Is Puerto Vallarta a place you have visited before or is this the first time that you will be going to this popular beach destination? Are you are a Puerto Vallarta veteran or a Banderas Bay newbie? It doesn’t matter because there are interesting facts that you probably don’t know about Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Here are a few Puerto Vallarta top facts:

Los Muertos Beach in Puerto Vallarta

The Los Muertos Beach in Puerto Vallarta translates to Beach of the Dead, and this beach has an interesting history. The Los Muertos Beach or Playa Los Muertos had pirates storm the shore many centuries ago to rob whatever was in their way, then they buried these treasures. Many of these pirates were killed when they stormed the shore, which is why the name came about for this beach. When the first hotel was being built there were many skeletons that were found.

Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta

The Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta is one of the deepest bays in the world as it is over 900 meters deep and 42 kilometers wide. The Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta is one of the top 10 bays in the world. The name came after the Spanish conquistadores were greeted upon 20,000 natives that were heavily armed with bows and arrows and they were all holding feathered flags to defend their land. “Banderas” means flags in Spanish.

Las Penas (Puerto Vallarta)

Puerto Vallarta was originally known as Las Penas in the latter years of 1800’s. In the early 1900’s the name was changed to the current name Puerto Vallarta, which was named after Ignacio Vallarta a former state governor.

Main Source of Income in Puerto Vallarta

Over nine billion pesos annually is income in Puerto Vallarta, and tourism is the main source. Although this hasn’t always been the main source. During the early 19th century the income came from fishing and farming where exporting bananas, beans, corn, and coconuts were shipped to the United States.

The Movie Industry in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta has been featured in many different movies that include The Night of the Iguana, which was directed by John Huston and this movie made Puerto Vallarta famous during the 1960’s. The movie starred Richard Burton, Deborah Kerr, and Ava Gardner. While the stars were filming, Burton started an affair with Elizabeth Taylor, and the two got a second home in Puerto Vallarta. A few of the other movies that were shot in Puerto Vallarta include (1980) Herbie Goes Bananas, (1987) Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger, (2011) Limitless with Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper.

Population in Puerto Vallarta

One of the fastest growing cities in Mexico is Puerto Vallarta. In the last two decades the population has increased by nearly 8%. During the 1880’s the population was 1,500 and in 2010 the population increased to 255,725. The population today is estimated at over 300,000.

Mariachi Music in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is located in the Mexican State of Jalisco. Jalisco is also the capital of Mariachi music. Some of the most talented mariachi bands are located in Puerto Vallarta and there are also children’s mariachi bands in Puerto Vallarta.