Plaza Lazaro Cardenas
Plaza Lazaro Cardenas
4.5
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles19 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
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Nowal H
Weehawken, NJ86 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Solo
My taxi passed this park on my way to my hotel and what a nice surprise to see this work of art. He explained it was a contest. Although I am not sure who won, it is certainly unique and worth a visit. The second time I passed I asked the taxi driver to stop so I could walk around. The rest of the grounds were well kept and there are shops for souvenirs in the area.
Written 7 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michael B
Bellflower, CA24,492 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Situated next to the Malecon is the Plaza Lazaro Cardenas, a very colourful place to walk around, there is a seating area at the west end, where lots of festive events take place in its small auditorium. Around the bandstand on Saturdays there is a farmers’ market (9 am-2 pm), and Sunday mariachi bands play traditional music.
There are Four assorted bronze statues and busts scatted around the plaza, along with a small police station and underground Parking.
The Statues from inland towards the beach are
1 Lazaro Cárdenas (whom the plaza is named after) was a general in the Mexican Revolution, Governor of Michoacán and the 44th president of Mexico who nationalized the petroleum industry.
2 This bronze bust of Enrique Carothers Barreto, Puerto Vallarta’s greatest tourist promoter.
3 This Bust of Luis Reyes Brambila, founder and General Director of the newspaper Vallarta Opina, and the English tourist newspaper, Vallarta Today.
4 Andale Bernardo is the newest statue, featuring two small boys with a carrot and a small dog trying to make a stubborn donkey move.
We spend hours looking at all the details on all the mosaics benches, around the plaza.

TIP: There's is underground W.C, and a visitor centre here.
If you found this review informative, please check the box below. Thank you, and travel safely.
Written 28 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

evenyl
Oceanside, CA95 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2018 • Family
For several years we've been attending the Friday evening Xiutla Folkloric Dancers free performance when we are in Puerto Vallarta. The first time we went I couldn't believe it was free because it is so professional, but they do pass a hat.
They were founded in 1994 with only 30 dancers. They now have somewhere around 300. I'm told that Xiutla means "a place where the vegetables or herbs grow." The event is held at Lazaro Cardenas Park in Old Town at the southern end of the extended Malecon, south of the river and a block from the beach at 7:30 on Friday evenings from Nov to April. There was a small stage with cement bleachers and chairs have been set up in front facing the stage. Be there early as it's always full of families, both local and tourists. With so many dancers and a small changing room I don't know how they do it.

From the first STOMP, click, twirl, trill, clap of hands and swish of the dress you are spell bound. With colorful and traditional costumes from different Mexican regions the event lasts about 90 minutes. The dancers range in age from about 6 or 7 to young adults. Entire families are involved and some were introduced on the Dec 13 evening. Parents involve all aspects of the dance from design, sewing, lighting, transportation etc. This year has a new director. We were there in Dec 2017 when the director of many years retiring. They have traveled outside of Mexico to the US, Canada and even Europe,

The opening performance this year was Ravel's Bolero, lasting almost 15 minutes. It began with the STOMP, the girls and ladies in red and black, yards and yards of material and lace for their dress, shawls, fans, flowers and ribbons in their hair and the guys with tight pants,hats, capes, reminiscent of a bull ring matador. Truly a ballet where you need no interpreter.
Written 13 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

suze2you
Seattle90,570 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Solo
Keep an eye on this public plaza in Zona Romantica for all kinds of wonderful events.

Zumba classes open to the public around 8:00am or so on weekday mornings. Folklorique Ballet and Youth Mariachi Band playing on weekends in high season. The Olas Altas Farmers Market from 9:30am to 2:00pm on Saturdays, beginning in November, runs thru April.

You might find a group people on horse back, the beginning or end of a parade of some kind, children Trick-O-Treating on Halloween, a Day of the Dead bread tasting event, various Food Festivals, and so on.

Watch the local free newspapers for a calendar of events during your visit.
Written 24 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Donna K
Toronto, Canada702 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2018 • Couples
Plaza Lazaro Cardenas is like a square or park just off the Malecon not far from Playa Los Muertos and the Pier facing onto Olas Altas Street in between A. Serdan and Lazaro Cardenas Street.

It is a nice area just to relax and sit in the shade. There is a lovely sculpture in the square of a donkey and 2 children. On Saturday morning there is a farmers Market.

When checking out the weekly events on the Malecon, I found out that every Friday night at 7:30pm at Lazaro Cardenas Park there is a Folkloric Dance group that performs for free.

Wow, what a special night for me. The group called Xiutla from Puerto Vallarta perform dances from different states of Mexico. The costumes are so beautiful. The show was magnificent, it was like I was watching a professional show at the theatre. The students are so talented and some are as young as 7 or 8 years old.

At the park there are cement bleachers with a colorful mosaic design on the pillars for seating. If you get there early enough there are rows of chairs put out in front of the bleachers for the show.
Written 11 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paulshappy
Courtenay, Canada4,147 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Couples
The Plaza Lazaro Cardenas is THE north-south Malecon meeting point, where the Malecon meets up with the Olas Atlas area.
A place to rest, relax, recharge.
Grab a bite or drink and sit in the 'stands' and people watch.
It's also where there's underground washrooms, a visitor centre, and the stands where local musical shows are put-on most nights during high-season.
They have 'glitzed-up' the stands and benches, as seen from my pics, with tens of thousands of hand-laid tiles, and it's just a wonderful place to stop and rest.
Enjoy
Hola
Paul
Written 21 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Harvm
Kennewick, WA182 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Solo
This Park at the Plaza Lazaro Cardenas is a great place to witness a variety of cultural events or shows a few times every week. They have been working on putting mosaic artwork on seating and walls throughout the park making it even more beautiful than before. At this point I think they may be about 50% complete. The seating area at the west end will hold at least a couple hundred people when shows are put on at the open amphitheater.
Written 5 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert F
San Antonio, TX1,086 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Friends
Yes, on Friday nights they have folkloric dancing. Very nice. On Saturday they have a great market (9 - 2). Get there by noon if you want anything. But my review is for something new, an amazing project by a group of artists who are going to cover all of the benches and walls and other surfaces with mosaics. They have made a heroic start, and expect to continue for years. On most days they have a table selling their wares, to raise money for materials. Two of their large mandalas are already popular places to stand and have your photo taken. Their efforts will transform the plaza. Bravo. I can't wait to come back next year and see how far they have gotten.
Written 4 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Paul D
St. John's, Canada824 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Couples
Really a fabulous town square in the heart of Zona Romantica. Our Friday night entertainment was a fantastic mariachi band, where each person form the band had their own time to be the centrepiece of a song. On Saturdays (9am-2pm) it turns into a very busy market, mostly geared to tourists. Be sure to try "The Pickle Guy" as well as all the street food and baked goods. Excellent local coffee vendors and florists (very well priced flowers and so fresh to brighten your hotel room/condo) as well. Get there early for the best selection. Usually live entertainment during the market.
Written 1 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wyldecamp
Aurora, CO2,192 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019
There is always something going on here in the town plaza! Yoga, Zumba in the mornings, live cultural entertainment on Friday nights, the "Taste of Puerto Vallarta" events, the Saturday morning Farmers Markets and local vendors, musicians, etc. The local folks who love this area have been working on putting tiles on all the fixtures in this cute local spot. LOVE IT!
Written 20 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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PLAZA LAZARO CARDENAS (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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