Maps of Banderas Bay

Maps of Banderas Bay

Mexico: Bordered to the north by the United States, to the east by Belize and the Gulf of Mexico, Guatemala to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Mexico consists of 756,000 square miles of desert, forests, highlands, volcanoes, endless seashore, and trembling earth, and is populated by 95 million people.

The following maps and their descriptions show the zones that make up the area encompassing the Bay of Banderas. The entire area is generally referred to as "Puerto Vallarta", "Costa Vallarta" or simply "PV".

Jalisco and Nayarit: The states of Jalisco and Nayarit are home to many cultures such as Mariachi and Tequila, as well as the Sombrero and others. Jalisco and Nayarit include quaint villages and modern travel destinations. Dozens of small beaches--some developed, some almost hidden--await the adventurous explorer.

Banderas Bay: Mexico's largest natural bay with over 40 miles of coastline measuring 20 miles across, is considered one of the deepest bays in the world with depths of up to two miles. Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags) is home to Puerto Vallarta and its many great destinations. The waters of Banderas Bay are protected from the inclement weather of the open sea because it faces west and is framed by the Sierra Madre mountain range.

Note the dotted line of the airport which is approximately 15 minutes north of downtown Puerto Vallarta and 15 minutes south of Bucerias. Villas del Sol is located on the southern edge of Bucerias.

It is possible to walk from Villas del Sol along the beach to Paradise Village which is located approximately in the middle of the "Nuevo Vallarta" section.


North Coast: Pristine beaches and quieter locations with a more traditional Mexican atmosphere. The north coast is an ideal place to get away from it all. Enjoy isolated beaches and family run restaurants.

Bucerias: Bucerias, in the state of Nayarit, is a small Mexican town located 12 miles north of the Puerto Vallarta airport that has become popular with Canadian and North American visitors. Bucerias, or "Place of the Divers," enjoys a 5-mile stretch of white sand beach that is the longest on the entire coastline of Banderas Bay. Local shops, many good restaurants and services make Bucerias accessible to everyone, but still close enough to enjoy the best that Puerto Vallarta has to offer.

Nuevo Vallarta: Rapidly being acknowledged as a destination in its own right, Nuevo Vallarta offers some of the finest beaches in the bay with large hotel and condominium style resorts.

Marina Vallarta: The marina is home to some of the finest hotels in Puerto Vallarta and offers shopping and restaurants of a similar standard. With over 400 private slips this is a perfect destination for international yachtsmen and land-based vacationers alike.

North Zone Hotel: The hotel zones in Puerto Vallarta offer mainly beachfront locations and are large resorts with great facilities.

South Hotel Zone: The hotel zones in Puerto Vallarta offer mainly beachfront locations and are large resorts with great facilities.

Downtown: With the Malecon at its heart, the downtown area is always buzzing with activity. Offering a huge spectrum of shopping choices, restaurants and nightlife, this is the area that always has something going on.

Zona Romantica: Also know as Old Vallarta, Zona Romantica has hotels, restaurants and bars to suit every taste, palette and budget. This is the Puerto Vallarta you hear about with cobbled streets and red brick rooftops covered with bouganvillia of every colour.

Conchas Chinas: This area is renowned for its exclusive villas and condos, some of which are featured in programs screened around the world. Many gated communities perch high on the mountainsides looking directly down on the ocean. Downtown Puerto Vallarta is only a few minutes away from Conchas Chinas.

South Zone Vallarta: With spectacular views of the Los Arcos Maritime Nature Reserve and the Sierra Madre mountains directly behind, this beautiful location is home to Mismaloya Bay, famous as a film location from Night of the Iguana in the 60's to Predator in the 80's.

South Coast: With wild and rugged scenery, the south coast offers tiny authentic Mexican villages--some with no electricity--where you can enjoy a real desert island experience only 20 minutes from the city. This area is accessible only by boat.

Barra de Navidad: A wonderful little town neighbouring Melaque on the Bahia de Navidad sandbar, ocean one side, and Laguna Navidad on the other. With just a few hotels and many B & B type accommodations this is still the original Mexico with cobbled streets, and traditional local lifestyles. Most of the streets are pedestrian only, reducing traffic and making this little town easy to get around on foot.

Villas del Sol
Francisco Madero #134 Sur, Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico