Puerto Vallarta Gets Awards All The Time…

Awards Puerto Vallarta has received

Puerto Vallarta, the jewel in the crown of the Mexican Pacific, is one of the most acclaimed in Mexico and regularly receives awards and accolades from travel media and visitors too.

Consumers have awarded Puerto Vallarta numerous prizes, for example:

  • 2021 Puerto Vallarta wins 4 Travvy Awards: Best Culinary Destination – Mexico: Puerto Vallarta (Gold); Best Destination – Mexico: Puerto Vallarta (Silver); Best Honeymoon Destination – Mexico: Puerto Vallarta (Gold); Best Tourism Board – Mexico: Puerto Vallarta (Gold).
  • Puerto Vallarta is the 4th Best Overall Mexican Destination at the 2019 Tripadvisor Travelers Choice Awards
  • Puerto Vallarta has been awarded the prestigious “Best Destination of 2019” award by Apple Vacations at the Crystal Apple Awards event. Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit were recognized as the best beach destinations. [source]
  • Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards 2017, Puerto Vallarta has ranked as one of the “Best Cities in the World” and “Top Small Cities Outside the US” in the 2017 Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards. Puerto Vallarta was one of the 3 Mexican cities listed in the “Top 40 Cities in the World” and one of the 2 cities in Mexico added to the “Top 20 Small Cities in the World” category. PV was the only beach city to be added to both lists [source].
  • 2017 Travvy Awards, 4 nominations for Puerto Vallarta, the most given to a Mexican destination this year. The city is recognized under the following categories “Best City Destination – Mexico”, “Best Culinary Destination – Mexico”, “Best Family Destination – International”, and “Best LGBT+ Destination – International”.
  • 2016 Gayborhood of the Year: Zona Romantica, Puerto Vallarta, Considered by many to be the San Francisco of Mexico, gay tourists from all over the world travel each year to beautiful Puerto Vallarta, an easily accessible, accepting, and very affordable gay beach destination [source].
  • Travel + Leisure Magazine, The World’s 30 Friendliest Cities 2015 [source].
  • TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2014, 2nd place as “Best Overall Destination in Mexico“ [source].
  • US News & World Report Jan 2014 chosen as “#2 Best Place to Visit in Mexico“ [source].
  • US News & World Report Jan 2014 chosen as “#3 Best Beaches in Mexico“ [source].
  • US News & World Report Jan 2014 chosen as “#4 Best Springbreak Destination“ [source].
  • Travel Weekly Magellan Awards, 6 in total for “Vallarta-Nayarit” campaign [source].
  • Travel + Leisure, World’s Best Awards 2014, PV appears now as “#4 Top City in Mexico, Central & South America“, an improvement compared to 2013 [source].
  • Travel + Leisure, World’s Best Awards 2013, PV appears as “#5 Top City in Mexico, Central & South America“ [source].
  • Flight Network, PV appears as #14 in the list of “Top 14 Winter Destinations for Canadians“ [source].
  • Gaycities.com, “#2 Best Sun & Sand City“.
  • USA Today Oct 2013, PV ranked # 6 on their list of “Best places to watch a sunset” [source].
  • About.com Readers’ Choice Award 2013 as “Favorite Spring Break Destination“.
  • TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2013, 4th place as “Best Overall Destination in Mexico“.
  • About.com Readers’ Choice Award 2012 as “Favorite Mexican Beach“.
  • TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award 2012:
    • Puerto Vallarta as the “Number One Overall Destination in Mexico“.
    • One of the “World’s Leading Beach Destinations“.
    • Nuevo Vallarta (4th) and Puerto Vallarta (9th) in the category “Best Beaches in Mexico“.
  • Travel + Leisure 2012 Award, Puerto Vallarta landed in 7th place (8th place in 2011) of the “Top Ten Cities in Mexico, Central, and South America” category.
  • About.com Readers’ Choice Award 2012 as “Most Romantic Mexican Destination“.
  • Puerto Vallarta has been named “Best Convention Destination” by the Magazine MDC after hosting the Mexico Tourism Tianguis 2012.
  • “Luxury Beach Retirement on a Budget” 2012 by International Living.
  • “Best Retirement Destination in Mexico” by USNews.com.
  • “Best Place to Retire in the World” 2010 AARP (American Association of Retired Persons).
  • “Best Holiday Destination in Mexico” 2010 USNews.com.
  • “World’s Friendliest City” 2001, by readers of Condé Nast.

FAQ

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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