Puerto Vallarta – Mexico

Ships dock at the Marina Vallarta Maritime Terminal, which is located three miles north of the famed Malecon Puerto Vallarta, which is an area with beachside boardwalk, shops and restaurants. The port area can only accommodate 3 ships docked at a time. If there are more, they will be anchored and passengers will be tendered in.

 

At the terminal you will find a few shops at the Puerto Magico, an ATM and kisoks where you can book excursions and tours.

 

 

Mexico is known for its silver jewelry and brightly colored clothing and textiles. Puerto Vallarta gets lots of tourists each year, and so there are quite a few shopping opportunities. Hand blown glass and Talavera pottery are favorites along with Mexican sarongs in festive colors and patterns. Tequila is synonymous with Mexico, and there are shops whose sole product is various types and flavors of the drink.

 

Puerto Magico – at the cruise port

This entertainment and shopping area is located right at the port with a few touristy stores and a couple of food venues.

 

Galerías Vallarta – 0.6 miles from cruise port

 

This popular mall in Puerto Vallarta has high-end shopping and is basically across from the cruise port, depending on where you dock.  There are restaurants and underground parking and Walmart next door if you need to pick up some essentials. 

 

Malecon Boardwalk Vallarta – 3.5 miles from cruise port

 

The Malecon is lined with shops that sell a vast variety of items. The Hichol art, pictured above, is a unique art form from the Sierra Madres. Besides various shops, you will also find along the Malecon, numerous restaurants, tequila bars and statues that show the regional culture of Mexico.

 

Mercado Municipal Río Cuale Puerto Vallarta – 3.8 miles from cruise port

If you are heading to the Malecon, go a little further south and visit the Mercado Municipal. Often referred to as a farmers market, you will find handicrafts, souvenirs, clothing, textiles, leather goods, jewelry and everything in between. There are also food areas with Mexican dishes. It is open daily. This short video shows the walk from the Malecon to the Mercado.

 

 

Because of their close proximity to the sea, the Mexican fare in Puerto Vallarta combines Mexican standards with seafood ingredients. Ceviche is found at many restaurants and is a combination of fresh raw fish, octopus or shrimp. These are cured in citrus juices, herbs, chili peppers, chopped onions and other seasoning. 

 

Birria is a meat stew that is marinated in a combination of herbs, spices and chilis and served on a tortilla. This combination can vary, and so the taste can be greatly different from one restaurant to another. 

 

 

Found at many of the street vendor shops, tacos al pastor are prevalent throughout Puerto Vallarta. Inspired by Lebanese immigrants, the meat is marinated and slow cooked on a spit. The meat is commonly pork that has been marinated in lime juices, spices, herbs and chilis. 

 

Chilaquiles are found throughout Mexico, not just in Puerto Vallarta, and are a popular choice for breakfast. Crispy tortilla chips are lathered in red or green sauce and are served with chicken or beef and tipped with fried eggs, onions, cream, avocado and cheese. 

 

 

 

Restaurants Near the Port

Blake’s Bar

This restaurant is located within the cruise terminal – Puerto Magico – and offers bar food, sports on tv and live entertainment. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with views of the bay.

 

 

Food Park PV Gastro Bar – 0.9 miles south of port

At this spot, you can grab pizza, nachos, shawarma, burgers, drinks and dessert from various vendors. They have taco, sushi and lots in between. Much like a food court at a mall, the seating at this venue is outdoors.

 

 

Gallerias Mall – just north of the port

Gallerias has a food court with standard fast food options including Burger King, Carl’s Jr. Chili’s, McDonalds and Starbucks but there is also a sit-down steakhouse and seafood restaurant Maricos El Memin on the property.

 

Peninsula Plaza Vallarta – 0.6 miles south of port

Located at the entrance to a posh condo complex, this plaza has a few restaurants and shops. Starbucks is located here as well as McCarthy’s Irish Pub and Porfrio’s, and upscale Mexican restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Restaurants near the Malecon

Xolo: Maiz Agave Chile – on the Malecon

This authentic Mexican restaurant wants to highlight Mexico’s cultural and culinary history with the ingredients of corn, agave and chilis and pairs amazing views with exceptional service. Highly rated, Xolo uses local and fresh products to create delicious breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and drinks, and has Mariachi night on Fridays.

 

 

El Dorado Restaurant – 0.6 miles south of the Malecon

The views of Playa Los Muertos are priceless with this beach-side restaurant which features  lots of seafood from the waters off Mexico. El Dorado offers fried calamari, red snapper ceviche, tuna poke, stone crab cakes and grilled Pacific octopus. You will also be able to order lobster and bone marrow tacos, salmon with ginger and lemongrass and seared scallops. If  you prefer chicken or steak,

 

Cafe des Artistes – 2 blocks inland from Malecon

A bit more elegant dining can be found at Cafe des Artistes. Grilled meat and vegetarian dishes are paired with chamber music and a garden terrace. The restaurant touts itself as French cuisine with Mexican inspiration. Some of the main dishes are scaled bass with potatoes, marinated octopus with chicatanas, short rib and carbon beef fillet and suckling lamb. They also have a wine list to pair with your entrees.

 

 

Visit the Malecon

The Malecon is located about 3 miles south of the cruise port, but is the place to be in Puerto Vallarta. A quick cab ride from the terminal will take you to this beachside boardwalk area with its shops and restaurants. The area, once you’re there is very walkable. Take a look at this tour by Tony from La Lido Loca:

 

 

Head to the Beach

Playa de Oro – closest to the port

 

Spanish for Golden Beach, Playa de Oro is the closest beach to the cruise port. It’s located along the “Hotel Zone” which means finding a public access point can be kind of tricky, but the closest one is at the harbor entrance, between the Crown Paradise Club resort and the harbor. There is also one off of Av. de las Garcas, on Queztal, between the Icon Vallarta and PuntoMar Beach Club. This video below will give you an idea of what to expect.

 

 

Playa de Los Muertos

 

 

Even though the name of this beach translates to “Dead Man’s Beach”, this is a well-visited and popular beach in Puerto Vallarta. It is located within walking distance of the Malecon boardwalk. Over a mile long, it is popular for swimming, windsurfing and snorkeling.

 

Conchas China Beach

 

Located at the southern end of Playa de Los Muertos, this beach is in a natural cove with a sandy beach and large rock formations. With clear visibility, it is easy to spot the various creatures that like to inhabit the pools around the rock formations. There are no amenities here, but it is a great place to spend an afternoon.

 

Resort Day Pass

Soak up some sun in luxury with a day pass at a beach resort. There’s something for everyone whether you want to lie on the beach with a frosty drink in hand, read by the pool, relax in the spa, or work up a sweat with a game of beach volleyball. Check out the all the options with ResortPass!

 

Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (The Parish of Our Lady Guadalupe) – 2 blocks from The Malecon

This beautiful Catholic church is impressive to see. It is open throughout the day, every day. Built between 1930 and 1940, this remarkable building is in the center of the town square. The church has a neoclassical structure, and a hint of baroque style. Extremely important to Mexican society, Our Lady of Guadalupe is revered by the Mexican people.

 

 

Choco Museo – on the Malecon

Just walking in and smelling all the good smells in this store is a treat. This chocolate specialty shop has a wide variety of chocolates, including chocolate tea. If you have time, take one of their chocolate workshops where you can make your own delicious treats.

 

 

Mirador de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross Viewpoint)

This popular tourist spot offers amazing views of the city and the bay, and is a relatively short hike, but there are about a lot steps to climb before reaching the peak. Try to go when it’s not in the heat of the day and take a bottle of water with you. There is a cable car for part of the climb, but it doesn’t seem to be consistently working.  If you choose to go, the most direct way is to the take Abasolo Street from the Malecon. Click here for more details.

 

Also, this video gives you a good idea of what to expect.:

 

 

Parque Nacional Marino Los Arcos de Mismaloya (Los Arcos Marine Park) – 10 miles from cruise port

 

You can take a snorkeling tour of the park and swim around Los Arcos (pictured above). There are marine birds, colorful fish and coral reefs. Guests have said that the best time to visit is earlier in the day before the rush. You can also paddleboard in the waters around these spectacular rocks. Check out this snorkeling tour to the National Park, which includes snorkel gear, a light lunch, and park admission!