Puerto Vallarta has been described as a shopper's paradise. There are plenty of malls, small specialty shops, and fine-art galleries. This is a great place to shop for handicrafts, from the region and throughout Mexico. Masks, pottery, lacquerware, carved-wood animals, hand-dyed woven rugs, and embroidered clothing are just some of what's available in shops and markets. If possible comparison shop; quality varies.

In the Mercado Municipal, at Avenida Miramar and Libertad, flowers, piñatas, produce, and plastics are all shoved together in indoor and outdoor stands that cover a full city block. The strip of shops along Isla Río Cuale is an outdoor market of sorts, with souvenir stands and exclusive boutiques interspersed with eateries.

The highway on the north side of town is lined with small arcades and large shopping centers. The best selections are at the huge Paradise Plaza, next to Paradise Village Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, where you'll find boutiques as well as a bank, a hair salon, a video arcade, and cafés.

Prices in the shops are fixed, and U.S. dollars and credit cards are accepted. Bargaining is expected in the markets and by the vendors on the beach. Most stores are open daily 10-8. A few close for siesta at 1 or 2, then reopen at 4.