The port and El Malecón, the ocean boardwalk that runs along the Pacific (with postcard-worthy views of the water and Sierra Madre behind), have been a destination for tourists and residents since the 1930s. Local residents and city insiders congregate to pay homage - and the mix of Mexican gauchos in cowboy hats, tanned surfers, wizened gringos and culinary-minded travelers provide a quick snapshot of Puerto’s particular mix. You would be forgiven for missing this small restaurant opposite the airport, tucked behind the pedestrian bridge over the highway, but not to go inside Tacón de Marlin for a midday snack would mean losing out on one of the city’s culinary highlights: the smoky, juicy, overstuffed marlin tacon (a type of grilled taco 78 pesos, about $3.85), the joint’s centerpiece. And with a plethora of gay bars and clubs (and a four-year-old Gay Pride event), the city has the deserved reputation for being one of the most L.G.B.T.-friendly destinations south of the border.Įxplore street view and find things to do in Puerto Vallarta. A growing food scene, including hole-in-the-wall taco spots and new restaurants with up-and-coming chefs, makes it one of Mexico’s best eating cities. But it is not just sun and sand that make “P.V.” (as it is known locally) a draw, but the new generation of shops, restaurants and galleries that have grown up in the old town’s storefronts. Because of this authentic but still party-happy vibe and the excellent beaches, Puerto Vallarta has become one of the country’s preferred getaways, both for snowbirds and for visitors looking for a long weekend escape.
Now the destination is drawing a new set of stylish devotees for its vibrant local community and charming architecture, as opposed to the coastal towns built in the last decades just for tourists. Despite its reputation for numerous Señor Frogs and lowbrow all-inclusive resorts, Puerto Vallarta - and especially the older part known as Viejo Vallarta - was actually once one of the country’s most glamorous getaways, with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton among the A-list fans.