Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, July 27, 2026 — Jalisco will expand and repair visitor-access docks inside the El Salado estuary as part of a new round of improvements at the protected urban mangrove in Puerto Vallarta.
David Zamora Bueno, head of Jalisco’s Secretariat of Infrastructure and Public Works, inspected the areas where construction is expected to begin in the coming days. The planned work includes an expansion of the main access docks, improvements to the dock serving the observation tower and general maintenance throughout the visitor area.
The project is intended to improve access and safety while supporting the scientific research, environmental education and guided nature activities conducted inside the estuary, state officials said during the inspection.
The new work follows a major rehabilitation completed between 2021 and 2023. Jalisco invested approximately 37 million pesos in improvements to the entrance, information module, paths, docks, observation tower, service walkway, signs, nursery, storage space and restrooms.
That earlier project allowed El Salado to reopen after its pandemic-era closure and an extended construction period. Vallarta Daily reported in April 2023 that the renovated facilities were designed with improved accessibility, including easier movement between the entrance, docks and observation areas.
After several years of use, officials determined that portions of the infrastructure needed maintenance and additional capacity. Environmental and transportation authorities visited the estuary in April to evaluate the proposed changes before the latest inspection by the infrastructure secretary.
El Salado was declared a protected ecological conservation zone in 2000. Its protected boundary grew from approximately 168 hectares to 208.2 hectares in 2020, expanding the area covered by state conservation measures.
The estuary contains three mangrove species, marshland, aquatic vegetation and remnants of tropical forest. Wildlife records include more than 100 bird species along with crocodiles, iguanas, mammals, fish and crustaceans supported by the mangrove ecosystem.
Located between the Hotel Zone, Marina Vallarta and the city’s airport corridor, El Salado maintains a permanent channel connecting it to the Pacific Ocean. Despite being surrounded by urban development, it remains an important habitat and one of Puerto Vallarta’s principal locations dedicated to environmental research and education.
The dock improvements are expected to make boarding boats and reaching the observation tower safer while helping the estuary continue its guided visits, conservation programs, and scientific activities.
