First things first… What’s the Malecon?
Stretching just over a kilometer along the shoreline, the Malecon is a blend of art, culture, and coastal charm. Sculptures stand proudly against the backdrop of the Pacific, while street performers add rhythm and color to your walk.
And yes, there’s ice cream, in more varieties than you might expect, which will ruin your diet (and you won’t care). This is the true heart of downtown Puerto Vallarta, where public spaces are transformed into open air galleries that invite a second look… and perhaps a third.
1. The Boy on the Seahorse
To begin you adventure, lets start with an enduring symbol of Puerto Vallarta, this bronze statue depicts a joyful boy riding a giant seahorse against the backdrop of the Pacific.
While its exact meaning remains open to interpretation, we dont know exactly why, but it’s whimsical, joyful, and oddly adorable. Let’s be honest, if a giant seahorse showed up, we’d all want a turn.
2. Triton and the Mermaid
This dramatic sculpture portrays Triton, the mythological god of the sea, alongside a graceful mermaid. Frozen in an elegant dance. Or perhaps mid discussion about dinner plans. Either way, it’s one of the Malecón’s most striking works.
3. Friendship Fountain (The Dolphins)
Known locally as the Fuente de la Amistad, this fountain was created in 1987 as a symbol of the sister city relationship between Puerto Vallarta and Santa Barbara, California. Located along the Malecón near the Naval History Museum.
Created by James “Bud” Bottoms and Octavio González, the sculpture honors friendship. In Chumash tradition from Santa Barbara, dolphins are revered as humanity’s brothers. This sculpture celebrates a friendship that crosses both cultures and oceans.
4. In Search of Reason
Installed in July 2000, In Search of Reason is one of the Malecón’s most popular stops, a nearly nine meter bronze statue by renowned Mexican artist Sergio Bustamante, born in Culiacán and trained in Guadalajara. Two surreal, “pillownheaded” figures climb a towering ladder toward the unknown, while a third stands at the base, arms open to the sky as if ready to catch them…
Inspired by philosopher Bertrand Russell’s idea that when emotional conviction fades, a reasonable person seeks logical foundations for their beliefs, the sculpture blends art, philosophy, and a dash of mystery. Whether you see it as a metaphor for life’s climb or just an irresistible photo, it’s worth pausing here.
5. La Rotonda del Mar
Created in 1996 by Guadalajara born artist Alejandro Colunga, La Rotonda del Mar is more than just a sculpture, it’s an open invitation to interact with art. Eight bronze thrones, each adorned with fantastical marine elements, like octopus tentacles for armrests and seahorses backrests.
Colunga designed these seats as a way to dissolve the usual “Do Not Touch” barrier between the public and art. Here, sitting is not only allowed, it’s encouraged. The idea was to make people feel part of the scene, as if they’d stumbled into a council meeting of mythical sea rulers and been given a chair.
Over the years, the thrones have become one of the Malecón’s most recognizable and well loved landmarks. The bronze has been polished to a soft patina where thousands of visitors have rested, posed for photos, or simply taken in the ocean view.
