Puerto Vallarta is a city in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. It is located on the Pacific Ocean side of the country, that is, on the west coast.
PV Details
- PV or Vallarta (as locals call the place) is a city located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the State of Jalisco
- In a large bay called Banderas Bay (Bay of Flags) or Bahía de Banderas. See it on the map.
- The city is 3 hours away by plane from Los Angeles, and just over 4:30 hours from Seattle, Vancouver, Calgary, Chicago, New York & Toronto. More air flight distances.
- Puerto Vallarta is on the same latitude as Hawaii and enjoys nearly perfect weather all year long.
More details
- On the West coast of the state of Jalisco
- Between latitudes N20°27’00” and N20°59’00” & between longitudes W104°55’00” and W105°33’00”
- 6ft (2m) above sea level.
- Puerto Vallarta is a traditional Mexican town that offers beaches, jungles, and a city full of attractions, restaurants, and activities.
Where is Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is 220 miles West of Guadalajara (by land, this distance is shorter through Mascota, but takes about the same time because the road is curvy), south of the state of Nayarit and 548 miles NW of Mexico City. In a straight line, PV is 670 miles from San Antonio and 1,100 miles from San Diego, USA.
“The Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club”, a French Organization and UNESCO consider Banderas Bay to be one of the most beautiful bays in the world. So Vallarta finds itself among a select group, including Quebec City in Canada, San Francisco in California, and Santander Bay in Spain.
Banderas Bay is also one of the world’s largest bays, measuring 26 miles from east to west and 20 miles from north to south. The bay is bounded on the North by Punta Mita which is also the end of the Sierra de Vallejo mountains and, to the south, the bay ends in Cabo Corrientes, part of the foothills of the Sierra del Cuale mountain range.
How many people visit the city?
Puerto Vallarta is the second-most visited tourist destination in Mexico – only Cancun has more visitors – attracting over 5 million in 2019 and a record 6.1 million in 2022, and has served as a relaxing refuge for people seeking more than just a beautiful beach, there is a sizeable colony of United States, Canadian, and European citizens living in the city.
How do you get to Puerto Vallarta?
Hundreds of flights per week service PVR’s International Airport, from gateways throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico.
More on flights to Puerto Vallarta.
So where is Puerto Vallarta located then?
It’s located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, in the state of Jalisco, 329 km (204 miles) west of Guadalajara, south of the state of Nayarit and 880 km (548 miles) NW of Mexico City.
Is Puerto Vallarta in the Gulf of Mexico?
No, Cancun and Playa del Carmen are on the Caribbean side of Mexico. Puerto Vallarta (along with Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan) is located on the Pacific Ocean side of Mexico.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Puerto Vallarta is on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in the state of Jalisco (the most Mexican of Mexico’s states), wrapped around Banderas Bay, one of the largest bays in the country. The Sierra Madre mountains rise right behind the town and the coast. The Ameca River marks the political border with Nayarit to the north, where you’ll find Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerías, and further north, outside the bay, Sayulita, San Pancho and Lo de Marcos. Guadalajara is roughly four hours away by road.
Puerto Vallarta is in the state of Jalisco, the home of tequila, the charro, mariachis and most of what foreigners identify as Mexican. Many visitors are surprised to learn that Nuevo Vallarta, a few minutes north of the airport, is in a different state, Nayarit, across the Ameca River.
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