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The Puerto Vallarta Vibe

From the small village that wasn't here so long ago, Puerto Vallarta is now hard to categorize as it has a great variety of moods that fit most travellers: all-inclusive resorts, luxury spas, spring break party places, hidden boutique B&B's, backpacker dives, budget hotels and apartments, luxury homes, small intimate restaurants to huge chain outlets.

To find the Puerto Vallarta Vibe that'll make you fall in love with the place, you need to find out which Vallarta neighborhood is for you. So we present our guide to Puerto Vallarta Neighborhoods.

Puerto Vallarta Neighborhoods

Old Town

The original and still most authentically Mexican part of the city is south of the River Cuale.  Smaller buildings with lots of vehicle and pedestrian traffic and more stores and restaurants catering to residents instead of tourists. This area is also the home to some of the best values in budget accommodations -- check out the hotels along Francisco Madero for rooms from $10 per night.

Centro / Malecon

The Malecon (or seawall walk) running along the waterfront in front of the Centro (Downtown) area is where the activity centers in the evening. If your style is a casual moonlit stroll to admire the public sculpture, the street performers and to people watch, this is the place to be. But it's also the home of discos and restaurants large and small including all the large chains like Hooters and The Hard Rock Café.  There's a mix of old and new here - the main square and cathedral are located here but so are glossy new malls and clubs. If you want to be close to the nighttime action, this is the area for you. You''ll have to go elsewhere for beaches though.

Zona Romantica

Stylish restaurants and martini bars along Olas Altas and smaller hotels backing up into the hills set the mood for this area.  The "Romantic Zone" is also the heart of Vallarta's thriving gay scene with many gay bars, clubs and restaurants.  There are also two of Vallarta's most popular beaches: Playa Olas Altas and Playa Los Muertos, both lined by palapa style restaurants, beach bars and mid-sized hotel towers.

Hotel Zone

Large hotels and resorts and their mega clubs and restaurants are the feature of this area, all lined by a sandy beach. The mood you get will depend on your hotel - from spring break style partying all year round to more serene places. The non beach side of the main road has some cheaper options as well as much of Puerto Vallarta's big box shopping options.  If you're looking for a place where you can mostly hang at or near your hotel, this might be your area.

Marina

Just north of the hotel zone and the airport, the Marina district offers more mega-resorts. Some are not on a sandy beachfront though, instead facing the marina. The vibe is generally a little older, a little more refined and a little less party central than the hotel zone.

Nuevo Vallarta

It's in the adjoining state of Nayarit (and even in a different time zone) but Nuevo Vallarta is more the same vibe that you'll find in the hotel zone or marina district but even further afield.

North of Vallarta

This area is dotted with both small villages grown to accommodate tourists to purpose-made luxury developments. Punta Mita is an example of the latter. Sayulita is a village turned surfer haven.  San Pancho a mix of village life and exclusive upscale hotels and houses. Rincon de Guaybitos is a package tourist kind of place pitched more at Mexican tourists.

Gringo Gulch

Much prettier than its name, this exclusive hillside neighborhood above the downtown offers you peace and tranquility but is still just blocks from the action of Centro (albeit some very steep blocks if you're walking uphill). Mostly residential, the area also boast a number of high end restaurants and boutique accommodation options.

Conchas Chinas

Hillside community perched in the cliffs just south of Vallarta, mostly condos and houses but many are available for rent.

Mismaloya and Tomatlan

The coastal road south from Vallarta goes just 10 miles before ending in cliffs to steep to build on at Boca de Tomatlan (the main highway goes inland before returning to the coast much further south). The narrow strip has the oft-photographed Los Arcos (the arches) and Mismaloya, where the 1963 film Night of the Iguanas (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton) was filmed which first brought Puerto Vallarta to the attention of the outside world. Mismaloya is home to a larger resort but the area is mostly smaller condo-style places now and Tomatlan itself is a little more local in flavor without the fancy airs.

Yelapa

Yelapa is a small carless town is reachable only by boat (or an all-day hike) from Boca de Tomatlan or Puerto Vallarta.  Its laid-back vibe makes it a nice break from the buzz of Vallarta for a few days (or months) spent doing nothing more than reading or snoozing in your hammock followed by a fresh fish dinner. Small accommodation options from backpacker to boutique luxury.