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.

Las Glorias Beach, Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone

Table of Contents

Features & amenities

Restaurants

Bars

Hotels

Tours

Swimming

Water Activities

Land Activities

Hotel Zone

Summary

Las Glorias Beach is located in the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone.
The beach offers easy public access and is a local favorite.
There are hotels and resorts with great views along the beach.

Suitable for swimming, water sports, and many other recreational activities.
The beach is close to local attractions, providing a glimpse into the culture and lifestyle of Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta Malecon Guide

Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone (AKA: Old Town Or South Side)

Mismaloya Beach, Puerto Vallarta, A Complete Guide

Los Muertos Beach The Most Popular One In Puerto Vallarta

Introduction

The Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone has four beaches, from north to south they are:

Las Glorias Beach is a 3080 ft long (940 meters) stretch of golden sand running from the creek between Los Tules and Las Palmas by the Sea on the northern end to the creek between the abandoned building and Costa Club Punta Arena on the south end.

The resorts, condos, and hotels you’ll find along Playa Las Glorias from north to south are:

Las Palmas by the Sea
Sunset Plaza Beach Resort
Plaza Pelicanos Grand Beach Resort
Canto del Sol Plaza Vallarta
Dreams Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa (Now Amber & Secrets Vallarta Bay)

It’s some 11 minutes, approximately 2.4 miles (4km) from the main square in downtown Puerto Vallarta to the northern access path that’s the nicest way to get to the beach.

Las Glorias Beach (Playa Las Glorias) features emerald-green waters and inviting clear sands. The beach is not as wide as Los Tules or Playa de Oro, it’s on average some 30 meters wide, and the sea edge slopes a bit more abruptly most of the way.

What to do

Las Palmas by the Sea, Las Glorias Beach, Hotel Zone, Puerto Vallarta

The activities in Las Glorias Beach are very varied thanks to the many hotels and resorts that surround it, options are abundant and include swimming, horseback riding, kayaking, windsurfing, water skiing, jet-skiing, whale watching, parasailing.

It’s also a great place to spend a day with family or friends, the beach at times can be quite crowded, especially if you are close to the northern access point, so take that into account, especially in high season (Dec.-May).

Las Palmas and Sunset Plaza Las Glorias Beach, Hotel Zone, Puerto Vallarta

You’ll also find sightseeing tours on the local pangas (water taxis), maybe a banana boat ride or an exciting parasailing ride in a parachute. Waves are soft and it’s a good place for swimming.

How to get to Las Glorias

Beach access by Harbor 171 Condominiums, Las Glorias Beach

Las Glorias Beach is located some 40 minutes on foot, 2.2 miles (3.6km) from the main square in downtown Puerto Vallarta. It’s between Los Tules Beach that ends on a creek found between Los Tules and Las Palmas by the Sea and a creek between the abandoned building and Costa Club Punta Arena on the south side where Tranquila Beach starts.

This beach is not as crowded as you would expect because it’s a bit hidden away behind all the hotels and resorts along Francisco Medina Ascencio boulevard, so only the local inhabitants really know about it and the tourist staying in the hotels and resorts that are located by this beach.

There are four public beach access points, one on the north side, the one we recommend along the Los Tules Creek starting off beside La Madalena, one midway along the stretch of sand (Clemente Orozco Street), and two at the southern end, which we are not fully guaranteed because there’s a lot of construction in that part of the hotel zone. Check them out on the map.

Las Glorias Beach Location Map

Where to stay in Playa Las Glorias

Beach in front of Dreams Vallarta Bay Hotel, Las Glorias Beach

There are a number of well-known hotels and resorts in this area of the hotel zone that share the Las Glorias Beach, including, from north to south:

Las Palmas by the Sea
Sunset Plaza Beach Resort
Plaza Pelicanos Grand Beach Resort
Canto del Sol Plaza Vallarta
Dreams Vallarta Bay Resort & Spa (Now Amber & Secrets Vallarta Bay)

Map of the Hotel Zone lodging options

A little bit of history

Bar la Isla 1970/2021 between Los Tules & Las Palmas by the Sea

In the 1960s this area where the ex-Holiday Inn, now Sunscape Puerto Vallarta, Plaza Las Glorias (now Plaza Pelicanos Grand), Los Tules, Fiesta Americana, Las Palmas, and even Sheraton on Tranquila beach, was all a series of creeks all covered in lilies and tule and was also used for crocodile farms.

Tule (Schoenoplectus acutus) is also called bulrush, an aquatic plant native to the lakes and swamps of North America. Its name derives from the Nahuatl tolli which means reed.

Conclusion

Las Glorias Beach (Playa Las Glorias) in front of Canto del Sol Hotel/Resort

The location, just as Los Tules, offers great sunsets, and most of the year the sun drops spectacularly into the Pacific Ocean. Easy access in the north and midway makes it a great, active and colorful beach in Puerto Vallarta. After your day by the sea at Las Glorias, you can take the northern path out to the boulevard and walk over the street to Plaza Caracol (Caracol Mall) there you’ll find a number of food options and even games for your kids. In my opinion, Las Glorias Beach is one of the better beaches in town, so if you are in the area, check it out and see if it’s for you too.

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.