Puerto Vallarta Shopping

Hot Spot: The Marina Vallarta Malecon: Peaceful and pretty and a world apart from the hurly-burly of town, yet just 15 minutes away, this is the perfect place for those who dare to dream.

What’s in a Name, Anyway?: What’s in a name? Well, at the video store, a clue as to what movie we’re holding in our hands would be nice! Most of the movies in Puerto Vallarta were made in English and then translated for the Mexican market - and we certainly don’t mean literally - their titles sometimes differ so vastly from the originals that they boggle the mind.

South Side Hot Spot: We dare you, double dare you, to say the name Basilio Badillo to the person next to you without hesitating — or peeking at its syllabic pronunciation below. Because this happening north-south street, also coined “Restaurant Row” and “Calle de los Cafés,” is one you will definitely want to discover again and again.

Best Place to Get Branded: Cooper Tattoo: More and more visitors are discovering the advantage of getting a tattoo during their Puerto Vallarta vacation, namely significant savings when compared to prices up North.

Best Commercial Makeover: Plaza Caracol: You’re in for a big surprise on your next visit to this popular 17-year-old plaza in Puerto Vallarta’s northern Hotel Zone, an incredible number of exciting recent changes and additions making it Banderas Bay’s most comprehensive plaza by far.

Best Place to Buy (and Enjoy): Cigars: Demi Moore, Bill Clinton and Sadam Hussein would all feel at home here, enjoying Puerto Vallarta’s incredible selection.

El Centro Hot Spot: Just one block up from the Malecon, where folks stop to interact with the eclectic Colunga sculptures in front of Las Palomas restaurant, are some of this town’s best browsing, shopping and dining opportunities. And these businesses all have bilingual staff. So, while we can’t say enough good things about our wonderful oceanfront promenade, we encourage you to step away from it long enough to check them out.

Mexico’s Hidden Gold: A New Book by David Lyons: A contemporary treasure hunt — throwing in fascinating tidbits about Mexican folklore, history, and a beach-bum lifestyle for good measure — local author R. D. (David) Lyons’ first published work is a fast-moving tale revolving around a fortune in gold stolen in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution.

Leona Vicario & Guadalupe Sanchez: Puerto Vallarta is growing by leaps and bounds, and consequently places of interest are increasingly spread out. So it’s refreshing to find an atmospheric corner in the heart of the city, just three blocks up from the oceanfront Malecon, where you can happily amuse yourself all day and evening long!

Empowering Local Women to Help Themselves: A fascinating new art gallery in Punta de Mita is playing an integral role in empowering local women to live with dignity and purpose. And it's really nice to know that when you buy a piece of original art or jewelry, a basket, photograph or home decor item at Art and Philanthropy you not only add beauty to your own life, but help the economically underprivileged to help themselves...

Folk Art, Fine Art - Sometimes the Line Blurs: Wondering what artistic treasures you might discover in Puerto Vallarta that are typically Mexican and one of a kind, yet won't break the bank and aren't difficult to transport back home?

Shoe Shop Till you Drop!: While most tourists think about buying silver here, shoes don't usually enter the equation, but take a look at the wide selection offered, particularly of sandals.