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Puerto Vallarta

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Puerto Vallarta is a famous resort city in Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta 071
Puerto Vallarta 071

It sits on the Pacific coast in the state of Jalisco. The city is located near a large body of water called Bahía de Banderas. This bay is part of the beautiful Mexican coastline. To the north, the area borders the state of Nayarit. To the east, it sits near the towns of Mascota and San Sebastián del Oeste. The city is the seat of its own municipality.

Puerto Vallarta Vista Panorámica
Puerto Vallarta Vista Panorámica

This area stretches from Boca de Tomatlán to the Ameca River.

The land here has a very specific shape. The city lies on a narrow coastal plain. This plain sits at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. Specifically, it is below the Sierras Cuale and San Sebastián. Three rivers flow from these mountains down to the coast. These rivers are named the Cuale, the Pitillal, and the Ameca.

Rio Cuale (16267677544)
Rio Cuale (16267677544)

Many people live in the valleys created by these rivers. Some homes even spread up the green hillsides.

History in this region goes back a very long time. Evidence shows people lived here as far back as 580 BC.

Puerto Vallarta cathedral 1
Puerto Vallarta cathedral 1

Later, the area was part of the Aztlán culture. The modern village was officially founded on December 12, 1851. A man named Guadalupe Sánchez Torres helped start the town. It was originally called Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe. By 1885, the small village had about 800 residents.

Puerto Vallarta downtown street
Puerto Vallarta downtown street

The city grew much more in the 20th century.

The weather in Puerto Vallarta is tropical. This means it has wet summers and dry winters. The rainy season lasts from mid-June through mid-October. August is usually the wettest month of the year.

Playa de Los Muertos
Playa de Los Muertos

Most rain falls in large, sudden storms. The winters are much drier and sunnier. Hurricanes can sometimes affect the area. In 2015, a very powerful storm named Patricia was forecast to hit. Luckily, it weakened before it reached the city.

Today, most people in the city work in tourism. About 80% of the workforce helps visitors. They work in hotels, restaurants, or transportation.

Velas Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta (2014) - 91
Velas Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta (2014) - 91

The city has many different neighborhoods to explore. The Centro is the oldest part of the town. It is located near the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Crkva u meksičkom gradu Puerto Vallarti
Crkva u meksičkom gradu Puerto Vallarti

There is also a large hotel zone along the northern shore. Travelers often call the city "P.V." for short.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:PVE logo (Mexico).svg
PVE logo (Mexico).svg
File:Balboa südsee.jpg
Balboa südsee.jpg
File:Crkva u meksičkom gradu Puerto Vallarti.jpg
Crkva u meksičkom gradu Puerto Vallarti.jpg
File:Puerto Vallarta 071.jpg
Puerto Vallarta 071.jpg
File:Puerto Vallarta Vista Panorámica.jpg
Puerto Vallarta Vista Panorámica.jpg
File:Velas Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta (2014) - 91.JPG
Velas Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta (2014) - 91.JPG
File:Puerto Vallarta (February 22, 2023) - 48.jpg
Puerto Vallarta (February 22, 2023) - 48.jpg
File:Playa de Los Muertos.jpg
Playa de Los Muertos.jpg
File:Puerto Vallarta downtown street.jpg
Puerto Vallarta downtown street.jpg
File:Puerto_Vallarta_cathedral_1.jpg
Puerto_Vallarta_cathedral_1.jpg
File:Playa Conchas Chinas.jpg
Playa Conchas Chinas.jpg
File:Rio Cuale (16267677544).jpg
Rio Cuale (16267677544).jpg

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