| t |  ALMANAC |
Puerto Vallarta |
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| t | ALMANAC |
Puerto Vallarta |
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Area:  |
26 sq mi |
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| Population:
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121,844 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethnic Composition: |
60% Mestizo 30% Native American 10% European | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History:
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The Spanish first entered the area in 1524, and were greeted by more than 18,000 Indians, many carrying crude flags. Thus, the Spanish named the area "Valle de Las Banderas" (Valley of the Flags). The valley slept for several centuries until 1851 when Guadalupe Sanchez purchased the land near the Rio Cuale and began farming the fertile soil, shipping his crops to the mining operations in the Sierra Madre. Puerto Vallarta was officially recognized as a city of Mexico in 1918. The first hotel opened in 1948, and the first Mexicana Airlines' flight touched ground in 1954 using a dirt runway just south of Rio Cuale. The biggest boost to Puerto Vallarta - in terms of tourism - came in 1963 when a famous Hollywood director, John Huston, filmed "Night of the Iguana" starring Richard Burton and Ava Gardner. The real attraction wasn't the film, however, but the off camera love affair between Liz Taylor and Mr. Burton (Ms. Taylor wasn't even in the film). Reporters and photographers stormed the beaches of Puerto Vallarta and supplied the world with juicy photos and stories. Thus, Puerto Vallarta became known to millions of vacationers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview: |
Today, while still retaining the charm of a century ago, Puerto Vallarta is a world class resort. Days are filled with fun and sun on the famous beaches of Banderas Bay, Mexico's largest natural bay. The stunning backdrop of the Sierra Madre mountains, combined with the beauty of the beaches, provides the ultimate vacation or living situation. And most who come to Puerto Vallarta … yearn to return. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transportation: |
International flights, trains, taxis, buses, and car rentals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language: |
Though Spanish is the official language, English is understood by most people employed in the tourism industry. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion:
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90% Roman Catholic 5% Protestant 5% Other | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literacy: |
98% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Life Expectancy:
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68 years | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Per Capita Income: |
$3,759 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency:
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Peso/divided into 100 centavos Notes: P10,20,50,100,200,500 Coins: 1,2,5,10 pesos 5,10,20,50 centavos Credit cards are widely accepted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time
Zone: |
Central Time(USA): Two hours ahead of California, one hour behind New York. GMT -6. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temperature Range:
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Average Air Temperatures: Fahrenheit
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| Phone
Code: |
The city code is 322. The country code is 52. Visitors are advised to reverse the charges due to the high cost of long distance. One option is to buy a local telephone company Ladatel phone card for $20 or $50. You can also use your AT&T, MCI, and Sprint codes at the standard inter- national rates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electricity:
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Current is 110 volts AC, 60 Hz. Two-pin plugs are standard. Visitors from abroad who wish to operate personal small electronic items should bring a plug adapter and a transformer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Measurements: |
The metric system is standard throughout Mexico. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Business Hours:
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Shops are generally open Monday-Saturday from 9-10 AM to 7-8 PM some shops close for a siesta between 1 and 4 PM. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Banking
Info: |
Banks are generally open weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM. Local banks: Banca Serfin, Bancomer, Banco Union. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Activities: |
Deep waters provide an excellent haul of sailfish, marlin, and smaller game fish. The water is generally quite calm, therefore sailing, windsurfing, and parasailing are exceptionally good. There are two 18-hole golf courses, and several fine public tennis centers. Horseback riding and mountain bike riding are also popular in Puerto Vallarta. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Puerto Vallarta is probably the resort with the greatest variety of shops and selections. You'll find quaint shops in Old Town and large shopping malls in Marina Vallarta. Whatever you want, you're sure to find it in Puerto Vallarta's many stores and galleries. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nightlife: |
You'll have no dull or mediocre nights in Puerto Vallarta, because the nightlife never stops. There are all kinds of bars including discos, which generally start rolling about midnight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dining: |
There are more than 300 restaurants in or near Cancun, ranging from fast food to casual bistros to elegant, themed dining. And by all means, as long as you're in Cancun, don't miss trying. Some of the local Mayan dishes such as Huevos Moltulenos, Cochinita, Polo Pibil, and Sopa de Lima (you're in for a culinary treat). You might start your evening by hotel hopping in the early evening hours. You'll find some excellent happy hours, great live music, good happy hour food, and some incredibly beautiful resort settings. |
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| Beverages: |
Mexican beers rank with the best in the world. Bohemia, Tecate, Dos Equis, Corona, Pacifico are some of the best known premier beers. Mexican wines are surely drinkable. Among the national alcoholic beverages, those produced from different species of the maguey pulque, mezcal, and tequila are the most popular. Margarita are a icy sensation blending Tequila, Triple Sec, lemon & lime juices. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxes: |
A 15% value-added tax is added to all goods and services, hotel rooms, and rental cars. |
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| Tipping & Bargaining: |
15% is standard at major resorts, 10% at smaller resorts. Airport porters usually get US1$ per bag. Cleaning people and gas station attendants usually US1$. People who watch your car, ushers, and washroom attendants just pocket change. Taxi drivers don't usually get tips, but tour guides do. Bargaining is the rule when you're hopping in an open, outdoor market. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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