El Malecón by night is the place to see and be seen in Puerto Vallarta. Old Viejo Vallarta encompasses the El Malecon, the visitor-friendly promenade, and the steep cobblestone streets that climb their way uphill from there. El Malecon offers spectacular sunsets over Banderas Bay!

For some reason, we avoided Puerto Vallarta, thinking it must be a very crowded place. Recently we traveled there, and of course, we realized how wrong we were!

While viewing pictures, I strongly recommend that you read my comments under each image. My comments will help you to do your travel research, and you will learn about the beauty of Puerto Vallarta and its surroundings.

These pictures were taken between January 1 and 15, 2005. F.Y.I.: daily temperatures were above 30C, with predominantly sunny weather.

Please view photo albums by using this link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/komierowski1300

Stroll along the Malecon (mile-long oceanfront boardwalk) any time. But for real local flavor be there Friday or Saturday evening to see lively bands, colorful Mayan dancers, and all the local folks out for an evening walk with their family and friends.

Street food is available, and entertainment is represenative of local culture. The new Malecon begins near the first hotel built in Vallarta in the 1940s, the Hotel Rosita, and ends at an open-air theater called "Los Arcos," or The Arches.