Los Muertos Beach
Main beach of the Zona Romántica, with a pier, restaurants and beach clubs along the sand. Locals and visitors mix here for sunbathing, swimming and watching the sunset.
Puerto Vallarta
Green mountains rise behind the bay of this Pacific beach town, which also has a seaside promenade and a cobbled old centre.
Attractive locations
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Landmark church in the old centre, easy to spot by its tall tower topped with a crown. The interior is simple and calm. Dress modestly, and respect services in progress.
Isla Cuale
Small island in the Cuale River, with a walkway, shaded paths, cafes, craft stalls and a small museum. It is a pleasant place to escape the heat between the old town and the Zona Romántica.
Vallarta Botanical Gardens
Large garden in the hills south of the city, with orchids, agaves, palms and trails above a river. A cooler, shaded break from the beach, and a good place to see the region's native plants.
The Boy on the Seahorse
Bronze statue of a boy riding a seahorse on the seafront walkway, often seen as the symbol of Puerto Vallarta. It is a favourite photo stop along the Malecón, especially at sunset.
Marieta Islands
A group of small uninhabited islands in Banderas Bay, protected as a national park. Visitors reach them by boat for snorkelling, birdwatching and, in season, whale watching.
Yelapa
A small fishing village on the bay's southern shore, reached only by boat or trail. Visitors come for the beach, a short walk to a waterfall and a slow pace away from the city.
Airports
Puerto Vallarta International Airport PVR
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Puerto Vallarta.
Amado Nervo National Airport TPQ
It is about 95 km in a straight line from Puerto Vallarta.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan19.6 °C16 mm
- Feb20.4 °C25 mm
- Mar21.9 °C12 mm
- Apr23.8 °C1 mm
- May25.4 °C10 mm
- Jun25.0 °C155 mm
- Jul23.8 °C317 mm
- Aug23.7 °C343 mm
- Sep23.4 °C334 mm
- Oct23.0 °C131 mm
- Nov21.3 °C27 mm
- Dec19.7 °C17 mm
Driest months: Mar, Apr, May. Wettest months: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 54% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for police, ambulance and fire.
local government
Angeles Verdes (Secretaria de Turismo) - line 078
Helps with: The tourism ministry's road-traveller line. Call 078 for minor roadside help, tourist information, or to have an emergency report passed to the right authority. Covers federal highways.
Who qualifies: Travellers on Mexico's federal highways, within the Angeles Verdes coverage area.
Phone: 078
Email: atencion078@sectur.gob.mx
ngo
Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross)
Helps with: Mexico's national Red Cross society. Its site says it responds to disasters and medical emergencies and gives food, shelter, medical care and psychosocial support.
Who qualifies: People in Mexico affected by emergencies or disasters, or in need of its medical and humanitarian services.
local government
National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED)
Helps with: Mexico's national disaster prevention centre. It monitors the Popocatepetl volcano and publishes alert levels and public safety information.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Mexico looking for official disaster and volcano alert information.
Email: direcciongeneral@cenapred.unam.mx
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mexico
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Mexico since 2004. It supports migrants, displaced people and returnees, including a campaign against trafficking of migrant women and girls.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +52 55 5536 3922
Address: Avenida Presidente Masaryk 101, Piso 18, Colonia Polanco V Seccion, Miguel Hidalgo, CP 11560, Ciudad de Mexico
embassy
Foreign embassies in Mexico City (city government list, partial)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. Mexico City's government page lists about 25 of the roughly 86 embassies, with address and phone.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy.
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911