A Day in Town in Puerto Vallarta- Ideas for What to See

[lacurtis]

This is where we spent the day on last year's cruise on the Star with our toddler. Many of the museums and shops were closed since we were there on a Sunday. Please see my Member Review for more details.

Puerto Vallarta provides the best shopping of any resort in Mexico with its cobblestone streets, red tiled-roofs, breezy Malecon along the oceanfront and tranquil park on Isla Cuale. There are public buses to town. Either take a yellow cab from the road next to the port -check the rate first - (white cabs from the port are more expensive) or a local bus from that road with destination e.g. Olas Alta) and have you dropped in old Town.

Walk along the Malecon (boulevard along the sea- filled with shops and restaurants), sit on one of the many benches etc. Visit the famous church, cross the Rio Cuale and go to the Playa los Muerstes area. Have lunch/drinks in one of the restaurants on the beach.

Back again by cab or bus, this time destination hoteles or walmart.

Have some Pesos to pay for the bus.

Depending on traffic, it will be a 5-10 minute cab ride to the Malecon. When you get off of the ship, walk up to the main road and take a yellow Nissan Sentra taxi, not a white one. Yellow taxis are much cheaper.

The buses 5.5 Pesos each way. Actually, if you take the bus from just outside the port (do not take the bus that says "tunnel") you will go through the Hotel Zone, than gradually get into "Centro" which is where most of the cruise passengers go to shop or just stroll, and than the bus crosses over the tiny Rio Cuale into the old town area. To get back to the ship simply take any bus that has a sign saying (Walmart) on the window. Around 4 miles each way.

Try the double decker bus and for $8.00 got a good overall view of the city.

Malecon walk/shop around town- Starts in to old section of Puerto Vallarta and continues for about 2 miles that is adorned with statutes and interesting oceanscape that is well worth the time to explore. Walking towards the Golden Zone from downtown, one comes upon rock pinnacles with stairs leading to the top. This is where you can watch local boys diving into the ocean from a good height, much as in Acapulco.

The Malecon is downtown Puerto Vallarta's "main drag", a nice place to rest on a white wrought-iron bench. Of all Puerto Vallarta's special places, the Malecon is one that best symbolizes the vitality and constant duality lived within the city. A seawall and sidewalk (Puerto Vallarta's "boardwalk") runs along the bay, combining the traditions of yesterday and today, with tourist entertainment offered at the lively restaurants and bars across the street, or the traditional entertainment of watching the little children play, elders relaxing on the elaborate benches admiring the view, and the teenagers "maleconean" - walking the Malecon up and down, checking everyone out. There are three nautically themed bronze sculptures along the walkway: La Fuente de los Delfines (Fountain of the Dolphins), Neptune y Serena (Neptune and the Mermaid) and Caballito de Mar (The Seahorse) which has become an unofficial Puerto Vallarta trademark. The Malecon runs parallel to Paseo Diaz Ordaz approximately 16 blocks, extending from Rio Cuale northeast to 31 de Octubre. The traditional looking tree-shaded park, Plaza de Armas, with its central bandstand is just off the Malecon.

Walking downtown Viejo Vallarta is the best way to breathe in the locals, the energy, and the flavors of the city center. The unmistakable “Malecon” is a destination in itself. At times referred to as a boardwalk, it is really more of a seawall from where you can witness great sunsets on one side, and the bustle of shops and droves of tourists on the other. Squeezed in the middle are the cars trying to make it through the two-lane street. From a distance, one already realizes that this is no ordinary boardwalk: a wonderful, whimsical collection of bronze sculptures by Alejandro Colunga and other artists, tower over the passers-by. The boardwalk stretches from the Rosita Hotel all the way down to Los Arcos (the Arches), which play host to all sorts of artistic presentations; one of the evenings we were there, we caught a comedian and a mime that held the attention of an amazing mélange of people of all ages and origins. The Arcos is where Playa de los Muertos begins, and is the city’s most popular and beautiful beach; don’t let the name fool you (beach of the dead).

Right across from this wonderful open air theater, you will find vendors, mostly food, but also others that peddle souvenirs, graphic art, local costume jewelry and other typicos. It is absolutely wonderful to see people walking around snacking on bite sized pieces of mango, strawberry, pineapple, instead of cholesterol laden foods. They also offer grilled corn dipped in mayonnaise and topped with cheese, which is a little over the top for me.

Should you cross the street from that point, you are now facing Plaza de las Armas, the town square. A lovely gazebo sits in the middle, surrounded by benches and potted plants. To the right lie a long stretch of stores, most notably, exotic furniture on the corner. On the left is City Hall, a rather sterile looking building; continuing to walk with your back to the Malecon, you will reach one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the Lady of Guadelupe Church . Its much publicized crown has been the subject of some controversy, but nevertheless, is renown for its angels. When we arrived, we heard prayers in progress and were not able to enter the building. So we stood outside, and took some photos of the early 19th century structure, and in particular, one of its outside mosaics. The steps are very steep, so please be careful going down!

Gringo Gulch- You can continue on to the cobblestoned streets down Hildalgo, and on to Zaragoza, where the famed Casa Kimberley housed one of the most famous couple in movie history. Or you can turn back, as we did, and start weaving in and out of the shops of Paseo Diaz Ordaz. An inescapable truth about Mexico is its wealth of silver jewelry is unparalleled anywhere. You can find similar pieces from one store to the next, but there are some boutiques with very avant-garde designs that will have you stop and really look. If you are appreciative of folk art, then you’ll need to stop at 390 Morelos, which is the address of the Huichol Collection ; I am crazy about their yarn paintings, finding some unfounded similarity between that, and the lovely embroidered art we purchased in Viet Nam. They are famous for their beaded sculptures, which bear some spiritual meaning, and have become a major source of income for the Huichol who live east and north of Puerto Vallarta. The majority of the pieces represent animals such as the iguana, tortoises, frogs and snakes. The base for both yarn and beaded work is wood.

On Sundays, the locals gather in the main square downtown, and on the Malecon, in front of the church (you can’t miss it--it has a crown on the steeple). There is an open-air theater, Los Arcos, nearby. If you’re lucky they may have a performance on--they''re usually free, but the performers may pass the hat for donations after the show. The day we went in, a local troupe performed ancient native songs and dances. The main square is a great people-watching area and has food available: try the roasted corn, very good and cost about 50-cents.

Stretching along the Malecon as far north as the Rio Cuale, Viejo Vallarta (Old Vallarta), is the original fishing village around which the big resort town sprung up. Here you'll find charming cobblestone streets, bars and restaurants, famous-name boutiques, and smaller shops offering Mexican jewelry, leather goods, and handicrafts. Street names are denoted on Mexican tiles on the sides of buildings. Viejo Vallarta exudes charm with dusty cobblestones, hurried crowds, sputtering taxicabs and even an occasional burro - all reminders of a more prosaic Mexico. Old Town Vallarta, is a great place to walk around. It has some of the oldest houses and architecture in PV, different shops and restaurants off the beaten path, and not a lot of tourists.

Zocalo- The historical center of Puerto Vallarta is the main downtown square, known as "El Jardin Principal" (The Main Garden). Like all main squares in Mexico, this one has the traditional gazebo with elaborate wrought iron and a wood ceiling. Several times a week music fills the square as local bands serenade locals and the many visitors. On the west side of the square is a life-sized statue of Don Ignacio L. Vallarta, the former governor and jurist for whom Puerto Vallarta is named.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe- also known as La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, is the heart of the catholic religious in Puerto Vallarta. Each December, a 12-day festival is held here to celebrate this cathedral. Visitors to this location can enjoy the beauty of hand-carved columns, decorated moldings and other detailing inside the cathedral.

Isla Cuale- Islet in the middle of PV. Reached by the stairs that lead down from either bridge over the river, is a beautiful and peaceful area. The Rio Cuale river walk is a cool, refreshing place to spend an afternoon, and a great place to take pictures! As you wander along, you can take snapshots of tiny shops overflowing with all kinds of colorful Mexican crafts. The shop is quite close to the Isla del Rio Cuale, which is surrounded by restaurants, and is home to the city’s largest outdoor flea market. It’s a great place to walk; you’ll have to take the stairs down and when you are through, you will probably return to your point of origin.

Shopping- You can buy everything Mexican that you can imagine in Puerto Vallarta. Souvenirs, silver jewelry, onyx carvings and chess sets, Mexican blankets, dolls, figurines, designer clothes (mostly knock offs) wood carvings. The tourist shops and bars are along the beach road, Paseo Diaz Ordaz, starting at 31 de Octobre and going east until you get to Zaragoza street, a pretty treed square with a huge cathedral behind it. On one side of Ordaz are the cafes, bars, and shops, and on the ocean side is a pretty stone boardwalk along the beach. Again the endless peddlers on the shop side, less on the ocean side.

Calle Corona and Av. Juarez shopping

The real local shops with no peddlers and better prices are the next 2 streets in from the ocean running parallel to Ordaz, Marelos first, then Juarez next, running down to Zaragoza. Prices are a marked, no haggling. Wendy found another fabric store, half an hour of heaven. Best price on the #1 vanilla extract, Orlando brand, 120 pesos a litre. Morelos and Juarez are a sea of humanity, mostly locals, but lots of tourists, heavy traffic. We asked about crossing streets, and were told the method translates into “run for your life.”

There's excellent shopping in boutiques and shops selling quality Mexican-designer clothing, folk art and crafts from all around Mexico including colonial-style furniture, elaborate traditionally painted masks, pottery from Tlaquepaque, embroidered clothing, hand-dyed woven rugs and tapestries, tooled leather goods, lacquered boxes and silver jewelry from Taxco. At the Mercado Rio Cuale (Municipal Market), which spreads out under the trees below the steps leading down from the northern end of the Avenida Insurgentes Bridge, you'll find plenty of souvenirs and curios plus the opportunity to really submerge yourself in local color. It's a great place to find inexpensive souvenirs, work on your haggling technique, and practice your Spanish. Crafts from all over Mexico are available in Puerto Vallarta. If you are specifically interested in local crafts, look for anything made from seashells, paintings, blown glass, pottery, clothing and Huichol Indian embroidery and yarn paintings.

Manuel Lepe Museum- This gallery is famous the world over and is known for its extensive collection of Manuel Lepe works. The gallery houses colorful original works, tiny angels, boats, airplanes ceramics, paper mache and jewelry. The artwork collection has been extended by his daughter Marcella to include posters and lithographs of original works. Come in to get an idea of what life was like for this artist. Children and adults alike will enjoy this gallery, and all will come away with a new appreciation of local art. North side of Rio Caule- Juarez 533.

Museo Ernesto Munoz Acosta- With its rich history and traditional life, many artisans have flourished in Mexico. This museum exhibits many works created by the inspiration of contemporary artists. Some of the works featured include such recognized artists as Manuel Lepe and Sergio Bustamante, while also displaying some of the more traditional arts such as works created by the Huichol people. The museum also serves as a showcase to introduce new and up-and-coming artists of the region, whose works have already been catalogued as representatives of the area. South side of Rio Caule Francisco I Madero #272.

[Scorpiorose]

[Wow Crutis....great detailed information............

 

you didn't mention hand made mexican tiles......any where where we can buy those? I don't want the floor tiles, I'd like wall tiles......for a fire place!!!