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One of America’s favorite year-end destinations, Puerto Vallarta continues to surge in popularity heading into 2024.
Soon enough, millions of U.S. passport holders will be taking to the skies for a much-needed vacation, and based on current booking trends, Vallarta will be hotter than ever this winter, both literally and figuratively.
Why, then, is a growing number of Americans flocking into the Jalisco gem in particular, and not other coastal towns in Mexico, and what can they expect of the upcoming season?
Here are 4 reasons that may explain the phenomenon:
A Well-Developed Coastline
For starters, Puerto Vallarta has some of the most beautiful and best-equipped beach zones anywhere in the Mexican Pacific.
Unlike other off-path sites straddling the country’s 1700 km-long Pacific coast, PV (as it is called in the short form) boasts a highly-developed beachfront adjacent to award-winning tourist accommodations, including five-star hotels and guesthouses.
It is one of the best destinations for experiencing the Mexican seaside as a tourist, seeing that resorts typically offer guests private beach access and a relaxing natural environment while still keeping the quality of services high.
Some of the top-rated beach resorts this season include the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, famous for its outdoor pools and state-of-the-art spa amenities, the Playa Los Arcos Hotel Beach Resort & Spa, a casual 4-star listing with bay views, and the elegant Grand Miramar Resort.
A Charming Cultural Quarter
Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing subtrends for 2024, and with its historic harbor, romantic Old Town, and charming architecture, it’s no wonder Puerto Vallarta is drawing in more and more culture seekers each passing month.
The historic quarter, known locally as Zona Romantica, is a cobbled district jam-packed with gorgeous building facades, quirky cafes opening onto hidden courtyards, niche art galleries, and countless eateries catering to a wide range of customers.
This winter, visitors can expect to find the iconic Olas Altas Farmers Market, one of the largest of its kind in the state of Jalisco, to take place at the district’s Lázaro Cárdenas Park, as well as the much-celebrated Art & Market Marina Vallarta night market.
Puerto Vallarta may not be as old a settlement as Yucatan’s Merida, or even Jalisco’s own state capital, the Spanish-founded colonial jewel that is Guadalajara, but it is vibrant, colorful, and full of postcard-ready corners Instagrammers will have fun discovering.
The LGBTQ+ Capital Of Mexico
It’s no secret PV is Mexico’s unofficial capital for ‘pink tourism’, but this year, local authorities have taken the ball and ran with it, investing massively in the promotion of LGBTQ-friendly venues, diversification of the tourist offer for the community, and policing of the Romantic Zone, Vallarta’s gay haven.
LGBTQ+ tourists make up a significant proportion of Vallarta’s most faithful customers, as the city is widely known for its numerous gay bars and danceterias, fast-growing Pride event, and more liberal attitudes compared to far more conservative cities in Mexico.
This week, it swept Mexico’s LGBTQ+ Travel Awards, being crowned Best Beach Destination of the Year while also bringing home awards for Hotel Concept of the Year, which went to Almar Resort Luxury LGBT, Restaurant of the Year for trendy Café Des Artistes, and Ally of the Year for the Grand Miramar.
As declared by Luis Villaseñor, General Director of the Public Trust for Tourism Promotion and Advertising of Puerto Vallarta, the city receives these awards with ‘great honor’, and the authority warmly embraces PV’s title of ‘friendliest’ city in Mexico.
Mexico’s Third Most Popular Beach Destination
Finally, Puerto Vallarta has the distinction of being the third most popular beach destination in Mexico, beaten to the number one spot by only almighty Cancun, the Mayan Riviera’s leader in bookings, and Los Cabos, the wellness hub of Mexico.
While the former is famous for its mega-resorts and shopping scene, and the former is a resort spa destination, Vallarta sits somewhere in between, as it is a smaller city with a lively atmosphere and youthful demographic, yet far from being as chaotic as Cancun, nor as laid-back as Cabo.
It’s precisely this unique combination of agitated social scene and thriving nature that make Vallarta such a trendy getaway for American travelers, not to mention its impressive levels of safety, considering the state of Jalisco’s State Department-issued Level 3 designation, and diverse tourist offer.
This November, hotel occupation already sits at all-time highs of 85 to 95 percent, depending on weekdays, and winter bookings are certain to accelerate in the weeks to come as the colder months approach and the average American’s urge for that winter sun intensifies.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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