Centro or downtown Puerto Vallarta is situated at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountains, almost at the mid-point of Banderas Bay. Here is the heart of the area. Stretching out along Banderas Bay to the north is the hotel zone, the marina area and then, across a river where the state of Nayarit begins, as well as a new time zone, is Nuevo Vallarta.
To the south of Centro is the Romantic Zone, off Los Muertos Beach. Further south is Conchas Chinas and Mismaloya. Beyond Boca de Tomatlan, the last town on Pacific before the road turns inland are many seaside villages accessible only by water taxi or tour boat. These quaint, quiet villages make an excellent day trip from many water taxi departure points in Puerto Vallarta. Inland, you have many choices of small towns and villages to explore either by bus, taxi or rental car.
While Puerto Vallarta is often thought of as a tropical beach destination, it is so much more. There are diverse zones and areas that appeal to every style, from back-packers to jet-setters and everyone in between.
With art exhibits and cultural events, to sun filled sandy beaches, tropical jungle getaways, sailboats and discos, Puerto Vallarta offers an infinite variety of attractions, entertainment options, locales, activities and restaurants. A culinary paradise, Vallarta has everything from American–style fast food (McDonalds, Burger King, and KFC) to international haute cuisine with over 900 family owned and world wide recognized gourmet restaurants to please every palate.
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The Big Picture |
