Puerto Vallarta is located in central Mexico on its west coast. It’s a great place to go if you need a last minute vacation. I booked an all-inclusive trip for one week for less than $1000 US. This included flight, hotel, meals, and margaritas!
1: One thing Puerto Vallarta is known for is it’s sunsets. It was perfect timing for the sailboat approaching the setting sun, however I wish I had brought a longer lens to get a larger sailboat.2-3: Los Arcos Islands in Bandaras Bay are several small granite islets that are home to several species of nesting birds. It is also a protected marine preserve with great scuba diving and snorkeling.4: This is the view from the Mirador de La Cruz, one of the highest points in the city. It can be a challenging trek to get to the top of the viewing platform, but it’s totally worth it.5: Los Muertos Pier was opened in 2013 and designed by architect José de Jesús Torres. It’s a popular spot to hang out, and also includes a dock for water taxis. 6: The Malecon Boardwalk is the main shopping and tourist area, and has a number of attractions to experience. There are a large number of sculptures along the boardwalk including La Rotunda Del Mar by Alejandro Colunga from 1997. This was my personal favorite sculpture, and consists of a series of surrealist bronze alien-like chairs. 7-8: If you’re lucky you can catch the arial acrobat and music performance. Each person must scale this large pole with a length of rope and carefully wind it around the top. Upon completion of this setup, they let themselves fall from their wooden platform, and the rope gradually unwinds as they twirl around before finally reaching the ground. 9: The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most famous landmarks of Puerto Vallarta. It was built in the 1920s, and has a distinctive crown held up by angels. 10: This black vulture reminded me of western movies. They were often depicted to show the circle of life in the old west. Being scavengers, they constantly wait for cowboys to die. These vultures can be found in the southern United States as well as throughout Mexico and South America.
