Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is known as a party/resort destination. However, what people may not know, is just how many cool pieces of street art and thought-provoking statues are scattered around. Especially on the Malecon boardwalk, which is known for its displays of creativity. Through the entirety of the boardwalk, you’ll find unique statues with interesting symbolism.
Here are some of the ones that stood out to me:
The Boy on the Seahorse
Artist: Rafael Zamarripa
This is probably the most known sculpture in Puerto Vallarta, and is often seen as a symbol of the city. It was also the first sculpture ever to be installed on the Malecon boardwalk!
The one seen above is in the middle of the ‘Puerto Vallarta’ letters on the main boardwalk. So you’ll probably have to put your phone in horizontal mode to get the whole thing.
Fun Fact: An identical statue can also be found on Los Muertos beach.
Los Arcos
Artist: Martín Distancia
You can’t make a post about the sculptures of Puerto Vallarta without mentioning the famous arches. They stand in front of a large amphitheater where various outdoor shows take place.
Fun Fact: The original arches were dragged out to sea by Hurricane Kenna in 2002, so the ones we now see are replicas that were made the same year.
The Lovers
Artist: Jim Demetro
This is a statue of none other than Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The couple actually spent a lot of time in Puerto Vallarta and are even said to have made it famous!
Shortly after falling in love on the set of Cleopatra, Elizabeth followed Richard to Puerto Vallarta where he was filming his upcoming movie, The Night of the Iguana, and the rest is history.
Fittingly, this statue is in front of The Iguana Restaurant, which is about a 10 minute walk inward from the renowned Malecon boardwalk.
Fun Fact: The statue is actually behind a locked, glass door. You can only get in if you have reservations at The Iguana Restaurant or are staying at Casa Kimberly. So, I did the next best thing and just took the photo through the glass!
Vallarta Dancers
Artist: Jim Demetro
This is my favourite statue on the boardwalk, it just has a cute cheekiness to it. I’ve taken an embarrassing amount of pictures of it, from different angles and during different times of day, in hopes of capturing it perfectly.
In essence, it’s very playful and lighthearted, being inspired by the young dancers of Puerto Vallarta. It almost seems like the young man is leaning in for a kiss!
Nostalgia
Artist: Jose Ramiz Barquet
Now, onto another couple, and one of the most emotional statues on the boardwalk. This statue was inspired by the sculptor’s very own love story. It is of him and his wife, with whom he reunited after 27 years apart! The couple is looking out into the city and reminiscing on their life, what could have been and what was.
They now sit frozen in time, in their own little world, just gazing out into all of the possibilities. It gives a sense of ‘you and me against the world,’ a feeling of having found shelter in another person.
The Subtle Stone-Eater
Artist: Jonás Gutiérrez
Now onto something that’s a bit more whimsical. As the name suggests, it is of a man that is casually eating stones. No one knows why, but it’s interesting to see. It gives you a sense of comfort, just looking at this man going about his day…eating rocks.
With its silliness, this statue kind of reminds me of the Fat Policeman statue in Budapest.
Salud
Artist: Jim Demetro
This is the newest sculpture on the Malecon, unveiling just this year! Titled Salud, it is of a happy donkey sitting and drinking a margarita.
Burro is the Spanish word for donkey, and fittingly, this sculpture is right in front of Burros Bar. Making the donkey one of its many happy customers.
Mexico has a rich history with donkeys, them often being families’ main source of income when times were tough, so the artist wanted to make this statue as a tribute to Mexican history and tradition.
Fun Fact: If you look closely, you can see a tiny mouse on the second chair, so the donkey isn’t drinking alone.
In Search of Reason
Artist: Sergio Bustamante
I took this photo in the middle of a thunderstorm; so I think the electric (literally) sky adds to the aesthetic of the piece. It’s one of those statues that really stands out, especially if you see the silly expressions on the figures.
It struck a cord with me, because when I first saw it, I thought it was of a mother encouraging her children to reach towards their dreams. Apparently, it’s really about humanity searching for higher reason, hence the title. Either way, the beauty of art is that it’s open to interpretation!
Saint Paschal Baylon
Artist: Jose Ramiz Barquet
This statue always caught my attention whenever I walked by. It has a strange stillness to it…and yes, I’m aware that it’s a statue! It’s as if the figure is alive and gazing out into the sea, watching the masses of people pass by, all within his cocoon of solitude.
Funnily enough, this statue is actually meant to honour the chefs of Puerto Vallarta! The figure in the statue is the saint of cooks…again, didn’t expect that!
The Good Fortune Unicorn
Artist: Anibal Riebeling
I wanted to end this post on a fun note and show this cute statue. Unicorns are said to bring good luck, and this statue wants to bring good luck to the boardwalk and to those who interact with it. So with this, I want to wish anyone that reads this post good luck as well!