Many longtime lovers of the tropics know Puerto Vallarta as much more than a beautiful beach: It’s simply one of the loveliest spots in Mexico. Right from the shoreline you can discover why. Puerto Vallarta lies at the inner recess of the Bay of Banderas, one of the world’s deepest, broadest, and bluest. From its verdant southern cape, the Bay of Banderas’s shoreline sweeps northwest in a grand half-moon to its sunset extremity at Punta Mita. All Puerto Vallartans—visitors and residents alike—bask in the beauty of the Bay of Banderas.

  But Puerto Vallarta is further blessed with vine-hung foothills that climax in a necklace of granite-sculpted sierras enfolding Puerto Vallarta’s inland flanks. From those lush slopes meander sparkling mountain streams, shaded by a luxuriant tropical forest that spreads all the way to the quaintly cobbled hillside streets of Puerto Vallarta’s old town.

  Yes, old town—long time visitors know Puerto Vallarta is really two towns. The Puerto Vallarta seen by most inbound visitors comprises the plush north-end Hotel Zone and Marina districts. But if you continue south along the shoreline, within a few minutes you’ll discover the heart of Puerto Vallarta: the stucco-and-tile old town nestled on the banks of Puerto Vallarta’s petite river, the Río Cuale. In the middle of the river is a long, lovely island, the Isla Río Cuale. Decorated with a shady grove of stately higuera (wild fig) trees and a sprinkling of handicrafts stalls and riverside restaurants, the Isla Río Cuale is the focus of the best and loveliest of Puerto Vallarta.

  From the Río Cuale, Puerto Vallarta’s old town spreads south a mile or two along the villa-dotted Conchas Chinas shoreline headland. To the north lies Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant downtown, rich with arts and crafts galleries, good restaurants, and nightclubs that regularly brim with music and partygoers until the early morning hours.

  North of the old town, Puerto Vallarta stretches several more miles through the glittery Zona Hotelera (Hotel Zone) of deluxe hostelries that line the shining yellow Playa de Oro (Beach of Gold). Past that comes the Marina district, with more grand hotels, a celebrated golf course, and a fashionable vacation-condominium community around a superb sheltered yacht harbor.

  Puerto Vallarta’s appeal overflows its town limits. For those willing to stray an hour or two north or south from their hotel doors, the delights are many: blossoming tropical forests, idyllic palm-shaded beach villages, half-forgotten mountain hamlets, hidden jungle cascades, and wildlife-rich mangrove wetlands. Farther afield, but still readily accessible, are Guadalajara’s venerable colonial monuments, fascinating museums, world-class dance and symphonic performances, fine cuisines, colorful markets and handicrafts villages, and the cloud-tipped expanse of Chapala, Mexico’s grandest lake.

  The choices seem endless. More and more visitors are opting to stay at out-of-town hotels and small resorts then return to enjoy Puerto Vallarta’s good shopping, fine food, and lively nightlife. Such plumy havens dot the entire Puerto Vallarta regional coast from San Blas in the north to Barra de Navidad in the south. Some are luxuriously exclusive, others drowsy and local. Tranquil retreats attract RVers and campers, who linger for a week or a season on palm-dotted, pearly strands where the fishing is good and the living easy.

  In short, the Puerto Vallarta region is an unhurried, sun-blessed refuge for lovers of the tropics. It’s simple to visit and easy to appreciate, whether you prefer fashionable luxury, strenuous adventure, or something in between. This book will help you find the way.