Mexico is the number one destination for Americans going abroad, no matter if it’s their first time venturing out of their country of birth or their long-anticipated yearly getaway.
Now that international travel has been fully reinstated and U.S. citizens no longer have to worry about complex regulations when flying abroad, the sunny South is once again awash with tourists, and there is one place they are flocking to in record numbers — Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta Set For A Historical Year
A few of them have stood out, though, with Cancun emerging as America’s favorite destination and Los Cabos posting higher-than-usual occupancy rates. They’re not alone in driving up figures amid Mexico’s Tourism Reinassance.
Mexico’s tertiary offer of Puerto Vallarta is shattering records this year, drawing in millions of guests and reporting an impressive tourism revenue.
For the first half of this year, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport has already hosted 3.6 million passengers, and it looks set for a historical year in tourism. You may be wondering why, seeing that Cancun and Cabo are still Mexico’s absolute leaders in booking trends.
Here are 5 reasons why Vallarta has continued to be so popular in the post-crisis period and why some travelers still prefer it over other coastal competitors:
A Developed Wellness Industry
Wellness is one of the top travel trends for 2023, with travelers strongly favoring do-nothing vacations over action-packed itineraries. While there are enough attractions in Vallarta to keep you entertained for weeks on end, it truly excels as a relaxation retreat.
As reported by the Vallarta Daily, the city is now a ‘must-visit destination for mind, body, and soul‘, boasting a high concentration of well-equipped spas and resorts straddling the beachfront, offering the luxury American guests crave, spa treatments, and a tranquil natural environment.
With as many as 29 five-star listings on Booking.com, ranging from only US$84 a night to a more hefty US$265 at the Hilton Vallarta, within walking distance of the beach, and with a wide range of world-class amenities, Americans surely have a lot of options to pick from.
LGBTQ+ Friendly
Vallarta is a city of contrasts, and other than being a wellness hub, it can also be a vibrant, diversity-friendly seaport, ranking among the most liberal in Mexico.
The country’s proud LGBTQ+ party capital, it is jam-packed with quirky bars, entertainment venues, and gay-friendly events.
According to the Community Marketing & Insights’ LGBTQ+ Tourism and Hospitality Survey, published last in the pre-pandemic year of 2019, it is still a favorite among gay/bi-identifying males from the U.S.
They are particularly enthusiastic about the locals’ friendliness to foreigners, irrespective of their sexual orientation, and local leaders’ initiatives in promoting equality.
Old Town Vibes & Vibrant City Break
All In One Place
Puerto Vallarta is one of only a handful of Mexican cities where you get the best of both worlds:
Both the architectural heritage and tradition, stemming from centuries of colonial rule, commonly associated with Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos, and the vibrant social scene found in Cancun, Cabo, and the like.
Strolling the Romantic Zone of Old Vallarta, you will walk past centuries-old civic buildings established by Vallarta’s European settlers of the 16th century and later. It is easily the most scenic and photographed part of the city, what with its cobblestone streets, colorful facades, and historic Catholic churches.
A short 15 minutes from the quaint Old Town, however, you will reach the ever-busy Malecon, a modern boardwalk spanning 12 blocs flanked by oceanfront restaurants and tequila bars, making it a nightlife hotspot.
Sargassum-Free Beaches
Unlike the Mexican Caribbean, where sargassum is a recurring event yearly, Vallarta’s beaches remain golden and seaweed-free regardless of season.
As sargassum more commonly impacts warmer basins, such as the Caribbean Sea, and the city is located on the Mexican Pacific instead, it stays protected from the smelly algae, allowing swimmers and sunbathers alike to enjoy their time in the sun disruption-free.
No checking sargassum forecasts weeks in advance when planning your vacation, nor coming up with alternatives to beaches when the golden sands are tarnished by the seaweed landfall: you can enjoy completely pristine beaches year-round.
Sargassum is a rare, even non-existent phenomenon in the Atlantic, where the waters are not as warm as the Caribbean basin and, thus, do not boost the organism’s proliferation.
Vallarta’s beaches are long, beautiful stretches of golden sand, and that pristine quality is maintained even when the Yucatan Peninsula gets battered by seaweed, making it the safest bet if you’re visiting Mexico in the humid season.
Vallarta Is For Everybody
Vallarta’s greatest strength, however, lies in its diverse offer.
It is for everybody: whether you’re a young, sociable traveler looking to have fun and enjoy the city’s lively nightlife, or you’re simply hoping to relax for a few days by the beachside as you get taken care of.
It is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly places in all of the Americas, as well as an extremely popular destination for couples and families, and it’s this exact contrast that makes Vallarta so enticing: it can be appropriate for every imaginable demographic if you know where to go.
Find out more about Puerto Vallarta’s incredible resorts and where you should stay during your visit here.
