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.

Sports And Activities In Puerto Vallarta

Watersports Marietas Islands Nayarit México

Whether it is golf or an adrenaline-filled kitesurfing race along Bucerias beach, Puerto Vallarta has an impressive array of options for those that refuse to lay in the sun.

The bay’s 25 miles of golden beaches presents limitless possibilities for enjoying its Pacific Ocean waters.

Hotels can arrange for all kinds of sports and activities, including:

Table of Contents

Summary

Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of outdoor activities, including water sports, eco-tours, and ocean excursions such as deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling.
Visitors can also enjoy adventure sports such as canopy ziplining, rappelling down waterfalls, ATV tours, horseback riding, and skydiving.

Puerto Vallarta’s natural beauty provides opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and zip lining in the Sierra Madre mountain range.
The city hosts top-level sports events that offer attendees the opportunity to attend renowned national and international tournaments all year-round.

Puerto Vallarta Malecon (Boardwalk) A City Favorite

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

The things you can do in Vallarta are just endless.

Note: Go-carts in Vallarta is currently unavailable

Bungee Jumping (Closed)

Bungee Jumping in Puerto Vallarta

Once again Puerto Vallarta can offer the adrenaline-pumped experience of jumping into the Pacific Ocean from a platform over the emerald waters. The company Encore Bungee has reopened the attraction that is very close to Mismaloya.

They have gone through a series of reviews, both the structure and their new jump cords, plus test jumps and opened to the public on Feb 16, 2013. Open from 10:00 to 19:00 daily. See on the map. More info on FB.

Canopy Tours (Ziplines)

Enjoy a new, exhilarating experience while you zip over the treetops in the jungles around Puerto Vallarta. Not for the faint of heart, not for those that suffer vertigo, but for the rest, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Read more.

Fishing

Puerto Vallarta has remained a well-kept secret especially with regard to its bountiful ocean waters. The waters of Banderas Bay provide sportfishing opportunities that are second to none.

Check out our list of Fishing Charters or review the options in our tours.

Golf

Lush tropical greens, sprawling palm trees, meandering fairways and an epic view of the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean describe Puerto Vallarta’s five championship golf courses. More golf information

Hiking

Consider the Sierra Madre mountains, the lush jungle, the cornucopia of life, both fauna and flora, the comfortable weather and you start understanding why Puerto Vallarta is a great place to enjoy a hiking trip.

Horseback riding

Many enjoy horseback riding and the extra freedom they obtain riding on a good horse. Many beaches offer horses at reasonable prices. Especially useful in the warm summer months.

Jet skiing

Sometimes offered as an extra at hotels, you can rent them from service providers along the main beaches, check with us for more information.

Kayaking

Most hotels offer kayaks to their guests at no extra cost, there are many great adventures awaiting, just remember your sunblock.

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

Chacala, A Hidden Paradise

Art Galleries In Puerto Vallarta

Parish Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe, Puerto Vallarta

Kitesurfing

This very popular a relatively modern sport is practiced around the bay, but nowhere more than in front of Bucerías Beach.

Mountain biking

Offered as a tour option by various operators in the bay, jungles, the hills, mountains, and creeks in the area, make this a fabulous way to combine health with nature. Read more.

Parasailing

Float off from the beach and into the air over the bay, an exhilarating option for those that want to feel what it’s like to fly. Easy for all levels of users, a great photo opportunity too. More.

Scuba and snorkeling

The rugged coastline with its large rock formations provides exciting underwater adventures. The best places for diving and snorkeling are Los Arcos, Quimixto, Playa Las Animas, Punta Mita or the Marieta Islands, located about an hour’s boat ride from Puerto Vallarta or some 15 minutes from Punta de Mita.

Read complete Scuba Diving article

Skydiving

An experience of a lifetime, jump from 9000 feet above the Bay and Puerto Vallarta and view the impressive panorama as a bird, mountains, the ocean, the bay and the green mountains. All instructors are certified and evaluated by uspa.org and the pilots are certified by DGAC in Mexico.

The teams also have AAD automatic activation systems in case parachutes are not activated in time in which case they activate automatically. Tandem dives are available and are the best option for those that want to experience it without having to take a certification course. More info at http://www.skydivevallarta.mx

Surfing

Surfing in Banderas Bay is great all year round. There are 22 secluded surf spots in Banderas Bay, which are best accessed by boat.

The most popular surf spots include Punta Burros, Sayulita, and San Pancho. Read more: Puerto Vallarta Surfing.

Windsurfing & Sailing

Windsurfing options in Banderas Bay are available all year round. Winds normally pick up in the afternoon, especially around Bucerías, Nuevo Vallarta, and La Cruz.

More options:

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.