Stacks of Marlboro cigarette cartons are arranged neatly in a duty-free shop at Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The bold red-and-white packaging contrasts sharply with the health warnings — “Smoking kills” and “Smoking seriously harms you and others around you.” The display, priced in both U.S. dollars and pesos, reflects international tobacco regulations that require prominent labeling even in airport retail environments catering to travelers.

Two bright red towel cards from RIU Hotels & Resorts rest on a polished mahogany table, displaying the chain’s minimalist folded-towel icon and signature white typography. The background sign, embossed with the RIU logo and slogan “As you like it,” reflects the resort’s global branding known across beach destinations like Puerto Vallarta. These cards, exchanged for beach towels, symbolize the finely tuned logistics of high-volume hospitality—where even leisure operates with efficiency and precision.

A quiet cobblestone street winds through the historic center of San Sebastián del Oeste, a mountain town tucked into the Sierra Madre Occidental of Jalisco. The preserved adobe houses, painted in the traditional red-and-white palette with tiled roofs, evoke its 17th-century mining heritage. This view captures the town’s timeless character—narrow lanes, rustic façades, and bursts of bougainvillea that frame the colonial-era charm of one of Mexico’s most atmospheric Pueblos Mágicos.

A small village pharmacy and convenience shop in San Sebastián del Oeste, Jalisco, displays everyday items from candy and cookies to basic clothing under hand-painted signs and Christmas garlands. The dual storefront—Farmacia Gretel and Tienda de Ropa Ingrith—reflects the multipurpose nature of businesses in this mountain town, where colonial-era buildings with thick adobe walls still house family-run enterprises. San Sebastián’s preserved architecture and slow rhythm have made it one of Mexico’s officially designated Pueblos Mágicos, drawing visitors seeking a glimpse of traditional Sierra Madre life.

Signage at the entranve to Mexican Magical Town San Sebastian.

The Villa Cocoa Chocolate Factory in San Sebastian, Mexico. Can confirm, the chocolate is very good.

The Villa Cocoa Chocolate Factory in San Sebastian, Mexico. Can confirm, the chocolate is very good.

This bridge marks the boundary between Jalisco and Nayarit in western Mexico, a crossing that connects travelers heading north from Puerto Vallarta toward Riviera Nayarit. The single-span concrete structure with its yellow guardrails spans a deep ravine surrounded by subtropical vegetation typical of coastal mountain terrain. A small roadside sign at the far end welcomes drivers to Nayarit, signaling the transition between two of Mexico’s most visited coastal states.

A really great sunset from the Riu in Puerto Vallarta facing the Pacific Ocean.

A restaurant in Zona Romántica Puerto Vallarta.

The densely layered hillsides of Puerto Vallarta rise above Playa de los Muertos, one of the city’s most iconic and active beachfronts. The shoreline is packed with rows of umbrellas and sunbathers, backed by mid-century and modern resort towers stacked against the green slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Fishermen, swimmers, and jet-ski riders share the bay, while pelicans glide overhead. The neighborhood of Zona Romántica just inland mixes narrow cobblestone streets with lively bars and cafes, making this stretch of the Bahía de Banderas one of Mexico’s most photographed coastal skylines and a focal point of everyday life for both locals and visitors.

Los Muertos Pier along Playa de los Muertos in Zona Romántica Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

Amid a colorful array of sun hats and tourist apparel, a display of handcrafted souvenir signs made from repurposed Mexican license plates fills this small stall in Puerto Vallarta’s bustling shopping district. The plates feature playful, tongue-in-cheek phrases — a hallmark of beachside humor catering to travelers exploring the town’s narrow cobblestone streets. Surrounding the display are racks of wide-brimmed hats and caps branded with “Bass Pro Shops” and “Puerto Vallarta,” blending North American pop culture with the distinctly local artisan aesthetic. These market scenes embody the resort city’s mix of craftsmanship, commerce, and lighthearted tourism that defines much of coastal Mexico.

A coin-operated public payphone marked “Monedas 090” stands on a cobblestone street in central Puerto Vallarta, a reminder of the pre-digital era still visible in everyday urban life. Behind it, a mix of aging vehicles, small storefronts, and whitewashed buildings with red-tiled roofs reflect the city’s blend of local tradition and evolving modernity. These relics of analog communication, though seldom used today, remain scattered across Mexico’s towns and resort cities — quiet artifacts of an infrastructure that once connected travelers and locals alike.

A new fleet of electric bicycles for the Puerto Vallarta municipal police stands ready for deployment, each bearing the city’s emblem and markings for the Policía Turística. These fat-tire e-bikes, still wrapped in protective film, are part of an initiative to increase patrol mobility along the Malecón, beaches, and narrow city streets. The compact, battery-powered design enables officers to respond quickly through the resort’s bustling pedestrian areas while reducing emissions and traffic congestion along the bayfront.

The lively Malecón promenade in Puerto Vallarta stretches along the Bay of Banderas, framed by rows of palms, open-air cafés, and small artisan stands shaded by red umbrellas. Visitors walk the cobblestone walkway past shops like Casa Mina and La Chata, where colorful papel picado flags flutter above the outdoor seating. In the distance, high-rise hotels mark the city’s modern skyline, while the older seafront retains the intimate, walkable character that has made this coastal destination one of Mexico’s most beloved beach towns.

A narrow street in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica angles upward toward the city’s steep green hills, where a red-and-white radio tower crowns a weathered building labeled Restaurante El Panorama. The scene captures the city’s layered verticality—low stucco terraces with clay roofs in the foreground give way to midcentury apartment towers clinging to the slopes. The dense mix of balconies, street lamps, and satellite dishes reflects Puerto Vallarta’s blend of resort development and lived-in coastal community, where mountain terrain meets compact urban architecture.

A coin-operated public payphone marked “Monedas 090” stands on a cobblestone street in central Puerto Vallarta, a reminder of the pre-digital era still visible in everyday urban life. Behind it, a mix of aging vehicles, small storefronts, and whitewashed buildings with red-tiled roofs reflect the city’s blend of local tradition and evolving modernity. These relics of analog communication, though seldom used today, remain scattered across Mexico’s towns and resort cities — quiet artifacts of an infrastructure that once connected travelers and locals alike.

A colorful souvenir shop in Puerto Vallarta displays a mix of handmade textiles, luchador masks, and woven bags beside a bold political T-shirt. The storefront sign, “Peyote People — Native Folk Art,” hints at a focus on indigenous crafts, yet the juxtaposition of local artistry with sharp political commentary captures the layered nature of Mexican tourist zones. From bright ponchos and beach gear to expressive graphic tees, the shopfront reflects the blend of commerce, art, and opinion that defines many coastal market streets across Mexico.

A pair of weathered stickers cling to a rusted street pole along a cobblestone street in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. One features a political caricature with the word “GENOCIDE,” while the other, a minimalist face design, sits just below. Cars and pedestrians move through the narrow street lined with traditional whitewashed buildings, tiled roofs, and small local shops. The scene reflects how political expression and street art intermingle in everyday urban spaces, even in tourist-heavy coastal towns.