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If this winter’s extreme chills have you packing your bags for a warm escape south of the border, we don’t blame you. While you’re soaking up the sun in Puerto Vallarta, don’t miss these six stops.

Bahia de Banderas

A trip out to the marine reserve of Los Arcos is one of your best bets for snorkeling and diving. Above water, you can see the small islets that make up Los Arcos, and underwater, you’ll find shallow reefs with tropical sea life. Diving is especially notable at Los Arcos in the evening, thanks to a hearty population of nocturnal creatures.

El Malecon

Take a culturally rich stroll along the seaside in the El Malecon district, where sand sculptures, artists and street performers are all regular sights. Plenty of restaurants and shops will keep you busy all afternoon, and the clubs and discos will have you dancing the night away. (Main image: vallartavelas used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)

About the author

Marissa WillmanMarissa Willman earned a bachelor's degree in journalism before downsizing her life into two suitcases for a teaching gig in South Korea. Seoul was her home base for two years of wanderlusting throughout six countries in Asia. In 2011, Marissa swapped teaching for travel writing and now calls Southern California home.

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