North of the Cuale River

Often overlooked, this tranquil neighborhood bordered by Libertad and Ignacio L. Vallarta streets, along with the Rio Cuale, is home to Vallarta’s two main markets and springs to life during daylight hours. Traditional architecture abounds, with many buildings and storefronts recently revitalized and brightly painted. This small but vibrant area boasts budget hotels, numerous eateries and restaurants and a plethora of interesting shops, including a bookstore, Cuban cigar bar, clothing boutiques and venues offering an overwhelming choice of tequila by the bottle. With one of the markets devoted to artisans and the other to food stalls, ceramics and other souvenirs, this neighborhood is a shopper’s paradise and an intriguing area to explore on foot.