Marina Vallarta and its boardwalk

Marina Vallarta is the area of docks, hotels and condos between the cruise terminal and the airport. Its heart is a pedestrian boardwalk that wraps around the slips: you walk past sailboats, fishing boats and yachts, with the lighthouse tower as your landmark.

The best-known entrance is the Ballena Vallarta, a sculpture of a humpback whale and her calf on the roundabout at Paseo de la Marina and Medina Ascencio. It's the work of Octavio González, stands 8 meters tall and 13 meters long, and was unveiled on March 14, 2001. From there, walk down Calle Popa to the boardwalk, or come in from the avenue along Calle Proa.

Restaurants, cafés, galleries and shops line the walk, but walking it costs nothing. Nearby on Calle Albatros is Mosayko Marina Vallarta, a mosaic mural of about 500 m² by artist Natasha Moraga.

A heads-up: the marina borders lagoons, canals and the El Salado estuary, and river crocodiles occasionally show up, even on the boardwalk. If you see one, back away slowly and call 911. Marina Vallarta's beach flies permanent red and purple flags because of crocodiles.