Puerto Vallarta General Info
Puerto Vallarta is a Mexican balneario city situated on the Pacific Ocean’s Bahia de Banderas. The 2010 census reported Puerto Vallarta’s population as 255,725 making it the sixth-largest city in the state of Jalisco. The City of Puerto Vallarta is the government seat of the Municipality of Puerto Vallarta which comprises the city as well as population centers outside of the city extending from Boca de Tomatlán to the Nayarit border.
The city is located at 20°40’N 105°16’W. The municipality has an area of 502.19 square miles (1,300.7 km2). To the North it borders the SW part of the state of Nayarit. To the east it borders the municipality of Mascota and San Sebastián del Oeste, and to the South it borders the municipalities of Talpa de Allende and Cabo Corriente.
Puerto Vallarta is named after Ignacio Vallarta, a former governor of Jalisco. In Spanish, Puerto Vallarta is often shortened to “Vallarta”, while English speakers call the city “P.V.” for short. The city occasionally is spelled or pronounced as “Porto Vallarta.” In Internet shorthand the city is often referred to as PVR, after the International Air Transport Association airport code for its Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport.
In the 1950s, Puerto Vallarta had started to attract Americans, mostly writers and artists in search of a retreat from the USA of the era of Eisenhower and McCarthy. Gringo Gulch began to develop as an expatriate neighborhood on the hill above the Centro. The city also attracted Mexican artists and writers who were willing to trade the comforts of life in the larger cities for its scenic and bucolic advantages. By the early 1960s, the population had started to spread beyond the Centro and Gringo Gulch, and the Colonias of 5 Diciembre (north of the Centro) and Emiliano Zapata (south of the Cuale River) began to grow.
Puerto Vallarta’s climate is typical Tropical wet and dry with a marked dry season in the winter. The high temperature and variations in humidity can make July through September nearly intolerable. It has pronounced wet and dry seasonal variation, with sudden monsoon-like rains from July through September, normally for a few hours in the evenings.
The average daily high temperature is 86 °F (30 °C); average daily low temperature is 70 °F (21 °C); average daily humidity is 75%. The rainy season extends from mid-June through mid-October, with most of the rain between July and September. August is the city’s wettest month, with an average of 14 days with significant precipitation. Even during the rainy season precipitation tends to be concentrated in large rainstorms. Occasional tropical storms will bring thunderstorms to the city in November, though the month is typically dry. February, March and April are the months with the least cloud cover.
Prevailing winds are from the southwest, and most weather systems approaching Puerto Vallarta are consequently weakened as they pass over Cabo Corriente. Thus even during the rainy season Puerto Vallarta’s weather tends to be mild compared to other areas along the Mexican Pacific coast.
Hurricanes seldom strike Puerto Vallarta. In 2002, Hurricane Kenna, a category 5 hurricane, made landfall about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Puerto Vallarta, and the city suffered some damage from the resulting storm surge. In 1971, Hurricane Lily, a category 1 hurricane, caused serious flooding on the Isla Cuale, prompting the city to relocate all of its residents to the new Colonia Palo Seco.
From a luxurious, beachfront condo on popular Playa Los Muertos in Zona Romantica, to a secluded, south–shore Villa (or an economical, long–term somewhere in between!), PV Paradise Rentals has the perfect accommodation for you. Our Puerto Vallarta vacation properties are available in every size and budget to fit practically any need – from romantic hideaways to five–star villas that come complete with full staff to tend to your every whim. And, with all the fantastic restaurants in town, from French gourmet to authentic Mexican, you won’t miss that boring buffet at the all–inclusive hotels at all, we promise!
A large number of our properties are located within easy walking distance of PV Paradise Rentals’s offices as well. This means you can stop by on your way to breakfast or to the beach (or phone us from your property) and take advantage of our concierge services to set up restaurant reservations, boat tours, fishing, rental cars… you name it! You’ll also see our concierge and staff in our uniform PV Paradise Rentals shirts about town, doing guest check–ins and checkouts and various property management tasks for our homeowners. Feel free to stop us and ask a question. We’ll take great care of you!
For more information on local happenings and great links to things to do in Puerto Vallarta and the entire bay area, read our PV Paradise Rentals Blog. You’ll find great links there and all the latest information and great insight (from our staff and guest writers) into local spots.
Temperatures & Wet Days
Puerto Vallarta is surrounded by jungle, and receives considerable rain. The rainy season is June to September, rainiest in September. December and January, the peak tourist season, are hot and sunny. Weather in Spring and Autumn includes moderate temperatures. While the rain can spoil a day at the beach, the storms can be quite beautiful, with rain seeming to march across the hills and lightning illuminating the sky.
| Month | Celsius (High) | Fahrenheit (High) | Celsius (Low) | Farenheit (Low) | Wet Days |
| January | 25 – 26 | 77 – 79 | 16 – 19 | 62 – 67 | 2 |
| February | 25 – 27 | 77 – 80 | 16 – 18 | 60 – 65 | 1 |
| March | 24 – 28 | 75 – 82 | 16 – 18 | 60 – 65 | 0 |
| April | 26 – 29 | 75 – 82 | 16 – 18 | 60 – 65 | 0 |
| May | 28 – 31 | 82 – 88 | 19 – 21 | 66 – 70 | 1 |
| June | 29 – 32 | 84 – 90 | 19 – 22 | 67 – 72 | 10 |
| July | 31 – 33 | 87 – 92 | 23 – 26 | 73 – 79 | 15 |
| August | 32 – 35 | 90 – 95 | 24 – 27 | 74 – 80 | 15 |
| September | 32 – 35 | 90 – 95 | 25 – 27 | 76 – 80 | 14 |
| October | 29 – 33 | 85 – 91 | 24 – 26 | 74 – 79 | 5 |
| November | 28 – 31 | 83 – 87 | 18 – 21 | 65 – 70 | 1 |
| December | 26 – 29 | 79 – 84 | 18 – 21 | 65 – 70 | 2 |
Local Customs & Laws
Tourist card
When you arrive in Mexico you will require an Immigration document called a “Tourist card”. You don’t need to carry this document with you, but you will need to present when departing the country.
Legal drinking age
The legal Drinking age is 18 years. It is illegal to drink in public. Drug laws are harsh.
Siesta time
2-4pm, many businesses close during this time.
Tipping
Tipping is similar to Canada & the U.S. 15% – 20% in restaurants & bars.
Restaurants
You may wonder why it takes so long for someone to bring you the bill. In Mexico it is considered rude to bring the bill until you request it. To local culture it infers that the client is being asked to leave. So when you are ready to leave, you should ask for the bill.
Money
Exchange Rates
Usually best in the banks, slightly less in the Money Exchanges (Casas de Cambio) & businesses.
Travel Checks
You will need picture ID to exchange.
Bank Machines / Automatic Teller Machines
Are bilingual & easy to use, you can access money directly from your account or specified credit card. They usually give an exchange rate as good or better then the banks. Normal service charge is $1 – $2 depending on your bank and accessible 24 hrs/day.
Coins
There are 100c (centavos) in one ($1) peso. Since some coins have such a low value you may not get exact change in some stores. They do not accept foreign coins.
Bank Hours
Average is 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Saturdays 10am – 2 pm.
Water
Puerto Vallarta’s water purification system has been certified safe by International standards since 1992. However we still recommend you use only purified bottled water (Agua Purificada) for drinking and making ice unless there is a purification system in the building you are staying in.
Ice Cubes
In restaurants & bars are made from purified water.
Fruits & Vegetables
Any fruits or vegetables not being cooked or peeled should be treated with MICRODYN (a bacteria killing treatment).
- Wash the fruit or vegetables
- Soak for 20 minutes in a non-metal container in tap water with 1-4 drops of Microdyn for every litre of water
- Rinse with purified water
All staff in villas & restaurants will follow this procedure.
Long Distance
Please check with the staff of your accommodations for long distance options. Usually the best option is to charge long distance calls to your calling cards.
You can purchase international long distance calling cards in most convenience stores (OXXO) and pharmacies (CMQ and Farmacia Guadalajara, open 24 hours).
You can also make international calls from most Internet cafes such as PVcafe.com, located at Olas Altas and Basilio Badillo, where they charge about $6 pesos per minute to call the US .
Transportation
Taxis
Local Taxis do not have meters; instead they have set rates per each zone. Within the downtown area the rate is usually about $4 USD or $40 pesos. All taxis carry official rate sheets, when in doubt ask to see it. Taxi drivers are notorious for not having change; when possible try to be prepared with exact change or small bills.
Several Taxi stands have telephones to order taxis for pick up:
La Jolla de Mismaloya- Sitio 11 222-8099, or call hotel and ask for taxi, 226-6688
Sitio 9- located on the South Side of Old Town, corner of Constitution and Francisco I. Madero, 223-2806
Dreams Resort-221-5368, hotel 221-5000
Bus
The green and blue bus from town to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlan (last cove on the bay accessible by car) runs every 10 mins. The bus stop in town originates at the corner of Constitución and Basilio Badillo, cost $6.00 pesos. Boca de Tomatlan is the end of the line, the bus turns around and heads back to Puerto Vallarta . From Boca de Tomatlan you can pay for a water taxi to take you to any of the beaches on the south shore only accessible by boat: Las Animas, Quimixto and Yelapa.
Car Rental
You must be over 21 years of age and have a credit card to rent a car. Rate start at about $70 USD / day.
Airport Taxis
The Airport Taxi’s are a separate system from the local Yellow Taxis and are only allowed to pick up passengers from the airport or Marina which are Federal Zones.
The mail service in Mexico tends to be rather slow. It will take aprox 2 weeks for mail to reach the U.S. or Canada . The post office is located at Colombia 1014, Col. 5 de Diciembre, Zip 48350, Phone 222-6308. Hours are 9am – 7 pm Monday – Friday & 9am – 12 noon on Saturdays.
Stamps to the U.S. & Canada are about 45c USD. You can also buy stamps in many of the shops & there are mail boxes conveniently located around town.
E-Mail & Internet
There are numerous Internet Cafes in Puerto Vallarta . They are convenient and inexpensive. You can send and receive email messages for about $1 – $2 USD per hour. If you have a laptop and access to a telephone line you can have local service set up, cost is about $23 USD per month. Call PVNET at 223-1127 to confirm details. To program your laptop for this service, you will have to go to their offices on the north side of town in the hotel zone, across the street from the Sheraton Hotel, Taxi drivers know the location.
Grocery Stores / Shopping
There are many large supermarkets in the Vallarta area:
MEGA Commercial Mexicana
Located at the beginning of the North Hotel zone by the Sheraton Hotel next to Office Max.
Soriana
With three locations in Plaza Caracol, near the Marina Pier and Pitillal by the Cinépolis movie theatre.
Costco is located in Fluvial. Same great items as in the US and Canada
Sam’s Club
You can get a free day pass to shop if you are from out of town, known for their selection of USDA beef. You will need to show ID to prove your out of town address.
Walmart
The fine art of Bargaining is only for beach & street vendors or in the flea Markets. The recommended system is to start at about 60% of the asking price and go from there. Boutiques & stores frown on bargaining, but will often accept diplomatic requests for discounts (especially for cash purchases).
Church
The Cathedral in the center of town is a Catholic Church “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. Services are:
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am, 12 noon, 7pm & 8pm
Saturday: 7:30 am, 12 noon, 7:30pm & 8:30pm
Sunday: 6:30am, 8am, 10am, 12 noon, 6:30pm, 7:30pm & 8:30pm
Dress appropriately. There is also a Baptist Church , Kingdom Hall & other denominations.
Departure Information
The airlines request that you be at the airport 2 hrs ahead of departure time for international flights & 1 hour for national flights.
- Most airlines have the departure tax prepaid
- You will need to present your tourist card when you depart
- Customs declarations; U.S. citizens $350 USD each time you leave the country for over 7 days, Canadian citizens $500 Canadian each time you leave the country for over 7 days.
- Liquor: 1.5 liters of Alcohol & 200 cigarettes per adult
- It is illegal to take back any plants, produce or products made from an endangered species (Iguana, Sea turtle, Boa, Python, Anaconda snakes & Armadillos)
