Puerto Vallarta stands out amongst other top tourist destinations in Mexico due to its an interesting origins and history. Puerto Vallarta has become the thriving tourism mecca it has become today due to multiple factors including its close proximity to former important mining centers in the Sierra.
In addition, the expansive Bay of Banderas and the agricultural valley of the Ameca River have contributed to Puerto Vallarta’s history and allure. Read more to learn about the history of Puerto Vallarta, and how it became a world famous international tourist hot spot that it is today.
The History of Puerto Vallarta: How it All Began
There isn’t much known about the history of Puerto Vallarta before the 19th century. There is some archaeological evidence that indicates humans from the Aztatlán culture inhabited the area as long as 580 BC.
Spanish invaders reached the area around 1524 where various skirmishes occurred between the Spanish colonizers and the native inhabitants. A large battle took place between Hernán Cortés and 10,000 to 20,000 native indians where Cortés triumphed and took over control of the majority of the Ameca Valley.
At that time, the valley was then renamed Banderas (flags) due to the colorful standards that the native indians carried during the battles. In addition, the Puerto Vallarta area also appears on maps and in sailing logs as a place of refuge for the Manila Galleon trade and other coastal seafarers. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Banderas Valley and Banderas Bay beaches served as supply points for ships seeking refuge during their travels.
In addition, the Puerto Vallarta area was also used as a location where smuggled goods would be sent on to Sierra towns near Mascota as a way of evading customs that were centered in San Blas, Nayarit.
Puerto Vallarta’s Transformation into a Resort Town: 1960’s and 1970’s
During the 1960’s and 1970’s, the history of Puerto Vallarta underwent a transformation into the major resort town it has become today. To begin with, the Mexican federal government resolved old property disputes that had stifled development in the town for a good part of the 20th century. As a result, there was a large amount of communal lands that were subsequently converted into privately owned lands. In fact, today’s current city limits of Puerto Vallarta were established in 1973 and sales revenue from resulting land trusts were used to help grow the City’s infrastructure.
Puerto Vallarta Legend: The Night of the Iguana
Another important part of the history of Puerto Vallarta occurred in 1964 when American director John Huston filmed “The Night of the Iguana” in Mismaloya, which is a small beach town situated just south of Puerto Vallarta.
At that time, the US media covered actress Elizabeth Taylor’s affair with actor Richard Burton who were starring in the film. The news coverage about the film and the quarrels between Huston and the film’s stars actually played a significant role in putting Puerto Vallarta on the map for US tourists.
Transportation Improvements
Another aspect that helped shape the history of Puerto Vallarta is when the Mexican government invested in improving transportation to and from Puerto Vallarta in order to make it easier to reach for tourists.
The City’s international airport was constructed as well as improvements to ground transportation such as highways and utility infrastructure to increase traffic into the city. In addition, the El Salado wharf was inaugurated on June 1, 1970, which established Puerto Vallarta as the first harbor town in the state of Jalisco. Today, the cruise ship terminal is located where the El Salado wharf was created.
In 1968, Puerto Vallarta was designated as a city due to an increased interest in Mexican federal and state governments in making Puerto Vallarta an international tourist destination. Hotels and resort development spiked in the 1970’s and today there are more than 50 five star and 4 star resorts in the area.
As a result, Puerto Vallarta has seen huge increases in tourism over the last few decades and today is home to expat communities comprised of foreigners from the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Modern Day Puerto Vallarta
Today, Puerto Vallarta is major economic activity center thanks to its excellent climate, incredible natural scenery, tropical beaches, and rich cultural history.
When the peso was devalued back in the early 1980’s, Puerto Vallarta became a bargain destination for US tourists looking to enjoy a great vacation on a budget.
A decade later in the early 1990’s, a federal Agrarian Law was amended that allowed for foreigners to own former ejido land via bank trusts. The controlling ejido lands were allowed to be petitioned for regularization, which meant they could be converted into fee simple ownership. That way, more properties could be sold which led to another development boom including new private residences, condominiums, and resorts. As a result, Puerto Vallarta’s expansion was jump started yet again and now foreigners decided to invest in Puerto Vallarta real estate.
We hope you enjoyed this article on the history of Puerto Vallarta. Are you ready for a visit to Puerto Vallarta or hope to purchase real estate in the area? If so, check out Garza Blanca Real Estate. Solidly constructed with the best location in all of Banderas Bay, Garza Blanca private residences deliver on everything you are searching for in a second home or retirement home in paradise.