Puerto Vallarta sets La Orilla de las Ánimas
Puerto Vallarta is preparing to take part in the second annual Festival de las Ánimas, a statewide Día de Muertos celebration in Jalisco. The wider program runs from October 24 through November 15 and will bring nearly 350 free cultural, artistic, and traditional activities to communities across the state. Puerto Vallarta’s program is titled La Orilla de las Ánimas, with its main festivities set for October 31 through November 2.
The state initiative folds Puerto Vallarta’s local Día de Muertos celebrations into a larger statewide program rather than replacing them. In the city, the program links familiar Día de Muertos elements with maritime heritage and draws on the Pacific Ocean, the area’s fishing heritage, and the Historic Center. State authorities have announced 28 experiences for Puerto Vallarta, while the official tourism website currently highlights eight features planned for this year’s celebration.
The announced activity points include the Malecón, the Historic Center, Los Arcos, Isla del Cuale, Casa de la Cultura, and Los Muertos Pier. Along the Malecón Corridor and nearby streets, the celebration will feature ofrendas, sculptures, music, and cempasúchil displays.
At Los Muertos Pier, El Último Umbral & Faro de las Ánimas is a floral, illuminated installation leading toward a feature called the Faro de las Ánimas. La Guardiana del Océano is a monumental Catrina inspired by the Pacific Ocean, incorporating waves, whales, manta rays, and bougainvillea.
La Marea de las Ánimas is a grand parade of Catrines and Catrinas inspired by Puerto Vallarta’s history and arranged around five thematic “universes.” Las Pangas de Luz uses traditional fishing boats decorated with cempasúchil flowers and nighttime lighting to honor the area’s fishing heritage.
At sunset along the waterfront, La Hora Dorada de las Ánimas will offer a candle-lighting experience marking the shift from daylight to evening. In the Historic Center, Voces desde el Balcón will bring short musical performances to balconies throughout the area; each lasts approximately five to 10 minutes.
On Isla del Cuale, El Jardín de los Susurros is an immersive setting combining candles, copal incense, shadows, and local legends. The festival lets each destination highlight its own history and traditions, and residents and visitors have enjoyed Puerto Vallarta’s local Día de Muertos celebrations for years. Plan a route through the Malecón, Los Muertos Pier, the Historic Center, and Isla del Cuale from October 31 through November 2.