... In the 19th century, today’s Puerto Vallarta was used to load and unload supplies meant for the mining companies that worked in the Cuale and San Sebastian mines. At the time the location was known as Las Peñas.

... In 1918, Las Peñas acquired a municipality status and the new name of Puerto Vallarta, in tribute to the memory of celebrated lawyer and Jalisco Governor Don Ignacio L.Vallarta.

... Puerto Vallarta is perched on the western side of the state of Jalisco, in central Mexico, and bathed by the Pacific Ocean in Bahia de Banderas –Mexico’s largest and deepest natural bay and the second in size all across North America, featuring 40 lines of shorlines.

... In the 18th century, this natural gully was called Bahia de las Jorobadas due to the huge amount of humpbacked whales that used to swim there.

... Puerto Vallarta was definitely put on the map when John Huston landed in Mismaloya to shoot his movie “The Night of the Iguana” back in 1963.At that moment, the town had 2,000 inhabitants, one cab and one hotel.

... Construction of the Malecon (Seawall) kicked off in 1935 as a result of the cooperation between the people of Vallarta and their authorities. It was rebuilt in 2002 after Hurricane Kenna wreaked havoc with it.

... The cornerstone of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe was laid in 1895 when construction of the Church of Las Peñas –the former name of Puerto Vallarta- was authorized. The priest that blessed the church was San Sebastian. In 1921, the parish received a non-removable status and San Jose was anointed as the saint patron. Tradition gave the temple the name of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose icon was placed atop the main altar.

...The belfry steeple was destroyed by the 1997 earthquake and replaced by another one made of fiberglass.

... Jalisco is the cradle of Mexico’s national beverage: tequila, whose fame has moved beyond the national boundaries.The drink is obtained from a plant called blue agave that hails exclusively from the Jalisco and Nayarit states.

... For many, jaripeo is the harbinger of current charrada, though for others is nothing but bull riding. As to the first concept, in jaripeo different teams are supposed to execute ten different charras –some individually and others in teamwork.Yet a charro is not supposed to do more than three of those deeds, though the so-called charro completo takes seven out of the ten deeds to be executed by just one charro.

... Puerto vallarta is one of Mexico’s most outstanding spots as far as cuisine is concerned, featuring half a dozen Five Star Diamond Awardwinning restaurants.