In the 1960s, renown actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were probably the first celebrity couple to fully capture the media’s interest on a global scale. Fortunately for Banderas Bay, their love affair played out on the streets of Puerto Vallarta, putting the beautiful bay on the world map for sophistication and elegance. Because of their love rollercoaster, Puerto Vallarta changed from being a quiet town to a hot tourist attraction.
Burton and Taylor – The Puerto Vallarta Years
The filmset of the movie Cleopatra was where Burton and Taylor first met. It didn’t seem to matter that they were married to other people because they knew they had a connection. When Burton took the role in John Huston’s film The Night of the Iguana, he had Taylor with him as his companion while filming near Puerto Vallarta. Each day, Burton would take a boat to the movie set, which was located south of Puerto Vallarta in Mismaloya, just minutes from Garza Blanca Preserve.
Burton and Taylor’s Lover’s Arch
Even after filming The Night of the Iguana, Burton continued to live in Puerto Vallarta’s Gringo Gulch neighborhood. He later bought the house across the street, called Casa Kimberley, as a gift for Taylor’s birthday. To make their visits convenient and private, Burton had the famous Lover’s Arch built that created a bridge between Burton’s house and Taylor’s. It also provided a fast departure whenever the couple had their classic disputes.
Crazy about Puerto Vallarta
Taylor and Burton’s passion for one another and the seaside town of Puerto Vallarta turned the city into one of the hottest vacation spots in Mexico and helped transform the location into a popular place for luxury real estate. Both Burton and Taylor lived in their respective houses for many years after Burton completed the filming for Huston’s film.
Although these Hollywood icons married and divorced each other twice, there is no denying the chemistry and romance that surrounded their union, and their passion for Puerto Vallarta.