Budget Traveller's Guide to Puerto Vallarta 🇲🇽
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Budget Traveller's Guide to Puerto Vallarta 🇲🇽
Eric and Sarah
Available for hire
Everyone knows Puerto Vallarta as the Mexican holiday destination full of all-inclusive resorts and luxury experiences. But what if you want to do things a little bit different??
We spent two weeks in Puerto Vallarta and were pleasantly surprised by the number of free and cheap things to see and do! We love slow, budget travel because it challenges you to get out of the "resort bubble" and experience what a place truly has to offer. We hope this guide inspires you to explore this beautiful coastal city on your own, without breaking the bank.
Included sections in this guide:
- Areas to stay
- Links to budget and mid-range accommodations
- Free + Cheap Things to Do
- "Splurge" Activities
- Nearby Day Trips
- How to get around (public transit)
- Cheap(ish) Restaurants
Unlocking this guide gives you access for life so you will automatically receive any updates when we return to Puerto Vallarta or hear of additional recommendations from other travellers. Plus this guide is web- and mobile-friendly so you can save it to reference as you travel!
We hope this guide provides everything you need to know to plan your own DIY trip to Puerto Vallarta!
Tag us in your planning and travels so we can see your experiences in this amazing town! @EricandSarah_
Updated ago
22
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[ Where to Stay ]
Puerto Vallarta has many different areas of town, all with different vibes. These are all the areas of PV and a short description of what each has to offer in case you wish to search for your own accommodations. Further down you will see links to a variety of budget and mid-priced accommodatios that we recommend in PV.
Zona Romántica
@ericandsarah
Romantic Zone (or Old Town) is the most popular area to stay because there are so many restaurants and bars, it's close to the southern beaches and it is very walkable. But it can be quite loud at night in certain areas so be prepared for some evening noise if you plan to stay in this area!
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Centro and 5 de Diciembre (downtown)
@ericandsarah
Our favourite area to stay in PV because it has beautiful cobblestone streets, more locals and easy access to the boardwalk. It's also much more affordable (because you won't find fancy hotels here).
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Zona Hotelera
@ericandsarah
Where the majority of the hotels are (hence the name Hotel Zone). Not our favourite area because it's all hotels... but if you're looking to stay in a hotel, this is the place for you! It is very centrally located and easy to access everything in PV.
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Marina Vallarta
@ericandsarah
Not the best beaches and not very local but very close to the airport and many beautiful condos, resorts and hotels located here (our least favourite area because it's so fancy).
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Nuevo Vallarta
@ericandsarah
Popular town to stay in about 30 mins from downtown PV. Mainly a hotel strip (no real town or local shops) but beautiful beach if you're hoping for more of a hotel experience!
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Bucerías
@ericandsarah
A small town just past Nuevo Vallarta. Much more local and quiet so a great alternative if you want access to all the activities in PV but don't want to stay within the city itself.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Eric and Sarah
Available for hire
🌎 Slow travel enthusiasts in Latin America
✈️ Showing you where to go, what to do and how to do it (on a budget)
👫 Just an average travel couple who loves adventure!
We have been travelling Latin America for 2.5+ years while working remotely and creating informational YouTube videos. We spend AT LEAST a week (usually more) in each destination so we truly get to know the best restaurants, activities, accommodations and town vibes. Our recommendations are extremely vetted so you can trust us to provide you with only the best information! We like to travel on a budget while balancing splurging on worthwhile experiences.
If you have any questions about our guides or any of the countries we've travelled (Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico and Costa Rica), feel free to book a consultation or reach out at hello@ericandsarah.ca
What's included
Digital Map
Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby
43 places
43 hand-picked places with notes from the creator
7 links
7 links from the creator to go even deeper with more info
DESTINATION(S) COVERED
Jalisco, Mexico
Mexico
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Bucerías, Nayarit, Mexico
yelapa, Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico
Yelapa Beach, Jalisco, Mexico
Punta Mita, Nayarit, Mexico
Nuevo vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
Sayulita, Nayarit, Mexico
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico
Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico
FOCUSES AND THEMES
Adventure
Architecture
Budget
Nature
Luxury
Slow Travel
Photography
Coffee
Beach
Relaxation
BEST TIME OF YEAR
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Format
Guide
Guides typically include detailed information and how-to’s about a destination as well as suggested places to try.
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