UPDATE: With recent city administration change here, only Miguel and Dulce remain in this office. According to reports, the volunteer program will continue.
For the new tourist or the established expat, the Puerto Vallarta Office of Tourism (Dirección de Turismo) offers a wealth of information, both directly from the very friendly bilingual staff and from the racks of free maps, printed advertisements and brochures.
All of the local English language magazines and newspapers – Bay Vallarta, The PV Mirror, The Tribune and Vallarta Today – are available in this office, although some are often in short supply because of the high demand (hint: go in on Tuesdays for the best selection).
Edgar - Cynthia - Martha - Miguel - Araceli - Dulce - Denis - Rosa
The atmosphere of the Vallarta Tourism Office is relaxed, friendly, informal and efficient. It is centrally located between the Los Arcos Amphitheater at the southern end of the Malecon and the famous Vallarta Cathedral, La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, two of the major landmarks in Vallarta’s Centro district.
Maps and posters of local attractions and upcoming events cover the walls of this small 5 desk office. The hours are 8 am to 8 pm Monday thru Saturday and 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays. For the weary traveler, the building, known as the Presidencia because it currently also houses many of the other city government offices, including that of the mayor, offers clean, convenient and free bathrooms.
The office is, of course, wheelchair accessible. It is located at Independencia #123 in Colonia Centro, at the corner of Independencia and Juarez, just off of the public square. The office exterior is inconspicuous and is marked only by a sign that says, Dirección de Turismo. It is readily accessed from virtuslly all of the city’s bus routes.
Recently the Director de Turismo, José Luis Díaz Borioli, instituted a program in which American and Canadian resident expats are volunteering to work 3 hour shifts one or two days a week to present a more tourist-based viewpoint to English speaking visitors. Information on this program may be obtained by emailing info@learnvallarta.com.
CONTACT INFO:
- L.T. Miguel Arreola Cortes, Promotor Turistico
- miguel.arreola@puertovallarta.gob.mx
- Turismo Municipal de Puerto Vallarta
- Independencia No. 123 col: centro, C.P. 48300
- Tel: (322) 226 80 80 ext. 232
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