Cuale River Island: 100 Years of History, Nature, and Community in the Heart of PV

On October 25th, 2025, Puerto Vallarta proudly celebrated the centennial of the formation of the Cuale River Island (Isla del Río Cuale), a symbol of identity, memory, and community life that was born (literally) from the force of nature.

Today, a century later, the Cuale River Island is not only a natural refuge amid the urban bustle but also a meeting point for culture, art, and the Vallarta community.

THE MARK OF A CYCLONE: THE ORIGIN OF A SYMBOL

The island’s history begins in the early morning hours of October 25th, 1925, when a tropical cyclone fiercely struck the coast of Jalisco and the Sierra Madre Occidental. That natural phenomenon left behind torn-off roofs, impassable roads, destroyed plantations, and an overflowing Cuale River which, by dragging sediment and sand, split its channel, creating an islet that, over the years, consolidated itself as the city’s green heart.

Ancient local chroniclers, such as Josefina Cortés Lugo, Catalina Montes de Oca, and Manuel Andrade Beltrán, left testimony of how that event marked the birth of what we now know as the Cuale River Island.

For decades, the riverbank was home to laundry spots, orchards, and small workshops, in addition to being a point of connection between neighborhoods via improvised suspension bridges. With the urban growth of Puerto Vallarta, projects arrived that helped define its current identity: the Juárez Bridge (inaugurated in 1959) and the Insurgentes Bridge (in the 1970s) helped revitalize the area and drive its transformation into a public space.

AN OASIS BETWEEN THE MOUNTAINS AND THE SEA 

Over time, the Cuale River Island became a riverside oasis. In the shade of parotas (guanacaste trees), guamúchiles (Manila tamarind), fig trees, bamboo, and mango trees, one finds iguanas, tropical birds, and occasionally, otters seen near the river mouth. This green corridor provides essential environmental services: it regulates temperature, protects the soil, and offers refuge to local fauna, reminding us that nature is not an urban accessory, but its foundation.

In parallel, the island solidified its role as a cultural center: it is home to the Vallarta Institute of Culture, emblematic restaurants, several art galleries and boutiques, the artisan market, and open-air forums where local and visiting artists share their talent. Every corner breathes the essence of a Puerto Vallarta where nature and creativity coexist in harmony.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF IDENTITY AND MEMORY

The centennial of the Cuale River Island represents much more than a commemorative date: it is an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between the city and its natural environment. Its formation symbolizes the Vallarta spirit: a community that adapts, rebuilds, and flourishes.

Formerly called Santa Clara Island and later Children’s Island (Isla de los Niños), this space is more than a tourist attraction or a green lung: it is a living chapter in the natural and cultural history of Puerto Vallarta. It is the point where the mountains meet the sea, where the past dialogues with the present, and where the community reaffirms, generation after generation, that its strength lies in keeping its memory and identity alive.