Puerto Vallarta is located on the western part of the Jalisco state in central Mexico, looking at the Pacific ocean. From the first moment they are coming out of the plane, the visitors are amazed by the beauty of the nature of this popular Mexican destination. The tropical forest mountains and the volcanic slopes, rich in minerals, literally seem to soar from the sea in these 100 miles of golden shore fringed by mountains who embrace the wonderful bay of Banderas.

The largest and deepest bay of the country, the bay of Banderas, teeming of aquatic life, which visitors will probably discover by the mean one of the eco-tours or maybe taste, in one of the sumptuous sea-food restaurants of the city. The many benefits of the bay, the numerous beaches, the sparkling sunshine and the clear blue water, ideal for snorkeling and swimming, are pure magnets for visitors.

From the rugged “sierra Vallejo” mountains to the north and the “sierra Cuale” to the south, the richly lush greenery overlook the sandy coast, and the long beaches along the bay. The peaceful small fishing villages- Punta Mita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Bucerías, Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlán y Yelapa adorn the coast from the north to the south, offering a glimpse of the real Puerto Vallarta to the visitors- the way it was, and the way it is today. The city of Puerto Vallarta, nested between the Green valleys and the mountains with its small narrow and steep roads will charm the travellers as much as the idyllic villages of the colonial era- San Sebastián, Mascota y Talpa will offer them a different point of view.

Furthermore, the beauty of the place added to the inherent warmth and the friendliness of the local people have attracted large amount of foreign residents from United-States, Canada and Europe, what makes feel the visitors from these country like home. 
Puerto Vallarta has developed to satisfy the needs of today’s modern tourists- Luxury Hotels, all-inclusive resorts, new golf courses, high technology conference rooms, modern stores and restaurants appeared along the years.  
However, the city fortunately withheld its elegant charm. The picturesque colonial buildings, the cobblestone streets, the Spanish red tile roofs, the profusion of flowers and the wild jungle fauna differ Puerto Vallarta from any other destination.  The architecture reflects the colonial facades with brickwork and flowering plants. The beauty and the charm of Puerto Vallarta are symbolized by the historical church of the Guadalupe (Santa Maria), built in 1951 and located near the picturesque main square. The bell tower of red bricks is covered by a molded crown as worn by the empress Carlota de Mexico in the XVIII century.

During the first part of the XIX century, at the mouth of the River which at one time inhabited mainly crocodiles, there were practically no human dwellers. Between the rugged mountains, the ocean and the powerful Ameca river, this beautiful piece of Mexican geography stayed isolated from the rest of the world. The main points of economic activity was in the mountains, in the villages like San Sebastián and Mascota, where there was plentiful of silver mines, but no salt, an essential element to extract this metal. The salt is the reason that made the people gets down to the sea and discovers the bay.
Today, the visitors of Puerto Vallarta can enjoy a stunning view of the bay from any hills surrounding the city. The bay of Banderas is one of the biggest bay of the world (member of the club “the most beautiful bay of the world) The bay is 65 miles long from the north to the south. The northern limit of the bay is the village of Punta Mita and it is also the end of the “sierra Vallejo” mountains while the southern limit is Cabo Corrientes part of the “Sierra Cuale” mountains.
Unlike Cancún, Ixtapa and Huatulco - Puerto Vallarta is in a certain way an accidental destination. Nobody suggested putting Puerto Vallarta on the touristic map, at least, not in the early years. But today, the primitive charms of the old years have been replaced with million dollar investments and fierce competition.
The world is now small and travel to places once inaccessible talking of distances, is now common practice.  Although Puerto Vallarta is now compared to Bali, New Zealand or Ibiza, but still maintains its own identity.

Those resources provided to the bay of Banderas, the privilege to become member of “Les Baies les plus belles du monde” (most beautiful bays of the World) [visit their website], club that have as principal objective the promotion of the world's most exceptionally gifted bays. People have gradually noticed the enormous value of the surrounding paradise and have undertaken efforts to keep it intact.
Things have changed since the first plane landed here in 1931. Today Puerto Vallarta has hotels that range from the small and affordable inn to the magnificent luxury hotels.  Some important airlines are now providing direct flights from the main cities of United States, Canada and Europe. Luxury cruise ships dock here daily and a good highway connects the town to Tepic, Guadalajara and the rest of the country.
Puerto Vallarta, is offering many activities and places to see. Around Puerto Vallarta, a few minutes from the center, there are sites of a great natural beauty, easy to access for a day trip or for a picnic. Some of them have their own hotel, where the visitor can get away from everything, for a couple of days. The most popular are Bucerías, Mismaloya, Quimixto and Yelapa, and some of them are accessible only by boat.
The real estate market in Puerto Vallarta, keep on growing, not only for the value of the properties but also is growing the number of properties and developments. Not only in Puerto Vallarta, but also in some places like Boca de Tomatlan and San Pancho. Now, we are talking of the whole region as Costa Vallarta.

To go shopping and to take a walk, the Puerto Vallarta center has no comparison. It has what must be the best boardwalk in all Mexico, surrounded by restaurants, night clubs and shops. There is also an outside market with craftsmen and local arts. This area is where can be find some great places like the Guadalupe church, the sculpture of the boy on the seahorse, and the outside theatre Los Arcos. Right in the center of Vallarta, the Cuale river flows, and in the middle of the river, the Cuale river island is a picturesque place where you can find various restaurants and shops. This is a good place to spend a day shopping and admiring landscapes.   
Between the marina and the center, are located most of the hotels and 3 shopping centers with more tan 100 stores where you can find everything from the traditional souvenirs to the latest fashion boutiques but also restaurants and cafes.
Marina Vallarta is the most sophisticated marina in Mexico and one of the most popular. Includes an 18 holes golf course, a marina of 450 places, an aquatic park and 5 stars hotels. And nearby the marina, you will find stores, boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants.
South of Puerto Vallarta are located some of the most prestigious residential areas, with spectacular architecture houses, nested in the jungle with amazing view of the city and the bay. This is where the Sierra Madre Mountains meet the shores of Banderas Bay, creating an environment of beautiful beaches with a rich jungle background.
Puerto Vallarta is the ideal place for anyone who likes aquatic sports. Here people can do scuba diving, water skiing, deep sea fishing, windsurf, kite surf and many more. One of the famous events in Puerto Vallarta is the annual sailfish fishing international tournament, who take place in the first week of November.  Vallarta is also the site of important conventions and business meetings.
Today, Puerto Vallarta occupies an important position among the rest of the world's international tourist sites and is really the place "where Mexico comes to life", come and check by yourself, we are waiting for you arms open.