The beautiful Puerto Vallarta, a coastal town located on Mexico’s Pacific coast, has been getting a lot of attention from international travelers—especially Americans— this 2022. The town has recently been breaking records in passenger arrivals.
In a recent tweet, Miguel Torruco Marqués, the Secretary of Tourism in Mexico, shared the most recent data for hotel occupancy in the country: “For week 37 of 2022, the top three of the monitored tourist destinations with the highest occupancy level are: Cancun with 72.4%, followed by LosCabos with 59.9%, and Puerto Vallarta with 57.3%.
El porcentaje de ocupación hotelera para la semana 37 que comprende los días 12 al 18 de septiembre de 2022, presenta un porcentaje de ocupación promedio de 54.0% en 12 destinos monitoreados. Esto es 0.2 puntos porcentuales más en comparación con la semana anterior.
— MiguelTorrucoMarqués (@TorrucoTurismo) September 24, 2022
The three destinations mentioned by Mexico’s secretary of tourism have been the top destinations this summer, and a few months ago, Puerto Vallarta was in second place with 71.2% of hotel occupancy, surpassing by far the country’s average, 57.8%, and breaking records for the past few years.
Many travelers prefer Cancun, but Puerto Vallarta has a lot to offer visitors too, and its popularity only keeps growing. In July, the airport hit a record and received 140,150 passengers—30% more than the previous year and 37% more than before the pandemic in 2019— and the main visitors are Americans and Canadians.
According to the information shared by TravelPulse, the Director of Tourism Promotion Trust of Puerto Vallarta, Luis Villaseñor, Americans love the city. Villaseñor stated: “The United States accounts for more than three-quarters of international visitors, and just over one-quarter come from California. Los Angeles is the city that carries the most passengers, followed by San Francisco, and the nation’s third-largest city is Chicago.”
After Americans, Canadians are the most interested in this city, and many fall in love and even decide to move. As informed by TravelPulse, Puerto Vallarta is home to around 30,000 Americans and Canadians. Here’s why this destination is so attractive for these travelers.
Beautiful Beaches, Great Weather, and Amazing Culture
This city has it all. The beautiful beaches, the warm weather—that Canadians especially crave—, great nightlife, and the rich and fascinating Mexican culture. As a tourist city, this resort town also offers incredible accommodations for all budgets, including spectacular all-inclusive resorts.
There’s no need to go too far to find amazing beaches, near downtown tourists can visit Playa Los Muertos or Conchas Chinas, and if they want to explore further it’s possible to find amazing and hidden beaches. There are also historical buildings and fascinating architecture in the town and other locations nearby.
Travelers can take amazing tours from Puerto Vallarta to Los Arcos Islands for snorkeling, diving, and admiring the natural tunnels and wildlife. For those who enjoy outdoor adventures, there are also options for ziplining, rappelling, kayaking, and even water slides.
Delicious Food And Vibrant Nightlife
In the Malecon, right downtown Puerto Vallarta, visitors will find plenty of options, but in la Zona Romantica, they will also enjoy a unique ambiance and culinary experiences. From delicious tacos to fresh tuna to enchiladas and flan, everyone can enjoy local restaurants in this destination. The International Gourmet Festival has taken place in November in this city for the past 27 years.
Another great advantage of Puerto Vallarta is that tourists feel safe at night there’s so much to do and visit. From bars and restaurants with unique ambiance and great music to nice promenades across the Malecon to nightclubs to special shows. The iconic Los Muertos Pier looks stunning at night and will pose for travelers to take special photos of this unforgettable place.
Puerto Vallarta has also been recognized as a safe destination for the LGBTQ community. It’s valuable information for LGBTQ travelers who want to explore Mexico, a country that historically and in other locations has not ranked among the safest destinations. Tourists in the city will find a friendly environment and great bars, restaurants, and entertainment, especially at the Zona Romántica.
