Visit Puerto Vallarta’s Naval Museum

Puerto Vallarta’s Naval Historic Museum underwent renovations in the past few months, re-opening with brand new interactive exhibitions in English and Spanish that allow visitors to discover Mexico’s rich maritime past and present. Overseen by the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) and staffed by marines currently involved in military service at any of the Navy’s local facilities, the two-story museum is located in Puerto Vallarta’s El Centro neighborhood, next to the Los Arcos Amphitheater.

The Mexican Secretariat of the Navy is a member of the federal executive cabinet with responsibility for managing the country’s navy and marine forces. The secretary is appointed by the president of Mexico.

Exploring the museum should take less than an hour, during which you will be introduced to Mexico’s maritime history, which can be traced back to pre-hispanic times. The museum features a number of audiovisual exhibitions and a unique, five-screen navigation simulator that allows anyone to pilot a large ship through different conditions and environments.

A small gift shop on the street level features an air-conditioned coffee shop where visitors can relax and enjoy wireless Internet service if needed. The coffee shop also features outdoor seating and a navy jazz band performs live music in the evenings. Access to the coffee and gift shop is free, while admission to the museum is $45 pesos per person, $30 for students and seniors with valid ID. The Puerto Vallarta Naval Museum is located at Zaragoza 4 in El Centro, and is open Tuesdays to Sundays.