Vallarta Pro guides
Straight answers to what people look up before and during a trip — written here, checked against official sources, and dated.
Vallarta Pro guides
How to spend 3 days in Puerto Vallarta without wasting time in traffic. Morning coffee in Zona Romántica, afternoon beaches, a sunset catamaran cruise, and the legendary Rhythms of the Night.
Updated 2026-11-13Read →
The ultimate 5-day Puerto Vallarta itinerary for families with kids of all ages. Flat stroller-friendly walks, glass-bottom boats, baby turtle releases, and road-free beach coves.
Updated 2026-11-13Read →
The complete 7-day Puerto Vallarta itinerary for first-timers. Whales, Islas Marietas, Yelapa waterfalls, Sayulita surf, Botanical Gardens, and Rhythms of the Night.
Updated 2026-11-13Read →
Yes — American crocodiles live in Puerto Vallarta's estuaries and river mouths and sometimes reach the beach. Which beaches the authorities flag, when risk is highest, what the flags mean, and what to do if you see one.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →
Hotel Zone, Marina Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, or the South Shore — compare beaches, airport drive times, adults-only vs family resorts & top picks.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
How foreigners buy homes and condos in Puerto Vallarta: Mexico's coastal restricted zone, how the bank trust (fideicomiso) works under the Foreign Investment Law, the notario's role, and what to check before you sign.
Updated 2026-10-04Read →
Puerto Vallarta's tap water is certified safe where it leaves the city system — but most buildings store it in rooftop tanks and cisterns. Here's what that means for drinking, ice and brushing your teeth.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →
Fiber internet (Telmex & Totalplay), verified coworking spaces, rainy-season CFE power outages, 180-day entry & tax residency rules in Puerto Vallarta.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
The 31st Festival Gourmet International runs November 12–22, 2026 across Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. How it works, participating restaurants, guest chefs, menus, and how to reserve.
Updated 2026-11-12Read →
From December 1 to 12, 2026, hundreds of colorful pilgrimages walk down Calle Juárez to the Church of Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta. Route, schedule, street food, and tips.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Why Puerto Vallarta is Mexico's best-known LGBTQ+ destination: the Zona Romántica, the beach by Blue Chairs, long-running bars and cabarets, Vallarta Pride (May 23–31, 2027) and Bear Week (January 2027), plus the legal basics.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →
How to get around Puerto Vallarta in 2026: Uber and DiDi (including the airport), street taxis, the 11-peso city bus, and water taxis to the south-shore beaches.
Updated 2026-10-04Read →
Puerto Vallarta's hurricane season explained: official dates and peak, what offshore storms like Polo and Rachel did in 2026 (red flags, a closed Malecón, boats halted), past landfalls, Mexico's color alert system and how to plan a trip.
Updated 2026-10-04Read →
US State Dept Jalisco/Nayarit advisories, Canada travel advice, INEGI ENSU Sep 2026 & ENVIPE 2026 numbers, plus ATM, Uber, taxi, scam & ocean safety.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Head-to-head comparison of Puerto Vallarta's top two boat excursions. Costs, travel times, the 116-person Hidden Beach rule, seasickness risk, and which tour to book.
Updated 2026-11-13Read →
What is known about New Year's Eve in Puerto Vallarta: the free Malecón party and fireworks as they were in 2025, where people celebrated in earlier years, and what to book ahead. Updated when the 2026 program is announced.
Updated 2026-11-13Read →
How to get from Puerto Vallarta airport (PVR) to the Romantic Zone, Centro or the Hotel Zone — getting past the timeshare corridor, how the official taxis work, where Uber and DiDi actually pick up, and the local bus.
Updated 2026-10-04Read →
Puerto Vallarta, Cancún and Los Cabos compared on official weather-station data (rain, rainy days, day and night temperatures), swimming beaches, hurricane seasons and what each place is like.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
They're different towns in different states, on the same bay and the same clock. How Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta compare for walkability, restaurants, nightlife, resorts and families — with numbers from our map.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →
Where snowbirds stay for 1–5 months in Puerto Vallarta & Bucerías, 180-day FMM entry rules, avoiding CFE Tarifa DAC electric bills, fiber internet & healthcare.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Where to eat Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26, 2026) and Christmas Eve dinner in Puerto Vallarta: 2026 dinners confirmed so far, what restaurants served and charged last year, Mexican Nochebuena traditions and booking tips. Updated as menus are announced.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Puerto Vallarta's best beaches, from Los Muertos and Blue Flag-certified Camarones to the south-shore coves — with the latest official water-quality results, crocodile advisories and what the beach flags mean.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →
When humpback whales are in Banderas Bay, the federal rules licensed boats must follow, small boat vs. catamaran, what to bring, and how to spot an operator worth booking.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Best months to visit Puerto Vallarta: 12-month temps, rainfall, sea warmth, whale season, hurricane window, and crowd/hotel trade-offs with official WMO data.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Is a baby sea turtle release good for kids? What the evening is like, the rules children need to follow, when to go and how to choose a family-friendly program.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
What COFEPRIS and US Embassy rules allow in luggage at PVR, banned ingredients like pseudoephedrine, antibiotic prescriptions, and local pharmacies.
Updated 2026-11-11Read →
What snowbirds need to take a dog or cat from the US to Mexico and back in 2026: the new dog screwworm certificate, arrival inspection and CDC return rules.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
We track 233 dental clinics around Banderas Bay. The best-rated by area from Google ratings, how to verify a dentist's license and what to ask first.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
No road reaches Yelapa — you go by boat. Water taxis from Los Muertos pier and Boca de Tomatlán, published schedules and fares, the last boat back, and what to do once you're there.
Updated 2026-11-12Read →
What to do if you get sick or hurt in Puerto Vallarta: pharmacy doctor's offices for minor problems, the main private hospitals and where they are, the 911 emergency number, and why travel insurance matters.
Updated 2026-10-04Read →
Ways to support sea turtle camps near Puerto Vallarta: nest adoption (reported from 250 pesos), donations, volunteering and small habits that help.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
The official rules for Playa del Amor — 116 visitors a day, closed Mondays and Tuesdays, low tide only — the difference between a Hidden Beach tour and an islands cruise, and what to bring.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →
What June to October in Puerto Vallarta is really like — rain by month from the official weather station, sea temperature, hurricane season, and who the rainy season suits.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →
Does Medicare or a Canadian provincial plan cover you in Puerto Vallarta? What Medigap pays, what it does not, and what to ask before you buy travel insurance.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Learn the essential Mexican slang words and phrases to sound like a local in Puerto Vallarta. From ordering a beer to greeting your waiter.
Updated 2026-10-04Read →
2026 Temporary & Permanent Residency financial rules using INEGI's $117.31 MXN UMA, FMM 180-day tourist rules, and the consulate-first INM exchange process.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
How snowbirds avoid 5–12% ATM Dynamic Currency Conversion markups in Puerto Vallarta, compare Wise & Schwab cards, and pay CFE or Telmex bills at OXXO.
Updated 2026-11-11Read →
Where snowbirds play pickleball in Puerto Vallarta and Bucerías (PlayTime Scheduler), play golf at Marina, Vista Vallarta & El Tigre, and volunteer locally.
Updated 2026-11-11Read →
Best gentle beaches, COFEPRIS water checks, Vallarta Botanical Gardens fees, climate heat/UV by month, kid-ready tours & Jalisco car-seat reality in Uber.
Updated 2026-11-12Read →
Mexican mandatory TPL insurance (Art. 63 Bis), credit card CDW rules, PVR airport counters, Sayulita Hwy 200 vs Via Corta tolls & when Uber beats driving.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
How snowbirds avoid deposit scams, verify CFE Tarifa 1C vs DAC electric meters, check bilingual leases, and compare Puerto Vallarta winter rents.
Updated 2026-11-11Read →
Compare eSIMs (Airalo & Holafly) before landing at PVR airport, Telcel Amigo Sin Límite prepaid packages, and home fiber (Telmex & Totalplay) by colonia.
Updated 2026-11-11Read →
Compostela bus from PVR Airport vs driving to Sayulita and San Pancho, parking rules, COFEPRIS Nayarit water checks & Sayulita's proposed eco-fee status.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
When baby sea turtle releases happen in Banderas Bay, how a release works, how to choose an ethical one, what it costs and where the camps are.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
Los Arcos de Mismaloya protection rules, 1975 DOF decree vs marine park myth, water taxi vs tours, seasonal underwater visibility & safety.
Updated 2026-11-10Read →
How much to tip in Puerto Vallarta restaurants, bars, hotels and on tours, what Mexican law says about tips added to the bill, paying in pesos vs dollars, and why to decline the ATM's conversion offer.
Updated 2026-10-04Read →
Zona Romántica, Centro, 5 de Diciembre, Versalles, Marina Vallarta, Hotel Zone & Conchas Chinas — character, trade-offs & live restaurant/hotel counts (2026).
Updated 2026-11-10Read →What's on this week in Vallarta, plus a heads-up when holiday plans and dates are announced. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
