Old Pictures

Malecon at 50s in Puerto Vallarta
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Puerto Vallarta History

The history of our beloved Puerto Vallarta is quite interesting, with ups and downs, luck and misfortunes, but everything led us to be what we are now: a city with a soul of people and warm and sincere inhabitants.

Fisherman at 50s walking on the beach in Puerto Vallarta
Fisherman walking from the beach to Puerto Vallarta downtown.

Rio Cuale Island

During the first part of the 19th century, Río de Cuale island was inhabited mainly by crocodiles, and there were practically no human inhabitants. This beautiful piece of Mexican land remained isolated from the rest of the world like a hidden treasure.

Economy in Puerto Vallarta History

The economic activity was mainly derived from the mountains, in the towns of Cuale, San Sebastian and Mascota, where silver mines abounded.

Founders of Puerto Vallarta

In 1851, Don Guadalupe Sánchez Torres began making regular salt deliveries to Las Peñas (the original name of Puerto Vallarta).

On May 31st, 1918, authorities granted Las Peñas the municipality title and then renamed it to what we now know as Puerto Vallarta.

The name was designated in memory of Don Ignacio L. Vallarta, the illustrious lawyer and governor of the state of Jalisco.

The tourism started in Puerto Vallarta.

Around 1930, Puerto Vallarta started to receive large numbers of national and foreign tourists who were captivated and returned year after year to experience the magic of the port. Little by little, the word spread around quickly, and more tourists came every year.

Hollywood in Puerto Vallarta

For the first time, Puerto Vallarta simultaneously welcomed Hollywood’s famous stars and national celebrities, as well as U.S. intellectuals such as Deborah Kerr, Ava Gardner, Sue Lyon, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Tennessee Williams, the author of The Night of the Iguana.

La Noche de la Iguana movie casting

In addition to visiting the famous stars, the media showed off the pristine beauty of the place.

From that moment on, people no longer kept Puerto Vallarta a secret. Instead, they began to discover it as a treasure for the rest of the world.

In the photos of history of Puerto Vallarta, you can see the beaches without hotels

Puerto Vallarta changed

Between 1980 and 1990, the population almost doubled from 57,000 to 112,000 citizens; therefore, in 1985, the flow of tourism and immigrants demanded the construction of hotels.

One of the most anticipated annual events in the city is the International Sailfish Tournament. It occurs during the first week of November. Fishermen go out into the sea, and whoever catches the biggest fish wins the prize.

Additionally, they freely grill all the fish caught for everyone to enjoy.

Puerto Vallarta today occupies an important position in the world; it’s the place where México comes to life.

See for yourself, and we await you with open arms!

Traveler, if you wish to acquire more knowledge about Puerto Vallarta’s History, you can book a city tour with our experts; you can do it here or at www.tourpassvallarta.com.

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