FOOD
Puerto Vallarta offers an amazing range of cuisine from haute Mexican and international restaurants to casual tacos stands on the street. The current “farm to table” trend in cuisine has been the way families and restaurants in Puerto Vallarta have been preparing food for generations due to the incredible abundance of fresh seafood, fruits and vegetables, meats, hand-crafted breads and cheeses, and spices found in the region. I truly believe that the food here tastes better than anywhere I have ever been.
Art and Culture
Whether it is a night of live theatre or cabaret at Act II, a tour through the numerous galleries in the art district or simply a walk along the famous and newly renovated Puerto Vallarta Malecon to witness the incredible sand sculptures, Vallarta is a culturally rich city on a world-class scale.
Spas and Wellness
Puerto Vallarta is a spa lover’s dream destination. If you’re seeking a relaxing massage, manicure and pedicure or medical spa treatments such as Botox, microdermabrasion or fillers, you can find excellent quality spas in Puerto Vallarta with extremely affordable prices.
Meetings and Conventions
With major events in 2012 including the Tourism Tianguis of Mexico, the Pan-American Games and the World Economic Forum, Puerto Vallarta again proved that it is ready to host the world with its excellent hotels, modern convention center, security and friendly people.
Romance
Warm weather, ocean breezes, beautiful vistas and stunning sunsets make Puerto Vallarta the perfect place to fall in love or declare your love and commitment.
With so many great reasons to visit Puerto Vallarta, it’s hard to think of a reason to not start planning your next vacation – or better yet, your next home. Puerto Vallarta is a hugely popular destination for Americans, Canadians and other foreigners to relocate and call home. A wonderful climate, spectacular natural surroundings, a safe environment, access to excellent medical care and exciting business possibilities all are important factors that draw expats to Puerto Vallarta.
One of the most common questions asked by those considering making the move to Puerto Vallarta, is what the true cost of living in Mexico is. This, of course, is a complicated question to answer and greatly depends on the standard of living and level of comfort that are required by individuals.
That said, let’s say that a single person willing to live on a cautious budget can make their home in Puerto Vallarta for as little as $1,000 USD per month by using cost-cutting measures such as taking advantage of city transit, avoiding using air-conditioners in their home and eating a traditional Mexican diet including fresh, locally grown products.
You won’t be living on the beachfront in Conchas Chinas but one can find modest accommodation in good areas that would allow you to fit into this budget.
For those looking for a higher level of comfort, the sky’s the limit in Puerto Vallarta. However, Luxury homes and condominiums can be had in the Banderas Bay region for a fraction of the cost compared to most other world-class resort destinations. Gourmet restaurants are plentiful in Puerto Vallarta and diners can enjoy spectacular meals for much less than they are accustomed to paying in other cities. And services such as gardening, housekeeping and laundry are offered at very reasonable prices.
Ask any expat living in Puerto Vallarta and they will all confirm the level of safety and security in the city. Many people who have moved here from American or Canadian cities report that they actually feel safer in Puerto Vallarta than in many cities in their own country.
Medical and dental care in Puerto Vallarta is of a very high quality with extremely reasonable prices compared to what Americans, in particular, are accustomed to paying for health care. There are a variety of private hospitals, medical practices and dental offices in Puerto Vallarta that offer state-of- the-art technology, medical professionals trained to the highest standard and services offered in English.
Enjoying a vacation in a tropical location is very different from actually moving and making a holiday destination like Puerto Vallarta your new home. However, for the expat community in Puerto Vallarta, the lifestyle advantages of living in Mexico makes moving away from home worthwhile.
Puerto Vallarta is blessed with a beautiful climate year-round and beach activities, outdoor sports, strolls along the Malecon boardwalk and dining al fresco are all popular ways to spend the day and evening for those living in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay. Scuba diving, sport fishing, golfing and tennis are all popular recreational activities within the expat community in Puerto Vallarta.
Making social connections in a new city is always important and Puerto Vallarta has a large selection of social groups that operate in town. Two groups worthy of a mention here are: Expats of Puerto Vallarta, a group that caters primarily to those who have retirement homes in Puerto Vallarta, and the Young Professionals Organization of Puerto Vallarta, or YPO, a group that brings together foreign and national professionals within the Banderas Bay area for social and professional networking. Not only are there professional organizations and associations, there are literally dozens of philanthropic organizations – too many to list here – that are heavily patronized by the expat community that are always looking for new participants.
The business climate is friendly for foreigners living in Puerto Vallarta, and having secured a Temporary or Permanent residency visa, expats are free to work in Mexico. Many expats work in real estate, the hospitality or tour industry, sales or as entrepreneurs. And foreigners can also work in the same industry as they did in their home country, i.e. health care, graphic or web design.
For most expats living in Puerto Vallarta, the warmth of the city and its people are reason enough to live here. But when the cost of living, available services, excellent healthcare and business opportunities are factored in, Puerto Vallarta can certainly be considered one of the best places in the world for expats to call home. In fact, the most difficult problem facing most expats in Puerto Vallarta, is scheduling all their visitors from home who want to experience the Puerto Vallarta lifestyle for themselves.