Unlike Cancún (another leading Mexican tourist destination), Puerto Vallarta was a traditional village before gaining worldwide recognition as a travel destination. The village was originally founded on December 12, 1851, by Don Guadalupe Sánchez Torres, who named it "Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe" ("the rocks of Saint Mary of Guadalupe"). The name was eventually truncated to "Puerto Las Peñas" ("Port Las Peñas") which literally translates as "Port the Rocks." The original reason for the port was to enable the transshipment of silver from nearby mines. In 1918, the village was elevated to municipality status and renamed after former Jalisco state governor Ignacio Luis Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta started to become a more popular tourist destination in the 1930's. However, it was in 1963 that Puerto Vallarta, then a quiet fishing village, became famous with the release of John Huston's movie version of Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana". The movie showcased the beauty of Mismaloya Beach while the paparazzi publicized the adulterous and scandalous affair between Elizabeth Taylor, who was married to Eddie Fisher at the time, and Richard Burton, as well as the constant tension between Huston and the film's four stars. Burton's co-star, Ava Gardner, also raised more than a few eyebrows. This publicity helped to attract foreign investors in the 1970's, which brought about the massive expansion of Puerto Vallarta. After this (along with the increased accessibility by airplane and the construction of first-class hotels), agriculture and fishing took second place to tourism, which remains the main industry of the area today. Today, there is a statue of John Huston in the park on La Isla Río Cuale at the center of the city. A nearby plaque dedicated on the 25th anniversary of the film's release honors Huston's contribution to the city's fame. Today, Puerto Vallarta is one of the friendliest and most diverse beach destinations in the world. Owing to the number of tourists, Puerto Vallarta is now virtually bilingual (with English as the second language), so if your Spanish is a little rusty, there's no need to worry.
I had a wonderful week in Puerto Vallarta. The Sheraton Buganvilias is a great place to stay; the staff was wonderful, the pool was excellent, and it's within easy walking distance of downtown. I will say, though, that the beach was a bit disappointing---very rocky and not that good for swimming. The pool, though, made up for it. The food at the hotel was very good, though a bit expensive. I'd recommend eating downtown, not just because it's cheaper but because there are so many restaurants to choose from. One of the best ones that I dined in, El Andariego, is only a short walk from the hotel.
I was traveling alone, so I will admit that I didn't really go out clubbing while I was in Vallarta. Also, by the end of the day, I was usually tired and ready to just relax in my air-conditioned room. I did do some shopping and found that Puerto Vallarta has about anything you could want from silver jewelry to pottery to designer clothing to cheap liquor. While the all-popular Kahlua can be found everywhere (including at Wal-Mart near the Marina), I recommend you try the Tequipal liqueurs. Tequipal comes in coconut, coffee, mango and strawberry flavors; I got the strawberry and it was awesome! If you want to buy a nice t-shirt or polo shirt for a good price, there was a store on the Malecón called "Le Best" that had very nice clothes at cheap prices. They also sold liquor there, and the Orlando Crema de Tortuga (Turtle Cream) is great for soothing a sunburn. If you're into silver jewelry, you'll have a field day in Puerto Vallarta. I advise, though, making your purchases in a jewelry store rather than from someone on the beach; you stand a much better chance of getting a quality piece in a store. I bought myself a very nice silver ring with a square black onyx stone for $40.00 at Joyería Yoler, Olas Altas #391. For souvenirs, I recommend trying your hand at bargaining in the Mercado Municipal, a maze of shops that offers practically everything for tourists. Since most vendors have the same or similar items as all the other vendors, shop around and haggle on the price. If you're like me and you speak Spanish, you'll have a definite advantage. With some time and patience, you can find some great bargains for yourself or people back home.
During the week, I took two organized tours and must say that I enjoyed both very much. The first one I took was the Canopy Tour offered by Vallarta Adventures (http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/canopy-tour/index.html). Well worth the money! I don't like heights, but I must admit that I felt perfectly at ease on this tour and the guides made it an absolute blast. Flying through the jungle on zip lines 80-90 feet above the ground was a totally awesome, once-in-a-lifetime experience and a wonderful way to get out and enjoy nature for a day away from the hustle of Puerto Vallarta. The tour takes place near the outskirts of Las Palmas, about 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta. I would recommend this tour to anyone going to Puerto Vallarta because, quite simply, it's so much fun! If I can enjoy it, being someone who's normally not an "outdoor" type person, anyone can.
The second tour I took was a city tour. We started out in the downtown area with a visit to the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, then a walk up through Gringo Gulch to enjoy the panoramic views and see Casa Kimberley where Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor used to live. We then had some shopping time at a jewelry store in Olas Altas before heading up the hill to see the gorgeous residences in the Conchas Chinas neighborhood. It's what I would call "Beverly Hills Puerto Vallarta style". The views over Banderas Bay from there were magnificent. After that, we had a brief stop in Mismaloya before heading up to Chico's Paradise for lunch at Las Cascadas Restaurant. After our meal, we had some time to enjoy the scenery along the Río Horcones before going to a small tequila distillery across the highway to see how tequila is made and, of course, to have some samples. We also got to see the blue agave plants that are used in making tequila. From there, it was back to Puerto Vallarta on the winding road that got us there.
Puerto Vallarta was a wonderful vacation experience for me. The locals are very friendly and helpful, the scenery was gorgeous, and I felt relaxed all week. You can plan as busy or as leisurely a vacation as you want. There are plenty of things to do for the active vacationer, or you can just kick back in a chaise lounge by the pool with a margarita and sunbathe all day. The weather was great all week. Be sure to pack lots of sunscreen and apply it liberally. My best piece of advice for anyone who's never been to México before is not to expect it to be like home. Things move more slowly in México. You can go and stay in a resort all week and never experience the "real México". Get out and talk to the people. Try restaurants that are off the beaten path. Venture into small shops instead of big stores. Get a taste of the "real" México; your vacation will be much more enjoyable and you'll be much better off for it.
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