If you're thinking of getting married in Puerto Vallarta, the following will give you an idea of what the different areas offer. The landscape changes dramatically as you travel through the region, and each area has its own particular advantages.
Hotel Strip
Puerto Vallarta is a lively city full of entertainment, shopping, restaurants, and beach activities. The hotel strip has several popular hotels densely packed along the beach. If you stay along the hotel strip you will be within a short walk or taxi ride to the bustling streets. Or, if you're a little more adventurous, you can hop on the public bus, which only costs a few pesos. If you want to get married right in Puerto Vallarta, keep in mind that the beaches are public, so hotels cannot guarantee complete privacy if you want to get married directly on the beach. Several resorts have a jetty (a pier made of rocks that juts into the ocean) that they use for weddings for a beautiful seaside event set apart from the beach. Popular resorts for weddings on the hotel strip include Crown Paradise Club Resort & Spa, Golden Crown Paradise Resort & Spa, NH Krystal Puerto Vallarta, and Sheraton Buganvilias Resort and Convention Center.
Marina Vallarta
A few minutes north of the hotel strip you'll find Marina Vallarta. This area is set apart from the busyness of Puerto Vallarta's streets, and offers some upscale luxury hotels and a golf course. You can still venture to the popular Malecon (main boardwalk) with a short taxi ride.
In this area you will find such resorts as The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta, Melia Puerto Vallarta, CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta, Velas Vallarta Suite Resort, and Casa Velas.
North of Puerto Vallarta
As you go north of Puerto Vallarta, the landscape flattens out and beaches become more sandy. Nuevo Vallarta, located approximately 20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, houses several large resort complexes on a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach. This is a great choice if you're looking for a quieter and more secluded wedding event. However, these resorts are a bit far from the nightly entertainment found in Puerto Vallarta.
Some of the popular resorts in Nuevo Vallarta include Vallarta Palace, Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort, Marival Resort & Suites, Club Hotel Riu Jalisco, Hotel Riu Vallarta, and Playa del Sol Grand. If you venture farther north you will find Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa, and even farther north, the luxurious Four Seasons Punta Mita.
South of Puerto Vallarta
South of the city going toward Mismaloya the landscape changes, becoming more mountainous and rocky with lush vegetation. The scenery is spectacular in this area, but the beaches are not as sandy as farther north.
Popular properties south of the city include Dreams Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Playa Fiesta, and Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya.
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