Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez says it is up to the people of Puerto Vallarta to decide if their malecon should remain pedestrian only in the future.
The remodeled malecon reopened in November to much acclaim, although some citizens say a car-free boardwalk hurts businesses. Gonzalez believes the opposite to be true, saying recently “people who buy are usually on foot.” On November 11, Vallarta began a 45-day festival to mark the new dawn for the iconic malecon, which is now one single, cobblestone level. After six months of intensive labor, the malecon’s sculptures have been returned to their original places and some new works added. Chief among them are the stone reliefs carved into the sidewalk created by Huichol artist Fidencio Benítez.