About Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta denotes the entire Banderas Bay area and northern shoreline stretching from San Francisco/San Pancho on the Pacific (North Shore) south to Mismaloya near Puerto Vallarta (South Shore). It includes over 40 miles of coastline and a variety of topography, culture and architecture and is often referred to as Costa Vallarta. There are areas of dense jungle vegetation spotted with bursts of color from exotic tropical plants that give way to rocky river beds, which tumble and feed into the open sea and steep mountain sides where villas and casitas look as if they were merely glued to the hillsides. There are also many historic buildings and sites, rich with culture and romance, beautiful beaches, sprawling resorts and planned communities - even the ultra-modern marinas of Nuevo Vallarta and Marina Vallarta. Also to be found in this diversified geological area are arid flatlands decorated with cactuses and small pueblos where life is lived at a snail's pace. This region is divided into eight neighborhoods or areas, from north to south. Each is special in its own way and adds to the charm, diversity and uniqueness of Costa Vallarta.