Isla Cuale: Puerto Vallarta’s Island Oasis
A peaceful oasis on a sand island in downtown Puerto Vallarta
offers shopping, shade, culture, and street art
The Rio Cuale divides the northern and southern areas of central Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Isla Cuale is a small sand pedestrian island in the river where it joins Banderas Bay. The island offers handicraft shopping, shade, cultural activities, and relaxation. Lush greenery and a quiet stillness give a feeling of being miles, not just a few steps, away from the streets of Puerto Vallarta.
Activities
At the western end of the island nearest Banderas Bay, you’ll find shops and a flea market.
A cultural centre sits at the other end of the island. Centro Cultural Cuale promotes quality artistic, cultural, and educational projects. It offers a variety of artistic classes, including photography, drawing, painting, sculpting, dance, and a variety of musical instruments, and stages assorted performances.
There are also a few restaurants on the island.
Oasis
The shade of mature trees and a gentle breeze feel refreshing as soon as you enter the island, but it is the park at the eastern end of the island near the Centro Cultural Cuale that truly feels like an oasis. It is is nice spot to read, sketch, or just sit and relax.
Street Art
The buildings of and area around Centro Cultural Cuale form a gallery for some interesting street art.
History
The Cuale River is one of seven rivers that start in the Sierre Madre Mountains and end in Banderas Bay. A tornado created Isla Cuale in 1926. The island was settled until 1971 when precipitations from passing Hurricane Lily caused the river to grow and flooded the island. Residents were moved. The riverbed was dredged in 1975 and a permanent island created. It was also called Children Island because it was used as a recreational area. It later became a cultural space.
Getting There
Isla Cuale is accessible by foot via stairs from the Malecón Extension, Ignacio Vallarta Street, or Insurgentes Street. Ramps at Insurgentes allow access without climbing stairs. There are also a couple of suspension pedestrian bridges and an interesting staircase/bridge built in 2012 connecting Cuauhtemoc Street in the Gringo Gulch area to the island. There is no road or vehicle access to the island.
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Didn’t know about an island oasis in Puerto Vallarta. Isla Cuale looks just like that! Love the quiet spots, the Centro Cultural, and the markets.
Carol, the quiet shady spots were lovely.
Isla Cuale looks like such a fun place! I’ve been to Puerto Vallarta a couple of times, but don’t recall being there. Now I’ll definitely have to go back!
Patti, Puerto Vallarta has a lot to go back for!
Looks like a wonderful place. Relaxing yet alive and colorful.
Ken, yes relaxing and alive!
We didn’t get to visit this part of Puerto Vallarta when I was there with NATJA a few years ago. It looks so interesting! I love the market area and all the art and murals. This “island oasis” will be on my list if I return to this lovely part of Mexico.
Debbra, the park here is a nice spot to sit and read in the middle of the afternoon.
Puerto Vallarta never ceases to amaze me. There is so much to see and do, and always some hidden treasure to discover. Thx for sharing your experience at Isla Cuale with us, Donna.
Doreen, I certainly was amazed by how much there is to see and do in PV.
Those banyan trees are incredible! What a special spot Isla Cuale is – My aunt is an artist in Puerto Vallarta and her studio overlooks the river and its amazing to see how lush it is year-round.
Michele, an artist studio overlooking the river sounds lovely!
What a beautiful location. I appreciate you showing me Isla Cuale. If I ever make it to Puerto Vallarta, I will defiantly visit this beautiful oasis!!
Marilyn, I hope you enjoy the oasis if you get there.
So happy to read they’ve changed the island’s flavor to culture from commercial — it used to be a gauntlet of shops, “Hey, Lady. . .you want. . .???” and that new bridge is spectacular. It used to be a narrow swinging rope type bridge that took a bit of courage to cross. Loved this post, Donna.
Jackie, there is still the commercial aspect at one end of the island, but it didn’t feel as pressured to me as the other markets in the city.
You are sure seeing a lot of beautiful places while in Puerto Vallarta–Isla Cuale looks wonderful. Oasis is an appropriate name.
RoseMary, there are a lot of great place in Puerto Vallarta.