PUERTO VALLARTA
The main reason visitors from all over the world flock to Puerto Vallarta is for the beaches. However, the picturesque Historical Center, art-filled boulevard, and magnificent views of the Bahía de Banderas, as well as the Zona Romántica (Romantic District), are all highlights which make this city a unique, unforgettable destination.
Located on the Pacific coast, 205 miles (330 km) from Guadalajara (the capital of the state of Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta is home to Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, with connections to major cities in the country, as well as important foreign cities. As such, it has become one of the main tourist destinations in Mexico.
This is with good reason, given that the hotel offer in Puerto Vallarta is varied, with both low-cost and high-end options. Furthermore, there is a huge variety of water sports and activities on offer, with something for everyone: diving, snorkeling, bungee jumping, parasailing, kayaking, game fishing, swimming with dolphins, seasonal whale-watching, jet skis, boat rides, flyboard, windsurfing and surfing, among others.
Behind the beautiful city is the Sierra Madre Occidental (a mountain range in west and northwest Mexico), which provides a lush, green backdrop with a number of waterfalls, and El Jorullo suspension bridge. The outdoor adventure and nature-based activities on offer there expand on the already rich menu of attractions: adrenaline-filled zip lines, ATV rides, horseback riding or mountain bike tours, rappelling, and peaceful nature walks to observe the landscape and birds living in the trees.
Puerto Vallarta is however also considered a “gourmet city” due to the large number of restaurants with renowned chefs at the helm, and the delicious creativity which goes into their dishes. After enjoying an ocean or mountain-based activity, you can regain your strength with top-notch gastronomical delights, and then make an evening of it with the city’s lively nightlife.
Puerto Vallarta, which was originally known as Las Peñas, was founded in 1851. Tourism-based development however took place in the eighties, when Marina Vallarta (the Vallarta Marina) was built. It has not stopped growing since, and continues to win the hearts of visitors, who just keep coming back.
If you are planning a break in Puerto Vallarta, the best time to visit is between April and June, to avoid the rainy season. From December to March, however, whale-watching can be enjoyed in this area of the Pacific.
CANCUN
Its beautiful scenery framed by white sand beaches and turquoise sea; its extension and biodiversity in its reefs, lagoons, cenotes and forest; its ancestral Mayan culture wealth; its great air and ground transportation connectivity and; its highest level hotel infrastructure have positioned Cancún, Quintana Roo, as the most awarded Mexican tourist destination in the world and as a leader city in Latin America.
Cancún was the first tourist development of the Fondo Nacional de Turismo (FONATUR in its Spanish acronym). After its opening in the early seventies, travelers from all latitudes immediately arrived to explore its 23 kilometer coastline and to enjoy the quality of its hotels (35 thousand rooms) that still set the highest hospitality standards for the rest of the world.
When talking about Cancún, it’s impossible to avoid its beaches, which are mainly located along the Kukulkan Boulevard in the Hotel Zone. If you travel with children, elderly people, or in the case that you can´t swim very well, we suggest you choose a hotel located between kilometers 3 to 8.5. In those specific beaches, ocean waves are soft as they are located in front of Isla Mujeres which allows the formation of a bay called Bahía de Isla Mujeres.
On the other hand, if you stay downtown, you will be able to find 11 public beaches such as Perlas, Langostas, Tortugas, Delfines and Chac Mol. Most of them have been granted with the Blue Flag eco-label which certifies coast destinations that have reached top standards in water quality, environmental management, safety, services and environmental education activities.
Besides having the best beaches in the world, you can enjoy exciting water activities in Cancún such as diving, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing on a Catamaran or speed boat, flyboarding, windsurfing and paddle boarding in the Caribbean Sea or the Nichupte Lagoon. Both immense water bodies frame the scenery.
When it comes to food, Cancún offers a culinary experience through the fusion of Mexican and international flavors which are masterfully developed by the best chefs in the world. There are restaurants that have been granted with the 5 Diamonds of the American Automobile Association and have been recognized by Michelin Guide.
It is not possible to have vacation time in Cancún without being caught by its nightlife, which flows in clubs where international DJs and acrobatic performances can be found. In addition, fun can go beyond the shore and you can enjoy parties on board a Pirate boat or on a trajinera.
If you want to explore the surroundings, Cancún is also an entry to other popular destinations in the Riviera Maya: Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Holbox, Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. Moreover, you can visit the Mayan Archaeological Sites such as Chichén Itzá, Cobá and Muyil, just to name a few.
How to get to Cancún: Cancún is located in the Yucatán Peninsula in the north of Quintana Roo State in Mexico. Its airport is located five kilometers away from the Hotel Zone.