Puerto Vallarta: Celebrities seen in Puerto Vallarta. by Boardwalk Realty.
We once had an International Film Festival in Puerto Vallarta and stars like Angelica Huston, her brother Danny Huston, Helen Hunt and others made appearances to promote films and hobnob with the hoi polloi. They were seen about town, strolling the Malecón, and attending receptions where they socialized but weren’t mobbed.
As most people are aware, celebrities originally put Puerto Vallarta on the entertainment map. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor had a shameless affair during the filming of The Night of the Iguana, destroying a number of relationships, in and outside of the institution of marriage. The glittery lure of Hollywood has always had an effect on common people and though some of the glitterati are aware and bathe in it, others simply want to be left alone and enjoy the beauties of Puerto Vallarta like anyone else that come to relax in the tropics.
There was a lot of chatter in 2005, when Hilary Swank appeared in Puerto Vallarta the week following her surprise Oscar win for Best Actress for Million Dollar Baby. She and her boy friend boarded a panga, disappeared down the coast for a refuge in Yelapa and weren’t seen again until seen leaving at the airport several days later.
On the other hand, Zach Galifianakis showed up in 2015, following his Hangover movie fame and was seen in every major hangout in Puerto Vallarta, gladly granting photos with fans (those who recognized him) and was seen drinking copious amounts of ….. water.
TV shows such as House Hunters International and Bachelor in Paradise have been filmed in Puerto Vallarta and in 2010, we were the Elimination Station for The Amazing Race, exposing our beautiful city to some minor personalities.
You probably won’t see a lot of these people unless you hang out at the airport and some, such as John Travolta, fly private planes, avoiding immigration and customs lines and check in at the main Aduana office next to the airfield. Punta de Mita, north of Puerto Vallarta in the state of Nayarit, has private homes, bungalows at the Four
Seasons Hotel, and provides privacy and security for the rich and famous. Private yachts are often chartered by these folks so it’s not unusual to see them fleetingly sipping on micheladas on the beach at Las Animas but they don’t linger, especially if they’ve been recognized.
The cruise marina is well guarded when luxury cruisers are moored, such as Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, David Geffen but word travels like lightening that they are “in town.”
If you have the dubious pleasure of running into someone like Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, Ashton Kutcher or the likes, remember they are on vacation, too. Steal a photo from your camera, maybe…if you can be discreet but otherwise let them take pleasure in their time in Puerto Vallarta as you’re enjoying yours.
by Adam Garcia for Boardwalk Realty
