Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a popular tourist destination on Mexico's Pacific coast. The area is well known for its beaches of course but unlike most beach resorts there is a lot more to the town. The area is famous for its artists for example. The weather in Puerto Vallarta is always warm but there are four distinct seasons. Spring and fall are the best times to visit as it gets quite hot and rains a lot during the summer and it can get a little cool to enjoy the beaches during the winter.
Like most popular tourist destinations in Mexico Puerto Vallarta is well known for its beaches. There are a number of world class beaches located around the town. While the beaches near the town are usually crowded with tourists if you go a little way out of town you will find that the beaches are virtually empty. Of course if you have beaches you are going to have water sports and Puerto Vallarta is no exception to this rule. There is outstanding scuba diving and snorkeling. Other activities that are popular include surfing, ocean kayaking and water skiing. The area is also home to some outstanding fishing.
One thing that really makes Puerto Vallarta stand out from other Mexican beach resort towns is the wildlife. There is probably more biodiversity in the area than anywhere else in the country. The town is located right where the mountains meet the ocean and is surrounded by jungle. This means that there is a wide variety of plant and animal life to be seen, both on land and in the water. There are a number of tours and day hikes that you can take to allow you to see all that nature has to offer.
In recent years Puerto Vallarta has garnered a reputation as the art capital of Mexico. The area has always been home to native artists however in recent year it has also attracted a number of contemporary artists as well. There are a number of galleries in the town ranging from very traditional native art to cutting edge modern art. There are also a number of festivals held throughout the year. The area is now so well known as an art capital that it attracts many visitors who come to visit the galleries rather than to hang out on the beach.
If you prefer a little adventure in your travel then Puerto Vallarta has you covered. With water, mountains and jungle all located nearby there is plenty of opportunity for the more adventurous to enjoy themselves. The options range from surfing to a jungle canopy tour to a white water rafting trip. You can take a day hike into the jungle or go on a weeklong expedition. The choice is yours depending on how adventurous you want to get. If you are going to take a trip into the jungle you are going to need a local guide to go with you, there are lots of companies in town who can arrange this for you.