Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – With Easter Sunday falling on April 20 this year — the same day the eight‑day Jewish holiday of Passover concludes — Puerto Vallarta is bracing for one of the busiest spring holiday weekends in recent memory.
Acting on the orders of Public Safety Commissioner Horacio Llanas, the Municipal Public Safety and Traffic Department began a full‑scale operation this week that stretches along the entire coastline from Boca de Tomatlán to Boca de Tomates. Uniformed officers are already stationed at strategic checkpoints to keep glass bottles, knives and other prohibited objects off the sand, while mobile patrols circulate the beach fronts and parking lots to deter theft and other petty crime.
“The priority is a safe, welcoming atmosphere for both residents and visitors,” Llanas said in a brief statement, adding that officers have been instructed to act professionally and courteously at all times.
This municipal push dovetails with the broader Holy Week security plan announced earlier this month, which placed 190 police, Civil Protection and firefighter personnel and 28 specialized units on high‑alert across the Bay of Banderas from April 11 to 27.Puerto Vallarta Mexico Popular beaches including Camarones, Mismaloya and Playa de Oro, plus river mouths and mountain trails, are being patrolled jointly by Public Safety, Civil Protection, the Navy and state authorities.
Inside the city, the Municipal Traffic Subdirectorate rolled out a parallel operation designed to keep vehicles moving on main avenues, beach access roads and improvised parking lots. Traffic officers are directing the flow at bottleneck intersections, flagging double‑parked cars for towing and maintaining clear lanes for ambulances and rescue units.
Residents and tourists are being asked to:
- follow officer instructions without delay;
- respect red flags, no‑swim zones and restricted parking signage;
- report suspicious activity or medical emergencies immediately to 911 to improve response times.
Beaches under special watch
- Boca de Tomatlán
- Mismaloya
- Playa Los Muertos
- Playa de Oro
- Holi, Camarones and Points North to Boca de Tomates
Officers posted at access points are confiscating glass containers, which pose a laceration hazard, and reminding visitors that bonfires and motorized ATVs are prohibited on city beaches.
Local hotel and restaurant associations forecast near‑capacity occupancy through Easter Monday, echoing 2024’s post‑pandemic rebound. Municipal officials warn that peak arrival waves are expected Friday evening through Sunday morning, urging anyone with flexible travel plans to arrive early or consider public transit or ride‑share services rather than private vehicles.
Commissioner Llanas emphasized that the operation is being carried out under a “rights‑respectful, zero‑corruption” mandate: officers have undergone refresher training on de‑escalation and the lawful search and seizure of contraband. Internal Affairs teams will staff a 24‑hour hotline (+52 322 29 1‑28‑00) to field complaints of misconduct.
- Alcohol rules: Only canned or plastic‑bottled beverages are allowed on city beaches.
- Swimming conditions: Red flags mean “no swimming”; yellow flags indicate moderate risk; green flags mean conditions are safe.
- Parking: Leave no valuables in vehicles, lock all doors and keep your ticket; patrols will be circulating lots until 3 a.m.
- Emergency numbers: 911 for police, fire and medical; 322‑117‑5562 for tourist assistance (English‑speaking).
The Municipal Public Safety and Traffic Department says the current deployment will remain in place through at least April 27, reviewing daily incident reports to adjust manpower in real time. Officials are calling on all personnel to “keep the momentum” as the city moves into the May Day and Cinco de Mayo festivities immediately after Easter.
For now, authorities are banking on vigilance and community cooperation to keep Puerto Vallarta’s beaches pristine, its roadways fluid and its holiday spirit unspoiled.
