Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit, "Exploring Old Town"

Old Town, consisting of downtown and the Romantic Zone, is the heart of Puerto Vallarta. It's a half hour from the airport.

This area is touristy, but there are plenty of good reasons to live here. There are cafes, galleries, theaters, restaurants, and a popular beach. The area also has the only serious nightlife on the bay.

The neighborhood south of the Cuale River, aka, the Romantic Zone or Emiliano Zapata, is also home to a vibrant gay community. Rainbow flags fly everywhere.

Our favorite thing about Old Town is that everything is walkable, which fosters a lively street scene and a convivial, everyone-knows-everyone feeling.

This content was originally published on redguide. You can learn more about Old Town and Puerto Vallarta real estate at redguide.com.