Situated on the Pacific Ocean’s Mexican shoreline, Puerto Vallarta is a beach resort mecca for those looking for warm weather, sand and surf. Luxurious vacation rentals allow you to visit this destination in style and take advantage of the many events the area has to offer.

May Cultural Festival

If you are fortunate enough to be visiting the region in May, the May Cultural Festival (Festival Cultural de Mayo) will keep you busy. The yearly festival, sponsored by the local government, is a celebration of the city’s founding and its rich cultural heritage. Among the activities to be enjoyed are dozens of performances by hundreds of local and international musicians held at a variety of venues around town. The two-week festival is one of the most popular Puerto Vallarta events, bringing the streets alive with all kinds of talented painters, sculptors and other artists, who demonstrate their talents. Film screening, theater, and dancing productions, as well as parades and fireworks all contribute to making this event spectacular.

Whale Watching

Every winter from December to April, people come to Banderas Bay to observe the whales cavorting with and teaching their young. The birthplace of the Humpback Whale, Banderas Bay offers whale watching tours to visitors who want to observe these gentle creatures in the sparkling Mexican waters. Puerto Vallarta is an eco-conscious community and as such all tour operators are required by law to be registered and licensed with the National Environmental Agency so that these magnificent creatures can be enjoyed for years to come. Whale watching season is the perfect time for travelers to book vacation rentals and head out to sea.

International Gourmet Festival

For over twenty years, the International Gourmet Festival has drawn thousands of vacationers and world-class chefs to this famed celebration of gastronomy. Each year the festival brings professional cooks from across the globe to whip up their best dishes. Supported by the city’s local restaurants, the 10-day event features a gala dinner, gourmet brunch, wine and cheese tasting and cooking classes. local restaurants offer various events during the festival and each restaurant that participates hosts a master chef to complement its cuisines. The first festival was launched in 1995 with a handful of 5-star restaurants an a dozen chefs. Today it has grown to be one of the most treasured Puerto Vallarta events.

Sea Turtle Preservation

May to December are Sea Turtle preservation months in the region. The area has created a unique program that offers protection for the creatures, awareness of the importance of their preservation, and many fun and educational opportunities to participate in this important yearly tradition. There are turtle liberation ceremonies held several times a week at different hotel beaches. Eco-tour operators offer nighttime tours to various research camps where tourists can observe sea turtles laying eggs in their natural habitat and witness the release of the babies on their journey to the sea. For certain endangered species of sea turtles, this part of Mexico is one of the most important breeding grounds on the globe. The protection project is sponsored by the local and federal government as well as the PV Hotel Association.