Dia de los Muertos and Halloween in PV

The Day of the Dead is celebrated in Puerto Vallarta and the rest of Mexico from October 31st until November 2nd, overlapping with of course Halloween as we know it in the US. October 31st is Young Souls Day, the 1st of November is All Saints Day and the 2nd of November is All Souls Day.

Dia de los Muertos is a day in which Mexicans honor and celebrate their deceased relatives and loved ones. It is a wonderfully colorful and festive holiday, not dim and somber event as you may think. The belief behind the holiday is it is one day that the spirits of those who have passed return to the world for just this short period of time.

The Day of the Dead and Halloween to share similarities as both are based on the idea of spirits returning, but with Halloween, customs seem to stem more from the idea that those spirits were wicked and evil rather than spirits that are accepted as family.

Halloween festivities are becoming more prevalent in Puerto Vallarta and the rest of Mexico. You can find masks and costumes sold in stores as well as sugar skulls (gifts for the departed young souls of children) and pan de Muertos (bread of the dead). Some children even will dress up and go trick-or-treating.

If you are going to be in Mexico, enjoy the wonderful celebrations, just be sure to be respectful since they are honoring the deceased. You'll see calacas and calaberas (skeletons and skulls) all around, people will be eating, drinking, partying and enjoying themselves! You may see lanterns hung on trees, firecrackers set off, pathways of flowers (which are intended to guide the souls home) and elaborately decorated altars and graves. Of course with tourists, you'll likely see them dressed up, partying in the clubs around town!

Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?

In one word... Yes! But to expand....definitely, I wouldn’t go down there with my family if I didn’t think so! You will feel much safer in most parts of Puerto Vallarta than in the United States or Canada. There is very little crime here, and what does exist is usually petty compared to the U.S. The tourist police here are friendly and very helpful. Obviously use your common sense and be aware, and at night stay on main streets. Some people are concerned about the "drug war” in Mexico, we want to emphasize that the issue is fundamentally linked to USA-Mexico border towns and is an issue far from important in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas. One word of warning, do not attempt to purchase marijuana or other drugs as the police here have a vigilant “sting” program in operation and you don’t want to be in a position of bribing yourself out of jail.