Matt and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary this past December. It definitely called for a trip, because we were in need of some sort of escape (hello, pandemic), and with the new year approaching, we wanted to relax a little and think about our future goals and plans. We decided to visit an old favorite, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We were last in P.V. in March of 2012, and a lot has changed in the past nine years; they have really added a modern twist to the town. This was a short trip, but keep reading to find out where to stay, what to eat, and what to do in Puerto Vallarta.
Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta
One thing about Puerto Vallarta that I love, is that your trip could be curated so many different ways. This is a tropical destination on the Pacific side of Mexico, broken up into a few regions including downtown, Marina Vallarta, and Nuevo Vallarta. You can get the adventure in the mountains/forest, you can relax on the beautiful beaches, or you can explore the beautiful town.
We stayed in the old town or downtown of Puerto Vallarta, also called the Zona Romantica. This part of town had a lot of charm with its cobblestone streets, and no matter which direction you walked, you were surrounded by restaurants, shops, bars, and more. We found an Airbnb, which was perfectly located, and had such an amazing pool.
Where to Eat in Puerto Vallarta
Downtown Puerto Vallarta is where we spent the majority of our time. They have so many restaurants and bars to choose from. I listed places we tried, plus places that came highly recommended.
- Joe Jacks Fish Shack This was our first stop upon arrival. You will find a lot of seafood options. They had an awesome rooftop patio with greenery everywhere. Their flavored mojito options were great.
- Coco’s Kitchen We had Coco’s for brunch and they did not disappoint. The ambiance is perfect for an afternoon out, because you are literally sitting in what feels like a garden.
- Pal’Mar This place is a definite must visit for dinner. The food, the cocktails, the ambiance, and service were all superb.
- Take a Street Taco Tour PV has the best tacos. We grabbed tacos while cruising the streets of Downtown PV
- Cuates y Cuetes is a beachfront restaurant-bar with live jazz. All the rave in Puerto Vallarta.
What to Do in Puerto Vallarta
There is so much to do in Puerto Vallarto. We explored the town, got a taste of the culture, saw an awesome show and ate good the whole time. I even squeezed in some reading time, poolside. I listed everything that we did, plus things we hope to do next time.
- Walk the Malecón. The Malecón is just a short walk from Zona Romantica. This is a very popular spot situated between downtown, and the waters of Banderas Bay. No matter the time of day, you will see the area filled with street vendors, sculptures, outdoor galleries plus more. Here you will also find restaurants, nightlife, and bars.
- Zona Romantica This area really comes alive at night with all of the bars and nightlife. Every Saturday from 10am-2pm you can also visit one of two markets: Olas Atlas Farmers Market or Paradise Community Center.
- Visit Playa Los Muertos Beach. This is the most popular beach in Puerto Vallarta and its a short walk from downtown area
- Visit Vallarta Botanical Gardens which is a 20 acre garden, located about 30 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta. You can explore the gardens hiking trails to see the many varieties of the trees and flowers. You can also enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains from the garden’s onsite restaurant Hacienda de Oro
- Go on an adventure, and ride ATVs and zipline in Nuevo Vallarta. You can book your excursion in advance here
Rhythms of the Night
Rhythms of the Night is probably the ultimate tourist trap in Puerto Vallarta, but I highly recommend it. Take a sunset cruise from Puerto Vallarta over Banderas Bay to arrive at a secluded island. Then have a 3-course candle-lit dinner with an open bar. Then proceed to watch a spectacular show. This show is on the same level of Cirque du Soleil, absolutely amazing.
We had such an awesome trip! Mexico is one of my favorite countries to visit, and it gets better and better each time.
Thanks for reading! xo
You can check out other travel posts here