Puerto Vallarta has been the longstanding primary resort destination and cruise ship port of the bay.
However, beyond the city on the long 100 kilometres (62 mi) coastline, other attractive beaches and landscapes have since been developed to serve visitors.
Its westernmost headland is Punta Mita, to the south it is on the Bahía de Banderas, and northwards it is on the open Pacific Ocean.
[4] The municipality of Bahía de Banderas borders Compostela in Nayarit to the north; the municipalities of Puerto Vallarta and San Sebastián del Oeste, both in Jalisco, to the south, the southeast, and the east; and the Bahía de Banderas and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
The main crops are corn (maize), beans, sorghum, tobacco, rice, watermelon and mango.