Quintessentially Mexican

“Puerto Vallarta, I’m convinced, is the most Mexican beach destination of Mexico,” says Enrique Ramos Flores, Secretary of Tourism for the state of Jalisco, which is home to the popular holiday destination on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. “Riviera Maya/Cancun has beautiful beaches, but it seems like you’re in Miami Beach.”

It may be a bold statement, but authenticity certainly rings true for this Mexican destination on Banderas Bay, which features views of the nearby Sierra Madre Mountains, reports assistant editor, Ann Ruppenstein in this week’s Travel Courier cover story.

From its charming cobblestone streets, traditional architecture and boardwalk — the Malecón — to its thriving gastronomy, nightlife and art galleries, Puerto Vallarta has a lot to offer visitors beyond a beach escape.

“It’s truly a Mexican place,” says Javier Aranda Pedrero, general director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. “In any other place in our 11,000 km of beach that we have in Mexico, you won’t find any other place like it. We’re working to keep that ambiance, that style for the future, not only for our visitors but for ourselves because we are very proud of this beautiful part of Mexico.”

A top vacation spot for US and Canadian travellers, Puerto Vallarta, which noted a 75.6% occupancy rate in 2017, is celebrating its centennial anniversary this May.

“It’s very important to keep the Mexican flavour of Puerto Vallarta intact,” says Aranda Pedrero. “We’re celebrating 100 years since we’re a municipality, but our city is older than that.”

For the full story, check out this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier.