CRUISE SHIP ARRIVAL TO PUERTO VALLARTA INCREASED BY 16% IN 2015

The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board announced that 131 cruises will call upon the destination in 2015, a 16% increase from 2014, which in turn saw a 43 % increase in calls over 2013 when 81 cruises called the port.

Sixty-two cruises have already made calls in the destination this year with 20 expected to make calls between June to September during the destination’s low season for cruises. Forty-nine additional cruise calls have been confirmed for the months of October to December 2015.

The four cruise lines that most often visit Puerto Vallarta are Norwegian, Princess, Carnival and Holland America, in that order. As for passengers, Puerto Vallarta is estimated to end the year with the arrival of about 317,210.

 Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s leading tourism destinations because of its stunning Bay of Banderas surrounded by the lush Sierra Madre mountains and rich colonial architecture of its city center. Today the 97 year-old Mexican city is a world-class destination where cruises are welcomed with Mariachi bands and can enjoy a wide array of activities.

One of the most popular activities in Puerto Vallarta for locals and visitors alike is strolling along the destination’s Malecon, a lively 6-mile pedestrian-only boardwalk that connects Puerto Vallarta’s Downtown with the Romantic Zone and is surrounded by many shops and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy an art walk stopping in many of the city’s galleries, such as Sergio Bustamente’s gallery and shop, the artists who made many of the statues located in the Malecon, as well as shop at the arts and crafts market, ceramic and tequila shops and high end boutiques located along the cobble stone streets. For lunch or dinner, there are over 360 restaurants in the area to choose from.

Adventure seekers will find that Puerto Vallarta has it all, from paddle boarding to rappelling down a waterfall. Tour Operators such as Canopy River offer unique opportunities to Zipline across rivers and ride mules down the Sierra Madre Mountain range. At Dolphin Discovery visitors can swim with dolphins and sea lions while others can speed down the country side with Wild Treks Adventure’s ATVs. Go Gay!PV also offers numerous outdoor adventures for the LGBT traveler. Vallarta Adventures incorporates cultural, adventure and ecological activities in its tours that range from visiting a ghost mining town in the middle of the jungle, sailing across the bay and relaxing on a secluded cove or trying the fastest zip-line in Mexico.

Those looking for a more relaxing time can opt for Puerto Vallarta’s many high end beach clubs, including Lido Beach, Mantamar Beach Club and Casa Velas’ Ocean Club or obtain a day pass to enjoy the beach or pool at many of Puerto Vallarta’s hotels, including Secrets, Westin or Fiesta Americana. Spa treatments are also a big favorite at CasaMagna Marriott Ohtli and Villa Premire’s Spa.