The Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port- Local Vendors, Hidden Beaches, and more

By: Jennifer- Lead Navigator & Founder

When cruising to Mexico this June, I must admit that I was hesitant to get off the ship in Puerto Vallarta. I had seen the TikToks and news reels showing violence in the area just a few months prior and had anxiety on how we would navigate our safety if we were too far from the ship and more broke out.

That being said, I try very hard to not let fear, and the media, stop my family from making those meaningful memories, so off the ship we went to explore. I am so glad we didn’t let fear guide our decision because it turned out to be a fantastic day! Here’s the stuff I wish I knew prior to arriving:

Navigating the Port

The port, known as Puerto Magico, holds up to 3 ships at a time and has a FREE white, open aired tram (tips appreciated) that will take you between the ships and the main shopping inside the port. These trams run continuously throughout the day. There are vendors located immediately off the ships but I recommend visiting those vendors on your return to the ship so that you do not need to carry any purchases into the main port area. The trams will take you directly to the duty free shop and from there you will have access to the indoor mall area or the flea market of street vendors.

The Flea Market- and the incredible gem

At first we found the flea market to be very overwhelming. The stalls and shops are densely packed and the vendors are vying for your attention and sales. A lot of them have duplicate items and would get frustrated when we walked past without stopping in their booth. This is something very overstimulating for anyone traveling with special needs. It was also hard to navigate a scooter or wheelchair in the area.

That being said, we were blown away by the talent and kindness when we stopped into Glass Design Rosas. Here you can watch as the vendor designs glass keepsakes right in front of you over the open flame. When we were there he was adding legs onto his gecko designs. After speaking with him we discovered that he has been creating glass sculptures his entire life and now trains the younger generation to continue the craft.

The “Hidden” Beach-Playa de Oro

Many shore excursion desks will tell you about beautiful beach escapes complete with food, lounge chairs, and resort style vibes. What they don’t tell you is that there is a beach that you can access directly from the port. This is perfect for families who don’t quite know what the day might bring and therefore do not want to commit to a long and sometimes pricey excursion.

If you look between the flea market and main shops you will see a chain link fence with a turnstile and a faded sign that says to the beach. Exit through the turnstile and make a right, heading in the direction of the giant Mexican flag. At the end of this path you will see the entrance to the beach on the left. There is an all-inclusive style resort located on the beach but beach access in actually open to the public and was the perfect spot for a quick dip on our cloudy day.

The best part, hands down, was all the local vendors. My 14-year old has always wanted a hand-peeled mango on a stick and my 18 year old was blown away by the vendor selling personalized, engraved, wooden keychains right on the beach. Hubby was adventurous and tried the spicy shrimp on a stick which did not disappoint. Everyone was friendly and we didn’t feel pressured, like at the flea market, to have to purchase items.

Other Vendors Worth Mentioning

When exiting the duty free shop you have the option to go right to the flea market, straight to the beach, or left to the indoor shops. Here is where you will find well-known chain stores like Diamonds International as well as local businesses. Directly inside on the left is Viva Tequila. Here they do a FREE tequila tasting (tips appreciated). They allowed us to try about 10 different tequilas and took the time to really make us feel like we were at a tasting and not just a storefront. I highly recommend stopping, saying hi, and asking for any local recommendations before venturing further around town.

Another stop inside the mall worth mentioning is Cacao Magico. This store front make fresh chocolate treats and even hosts chocolate making classes in 30, 60, or 90 minute classes. Chocolate is a big part of the Mexican culture, history, and economy and Cacao Magico was the perfect place to stop in and learn about the history and try some of the Mexican specialties. I would definitely go back and take a class from them in the future.

*As with any adventure, please make sure to check local times and current conditions before traveling.