Just the facts
Puerto Vallarta is located on the Pacific coast of Mexico along Banderas Bay, Mexico's largest natural bay, in the northwest corner of the state of Jalisco. With more than 10,000 private condominiums, houses and villas – hotels are a thing of the past! Please spend some time and review how many vacation rental properties are available for your next Puerto Vallarta vacation.
Weather
The weather in Puerto Vallarta is FABULOUS – even during the low season!
What can you expect?
- November to April: Average high 85F/low 63F
- May to October: Average high 92F/low 70F
- Rainy Season: Mid-June - September, mainly afternoon and evening showers.
The Puerto Vallarta airport (PVR) is located four miles from downtown, has over 450 weekly flights and ground transportation is available.
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The Mexican Peso is the currency. Money exchange houses are located in the airport and on nearly every street corner there are ATMs at banks throughout the city.
Credit cards are widely accepted but always ask the restaurant or store before you spend any money.
Electricity is the same as the USA and Canada - 110 volt 60-current, no adapters needed.
An estimated 350,000 people live in Puerto Vallarta, and 6,500 are expatriates. More than 2 million tourists visit annually.
Puerto Vallarta is in the Central Time Zone (the same as Texas), which is two hours ahead of California and one hour behind New York.
IMPORTANT FACT: Mexico is under Napoleonic Law - you are guilty until proven innocent!
It is very easy to get around Puerto Vallarta. With more than 1,000 taxis in town there is no problem hailing one. Taxi fares are set in Pesos; the average fare is around $35 pesos or $3.50 USD. A trip across town from the Marina to Los Muertos Beach will cost about $60 pesos or $6.00 USD. Always settle on the fare before you get in – you will save money.
Did You Know?
- Only tequila made in Tequila, Jalisco can bear the name "tequila."
- The state of Jalisco is the home of Mariachi, the traditional Mexican music.
- The Humpback Whale winters in the Bay of Banderas each year. Dolphins, giant mantas, sea turtles and over 100 species of birds also live here.
Attention History Buffs!
- 1500s - Spanish conquistadors explored the coast.
- 1851 - Area around Rio Cuale first settled by farmers, fishermen, miners and mango and banana plantation owners.
- 1918 - Puerto Vallarta officially named for then-governor Ignacio L. Vallarta.
- 1963 - Puerto Vallarta goes Hollywood with the filming of "Night of the Iguana." The scandal of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor's romance makes national headlines and makes Puerto Vallarta a star.
Mexico – Get To Know Her!
- The official name: Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico has 31 states and one federal district (Mexico City)
- President: Felipe Calderón was elected in 2006. Mexican presidents serve one, six-year term.
- Population: The 2008 census estimates 109,955,400 inhabitants
- Largest Cities:
- Mexico City (19 million plus)
- Guadalajara (4 million plus)
- Monterrey (3.6 million plus)
- Income: More than 70% of Mexico’s revenue comes from exporting oil to the USA
- Religion: More than 95% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic
- Mexico is the third-largest country in Latin America after Brazil and Argentina.
- Mexico has the world’s second-highest number of Catholics after Brazil.
- Infant mortality in Mexico is 19.01 deaths/1,000 live birth compared to 6.4 in USA and 4.6 in Canada.
- Life expectancy in Mexico is 75.6 years compared to 78 in the USA and 80.3 in Canada.
- In 2005 Mexico consumed 183 billion kWh of electricity compared to 3 trillion, 800 billion in the USA and 540 billion in Canada.