Though Vallarta is full of natural beauty and awe, some people just like to shop; and that’s okay, we have a lot of that, too!
Hi, it’s Maya! Many people have asked me what would be a really good day-trip to do in Puerto Vallarta? Well, there are many different fun and interesting things you can do in one day such as shopping, sight-seeing, adventures, day-cruises, water parks, zip lines, eating and drinking, or just hangin’ out on the beach with your toes in the sand. Most of these are just a few minutes from downtown and a short ride in a taxi, Uber, or city bus. Quick FYI; if you are leaving from the airport or ship terminal the taxis that are permitted there are more expensive than the yellow city cabs that you can find just outside. And don’t worry-Puerto Vallarta is just like any civilized city, it is mostly good neighborhoods with a few questionable outlying areas, and for the most part good family people, just like anywhere else. Just use the same common sense you use at home and you will be fine, and I promise I won’t send you anywhere that I wouldn’t feel safe myself. What you should really be watching out for while walking around is uneven pavement, enexpected steps, and protruding sharp objects that may be electrically active.
Puerto Magico, Puerto Vallarta’s new cruise ship terminal, is itself a shopping center still in the stages of development. What’s cool about it is that even though it is a port of entry, all the shops are on the civilian side and totally available to the public. Though not filled up yet, it already houses several souvenir, clothing, snacks and sweets, and artisan shops. Upstairs several restaurants are under development, and when finished will offer authentic Mexican fine dining with a view of the bay and cruise ships, and I can’t wait for the first one to open!
My favorite thing to do at Puerto Magico is go to Cacao Magico, a fabulous chocolate shop where they make all their own goodies and the kitchen is behind a glass wall so you can watch. They even have one-day classes you can take on making chocolate confections.
https://www.facebook.com/PuertoMagicoMX/
Besides Puerto Magico, there are 4 other shopping malls within a short driving distance from the marina or downtown area. Our biggest mall, Gallerias, is located right across from the cruise ship docking area, the big brick building just north of that store that starts with a W. Inside it is spacious and fancy, and the upper deck that faces the bay offers a spectacular view.
You will find a HUGE Liverpool department store, many clothing stores; some fancy and some casual, many shoe stores, jewelry and watch stores, sporting stores, electronic stores, toy stores, novelty kiosks, accessories shops, a pet store, a carousel, a trampoline jumpy place, a movie theater, a casino, a gym, a coffee shop, sweet treat kiosks, a food court with multiple chain restaurants, and some fine restaurants. If you go there during the Christmas season, they have a spectacular Christmas tree and display.
My favorite thing to do at this mall is go to one of my favorite sushi restaurants located in the upstairs. They have really great sushi and the restaurant itself is beautiful, and they are one of few sushi restaurants in town that actually has unagi, my sweet and yummy favorite.
https://www.galerias.com/GaleriasVallarta/NuestrasTiendas
And just down the street is La Isla, Puerto Vallarta’s newest shopping mall. Well I’m calling it a mall but really it is an outdoor shopping center, with beautifully landscaped walkways and several water features including fountains, coy fish, turtles, and a river that was intended to offer gondola rides, but probably because of the pandemic they’re not doing that right now.
The shops at La Isla are mainly clothing shops, and mainly fancy, though I do love to go to H&M and Forever 21, where I can always find bargains. They also have shoe stores, jewelry and watch stores, swimsuit stores, electronic stores, a toy store, beauty store, coffee shop, restaurants and sweet treat kiosks, and a movie theater.
My favorite thing to do at La Isla is to go to the VIP theater. If you have never been to one, you should go try it. It costs a little more than other theaters in town, about $6 USD, but still way cheap compared to the price of going to the movies in the states. You enter into a lobby that looks like a fancy hotel lobby, purchase your ticket, and attend your seat in an overstuffed fully reclining chair with a side table displaying the menu, which includes a full bar, and a call button. Push the button at any time before or during the movie, and they will come take your order and then promptly deliver it. It’s like room service at the movie theater.
One other thing about La Isla, right next door down a dirt drive is a public access beach with a toes-in-the-sand restaurant, where you can hang out on the beach, relax, watch the waves, and eat and drink all day. There is also a lagoon there where you might just see a crocodile! In fact, my sister once found the skull of a dog in that lagoon! The local kids don’t mind though, and often swim there despite the danger.
https://www.laislapuertovallarta.com.mx
A little further south and on the inland side of the town’s main thoroughfare is Plaza Caracol. This is an indoor-outdoor shopping center with small perimeter shops on the outside, and stores of all sizes on the inside. It is older and not as fancy as the others I have mentioned, it is more like the mall the locals go to, with more affordable stores and pricing. It also has a large supermarket in the center, which draws a lot of local people.
Besides the grocery store, the main feature at Plaza Caracol would be LAN’s department store. It’s not quite as big as Liverpool, but generally has better prices. Downstairs I highly recommend checking out their huge selection of really nice purses and handbags, and upstairs they have fabulous housewares.
Plaza Caracol has all the usual mall stores, plus a casino, and probably more specialty shops than the others, and there are plenty of places to eat or grab a snack or sweet treat. There is a nice shaded outdoor area on the north side, with several restaurants that serve good food and are quite inexpensive. Also, in front of the shopping center is a group of a whole bunch of electronic stores and a new burger joint that I haven’t tried yet.
My favorite thing to do at Plaza Caracol is the bowling kiosk and arcade. That’s right, a bowling kiosk. They have half a dozen lanes set up right in the middle of the east wing, some billiard tables, and a snack bar with tables. There is also a large arcade that quite often has 2for1 special deals on game credits, and a trampoline jumpy place. It’s a great place for kids, and the arcade games spit out coupon tickets that can be traded for silly prizes like rubber chickens and sticky wall-walking octopi.
https://www.plazacaracol.mx/en
Finally, I present Macroplaza in Pitillal. It’s main feature is that store that starts with a W, and it has many other stores with clothing, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, sporting goods, fabric and crafts, a bead store, an Office Depot, and an Auto Zone. It is a place that was built with a second floor food court, and I think there are a couple of restaurants up there, but the food court still has not filled with restaurants, so not a whole lot of food selection here. There are plenty of restaurants in the surrounding area though.
My favorite thing to do at Macroplaza, besides going to the clothing shops on the eastern end, where I can usually find some great deals on cute and casual clothing, is to go ride the go-carts. They have a go-cart track set up in the parking lot with 5 lap rides for only 60 pesos, or 2 can ride in one car for 100 pesos.
https://www.macroplazapuertovallarta.mx
Also, one more block to the north is another shopping center featuring a large Soriana grocery store, a Coppel department store, a few shops including a fantastic little shoe store, and a few more casual restaurants to choose from.
If you enjoyed this article or found it useful, CLICK HERE to visit my other Day Trippin’ suggestions. And speaking of suggestions, if you plan to visit Vallarta, allow me to give you two. First, especially if you come between December and March, whale-watching season, get yourself good quality, compact binoculars that you can carry around with you, and BRING THEM! Second, especially if you are in a poorer area, tip well and don’t haggle them down too far, they have families to feed! Have a Great Trip!!