Puerto Vallarta city is rich in history and culture.

¨Puerto Vallarta city history tour¨, this is the most important tour of them all. It will help you understand how Puerto Vallarta became a worldwide known tourist destination. Even though it is such a small city.

Puerto Vallarta was founded thanks to the mining towns that are located up the mountain. Like San Sebastian of the West, Mascota and Talpa de Allende, all are denominated ¨Magical Towns¨.

To know more about these magical towns and history of Mexico, declaration of independence, mining, gold and silver spanish galeons and pirates click here. 

The miners would carry the gold by mules or donkeys to the ships awaiting by the beach. On the way back to the mining towns they would buy salt from the founder of Puerto Vallarta, ´´Mr Guadalupe Sanches Torres´´. People that are born in Puerto Vallarta are known as ¨Salted Feet or pata salada¨. 

Mr. Guadalupe Sanches Torres arrived in Puerto Vallarta on a 12th of December of 1851. The 12th of December is the Day of our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. So he named this place ¨Puerto las Peñas de Santa Maria de Guadalupe¨.

The 12th of December is a big holiday in Puerto Vallarta for two reasons.

1. Day of our lady of Guadalupe.
2. Founding day of Puerto Vallarta.

Mr. Guadalupe Sanches Torres commercialized salt to the mining towns like “San Sebastian of the West”. The gold and silver mines are still working up to this day and it is highly recommended that you visit them. The history is very interesting as well as the sight seeing.

The name of Puerto Las Penas, was changed in 1910 to honor the governor of Jalisco, Mr. Ignacio Luis Vallarta. A monument in his honor can be found on the main town square.

In 1951 during the 100th year century celebration, John Houston discovers Puerto Vallarta. He decides to film the movie ¨The night of the Iguana¨. With Richard Burton, Eva Gardner, Debora Kerr and Sue Lyon.

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton fell in love during the  filming of Cleopatra, several years before ¨The night of the Iguana¨.

Elizabeth and Richard had some good times in Puerto Vallarta during and after the filming of the movie.

This was a big scandal, since they were married at the time to other people. Gossip goes a long way quickly, unlike good news.

So this scandal made Puerto Vallarta famous as the hidden getaway for lovers in Mexico.

In 1988 the movie ¨The Predator¨, with Arnold Schwarzenegger was filmed in Puerto Vallarta. This brought attention from more and more tourists from around the world.

History tours and sight seeing are available by certified and professional tourist guides. Please contact us for rates and more information.