Movie Magic in Puerto Vallarta

If you have never visited beautiful Puerto Vallarta before, you may think that the landscape will be unknown to you. You may be surprised to learn that many of the areas might look familiar, thanks to the magic of Hollywood. There have been a number of movies filmed in the surrounding area as well as numerous references in television shows to the name of the city. Thanks to Hollywood and their fascination with Puerto Vallarta, the world has come to know more of this beautiful, exciting city.

Here are a few of the references that most Americans are likely to recognize:

Night of the Iguana: This is the film that started it all. Prior to the making of this movie, Puerto Vallarta was just a sleepy fishing village. John Huston decided to make his movie just south of the town and the world finally got to know about Puerto Vallarta. Richard Burton, Ava Gardner and even Elizabeth Taylor had homes built in this beautiful city. John Huston built his home here, as well, Las Caletas beach was once his private reserve, it is now a nature sanctuary frequented by snorkelers.

Predator: Almost everyone in America remembers this blockbuster starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The movie was filmed in the hills and jungle directly behind Mismaloya. This was another glimpse into the world of Puerto Vallarta, though by this time, the sleepy fishing village was gone and the modern resort city had grown up in its place. Though none of the sequels was filmed in the original jungle location, no one can forget the amazing scenes from the original movie.

Puerto Vallarta Squeeze: A book to movie deal, this film starred Scott Glenn and Harvey Keitel. The entire film was shot in and around the city. If you pay attention when you visit, you are likely to notice some familiar landmarks from the movie.

The Heartbreak Kid: Ben Stiller's fight with the sea lion was filmed at the Sea Lion Adventure, operated by Vallarta Adventures. Vallarta Adventures also operates Sea Life, a wonderful place where you can experience swimming with dolphins.

In television:

The Love Boat: While none of the show was ever actually filmed in the city, numerous references to Puerto Vallarta helped make the city's name more famous. With the amazing popularity of this show, it is no wonder that Americans have long had a fascination with Puerto Vallarta.

Flavor of Love: The final episode of this television series was filmed on location in Puerto Vallarta, on the beach at Las Caletas. This is the same beach that John Huston once owned and now offers amazing natural adventures.

The way Hollywood has influenced the growth and development of such a wonderful destination as Puerto Vallarta is truly amazing. While movies did not create the city from whole cloth, it is certainly a large step from quiet fishing village to a city of over 250,000 inhabitants. If you visit Puerto Vallarta, make sure to pay a visit to pristine Las Caletas beach and pay homage to the movies that started it all.