Puerto Vallarta Takes Off in a Record-Breaking Year
Vallarta boomed in 2023. More cruise and plane passengers than ever swayed hotels to near-full. But beware: fake drugs cast a shadow — check meds carefully. Still, paradise beckons — soak up the sunshine and let Vallarta's magic work its charm.
2023, it seems, was the year when Puerto Vallarta went full-on mambo, with tourists pirouetting in record numbers and cruise ships swaying to their own salty beat.
Let's start with the sea sirens. Over 540,000 cruise passengers sashayed onto Vallarta's shores in 2023, a 30% pirouette compared to 2022. Sure, the number of actual ships dipped (174 vs 186), but hey, quality over quantity, right? Think of it as a conga line where each passenger throws down more pesos than the last.
January was the undisputed king of cruise-a-palooza, with 90,000 sun-seekers boogieing ashore, while December moved in with almost 38,000. Of course, Mother Nature occasionally threw a wrench in the nautical fandango, forcing port closures like that time Hurricane Lidia cha-cha'ed its way through October, cancelling two ships. But hey, even the ocean needs a mamba break occasionally.
But what about the landlubbers? The Puerto Vallarta International Airport did break a record 6.8 million passengers in 2023, a 9.4% step up from 2022. December kept the rhythm going with a 4.6% compared to the same month in 2022, solidifying Vallarta's place as the GAP terminal with the third-best footwork in the country. Not quite a triple axel, but hey, who requires gravity-defying feats when you've got beaches like these?
Speaking of beaches, the end-of-year holidays saw hotel occupancy reaching a near-capacity 90-95% by the 26th of December. Tourist service providers were also shimmying with glee, reporting a 70% increase in boat tour sales, with Los Arcos de Mismaloya being the undisputed king. Basically, if you weren't in Vallarta last December, you tangoed on the wrong dance floor, my friend.
A discordant note amidst the festive mariachi. The sale of fentanyl-contaminated medications in some pharmacies. An investigation by the Los Angeles Times found fake drugs testing positive for the deadly opioid lurking within the tourist paradise. Authorities are on the case, but it's a sobering reminder to be vigilant and stick to reputable sources for your farmacia fix.
So, there you have it, Puerto Vallarta 2023: a year of record-breaking tourism, sun-kissed beaches, and the occasional trouble. Even the most vibrant salsas need a touch of spice, right? Just remember, stay safe, embrace the rhythm, and let the Vallarta beat guide your every step. After all, in this sun-drenched paradise, life's just one endless mambo, and you're never out of steps.
