El Malecón
The 12-block oceanfront boardwalk in downtown Puerto Vallarta — bronze sculptures from the city's open-air art tradition, sand sculptors, palapa cocktail bars, and sunset over Banderas Bay framed by the Cathedral spire. The heart of the city in a way no other Mexican beach town has.
The 1-mile boardwalk that defines Puerto Vallarta
El Malecón is the 12-block oceanfront boardwalk that runs along Puerto Vallarta’s central downtown — about 1 mile of red-brick pavement, sand sculpture artists, palapa cocktail stands, public bronze sculptures, and the most-photographed sunset in Mexico’s Pacific coast. It’s the heart of the city in a way that no other Mexican beach town has — Cabo has its marina, Cancún has its Hotel Zone, Vallarta has the Malecón.
For Krystal Puerto Vallarta guests, the Malecón is a $5 taxi ride south or a 25-minute beach walk along Banderas Bay. It’s the single most-visited stretch in the city, and the most concentrated cluster of restaurants, bars, public art, and people-watching anywhere in the Pacific corridor.
How to get to the Malecón
- From Krystal Puerto Vallarta: 5-10 minutes by taxi ($4-7), or 25-30 minute beach walk south along the bay. The Malecón’s north end starts about 2 km south of the resort.
- By bus: The Centro/Olas Altas city buses run constantly along the coastal highway (Federal 200) and stop at multiple points along the Malecón route. Around 12-15 pesos.
- By rideshare: Uber and DiDi work in Vallarta — slightly cheaper than taxi, generally easier for non-Spanish speakers.
The Malecón itself is a pedestrian zone — no cars allowed on the boardwalk. Drop-offs happen at the inland side of the parallel street (Paseo Díaz Ordaz) and you walk over.
Watch more videos of El Malecón
Sunset is the visit, not the day
The Malecón is a sunset destination, not an all-day one. Cruise ship crowds make midday genuinely unpleasant in high season. The smart play: skip the Malecón during the day, do the resort beach or a Marietas Islands trip instead, then arrive at the boardwalk 45 minutes before sunset, grab a cocktail at Las Palomas or La Vaquita, watch the bay turn orange, eat dinner inland in the Romantic Zone, and let the Malecón nightlife wash over you on the walk back. Better day, better evening, fewer crowds.
Stay closest at Krystal Puerto Vallarta
Krystal Puerto Vallarta is the closest Vacation Club Promo property for this excursion. Promotional packages from $435 for 5–7 nights. Resort concierge handles tour booking and pickup directly from the lobby.
View Krystal Puerto VallartaThe resort is a 10-minute taxi ride from the Malecón, walking distance to Galerías Vallarta mall.
