Puerto Vallarta (Mexico Riviera)

Puerto Vallarta is a major Mexican cruise port city located on Bahia de Banderas (Mexico's biggest natural bay), featuring over 100 ml (160 km) of mountains-encircled coastline. The city has population of around 260,000 (metro 390,000).

The settlement was established in 1851 under the name Las Penas. In 1918, the agricultural town was renamed "Puerto Vallarta" to honor a former governor (Ignacio L.Vallarta). Sierras mountains kept the town fairly isolated. In 1954 started a regularly scheduled air service. The road from Tepic was paved in 1970, opening the way for tourism.

City's tourism has steadily increased over the years and currently makes up to 1/2 of the local economic activity. International travel tourism's peak season runs from late-November through March. Puerto Vallarta beaches are among best-known tourist attractions. Long stretches of sand beaches are located to the north, and a series of coves - to the south. The city itself is relatively big, but has never lost its colonial charm and Mexican flavour - cobbled streets running up and down among the red-tile-roofed houses.

Puerto Vallarta cruise port receives ships on a regular basis during tourist season. In 2015, the port was ranked one of Carnival Cruise Line's Top 5 ports in the world. In 2018, the cruise port handled 134 ship calls. For season 2019 were booked 180 visits. In 2019 summer, Puerto Vallarta inaugurates a new cruise terminal (read more in the terminal section below).

Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal