When iconic director John Huston descended on Puerto Vallarta in 1963 to shoot the classic film The Night of the Iguana—with the highly combustible trio of Richard Burton, Ava Gardner and Liz Taylor in tow—the sleepy Mexican fishing village was home to a scant 2,000 souls, with no telephone service and spotty electricity and plumbing. Rustic and isolated, just the way Huston wanted it.
Following the success of Iguana, however, Vallarta was catapulted into being one of the top tourism destinations in Mexico, but through the years has managed to hold onto its authentic soul.
“We are the heart of Mexico, in a resort area on the beach,” says Norma R. Furlong, president of Tukari Puerto Vallarta, a local DMC that specializes in upscale, highly customizable programs for visiting groups and more than a few celebrities over the years. “There’s very few places in Mexico that can capture that feeling, along with such great infrastructure.”
Indeed, tourism success hasn’t spoiled P.V., allowing visitors to wander its cobblestone streets enjoying handmade ice cream, or take a stroll on the Malecon, an art-infused walk along the Bay of Banderas that features whimsical metal sculptures and often intricate sand art one can see taking shape before being washed away by the tide.
According to Furlong, Puerto Vallarta features more than 100 restaurants, which makes it an ideal setting for social events, along with imparting a genuine feeling of hospitality in a decidedly safe atmosphere born of being a top tourism destination.
This combination of authentic Mexican culture and a welcoming infrastructure sets P.V. apart from other top Mexican destinations, which one could argue can seem a little too tourism oriented, without that local touch that makes them feel truly Mexican.
“In the case of Puerto Vallarta, the locals live in the same area as the tourists,” says Francisco Corcuera, managing director of IVI Destination Management, which is the largest DMC in Mexico and has offered incentive and meeting programs for 25 years, and now partners with PRA Destination Management. “Puerto Vallarta is the most Mexican-oriented beach destination on the group side. You can go to restaurants and see locals dining. The people here are also very pleasant and understanding of tourism. They’re very service-oriented.”
The lures of Vallarta are many. The city has a thriving art scene, with numerous galleries and exhibitions drawing the top artists in Mexico; a vibrant culinary culture, with world-class restaurants such as Cafe des Artistes led by chef-owner Thierry Blouet, a member of the prestigious Maitres Cuisiniers de France; a full slate of colorful festivals that are enjoyed by visitors and locals alike; championship golf courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf; and the natural wonders of Los Arcos National Marine Park and the annual migration of gray whales from November to December.
Accommodations from top hotel brands are also on tap, with Sheraton, Westin, Marriott, Fiesta Americana, Barcelo, Presidente InterContinental, and Melia represented.
One has to wonder; if Puerto Vallarta was this easy when John Huston came for the Iguana shoot, would the notoriously rough-hewn director think it just a bit too cozy to keep his actors on edge?
