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Travel and Outdoors

Travel and Outdoors

Although best known as a beach resort, Puerto Vallarta is one of the most versatile adventure travel destinations in the world. Nestled between the jungle-covered Sierra Madre Mountains and the sheltered waters of Banderas Bay, this region’s geographical diversity offers an extremely wide variety of natural attractions and outdoor adventures.

Unlike many other popular beach vacation resorts, Puerto Vallarta is actually several destinations in one. Situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico just south of Baja California, the Banderas Bay area offers more than 34 miles of incomparable coastline in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit – and innumerable activities that are affordable and easily accessible.

For those who just want to relax, miles and miles of beautiful golden sand beaches offer one of the best ways to experience the beauty and magic of the Bay of Banderas. And with 322 days of sunshine annually and an average temperature of 80 degrees F, Puerto Vallarta is one of the few places on Earth that can boast an “ideal” climate for sun worshipers.

With picture-perfect weather and extraordinary natural beauty, outdoor recreation around the bay is limitless. Traditional sports like golf and tennis are unforgettable. This region is one of Mexico’s leading golf destinations with golf courses designed by some of the world’s greatest golfers including Jack Nicklaus, Tom Weiskopf and Robert von Hagge.

Puerto Vallarta is also a major tennis destination with a growing number of tennis clubs, classes, workshops and tournaments each year. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, sailing whale watching and sportsfishing await you in the warm, clear waters of Banderas Bay and the Mexican Pacific.

On land you can explore the Sierra Madre Mountains and jungles on an exciting excursion provided by one of the area’s many professional tour operators. If you prefer to do a little exploring on your own, the quiet pleasures and local colors of Mexico are waiting to be discovered in a variety of unique and inviting fishing villages and beachside retreats.

A recent Travel and Leisure Magazine Readers’ Survey listed Puerto Vallarta as the number one beach destination in Latin America because of the wide variety of beach communities and sleepy seaside villages around the bay. During your stay, be sure to explore these towns and enjoy a genuine taste of the real Mexico.

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Five Arrivals at Puerto Vallarta’s Maritime Terminal in June

June marks the beginning of 'low season' for the Puerto Vallarta international tourist cruise segment, with only five cruise ship arrivals scheduled this month. According to the Puerto Vallarta National Port System Administration, of these arrivals, four will correspond to the Carnival Panorama, which will continue its weekly operation on Tuesdays.

Puerto Vallarta in High Demand During 2023 Hot Sale

Puerto Vallarta quickly became the favorite destination for tourists during the 2023 Hot Sale promotions. During the first four days of the event, trips to this destination increased 184 percent compared to other weeks, according to the travel company Despegar.

Volaris Announces Forty New Domestic Routes in Mexico

Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier Volaris has announced 40 new domestic routes. These new services are primarily point-to-point, increasing regional connectivity across the country. In a statement, the airline said that 33 of these routes will be exclusive, meaning zero competition from any other company.

Two More Puerto Vallarta Beaches Awarded Blue Flag Certification

Two more beaches in Puerto Vallarta have met the requirements to obtain certification for the 2023-2024 season. The beaches of the Marriott and Westin hotels in Marina Vallarta will be officially certified on July 1, bringing the total of Blue Flag Beaches in this popular vacation destination to six.

Summertime is Turtle Time on the Beaches of Puerto Vallarta

Every Summer, Olive Ridley sea turtles start arriving on the shores of Puerto Vallarta to nest their eggs. Forty-five days later, their eggs begin to hatch, attracting visitors looking to experience the magic of life first-hand by taking part in one of the many turtle release programs in the Banderas Bay region.

Vallarta a Favorite Summer Destination for US Travelers

Mexico leads in popularity for Americans looking for a little fun in the sun. It is the only country that has three destinations on the Allianz Partners' list of the 10 favorite places for US tourists to visit this summer. They are: Cancun (1st), Los Cabos (2nd) and Puerto Vallarta (7th).

Mexico’s Cruise Ship Arrivals Soar to Record Heights

Mexico’s cruise industry has hit a new milestone, with an unprecedented 2.9 million passengers arriving in the first quarter of 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism. This impressive figure marks an increase of more than 80% compared to the same period in 2022 and of nearly 10% compared to the first quarter of 2019.

Puerto Vallarta Airport Welcomed 642,900 Passengers in April

The number of passengers passing through the Puerto Vallarta International Airport continues to grow. The month of April saw a 12.6% increase in travelers, which brought the gain in the first 4-month period of 2023 to 24.8%, and placed it once again as Grupo Aeroportuario of the Pacifico's leading air terminal in Mexico.

Volaris and JetBlue to Offer Puerto Vallarta Flights

Two new flights will be coming to Puerto Vallarta in June, one operated by Volaris and the other by JetBlue. Volaris will be offering daily flights to and from Guadalajara as of Thursday, June 1st, and daily flights from Los Angeles on JetBlue will start on Thursday, June 15th.