Once a sleepy fishing village, Puerto Vallarta was virtually unknown to the vacationing public until director John Huston chose the locale for his 1964 film The Night of the Iguana. During filming, the affair between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor caught the attention of the media, which put Puerto Vallarta on the map.

Now, with its distinct zones, you have the option of staying in the heart of the tourism bustle, in blissful seclusion, or somewhere in between.