Puerto Vallarta, Los Muertos Beach and the Bay of Banderas

Puerto Vallarta on the Bahia de Banderas or "Bay of Flags" is named after the Governor of the state of Jalisco, Don Ignacio L. Vallarta and unlike other Mexican vacation destinations was not a planned resort town.  In the 1960s Puerto Vallarta was a small fishing village of about 10,000 residents, which became world famous in 1964 when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton stayed here during the filming of Tennessee Williams’ “Night of the Iguana.”  As a result of newspaper coverage about the beauty and charm of Puerto Vallarta, the town began to receive an increasing number of visitors.

A lot has changed since the first airplane landed here in 1931 and Vallarta is now easily accessible from most principal international cities.  Luxury cruise ships dock here on a daily basis and a good highway connects the town to Tepic, Guadalajara and the rest of the country.

Today Puerto Vallarta has about 300,000 residents and welcomes more than 3 million visitors annually, with many returning year after year.  So it is no surprise then that this Mexican tropical paradise, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, is one of the world’s top beach resorts and is one of the most popular vacation destinations.

Home        Bugambilia Blanca vacation house and condo rental rates

The Bay of Banderas and Beaches

100 miles of mountain-ringed golden coastline hugs the stunningly beautiful Bahia de las Banderas, Mexico’s broadest and deepest natural bay and one of the largest bays in the world.  The coastline stretches from Punta Mita in the north, which is the end of the Sierra de Vallejo mountains to Cabo Corrientes in the south, which is part of the foothills of the Sierra del Cuale range.  The Bahia de Banderas, or “Bay of Flags”, is a member of The World's Most Beautiful Bays Club, whose main objective is the promotion of exceptional, world-renowned bays.

The Bay of Banderas is one of the few places in the world that is a natural sanctuary for such a great profusion of nature and sea life.   Whales, dolphins, giant manta ray, tropical fish, and indigenous birds, such as blue-footed boobies and red-billed tropicbirds, are among the wonders to be experienced.  Dolphins can often be seen frolicking and playing in the bay and during the winter months, of December to March, the humpback whales come to give birth, nurse their calves and mate.  Watching these beautiful giant whales and wild dolphins, in their more natural habitat, is a unique experience and specialist tours are available to take a closer look.  During the summer months, on the beaches further to the south at night time, marine turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand.

As well as teeming with aquatic life, the Bay of Banderas is blessed with dozens of large white sandy beaches, glorious sunshine and sparkling clear blue water ideal for snorkeling and swimming.  With their tall palm trees, these beaches are among the most beautiful in the world.  Nearest to town and probably the most popular beach in Puerto Vallarta is Playa Los Muertos, on Vallarta's south side, where as well as soaking up the sun you can enjoy delicious freshly caught seafood at a beachfront restaurant.  Or relax in a sun chair under a shady Palapa and enjoy a refreshing drink and delicious lunch.

South Side Vallarta and Los Muertos Beach is home to the well-known Blue and Green Chairs beach bar cafes.  Watching one of our spectacular sunsets from here is quite a tradition and everyone waits to see if this time they will see the proverbial "green flash" as the sun sets.  Los Muertos beach is where you will find Los Muertos Pier, which is used for fishing, water taxis and panga rides to the smaller villages to the south.  Villages like Animas, Yelapa and Quimixto that are only accessible by boat.  Small fishing boats are sometimes available for hire from the pier and a few of the boat excursions start out from here.

Climate

Vallarta’s climate has to be among the best in the world, especially during the wintertime when the days are sunny and the nights are cool.  Our excellent semi-tropical climate is perfect for both vacationing and living with an average daily temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months and 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.  About 340 sunny days a year.  From around the middle of June until early October there are late afternoon or evening showers, which are usually of a short duration.

Location

Puerto Vallarta is situated about halfway down the Pacific Coast of Mexico, in the state of Jalisco.  The town sits on the shore of the Bahia de Banderas, or “Bay of Flags”, with the Sierra Madre mountains as a backdrop.

If you have enjoyed reading about Puerto Vallarta and our beautiful beaches then why not come and discover this magical Mexican tropical paradise for yourselves.  Take a look at our rental rates page for details of our vacation house and condos in the Zona Romantica.

Interested in some of the more unusual and specialist types of trips, tours and things to do here in Puerto Vallarta?  Our activities page has some that have been particularly popular with Bugambilia Blanca visitors.

Interesting information about Puerto Vallarta, Los Muertos Beach and the Bay of Banderas.

Home      Bugambilia Blanca vacation house and condo rental rates