Boasting more holiday activities than anyone has time for, Puerto Vallarta offers an array of watersports, including wind surfing, sailing, kayaking, surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling and water-skiing. In addition there are opportunities for swimming with dolphins and whale watching. Many hotels also organise excursions to secluded beaches, hiking and biking tours, canopy tours and horse riding. Other activities include golf, deep-sea fishing and bungy jumping.

Spanish is the official language in Mexico. Some English is spoken in tourist regions.

Mexican currency is the New Peso (MXN) divided into 100 centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Travellers cheques are generally accepted, but cannot be cashed on Sundays. ATMs are available in most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money, but for safety reasons they should only be used during business hours. Although most businesses will accept foreign currency it is best to use pesos. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many casas de cambio(exchange houses), which have longer hours and offer a quicker service than the banks.

During the warmer months of May to August insects and mosquitoes can become a problem in Puerto Vallarta so be sure to bring plenty of repellent with you.

The nightlife in Puerto Vallarta offers something for everyone. There are nightclubs and all night discos, strip bars, live music clubs, bars serving up sundowner cocktails, restaurants that bring on bands after the food has been cleared away, folkloric dancing and Mexican fiestas, and hotel bars where visitors and locals alike gather over a drink for a chat at the end of the day. The centre of the nightlife is the Malecon strip where the atmosphere is for the young and the young at heart. The South Side features a variety of alternative entertainment, including gay bars and strip shows.

As the culinary capital of Mexico, and host to the annual Gourmet Dining Festival every November, foodies will be in paradise while on holiday in Puerto Vallarta. It is home to some of the best restaurants in Mexico, and offers thousands of places to dine ranging from award-winning venues and family-run restaurants to coffee houses and beachside cafes. A wide range of international cuisine is available, from Italian to Japanese and French, with the eclectic Daiquiri Dick's coming out tops and La Ola Rica serving popular pizzas and coconut shrimp. For traditional local Mexican fare, visit El Arrayán in the centre of town.

Even serious shoppers won't be disappointed by the variety of shops in Puerto Vallarta, which line almost every downtown street and range from speciality stores and shopping centres to outdoor markets and art galleries. No other holiday resort destination in Mexico can offer the same shopping experience as Puerto Vallarta. It has developed a reputation as an art centre and there is an abundance of local arts and crafts, such as pottery, ceramics and hand blown glass. Boutiques stock an array of shoes, traditional Mexican sandals and clothing, while the main flea market will be the place to bargain for inexpensive handicrafts, clothes and souvenirs.