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Related, on Inside PV
Puerto Vallarta Malecon
Puerto
Vallarta Monuments and
Statues
Puerto
Vallarta Churches and
Cathedrals
Puerto
Vallarta Downtown Beaches
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Downtown is best known for its
infamous malecon, or boardwalk.
With recent construction, the
malecon now stretches to Puerto
Vallarta's south end, and will
soon be the longest boardwalk in
Latin America. The strip
is lined with beautiful palm
trees and famous
statues, such as the
Seahorse, recognized from many
travel books. Near the
famous Los Arcos (the Arches
Monument) is an amphitheater
where regular performances by
mimes, musicians and even the
occasional beauty contest takes
place.
Periodically, the street along
the malecon, Paseo Diaz Ordaz,
is blocked off for colorful
celebrations including parades,
dancing, and traditional
festivals. New Year's Eve
along this strip is often
referred to as "Mexico's Mardi
Gras" where thousands of
tourists and locals dance in the
street and on the malecon,
spilling out from packed clubs
and restaurants.
At
night, the
Malecon's south end is
speckled with merchants selling
local snacks; tamales, corn
mixed with mayonnaise, hot dogs
and french fries, papaya and
mango sprinkled with red pepper
on a stick, and homemade
desserts. Crepe stands
have become a popular attraction
near the am
Smaller boutique hotels and
guesthouses are scatter
throughout the downtown area,
and many apartments, as well as
privately owned condos.
This area is popular for
long-term
accommodations for
vacationers and snowbirds.
The
cathedrals in downtown Puerto
Vallarta are amongst the most
elaborate sites in all of Puerto
Vallarta. Visit our
section on
churches and cathedrals for
information and photos.
There are also stretches of
stores, boutiques, and souvenir
shops. If there were a
"fashion district" in Puerto
Vallarta, it would be 1 street
back from the malecon, where
rows of clothing stores from
bridal to current fashions to
exotic beachwear can be found.
A popular
shopping location for
tourists is the Flea Market,
which is nestled up against the
Rio Cuale. Endless
merchants offer everything from
beaded sashes, leather goods,
and silver jewelry inside.
The second floor of the "mercado"
also has a "food court" with
local cuisine from inexpensive
shrimp diablo to tacos and of
course, flan.
Restaurants along the Malecon
offer beautiful views of
sunsets, fireworks, and even the
famous
flying birdmen, which can best
be seen from the third level
restaurant, Viejo Vallarta
across from the famous Seahorse
Statue. Popular nightclubs
line the boardwalk as well, with
elegant restaurants such as De
Santos and Azul with it's
rooftop sand-floor bar one
street back from the beach.
The latest restaurant and club
to open on the malecon is a bit
of a hideaway- The entrance to
ZTai is a barely visible
stairway that leads to a
courtyard dining area, with
sunken dining sections, trendy
yet elegant ambiance and
fantastic gourmet duck tacos.
Be sure and order a "Geisha," a
cucumber inspired martini that
is refreshingly different.
Hilo and The Zoo area popular
downtown hang outs, where the
party starts around midnight and
the dance floor doesn't clear
until around 4 or 6, closing
time. After which, crowds
often head to High, the most
popular after-hours club in
Puerto Vallarta, open until 9
a.m. Check out our
nightclub and
restaurant guides for
reviews and more information.
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