One of the Most Beautiful Resort Town, PUERTO VALLARTA (Mexico) - A History

Puerto Vallarta was not created for modern tourism. Originally, Puerto Vallarta was invented by Canadians as tourist destination. Puerto Vallarta enjoys a definite history of its own. The original population, as recent discoveries and archeological studies, show, was of various tribes of Aztec Indians. They developed cultural and commercial relations along the Pacific coast.  Puerto Vallarta was part of the pre-Columbian indigenous kingdom of Xalisco. The ancient people took advantage of the fertile lands of the Valley of Banderas.  The sea was overlooked as the main resource.  Even today, Puerto Vallarta a not a bustling shipping port. Puerto Vallarta's port facilities serve only cruise ships and recreational craft.

The de Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Bandares) and the Valle de Banderas (Valley of Banderas) were named by the Spanish named when Hernan Cortez's nephew, was traveling in this area, he encountered several native warriors with banners and outfits made of colorful bird feathers. The Spaniards had flags with the Spanish Herald and the Virgin Mary; apparently shone the metal with the sunlight and the reflection drove them off. The town that is now Puerto Vallarta first began when the enterprising Guadalupe Sanchez established a trading post on the banks of Rio Cuale to supply salt to the gold and silver mines in the mountains toward Guadalajara. The ore was loaded into ships waiting in the bay. The three offshore rock formations south of town were navigational landmark from earlier times. The original name of the early municipality was Puerto de las Peñas, named for the prominent rocks. Puerto Vallarta was named after Don Ignacio Luis Vallarta, a well-known governor of the State of Jalisco.

The Spanish expeditions started in the beginning of the 15 th Century in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains that surround the Valley of Banderas. They discovered mines that were exploited later in the century. The mineral was moved by mules and donkeys ashore, to be transported to Spain.  The town began to grow peacefully; the people started fishing as a way of living. Slowly the area changed from a small ranch to a small very attractive town.

In 1918, a U.S. company, The Montgomery Corporation, was established in the north of Vallarta, with a big banana plantation mainly for exportation. The area grew very quickly. The Company produced pre-built houses and a railroad to easily bring the product from the farm to the coast.  Punta Mita, the northern point of the Bay, was known for its oysters and pearls found in that area.

 Puerto Vallarta has been somewhat isolated by the surrounding Sierra Madre mountains and the lack of bridges over the rivers. There were no direct roads leading to the town until 1966, when the land around was leveled for building an international airport.  By 1970, Puerto Vallarta was fully accessible by land, sea and air and Puerto Vallarta begin to shape as a leading tourism destination.

Today Vallarta has grown as a modern city with more then 15,000 occupations. It has been modernized at the same time has kept the old Mexican flavor intact. Natural beauty is well preserved and there are many projects going on to maintain the beauty of the surroundings. Puerto Vallarta has many attractive things to offer, mountains, forests, rivers, and history, but the best thing is the warmth and kindness of the people.

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