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
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 2026-10-04Read →
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 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 2026-10-04Read →
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 2026-10-03Read →
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 2026-10-03Read →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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, the Hotel Zone and the southern hills — what each area is like, who it suits, and how many restaurants, bars and hotels we track in each.
Updated 2026-10-03Read →