Shopping

Basilio Badillo

Description: SOUTH OF THE RÍO CUALE. This street in the Romantic Zone is lined with galleries, jewelry stores, boutiques, restaurants and pubs for your enjoyment. A number of locales worth note are Gallería Dante, one of the best and most diverse art galleries in the city. Down the street is Lucy's Cucu Cabana with some of the wackiest pieces you'll have seen anywhere. Banderas Bay Trading Company (two locations) offers some truly down-home furniture that harkens to another era in Mexico as well as fun décor items. Galeria Puerco Azul is an artist-owned venture inspired by blue pigs, ceramic animals, mugs, dog books and colorful madcap paintings!
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Galerias Vallarta

Description: ZONA NORTE. This modern, climate-controlled shopping mall is home to Liverpool, a large department store that carries house wares, apparel, perfumes and beauty aids, shoes, appliances, furniture, electronics and even toys. Other merchants of note include Linens & Things, Pepe Jeans, Martí, Prada and Paul & Shark. In addition, the mall also features several restaurants (Kensao, Chili's, Sirloin Stockade and fast food choices) in its food court. The entertainment level offers a casino (Emotion), kid's games (La Estación del Tren) and a multiplex cinema (Cinemex) with movies in Spanish and English.
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International Flea Market

Description: DOWNTOWN. First-time visitors to Puerto Vallarta may be interested in strolling through the International Flea Market down by the Rio Cuale. There is the big two-story building with a series of stalls selling various items, some for normal use and others definitely for souvenirs. From downtown, to get there you can walk on any street heading south toward the river. Plan on taking a couple of hours to properly peruse the merchandise.
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Isla Rio Cuale

Description: DOWNTOWN. In the same area as the International Flea Market, just across the swinging pedestrian bridge on the Isla Rio Cuale, is another entire area with stands that sell much of the same. The difference is that the stalls are much larger, and since it's outside, even though there are tented areas, it's a more pleasant stroll. Check out beads, colorful plates, hand-painted sculptures, hammocks, sandals, pareos, tequila snifters and shells. In open-air stands that you are welcome to practice your bargaining skills. Generally, a couple of rules of thumb: if you buy in quantity, you can definitely get a discount of up to fifty percent AND, don't ask about a price unless you are really interested in buying something. Most venders will be bilingual, but not all. Practice your Spanish, at least for greetings and thank you!
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Los Mercados

Description: SOUTH OF THE RÍO CUALE. A relatively new market, Los Mercados features an interior courtyard flanked by several boutiques catering to those who consider themselves "foodies": Cork + Bottle; k'rico, a delicious dessert and espresso shop; Don Fresco, which specializes in fresh produce; Mikey's, a deli; and finally, Fireworks, where you can create & design your own pottery.
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Old Town Farmers' Market

Description: SOUTH OF THE RÍO CUALE. For a true "taste" of local culture, try the Old Town Farmers' Market, open every Saturday from 10am to 2pm from October to May. This open-air covered market features fresh produce, bakery items, homemade sauces and salsas, dressings, ceramics, dyed fabric, coffee & tea, gourmet chocolates, herbs, dried fruits, jewelry, bags, cheeses and deli meats. Arrive early to get your pick - there's usually a line at opening time.
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Xocodiva

Description: SOUTH OF THE RÍO CUALE. For chocolate lovers, Xocodiva may seem like a gift from the gods. Indeed, this isn't the average touristy sweet shop. In fact, if you poll locals, they'll let you know the best artisan chocolates in town are made from scratch inside this tidy little shop. Just walking into the door gets your tastebuds functioning madly.
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