JALISCO, a word that means on the sand, is also lying on the western portion of Mexico and is penciled in as the most Mexican state of all since it's the cradle of some of the Aztec nation's most cherished symbols: tequila, the mariachis, the palenques and the charros. This was also an independence stronghold and the main setting of the 1910 Mexican Revolution.

Jalisco, whose capital is Guadalajara, abuts the states of Nayarit, Durango, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, Michoacan and Colima, as well as the Pacific Ocean. With a total surface is 78,389 square kilometers and a population of six million people, the state is broken down in 124 municipalities. The shoreline stretches out for 280 kilometers, beginning in Bahia de Banderas on to Cabo Corrientes and all the way down to Las Bahias de Chamela, Tenacatita and Barra de Navidad in the southeast. Bahia de Banderas is Mexico's largest and deepest bay, home to Puerto Vallarta, one of the country's most sought-after travel destinations. As many as 2.2 million visitors come to Puerto Vallarta every year to hit it off with its 350,000 jaunty residents.

Despite a dramatic expansion in recent years that's still underway, Puerto Vallarta continues to be a place that any tripper can tour on foot as he or she wallows in a blend of Mexican and cosmopolitan culture. In addition to a hike around the streets, which is a great idea, here we give you a few hints for taking a good look around.

You can tee off from the Hidalgo Park, right at the beginning of the Seawall. Here you can feel the bustling move of eateries and outlets selling food, beverages and keepsakes. Traipse down the Seawall as you enjoy all the options this spot has to offer. You'll soon find yourself sauntering the downtown area, a zone packed with stores, restaurants and the town's most genuine lifestyle. As you walk on, the Seawall statues meet the eye.

We get to Los Arcos and there we make out the statue of a dolphin; we are told that concerts and cultural events are held here every week. Nearly next to main square stands the City Hall and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a place worth paying a visit to if you truly want to understand the religious sentiment of these inhabitants. You may have a break by gazing at the sea as you lug fresh fruit water. A few minutes later, you'll be ready to hit the road again. We reach to the end of the Seawall and chance upon a bridge leading to the Rio Cuale Island. Go to the island and try to have breakfast there while you listen to the sound of the watercourse.

At the end of the bridge, we wind up in the romantic zone, a bohemian-laden place riddled with small cafés, art galleries and all kinds of shops. Don't forget to toss a swimwear in your suitcase because the final stop could be Playa de los Muertos, a great location for having a good meal and take on a laid-back attitude for the rest of the afternoon. Other areas worth stealing a peek at are Gringo Gulch, the well-known spot where Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton lived a hot love affair, and home to the Kimberly House, with a pink bridge. This is a very special area of cobblestone streets. It's easy to get there from the Seawall.

The hotel area kicks off at the Rosita Hotel and stretches out for miles down a gorgeous boulevard that runs along the beach strip, spruced up with rows of palm trees on both sides. This long walkway is dotted with shopping malls, restaurants and many mom-and-pop stores. At the end of the boulevard lies the Vallarta Marina. The marina sports some of the fanciest hotels in town and a magnificent pier that accommodates up to 400 boats. We suggest you to take a stroll around, have a good meal and swing by the lighthouse, a place blessed with breathtaking views of the city.

Puerto Vallarta is not only the town; the surroundings are gorgeously surprising, both in the south and the north. Move to the south and you'll hit on Conchas Chinas, a luxurious neighborhood perked up with lovely houses and spectacular scenery. We carry on to Playas Gemelas, one of the best beaches in the area, and we get to Mismaloya. The hotel's restaurant still cherishes part of the set of The Night of the Iguana, the 1964 movie starred by Richard Burton that definitely put Puerto Vallarta on the map and changed the town's fate for good. The movie director, John Houston, lived the rest of his life in Caletas, a quasi-desert beach. Above the Mismaloya River, you'll see The Eden, where the film Predator was shot. There are other paradise-like beaches in that direction, too: Yelapa, Las Animas, Quimixto and Pisota, just to name but a few. These foreshorescan only be reached by boat from Playa de los Muertos and Bocas de Tomatlan. If moving inland is your choice, then El Nogalito and El Tuito are two must-sees.

Up north, we make out the neighboring state of Nayarit, linked to Jalisco by a bridge and standing in a different time zone. The nearest point there is Nuevo Vallarta, an expanding town that sports countless hotels, condos and a long beach strip of powder-thin sand. There are many places to drop in on, but our choices are Punta Mita, the longest tip up to the north, featuring many restaurants and quasi-unexplored beaches; San Francisco, also known as San Pancho and lying some 25 miles from Vallarta; Sayulita, a small town that oozes out great flavor and ambience everywhere, and Marietas Islands, a paradise of dolphins, turtles, and 86 different bird species to watch.

As far as activities are concerned, Puerto Vallarta is a travel destination offering all kinds of sports and adventures: bike rides; tours on four wheel-drive vehicles; horseback rides; trekking up and down amazing hills and waterfalls; mountain climbing; parachuting; kayaking and water bike rental. One of the options that's rapidly catching on among the boldest adventure seekers is bungee jumping, performed next to the Mismaloya Road and the Canopy, and in two other locations. Nautical sports are the stars of the show down here: water skiing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, catamaran riding and yachting.

Banana boat rides and parasailing matchups are usually organized at the same beach. Scuba diving is by far one of the most coveted sports of all, as well as snorkeling for beginners. If you visit Puerto Vallarta sometime between December and March, don't miss out on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the arrival of humpbacked whales, coming to this warm neck of the woods to mate, give birth and feed their offspring.