Puerto Vallarta Cruises
Located in the center of Mexico's western coast, Puerto Vallarta is one of the country's most picturesque cities and holiday destinations. Its cobblestone streets and red-roofed, white adobe-style buildings nestle between the palm tree-covered mountains and the deep blue Bahia de las Banderas. Its long, white-sand beaches are among the best in Mexico; the climate is consistently warm and sunny. For years, vacationers who had discovered the beauty of Puerto Vallarta tried to keep the "good news" from spreading. The arrival of a major film company and two of the world's best-known stars, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, changed Puerto Vallarta's laid back ways into becoming famous almost overnight.
In addition to its physical appeal, Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of cultural entertainment and a lively nightlife. Take time to see the sights of the city. Downtown spreads around the small Isla Cuale, which lies in the middle of the Cuale River; the heart of the city is a few blocks north around the Municipal Square. A crown-topped cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, rises behind the square; a wide seaside promenade, known as the Malecon, hugs the oceanfront. A seahorse statue welcomes visitors to the downtown beach area. The statue along with the crown-topped church tower have become symbols of Puerto Vallarta, or PV as locals call their town for short.
Puerto Vallarta grew from an existing fishing village that boasts a history dating back more than 100 years. Because of its veritable heritage as a Mexican pueblo, the town tends to offer more of the country's artistic and cultural hertiage than other Mexican resorts. The origin of the charro (traditional costume), the national beverage tequila and the typical music of the mariachi bands are found here, as Puerto Vallarta is the most Mexican of all the country's beach resorts.