*Travel Tips>>>Puerto Vallarta Travel Tips

Best guide to Puerto Vallarta?

Travel Info
Would like to find those special places! Beaches, resteraunts and best snorkling. Would like to stay away from "touristy" places. Possible? Thank You

Travel Tips

Yes, this is possible. At least regarding the beaches You can find some info on the mentioned page, it is still in work, so not all requiered information is available yet. But something.

If You have some money You could book the Four seasons at Punta de Mita, the north corner of the Banderas bay, it is top notch and about one hour to the crowded areas close to Vallarta.

If You want to see te two earth pyramides, which nearly nobody knows, You have to go to Ixtapa, and ask around.
I dont know the streets name. During fullmoon some of the still existing azteca hold there cleaning ceremonies which are free. Its a type of sauna with offerings and ceremonial parts.

If You want to see flowers search in the internet for the botanical gardens, if I am right they also offer rooms. Quite and absolutely special.

Also You can investigate for Chicos paradise, also a very special place to stay.

If You are absolutely uninterested to see many people, have a look to san francisco, or san pancho, is the same, close to Sayulita in the north.

If You have any scientific interest in animals or plants, turtles, whales, dolphins, crocodiles... You may get in contact with the C.U.C. University, they have an ecologic department and frequently organize camps to protect the turtles or something else. They are very friendly people, try it out.

If You are interested in arceological matters, try to find the "red ciudadana", its a group which is also very ecologic. With this group works an Us citizen, anthropologist, I dont know the name at the moment, who is very very helpful and knows everything about anthropological areas around vallarta.

Dont spend money in the crazy tours which are offered. These are allways crowded and mostly tourist traps. One good thing is to visit the Huichol at the Siera Madre, a unique experience.

Hope I could help a bit. Source(s): http://www.puertovallarta.de
Other Travel Tips

When I am going somewhere new, I check out the Frommer's, Fodor's and Lonely Planet guides to the area. The Lonely Planet guide would be best for ideas related to staying away from touristy areas. (But sorry, all of PV is pretty touristy!) I have read that if you go out to the resorts in the Nuevo Vallarta area, the beaches are better, calmer. I've been to PV a few times, and I'm no expert, but the beaches in town are pretty choppy - you can't snorkel there.
mmmm, i am going to argue that vallarta is not the best place to snorkel. it's the pacific...not the blue water you may be thinking. but others may not agree with me. i loved the restaurant las palomas...the table was right in the sand, it was romantic, the service was excellent (but that's always they case in mexico,) but it was very pricy. i don't think you'll be successful at staying away from touristy places...that's what vallarta is. there is an island called las mocajuitas...mojajuitas? i forgot the name! sounds like that. it sounds like cajeta, with mo at the beginning. hehe. anyways, can only get to it by boat, and it's very quiet and nice at times. i like the clubs Hilo and Zoo. there is a fun place for the older crows...andales...which was very fun.
These are some good sources, gosh, there are a ton of places to avoid especially the snakes that try to sell you time shares.

http://www.pvmirror.com/

http://www.vallarta-info.com/

http://www.puertovallarta.net/

http://www.casa-quixote.com/
Having just returned from Puerto Vallarta myself, I find the best guide to the area is taking what is available on all websites and filtering through them to see what is appealing to you. I personally used Tripadvisor.com heavily. People give you great ideas on that website and give you their opinions on what they have seen and did. I also used Fodors, Frommers, and the Yahoo Travel guide. One place we didn't get to because it was out of the way (Which seems like what you are looking for) is Chico's Paradise. It had great reviews. http://www.hypermex.com/clients/chicos/i...

Enjoy Puerto Vallarta, it is a beautiful destination.
Claudio is right on the money.

But my personal answer is this:

Puerto Vallarta is great place to go on a romantic vacation. There are some beautiful sites in town to walk around; good restaurants to have a nice dinner.

If you feel adventurous you can go other beaches around, like to "Mismaloya", a beautiful beach; "Punta Mita", Manzanilla, Quimixto, Yelapa and "Las Animas"; those are great beaches. There are small criuises that can get you to those beaches (accesible only by boat) for about 40 usd. the "Princesa Yelapa" cruise is one of the most comercial. Another beautiful beach is "bucerias".

Some of these beaches are actually in Nayarit but they're pretty close to PV.

In Mismaloya and Punta Mita you can get into one of the many little restaurants they have by the beach order a drink and stay there the whole day; obviously the sea food there is delicious.

Enjoy your stay