South Shore - Mismaloya

The region of Mismaloya begins on the northerly hillside that overlooks Mismaloya and includes the souther peninsula of land that is famous and best known as the setting for the movie that put Puerto Vallarta on the tourist map, director John Huston's "The Night of the Iguana". This is a beautiful small bay framed by tropical rainforest-blanketed mountains. On the beach are lots of rustic palapa restaurants and a large hotel, inland a small village with country-style restaurants and a small hotel that's fun to explore, especially on horseback. Real estate options are primarily the condominiums overlooking Mismaloya and the hillside homes situated above the highway in Lomas de Mismaloya.

Nearby rock outcroppings define the Los Arcos National Marine Park, a super place to snorkel, scuba dive or bird watch — even the whales in Banderas Bay from November through March seem to favor this area.