MND Local: Puerto Vallarta October news roundup

From infrastructure upgrades to tempest recovery, Puerto Vallarta is navigating a play of alteration on the coast. 

In caller weeks, the metropolis has seen large developments shaping regular beingness and mobility — from the opening of the caller Las Juntas overpass to the brief suspension of the Malecón enlargement amid nonmigratory protests. 

The Marigalante, Puerto Vallarta’s distinctive pirate ship, volition not beryllium restored aft sinking earlier this month. (Barco Pirata Marigalante)

Meanwhile, the assemblage continues to rebound from weather-related setbacks, including flooding and the nonaccomplishment of the Marigalante pirate ship.

Historic Marigalante pirate vessel replacement en route

The Marigalante, Puerto Vallarta’s beloved pirate vessel and 1 of the city’s astir recognizable silhouettes, sank earlier this period aft precocious tides from Hurricane Priscilla and a failed bilge pump caused the vas to instrumentality connected water, according to the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board.

The ship, a replica of Christopher Columbus’ Santa María — a 15th-century carrack — had hosted nightly pirate-themed meal shows since the 1990s. It volition not beryllium restored. Instead, its sister ship, the Jolly Roger, volition get from Cancún aft a transit done the Panama Canal, with the institution expecting it to scope the Bay of Banderas earlier December 2025.

Built successful Mazatlán successful 2009 from a premix of alloy and wood, the Jolly Roger combines the look of a classical galleon with modern durability. The institution down the Marigalante confirmed that the determination aims to sphere section jobs and proceed the city’s signature pirate entertainment. Crew members from some ships volition beryllium invited to articulation the caller operation, and officials accidental they whitethorn adjacent clasp the Marigalante sanction to grant the bequest of a Vallarta icon that defined the city’s skyline for decades.

Puerto Vallarta Malecón expansion stalls amid protests

Plans to grow and rehabilitate Puerto Vallarta’s famed oceanfront walkway came to a little halt earlier this period aft residents and taxi drivers blocked Avenida México, the main tract of the projected works. The demonstration, sparked by concerns implicit timing and assemblage input, forced operation crews to suspend enactment conscionable hours aft City Hall announced the commencement of the 18-million-peso project.

Videos circulating connected societal media amusement a enactment of protestors marching with signs. The project, funded done the Federal Maritime Land Zone (ZOFEMAT) program, aims to widen the Malecón northbound from Calle 31 de Octubre to Calle Argentina, connecting it with Parque Hidalgo and the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood. Planned upgrades see caller lighting, resurfacing, sidewalks, benches and utilities. The 80-day timeline targets completion earlier the vacation season.

(Visit Puerto Vallarta)

Residents accidental the enactment was rushed and imposed without capable consultation, portion officials mention a three-week nationalist survey arsenic grounds of outreach. Business owners interest that operation volition disrupt lawsuit entree during Puerto Vallarta’s precocious season.

New overpass eases postulation astatine Las Juntas Interchange

The recently opened overpass astatine the Las Juntas Interchange has importantly improved postulation travel successful Puerto Vallarta’s bluish corridor, reducing question times betwixt the airdrome and the interchange from arsenic agelong arsenic 2 hours successful dense postulation to conscionable 10 to 15 minutes.

Although further enactment continues, specified arsenic the installation of a pedestrian span and roadway adjustments requiring postulation officers, the benefits to regular commuters are already visible, including enhanced mobility for residents arsenic good arsenic streamlined question to and from the airdrome and edifice zone.

Meagan Drillinger is simply a New York autochthonal who has spent the past 15 years traveling astir and penning astir Mexico. While she’s connected the roadworthy for assignments astir of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her location base. Follow her travels connected Instagram astatine @drillinjourneys oregon done her blog astatine drillinjourneys.com.