The following content is courtesy of our partners at Puerto Vallarta Tourism

Ever since Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton spent time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in the 1960s while Burton was filming “The Night of the Iguana,” the Mexican beach town has solidified its place as a luxury getaway. What was once a quiet fishing village is now an international destination on the western coast of Jalisco, attracting discerning travelers with its effortless blend of sophistication and authenticity. For decades, celebrities including Bob Dylan, Kate Hudson, and Zendaya have visited this coastal paradise—and it’s easy to see why.

Puerto Vallarta offers upscale hospitality, a world-class culinary scene, and high-end wellness experiences, all while maintaining the laid-back rhythm that has defined the destination for generations. With about 20 U.S. airports offering direct flights, it’s an easy escape any time of year. And beyond the beaches and luxury resorts lies a city rich with art, history, music, and culture waiting to be explored

Where to Stay

For a classic Puerto Vallarta experience, book a stay at Casa Kimberly, where the Elizabeth Taylor Suite features her original pink marble bathtub and a private swimming pool overlooking the city. For a traditional hacienda experience, consider Hacienda San Ángel, Richard Burton’s former residence. The property features lush gardens, tiled fountains, classic Jalisco decor, and three swimming pools. Both luxury boutique hotels have Michelin One Key recognition.

For a resort experience, reserve one of the properties at the Garza Blanca Preserve. The newest accommodation, Garza Blanca Sanctuary Tower, offers an all-inclusive experience with personalized butler service, a panoramic infinity pool, a rooftop bar, and ocean-view suites. The preserve is also home to Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta, the destination’s only five-diamond adults-only resort. Guests can reserve modern ocean-view suites and enjoy on-site wine tastings, tequila tastings, yoga classes, paddleboarding, and snorkeling. The all-inclusive package includes gourmet dining, premium beverages, and personalized spa treatments.

For a more private retreat, Puerto Vallarta is also home to exceptional villa rentals. Villa Pura Vida offers ocean views and a heated infinity pool, while Villa McFuego is decorated with charming Mexican folk decor with private beach access. The adults-only Villa Lala features suites with private infinity pools overlooking the Pacific.

Where to Eat and Drink

Puerto Vallarta is earning its place as a destination for some of Mexico’s top restaurants. ICÚ was recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026. Make a reservation in the elegant dining room for the seasonal tasting menu. Tintoque serves creative local Mexican seafood dishes, while the artistic Makal is known for modern Mexican fusion cuisine.

For unforgettable sunset views, dine at the open-air La Cappella Restaurante, where Italian cuisine is served against the backdrop of the iconic Guadalupe Cathedral. One of the city’s most avant-garde restaurants, La Leche, pairs an all-white aesthetic with a creative gourmet menu. Le Kliff offers seafood with sweeping views of Banderas Bay, while Blanca Blue Restaurant at Garza Blanca Resort delivers a beachfront Mexican dining experience.

After dinner, sip Mexican spirits on the terrace at The Iguana in Casa Kimberly or enjoy craft cocktails at the LGBTQ+-owned Elixir Mixology Bar. If you prefer a lounge vibe, reserve a table at El Colibrí.

What to Do

Puerto Vallarta provides plenty of ways to relax, recharge, and embrace the outdoors. Golfers can book a tee time at Vista Vallarta Club de Golf, while wellness travelers can visit Khōna, a reformer Pilates studio. You can also book a yoga retreat in the jungle at Xinalani Retreat, where daily yoga classes, a gorgeous spa, and a traditional Temazcal (an ancestral sweat lodge ritual for physical and spiritual purification) are offered. Beyond Yoga Retreat hosts eight-day yoga retreats throughout the year featuring twice-daily yoga, open-air meditation, sound baths, breathwork, and more.

The most luxurious spa experience in Puerto Vallarta may be Garza Blanca’s Spa Imagine, where ocean-view hydrotherapy treatments are paired with a menu that includes HydraFacials, cacao body wraps, and Thai massages.

For a classic beach club experience, reserve a day pass at Xalli Club and enjoy aquamarine waters and silky white sand. Visit Atarraya to learn about Jalisco’s agave spirit, raicilla, or shop for locally made goods at Calima, fine jewelry at Musa, beachwear at Zol, and handcrafted pieces at Piedra de Río, all located within TierraLuna Gardens.

And no trip to Puerto Vallarta is complete without a boat ride. Jet’s Private Boat Tours offers private yacht charters around Banderas Bay.

Art, History, and Culture

There’s more to Puerto Vallarta than serene beaches, delicious local cuisine, and agave-fueled parties. The town also offers countless ways to immerse yourself in local art, history, and culture. It’s not a “massive museum” kind of scene. Puerto Vallarta’s soul is found in the small galleries, vibrant street art, live music, and cultural performances.

Puerto Vallarta has around 80 art galleries, many of which are located in the Centro and Zona Romántica neighborhoods. For nearly 30 years, many galleries have stayed open until 10 PM to participate in the weekly Vallarta ArtWalk, held on Wednesdays from October through May. It’s the best time to visit Vallarta’s galleries, as many artists are on-site to showcase their work. The walk is self-guided, and the galleries are free to visit. Don’t miss Galleria Dante, Puerto Vallarta’s largest art gallery, which features a sculpture garden and works by more than 60 artists, and ARTVallARTa, a creative hub and gallery for local artists. 

In addition to its galleries, Puerto Vallarta’s Malecón, the oceanfront pedestrian path, is home to several sculptures, including Carlos Espino’s Triton and Nereida sculpture of a merman and mermaid and Rafael Zamarripa’s El Caballito sculpture of a little boy riding a sea horse. Mexican surrealist Sergio Bustamante’s In Search of Reason features three obscure bronze figures: two climbing a massive ladder and the third standing nearby with open arms. In the heart of the Zona Romántica, Plaza Lázaro Cárdenas is an art installation project started in 2017 by local artist Natasha Moraga and a team of community volunteers. What was once a plain concrete plaza is now a vibrant public art square, with benches, planters, and columns adorned in intricate glass and tile mosaics that has since become one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable landmarks.

More public art can be discovered while wandering Puerto Vallarta’s streets. The Cinco de Diciembre neighborhood is home to some of the city’s most striking murals, including Tony Collantes’ psychedelic whale at Uruguay 84. At the corner of San Salvador and Calle Bolivia, murals depict jaguars, toucans, winged sea turtles, birds of paradise, and more. The exterior walls surrounding the Panteón 5 de Diciembre are covered in Día de Muertos artwork featuring massive cempasúchil flowers, ofrendas, Xoloitzcuintli (the hairless dog believed to guide souls to the underworld), and colorful calaveras (skulls).

Beyond visual arts, live performances and music can be enjoyed in Puerto Vallarta. Every evening around 6 PM., the Danza de los Voladores, a jaw-dropping Mesoamerican ritual recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, is performed on a 30-meter-tall pole on the Malecón between Calle Pípila and Calle Leona Vicario. During the performance, four flyers, dressed in colorful traditional clothing, synchronize their spiral from the top of the pole to the ground with only ropes tied around their ankles—the same way the ceremony has been conducted for 1,500 years. The caporal remains at the top of the pole playing a flute throughout the exhibition.

Mariachi, which originated in Jalisco, is another essential part of Puerto Vallarta’s cultural landscape. Though mariachi bands can often be found roaming the beach, the best way to experience this uniquely Mexican tradition is over dinner or drinks. Pipis Restaurant offers live mariachi performances in a fun, casual setting, while Hacienda San Ángel Gourmet features a mariachi band Friday through Sunday, from 7:30 to 8:15 PM and the Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar hosts live mariachi performances Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from November to April.

A Real Piece of Paradise

Luxury isn’t just about five-star hotels or Michelin-recognized restaurants. It’s about slowing down enough to enjoy them. Puerto Vallarta has mastered that balance, pairing exceptional hospitality with a laid-back rhythm that is increasingly hard to find.

Whether you’re sipping raicilla on a rooftop terrace, watching the sun disappear over Banderas Bay from a yacht, lingering over a multicourse tasting menu, or discovering a hidden gallery tucked along a cobblestone street, you’ll quickly understand why generations of travelers keep coming back.

Because the best souvenirs aren’t always the ones you can pack in your suitcase. They’re the feelings of Mexico you bring home with you—ones that stay long after your trip ends.