Puerto Vallarta real estate investment guide with homes, condominiums and villas for sale in Puerto Vallarta, Punta de Mita, Nuevo Vallarta and surrounding areas.

About Puerto Vallarta

Location: Jalisco State, Pacific coast, western Mexico
Distance from Mexico City: 550 miles west
Population: 180,000
Closest major airport: Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Intl. aka Puerto Vallarta Intl (PVR)
Time zone: Central Standard Time
Climate: Wet/Dry with wet season from May 15 through November 15.

Located in Jalisco State, Puerto Vallarta is nestled on the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags), the second largest bay on the American continent, and surrounded by the majestic Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains. The city offers 25 miles of golden beaches on the Mexican Pacific and is characterized by its impressive colonial and modern buildings, deluxe hotels, shopping malls and golf courses. These attractions have made the city a favorite among vacationers and retirees, who now call the city home.

The historic downtown area of Puerto Vallarta is quaint and walk-friendly, with cobblestone streets, white-walled houses, wrought-iron balconies and red-tiled roofs, complemented by impressive colonial structures like the Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and original murals by the artist Manuel Lepe. The local Museum of Archaeology is also worth noting for its display of pre-Colombian artifacts from the nearby archaeological site.

The beaches at and near Puerto Vallarta are breathtaking, each with its unique charm. The best beach for such water sports as sailing, fishing and jet skiing, for example, is Bahía de Banderas, while Quimixto, Punta Mita and los Arcos are ideal for diving. Boat rides around the bay offer the chance to observe dolphins, turtles and humpback whales.