LOCATION:
Puerta Vallarta is situated on the Pacific coast of Mexico in the northwest corner of the state of Jalisco.

GEOGRAPHY / DESCRIPTION:
Puerta Vallarta is a quaint, colonial seaside village encircled by the rugged, tropical Sierra Madre mountains to the east and fronted by the Bay of Banderas, Mexico's largest natural bay. The center of town is divided by the Cuale River.

CLIMATE:

	Average Temp.
Season	High	Low
January - April	86	63
May - December	92	70
Rainy Season: Late June through Sept., mainly afternoon showers.

ARRIVAL/ DEPARTURE:
The Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (code PVR) is located four miles north of downtown (centro). There are frequent taxi or van transfers from the airport at reasonable rates. Pay at the taxi booth and they'll assign you to a taxi/van that will take you to your destination. Proof of citizenship is necessary to cross the border into Mexico. Either a current passport, birth certificate or voter's registration will suffice. Upon arrival, visitors are given a Tourist Card which must be turned in upon departure at the airport. At that time, a departure tax is charged and payable in U.S. dollars or Mexican pesos. Some airlines now include this tax when ticketing, but check ahead to make sure.

CURRENCY:
Pesos, although U.S. dollars are widely accepted in businesses throughout town. Major credit cards are also accepted in most establishments. Check the current exchange rate at: Universal Currency Converter

ELECTRICITY:
Mexico operates on the same 110-volt-60 current as the United States.

POPULATION:
Puerta Vallarta is home to 350,000 residents and attracts more than 2 million visitors annually.

SPORTS/RECREATION:
Tennis: In addition to the dozens of courts in the resort area, Puerta Vallarta has two exceptional tennis centers: The Continental Plaza Tennis Center and Los Tules Tennis Club. Golf: Puerta Vallarta offers two challenging courses: Los Flamingos Country Club: Jungle-lined fairways located in the neighboring State of Nayarit, and... Marina Vallarta Country Club: Joe Finger designed 18 hole, par 71, championship links with scenic lakes, ponds and lagoons. A new 18-hole, championship Jack Nicklaus-designed course will open in 1999 in nearby Punta de Mita. Watersports: Blessed with 25 miles of golden beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay, Puerta Vallarta presents limitless possibilities for enjoying the Pacific. Most hotels can arrange for activities, including water-skiing, wind surfing, deep sea fishing, sailing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, catamaran and yacht excursions and parasailing. Hiking, Mountain Biking and Jungle Tours: Energetic visitors can stretch their legs while exploring the lush, tropical terrain of the surrounding Sierra Madre mountains or by signing up for one of the several hour-long escorted horseback tours through rural villages and spectacular scenery. Horseback Riding: Horse rentals are available at most major hotels from local vendors, and riders can choose from trails around the city or in the mountains.

SHOPPING:
Puerta Vallarta boasts fine shopping and eclectic treasures. Along its charming cobblestone streets and Malecon (the city's waterfront walkway) are literally scores of establishments offering everything from designer fashions to casual resort wear, fine jewelry to hand- leather goods, one of a kind embroidered skirts and blouses to colorful souvenir T-shirts.

ART & CULTURE:
Puerta Vallarta's fine art galleries are internationally acclaimed and present, among others, the work of such renowned local artists as Sergio Bustamante, Manuel Lepe, Javier Niño, Rogelio Díaz and Evelyne Boren. Vallarta is increasingly becoming a center for fine indegenous and native art works, especially those created by the neighboring Huichol Indians. In addition, regular classes are held at various venues in town for those wanting to study painting, sculpture, pottery, beadwork or other artistic endeavors while on vacation.

RESTAURANTS:
When it comes to dining, dancing, and late night romancing, Puerta Vallarta does it con gusto. Whether the call is for sunset margaritas at a quiet cliff side terrace or piña coladas at a boisterous "gringo bar" its wide variety of bars is unsurpassed along the Mexican Riviera. Dozens of restaurants in town and at the various resorts serve up a gamut of international cuisine, from Mexican to Italian, French to Argentine, Cajun to Japanese, in settings ranging from funky beach palapas to elegant candlelit dinner houses. And when the sun goes down, the fun really begins at nightclubs and discos that rival those in any cosmopolitan city.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS:
1550's Local coast explored by Spanish conquistadors. 1851 Area surrounding the River Cuale is settled by farmers, fishermen, miners and the owners of banana and mango plantations. 1918 Puerta Vallarta, formerly known as Puerta Las Peņas, is officially named after Ignacio L. Vallarta, governor of the State of Jalisco during the Mexican Revolution and an author of the Mexican constitution. Approximately 1,500 residents live in this modest community that serves as a port for silver shipments from local Cuale mines. 1964 Oscar-winning film director John Huston arrives with Richard Burton and movie crew to film Tennessee William's "Night of the Iguana." Elizabeth Taylor's appearance in town and torrid affair with Burton causes a Hollywood scandal which becomes international headline news. Puerta Vallarta gains instant fame and becomes a popular destination for visitors from around the world. 1997 A magical combination of colonial charm and cosmopolitan amenities, Puerta Vallarta now has 350,00 residents, more than 14,000 hotel rooms and attracts over 1.5 million annual visitors.

GETTING THERE:
Direct regularly scheduled air service is available from the following gateways in the U.S. and in Mexico: