There are an astounding number of things to do in Puerto Vallarta and we've listed many of them here in this section. This is a good place to discover what it is you may want to do during your vacation, be it a few days or, if you are lucky enough, a full month! From bikes and beaches to sail and surf, from delicious dining and seductive shopping to mini-makeovers and never-ending nightlife, Puerto Vallarta has just what you need to make your vacation perfect. Most activities do not need reservations prior to your arrival. You can contact them once you have settled into your room, either through a travel agent in the hotel, via your tour operator or by calling the company directly. You'll most likely find a copy of Vallarta Lifestyles magazine in your hotel room or rental property, which offers comprehensive information on what's happening in Puerto Vallarta.
In the Spotlight Destination Weddings in Puerto Vallarta: Imagine getting married in the balmy breeze at sunset on the Mexican Pacific. The invited guests are hand chosen, numbers are limited and everyone looks bronzed and happy. In fact, you are the entire focus of the weeklong event. Can you picture a more romantic way to get married?
Best New Trend Among Artists: Affordable Art: The rules that dictate the value of specific works of art are as clear-cut as the true meaning of Mona Lisa’s dubious smile. That said, we praise the increasing number of local artists that are diversifying the scale of their works, both in terms of size and price, without losing their essential qualities, thus opening the possibility of starting and building an art collection to a broader audience.
Best Vallarta Art Gallery Outside of Vallarta: Córsica Galería de Arte: Corsica Galeria de Arte can take pride in something no other local gallery can to date. In addition to their two popular locations in downtown Vallarta, they also operate successful galleries by the same name in Los Cabos and Mexico City. Founded in 2001 and dedicated to the promotion of quality contemporary Mexican art.
Worst of Puerto Vallarta: The Billboards: 24.4 km - Distance between Puerto Vallarta’s Maritime Terminal and the Punta de Mita exit. 447 - Number of billboards and signs visible from the highway on this stretch. 25 min. - Average time between each billboard/sign. 3 sec. - Average time between each billboard/sign.
Cravings: Candied Fruits: Candied fruit, or fruta cristalizada as it is known in Mexico, is manufactured using the techniques imported by the Spaniards in the 1500s. A laborious process of repeatedly submerging fruits in scalding water and sugar syrup gives entirely new personalities to commonplace pleasures such as pineapples, figs, orange and lemon peel, even squash.
Best Nature Contributor: Petr Myska: Originally from the Czech Republic, Petr Myska arrived in Vallarta for the first time in 2000. He was joyously overwhelmed with the multitude of plants and animals he encountered in our diverse ecosystem; however, he found it challenging to identify many of them, as there were no comprehensive field guides available.
Best Way to Occupy Your Green Thumb: Vallarta Orchid Society: Did you know that there are about 240 indigenous species of orchids growing wild in the greater Puerto Vallarta area? TJ Hartung, founder of the Vallarta Orchid Society, does. This society was inaugurated in 2006 with the goal of educating people about orchids, as well as rescuing and preserving the existing orchid species in our area.
