What is the safest part of Puerto Vallarta to stay in?

The Marina and the Romantic Zone are considered some of the safest areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Both areas are popular among tourists and offer a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. The Marina is known for its upscale atmosphere, luxury resorts, and high-end shops and restaurants. It has a very secure, controlled environment with 24/7 security personnel. The Romantic Zone offers a more authentic Mexican experience with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a vibrant mix of galleries, cafes, and bars. As a central tourist area, it also has a strong police presence and is considered very safe.

Where do locals go in Puerto Vallarta?

Locals in Puerto Vallarta enjoy spending time at the city's beautiful beaches, scenic parks, and lively local markets. Popular beach spots include Playa de Oro, Playa Las Animas, and Playa Camarones for their soft sand and calm waters. Many locals visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lush vegetation and hiking trails. They also frequent authentic local food venues like Birrieria las 3 Regiones taco stand, cafes like Cafecito Vallarta, and neighborhood bars like La Cerveceria Union. The downtown Lazaro Cardenas market is a favorite for produce, spices, crafts.

Is Downtown Puerto Vallarta nice?

Yes, downtown Puerto Vallarta is an exceptionally nice and popular area, celebrated for its vibrant mix of historic Mexican charm and a lively beach town atmosphere. It features a picturesque historic center with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The downtown seamlessly blends into the scenic Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk lined with fascinating sculptures, shops, and restaurants, making it perfect for strolling and enjoying the stunning ocean views. The area offers an excellent variety of dining, from upscale restaurants to authentic street food, along with fantastic shopping in boutiques and art galleries. Adjacent to the main center is the popular Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone), known for its trendy vibe and energetic nightlife. The entire downtown is considered safe and is very walkable, allowing visitors to easily explore its captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty on foot. Tip: For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Malecón or any beachfront spot about 30 minutes before the scheduled sundown to watch the spectacular sunset over the bay.

What is considered old town in Puerto Vallarta?

Old Town, also known as the Romantic Zone or Zona Romántica, is considered the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. It is characterized by its picturesque cobblestone streets, classic whitewashed buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a lively mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay, Old Town has a traditional Mexican village charm with its colonial architecture and slower pace compared to the rest of Puerto Vallarta. Its romantic ambience comes from the area's natural beauty, outdoor cafes, and charming boutique hotels. Old Town offers visitors a taste of an authentic Mexican neighborhood.

Additional Information - Puerto Vallarta Net

Table of Contents

Eating schedules

Desayuno – Breakfast: 7-10 am
Almuerzo – Snack: 11 – 12 am old tradition, no longer used in cities.
Comida – Lunch: 2 pm – 4pm
Cena – Dinner: 8 pm – 10 pm

Electricity – plugs

Mexico operates on the same 110-volt – 60Hz current as the USA. The plug is a two-flat prong type, the same as the US but without the third rounded earth prong.

Plugs used in Mexico

Plug adapter, from 3 to 2 prongs

In case you forget them you’ll be able to find these adapters at hardware stores, Walmart or SAM’s in Puerto Vallarta.

Language

Mexico’s official language is Spanish, in Puerto Vallarta you’ll find that many locals can speak or understand Engish. Hotels, restaurants, and services, in general, have staff that can handle English more or less fluently.

Try to learn some Spanish and use it whenever possible, this will be appreciated and nobody will laugh at you, so relax and practice a bit. Check out a few useful phrases and words in Spanish.

Population

Puerto Vallarta has a population of 291,839 inhabitants based on the 2020 population census, this makes it the 6th largest city in the state of Jalisco (state capital: Guadalajara).

Puerto Vallarta is the government seat of the Municipality of Puerto Vallarta which includes the city itself and populated areas outside of the town itself, from the northern border with the state of Nayarit, which is established by the Ameca river and to Boca de Tomatlan in the south. More about Vallarta.

Public holidays

Public holidays by law are now moved sometimes to the closest workday, normally a Friday or a Monday, so do check on the official holiday calendar each year.

Read more in our Events & Holiday section.

Tax – Departure tax

There is a 16% tax (IVA) applied to all purchases, restaurant bills, store purchases, hotel stays, and excursions. You can request a tax refund. You can find affiliated stores and services at Taxback

Additionally, there is a 3% tax on your hotel stay, this tax is gathered for the promotion of the tourist destination.

All guests departing by air must pay a departure tax. Sometimes it is paid at the airport upon departure (passengers with TUI/Thomson/First Choice from UK have to pay this tax at the airport upon departure from Mexico (around $70-80 USD), for airlines from USA and Canada it’s included on airline ticket fare issued outside of Mexico (inquire upon booking). The tax is charged to all visitors over the age of two.

Telephones

Telephone calls (both local and international) are considerably more expensive than in the USA and other countries. A sizeable tax is added to all international calls and most hotels add a service charge for placing long-distance calls. Ask the hotel operator about these charges before placing a call.

Money-saving tips:

Use Skype, Viber or WhatsApp
Limit long-distance calls
Bill the call to your international phone calling card
When possible use public telephones for long-distance (the ones clearly marked TELMEX)
Purchase a “debit card” for local calls within Mexico. These cards are accepted at all “LADATEL” public phones found in most airports. Cards can be purchased at airport shops. Rates to call the USA using a LADATEL card run about $3/minute.

Water

Do drink the water! Purified water is standard in all hotels and restaurants. In addition, Puerto Vallarta’s water authority (SEAPAL) has received special recognition certifying the cleanliness of the local water supply for more than 15 years now.

If in doubt you can buy bottled purified water in almost any store and hotels offer them in your room if you prefer.

Weights, measures – conversion

1 centimeter	=	0.3937 inches
(Degrees Cº + 17.8) x 1.8	=	Degrees F°
(Degrees F° -32) x 0.5555	=	Degrees Cº
1 foot	=	0.3048 meter
1 gallon	=	3.7854 liters
1 gram	=	0.0353 ounces
1 hectare	=	2.471 Acres
1 inch	=	2.54 centimeters
1 kilogram	=	2.2046 pounds
1 kilometer	=	0.6214 miles
1 liter	=	0.2612 gallons
1 meter	=	3.2808 feet
1 meter	=	39.3696 inches
1 mile	=	1.6093 kilometers
1 ounce	=	28.35 grams
1 pound	=	0.4536 kilograms

What to wear

Mid-December to February: During the day the weather is temperate and you can wear light clothes. Warm clothes at night during the local winter (that would be a light sweater or a cotton jacket. Temperatures go down before sundown around 6 or 7 PM until 9 AM approx. when the sun comes back up again.

March to June: Light clothes, there is normally a bit of wind and skirts are not recommendable, especially short skirts and of light materials.

July – Mid-October: The rainy season begins, bring rain clothes along and/or umbrellas, you can buy a cheap umbrella in town if needed. The weather is in no way cold in these months, quite the contrary, temperatures up to around 32 – 34 ºC (90 – 93ºF) on some days, especially in August and September and it is very humid, expect to sweat a bit, so bring extra shirts or blouses.

Mid-October – beginning of December: The climate is temperate, no rain, very little breeze, and quiet, light summer clothes are recommended and at night you can also use long sleeve blouses or shirts when going out to a restaurant or bar at night.

More in our Puerto Vallarta weather section.

FAQ

What is the safest part of Puerto Vallarta to stay in?

The Marina and the Romantic Zone are considered some of the safest areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta. Both areas are popular among tourists and offer a variety of accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. The Marina is known for its upscale atmosphere, luxury resorts, and high-end shops and restaurants. It has a very secure, controlled environment with 24/7 security personnel. The Romantic Zone offers a more authentic Mexican experience with cobblestone streets, colorful colonial buildings, and a vibrant mix of galleries, cafes, and bars. As a central tourist area, it also has a strong police presence and is considered very safe.
Where do locals go in Puerto Vallarta?

Locals in Puerto Vallarta enjoy spending time at the city’s beautiful beaches, scenic parks, and lively local markets. Popular beach spots include Playa de Oro, Playa Las Animas, and Playa Camarones for their soft sand and calm waters. Many locals visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lush vegetation and hiking trails. They also frequent authentic local food venues like Birrieria las 3 Regiones taco stand, cafes like Cafecito Vallarta, and neighborhood bars like La Cerveceria Union. The downtown Lazaro Cardenas market is a favorite for produce, spices, crafts.
Is Downtown Puerto Vallarta nice?

Yes, downtown Puerto Vallarta is an exceptionally nice and popular area, celebrated for its vibrant mix of historic Mexican charm and a lively beach town atmosphere. It features a picturesque historic center with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe church. The downtown seamlessly blends into the scenic Malecón, a beautiful oceanfront boardwalk lined with fascinating sculptures, shops, and restaurants, making it perfect for strolling and enjoying the stunning ocean views.

The area offers an excellent variety of dining, from upscale restaurants to authentic street food, along with fantastic shopping in boutiques and art galleries. Adjacent to the main center is the popular Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone), known for its trendy vibe and energetic nightlife. The entire downtown is considered safe and is very walkable, allowing visitors to easily explore its captivating blend of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty on foot.

Tip: For an unforgettable experience, head down to the Malecón or any beachfront spot about 30 minutes before the scheduled sundown to watch the spectacular sunset over the bay.
What is considered old town in Puerto Vallarta?

Old Town, also known as the Romantic Zone or Zona Romántica, is considered the historic heart of Puerto Vallarta. It is characterized by its picturesque cobblestone streets, classic whitewashed buildings, red-tiled roofs, and a lively mix of shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay, Old Town has a traditional Mexican village charm with its colonial architecture and slower pace compared to the rest of Puerto Vallarta. Its romantic ambience comes from the area’s natural beauty, outdoor cafes, and charming boutique hotels. Old Town offers visitors a taste of an authentic Mexican neighborhood.