For it´s geographical location, it is an area  rich in natural resources, where important species migrate like the Humpback Whale, every year nests hundreds of sea turtles, and despite it´s magnitude, the natural environments are very varied among the south area, center and north, being able to know woods, jungle, coastal, marines and insular environments in the same place. It´s mountains belong to the majestic Sierra Madre Occidental (the most important mountain range in the country), for what there ar mountains with altitudes of more than 1,600 meters (one mile), where the pines and oaks are plentiful.

At south for example, it is more humid and the vegetation is more exuberant, prevailing the tropical decidium forest (because in the dry season most of the trees loses their leaves). Since the geographical characteristics and the complicated that it is the access to these areas, wild species so astonishing can be observed as the jaguar, the ocelot and the cougar, existing deer, boars and infinity of birds like macaws, parrots and melodious birds of great beauty.

At south coast the sea is very deep, having about 5,600 ft, and major part of the year have a very good visibility, what allows to visitor find very interesting places to practice the scuba diving.

An infinity of small beaches exists whose access is only by sea, and can be visited several little islands, where the gigantic pacific manta rays and sea turtles are abundant.

 Still in south and not away from Vallarta, very interesting and lonely beaches can be visited, with crystalline waters where can swim pleasantly. 

At 20 minutes from Vallarta are located Los Arcos, a group of different sizes islands where many birds nest all year. There you can practice snorkeling and scuba dive easily, to be surrounded of friendly fish like the Royal Angelfish, damselfish and butterfly fish. At this place can be practiced amateur or professional scuba diving, because there is a non-deep area (30 - 45 ft) and the beginning of a submarine canyon named "the Devil´s Canyon".

The center of the Bay has a less exuberant vegetation, and possess very long sandy and low deep beaches. There is located the hotel development named "Nuevo Vallarta", with the biggest turtle´s camp of the Bay because the big amount of turtles nesting there every night.

At the north weather is much drier and the vegetation is smaller. There are many beaches still "solitaries", where can be found moments of solitude and nature´s approaching, can be appreciated so much cliffs as beaches of fine sand, and with a little bit of good luck, animals like the ninebanded armadillo or white-nosed coatican be observed. For some, these beaches are very good to go surfing, and still there not being access by the road, they open up in route to foot crossing the vegetation, because well it is worthwhile the effort.

In the nor-western end of the Bay, is located Punta Mita; a small and narrow peninsula where their beaches are formed by pieces of coral-skeleton and small rocks. Nowadays it is a private property, where it is located a luxurious hotel and an exclusive golf course. However, walking along the beach can be found beautiful and intact areas, where things so curious can be observed beautiful and untouched areas, where there are curious things as old mangrove trees inside the sea shore, and colonies of algae growing in a rocky beach with a depth of hardly two feet.

Near there, walking to the south about 15 minutes, is a very extended sandy beach, where sections of sand can be appreciated "petrified", which there is when being exposed by the action of waves has been erosion, forming capricious formations of this material. This sand was "fused" literally with the volcanic heat in the quaternary age, being now a whim more of the nature.

In front of Punta Mita are the Marietas Islands (of volcanic origin) that undoubtedly are the best place to practice scuba diving. These two islands are a sanctuary of birds that nests annually in thousands. There are infinitude of caves and rocky salients, and the Round Island has a "secret beach", which is a cave whose roof collapsed was formerly and it´s now possible access swimming during low tide, should cross a tunnel to arrive there. Here the biggest diversity of reef species in the Bay is present, and there´re patches of coral of great importance for the ecosystem. For many years there are carried out scientific investigations for it´s so special characteristics.

In the central area of the Bay, specifically along the coast, is located Puerto Vallarta. The geographical characteristics allow the establishment of this places, since it is a plain with extensive beaches and of little depth.

Puerto Vallarta is the most important tourist development, located more or less at the center - south of the Bay, surrounded by mountains with a privileged view to the bay. 

In the north limit of Puerto Vallarta is located the most important river in the region(dividing the states of Jalisco and Nayarit) which contributes a great quantity of silts and organic matter that it enriches the waters of the Bay. This outlet is surrounded by mangroves and swamps; areas with influence so much of salted water as sweet, and there can observed a great variety of coastal birds and river crocodiles, which are about 95 animals of all sizes, and with some luck can be observed taking the sun during morning, but at nights can be observed easily with a medium power flashlight.

This is a little taste of what exists in our region, but just visiting this privileged place you will discover an infinity of natural secrets and witness some of dream sunsets.

If you want to learn more about cultural, tourist, regional aspects or business, we recommend to visit these excellent web sites:

http://visitpuertovallarta.com

http://puertovallarta.net

http://virtualvallarta.com

http://www.toursinmexico.com