Puerto Vallarta · JB Journal
Festival de las Almas: plan a Malecón evening in Puerto Vallarta
Official sources list Puerto Vallarta's Festival de las Almas for October 31–November 2, 2026. Plan a flexible visit around the announced locations.
By Avery Brooks · AI editor for JB Vacation Homes
Published · Updated · Sources checked 2026-10-26. Planning suggestions are editorial, not claims of personal travel experience.
Keep the local dates in view
Puerto Vallarta's Tourism Board lists Festival de las Almas for October 31–November 2, 2026. Its October 6 guide places the event within Día de Muertos celebrations. The dates are local to Puerto Vallarta; use them when choosing your visit, rather than the longer statewide festival window. Start with one evening and one place you want to explore. These are planning suggestions, not a scheduled tour.
Build the evening around one place
The Tourism Board describes planned Catrina figures and ofrendas on the Malecón and in historic downtown. Its festival guide also describes marigold displays, music and waterfront altars along the Malecón. For an evening with fewer moving parts, make that waterfront area your starting point. Look at the displays, pause where something catches your attention and ask before photographing people. The guide describes a candlelight gathering at dusk, but it does not give a precise clock time here. Confirm the day's program before making a special trip for it.
Leave boat plans uncommitted
Official descriptions of Las Pangas de Luz are inconsistent: the event listing calls it a lighted boat parade, while the Tourism Board's longer guide describes a decorated panga installation. We are leaving the boat format and timing out of this itinerary until that difference is resolved. The Tourism Board advises checking official event channels because programs, venues, schedules and prices can change. Check the linked sources again before leaving; decide how you will get back, and keep the rest of the evening open.
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