PUERTO VALLARTA HOTEL ZONES
NORTH COAST
The North
Coast area runs from Punta Mita at the far Northwestern tip of
Banderas Bay along the bay until it turns southward. Punta Mita
is about 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. The north coast
is a tranquil place featuring some fantastic resorts such as TripAdvisor's
Best of Puerto Vallarta winner for 2004, the Four Seasons Punta
Mita. Other excellent hotels on the north coast include
the 5-star Palladium Vallarta and the Villa Bella Bed & Breakfast.
The North Coast is a rural area, so you'll want the all-inclusive
package if it's available. If you want nightlife and the
bustling atmosphere of Puerto Vallarta, the North Coast is probably
not the best choice for you.
BUCERIAS
Bucerias is
a small town about 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta.
As you drive into town, you'll be shocked by the poverty along
the main road and wondering "what was I thinking?". Don't despair,
though. There is a lot more to the area than this.
Some of the finest resorts in Puerto Vallarta are here, as are
the best beaches in the Vallarta area. In town, there is
a flea market and several excellent beachfront cafes with very
friendly people to explore. You'll still want the all-inclusive
package here, as the selections are not numerous, and Puerto Vallarta
is still a $20 (each way) cab ride away. The selection of excellent
hotels in Bucerias includes the Royal Decameron Costa Flamingos,
Casa Blanca, and Starbay Suites.
NUEVO VALLARTA
Nuevo Vallarta
is the newest hotel zone in Puerto Vallarta. It is about
20 minutes from here to the Malecon - keep that in mind - it's
about a $15 cab ride each way. The beaches are better than
those in Puerto Vallarta, but are often closed to swimming due
to riptides. This is the place you can come to relax at your all-inclusive
resort while taking a couple of side trips into Puerto Vallarta.
Some of the 5-star hotels you'll find in this area are the Mayan
Palace, Villa Del Palmar Flamingos, Grand Velas Vallarta,
Paradise Village, Occidental Allegro, Marival Grand, Pueblo Bonito
Samba, and the Playa Del Sol Grand.
MARINA VALLARTA
Marina Vallarta
is located very close to the airport, and is only about 5-10 minutes
from the Malecon. You'll still need to take a bus or cab to get
there. The Marina area is the largest hotel zone in Puerto Vallarta,
and is conveniently located next to the marina if you're looking
at doing any fishing or bay tours. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club are
very close by for those of you who just can't bear to leave the
states behind. There are restaurants and clubs here within
walking distance too, so the all-inclusive plan isn't necessary
if you don't want it. Some of the top hotels in this area
include the Casa Magna Marriott, Melia, Mayan Palace, Westin Regina,
Velas Vallarta, Embarcadero, Flamingo, and Nautilus.
PUERTO VALLARTA HOTEL
ZONE (NORTH)
The North
Hotel Zone runs from the Maritime Terminal to Plaza Caracol in
Puerto Vallarta. This area features large beachfront hotels and
a location just a couple of minutes to the Malecon. You can walk,
but most people will spend the few bucks to take a cab. All-Inclusive
packages at this point start to be pointless, as you're far enough
into town that all the great dining and nightlife in Puerto Vallarta
is at your fingertips. Some of the finer hotels in this
area would include the Krystal, Holiday Inn, Villa del Palmar,
Fiesta Americana, Qualton, Golden Crown Paradise, and Las Palmas.
PUERTO VALLARTA HOTEL
ZONE (SOUTH)
The South
Hotel Zone runs from the North Zone to Downtown, it's southern
terminus being the north end of the Malecon. This area has
large, beachfront hotels, and great access to the finest dining,
nightlife, and culture that Puerto Vallarta has to offer. We advise
against the All-Inclusive package here, as there are so many great
places to sample! Some of the hotels you'll find in this stretch
include the Sheraton Bouganvilias, Villa Premiere, Plaza Pelicanos,
and several condominium complexes.
DOWNTOWN
This area
consists primarily of authentic Mexican hotels. There are not
really any resorts here, but the local hotels have almost immediate
access to the Malecon, and are within walking distance of pretty
much everything in Puerto Vallarta. There are no all-inclusives
here because there is a restaurant on every street corner, and
the Malecon is only steps away. Hotels you'll find here include
Hotel Suites La Siesta, Casa Claudia, and Hotel Rosita.
ROMANTIC ZONE
Puerto Vallarta's
Romantic Zone is located on the South side of downtown, on the
south side of the Rio Cuale. This is old town Puerto Vallarta
- where the cobblestone streets are thriving with restaurants
of all kinds, bars, beachfront cafes, and authentic Bouganvilias
of all colors. The hotels here are older and totally Mexican.
If you want to truly experience the culture Puerto Vallarta has
to offer, this is the place. Some of the better hotels here include
Vallarta Shores, Playa Los Arcos, Los Arcos Vallarta, Los Arcos
Suites, and Molino de Agua.
CONCHAS CHINAS
Continuing
south now, out of Puerto Vallarta proper, you arrive at Conchas
Chinas, the heart of the condominium and vacation rentals in Puerto
Vallarta. These villas are often perched on the hillside and have
access to an excellent beach. Minutes away from downtown, this
is an area favored by relocated Gringos from all over the world.
Some of the featured hotels in Conchas Chinas are Casa Isabel,
Playa Fiesta, and Playa Conchas Chinas.
MISMALOYA
Made famous
in Night of the Iguana, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard
Burton, the Mismaloya area is home to beautiful scenery and a
few isolated resorts. All-inclusives become the norm at
this point, as it is still a 15 minute cab ride into town. The
beach is crowded but excellent. Some of the best hotels
in Mismaloya include the Dreams Resort, Playa Del Sol Costa Sur,
La Jolla de Mismaloya, and the Presidente Intercontinental.
COSTA ALEGRE
Costa Alegre
(Happy Coast) is the name given to the 57-mile stretch of spectacular
coastline that starts about 75 miles south of Puerto Vallarta
and runs to Cihuatlan. If you want to stay at these exclusive
resorts, you may find that flying into Manzanillo is actually
closer for you. The stretch includes wonderful Mexican villages
with cobblestone streets, but no restaurants or facilities to
speak of. Come to this fantastic place if you want to relax
in style or play world-class golf, but don't expect many trips
into Puerto Vallarta. It's a 1.5 hour drive. Some of the featured
hotels in the area include El Tamarindo Golf Resort, Hotelito
Desconocido, Careyes Beach Resort, Wyndham Isla Navidad, and the
Punta Serena Villas & Spa.
Other Resources
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