Four of Puerto Vallarta’s charms

 Puerto Vallarta and it’s Secrets of the local microcosm that attract foreigners and makes them feel at home.

For many years Puerto Vallarta has held an irresistible magnetism amongst foreigners who visit the city. We all are familiar with stories of tourists who arrived here almost by coincidence and captivated by a mysterious attraction, decided to turn it into their permanent residence. What are the secrets of this place that continues attracting tourists and immigrants of all kinds? In this article are some of the clues why this microcosm’s pull draws so many people along the bay’s coastline to feel at home.

An unparalleled natural wealth and diversity: Few places in the world boast the combination of sea and mountains, rivers and waterfalls, beaches and jungles, all concentrated in a relatively small geographic area, something which allows the simultaneous enjoyment of a wide variety of nature’s offerings. As if this were not enough, the bay is the favorite destination of hundreds of whales (the largest cetacean in our oceans) that arrive every year in droves to give birth to their calves in our warm waters, providing unforgettable whale watching tours to our visitors. Another enigmatic place is the estuary which shelters the magic of the biodiversity of the bay, home to crocodiles and other exotic species. The native ecosystem is enriched with thousands of marvelous examples of our planet’s flora and fauna.

Meeting point of the Americas: Puerto Vallarta is the permanent residence of many citizens from The United States and Canada, for historic and geographic reasons. Many temporary residents come in the winter season from the North escaping from the cold harsh weather. With the confluence of people and customs from the Americas; the ones from the South, Spanish-speaking and Latino, and the ones from the North, English and French speaking, Anglo-saxon and others, the city takes on a multicultural personality. There is a vibrant and friendly atmosphere, in which the norm is tolerance and respect for different cultures.

Traditional and modern urbanism: Perhaps the architectural diversity in the city is a result of the above. The town has all the beauty of a small historic Mexican pueblo both downtown and in other notable places, and incorporates the development and magnificence of a North American metropolis as seen in shopping malls, five star hotels and the latest style condominiums as well. An additional touch of visual variety of the area is found in the originality of the mansions built along the coast and in residential communities designed by Mexican and foreign architects.

The discreet charm of a bilingual city: Another result of the multicultural character of Puerto Vallarta is its undeniable bilingual profile. This not only includes the public signage that shows tourists how to get around, nor the fact that it is practically an official norm that all personnel serving the public must demonstrate minimum English or other European language abilities. What I’m speaking of is that an enormous percentage of the population speaks English and Spanish fluently and with ease. The everyday nature of a foreign presence, the cultural mixture, and the focus of the local economy towards the hospitality industry might be factors that explain this growing bilingual atmosphere, where both locals and foreigners feel they are among family and friends.These might be some of the secrets of the local microcosm that attracts foreigners and then makes them feel at home.

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