Why go
The contrast between Centro, the north hotel zone and Mismaloya reflects different phases of growth. The Night of the Iguana brought attention to the southern coast, but public works and changes to land ownership turned that attention into a larger visitor economy.
The full story
Puerto Vallarta entered the 1960s with a historic core and a complicated land system. Much land had communal status, which discouraged projects requiring clear private title. A land trust established in 1973 helped transfer government-held land into private hands and directed sales revenue toward city infrastructure. At the same time, transport changed the scale of travel. The airport gained routes that connected the city beyond the region; improved highways brought more visitors from within Mexico, especially from the Guadalajara area. The El Salado wharf opened in 1970 and added a maritime facility at the northern end of town. The film The Night of the Iguana, shot at nearby Mismaloya in 1963, drew international media attention to the coast. Its publicity was one influence among several, rather than the sole cause of the resort. Puerto Vallarta was granted city status in 1968. Read these changes in the urban fabric: the older waterfront and church-centered streets belong to a pre-resort town, while the hotel and transport zones reflect the later expansion.