rich volcanic slopes rise directly from the sea. From the rugged Sierra Vallejo to the north and Sierra Cuale to the south, lush green slopes overlook the bay.
Sleepy fishing villages — Punta Mita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Bucerías, Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlán, and Yelapa — punctuate the coastline to the north and south of town, offering visitors a glimpse into the real Puerto Vallarta, the way it was and the way it remains today. Nestled into the verdant valleys and jagged mountains that overlook the city's narrow cobblestone streets, the idyllic colonial-era villages of San Sebastián del Oeste, Mascota, and Talpa invite travellers to experience yet another side of the region.