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What's in a Name - Why Mismaloya?See Mismaloya Bay Panoramic 
 Mismaloya is the small bay side village where in 1963 Hollywood director John Huston chose to make the movie "Night of the Iguana" which changed the face of Puerto Vallarta forever. The publicity created by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton's love affair, and interest in the Mexican town where it occurred, put Puerto Vallarta on the world's map.
Since then this tropical paradise, where the verdant jungle vegetation of the Sierra Madre mountains meets the crystal clear waters of Banderas Bay, has been passionately linked to Puerto Vallarta's history.
Mismaloya first found its place in time 600 years before Christ was born. The vast kingdom that existed at that time was called Xalisco, and Nayarita ruled as King. Nayarita was envisioned as the god of battle and he fought bravely to keep this cove in his possession because it was known as the most beautiful spot in the entire kingdom of Xalisco. Later the Colhoa tribe from Aztlan, the Toltecas and the Aztecas migrated to these fertile lands and opened up a well traveled trail to the glorious Nahuatl empire situated in the valley of Mexico that today is known as Mexico City.
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Modern Mismaloya's story begins with a legend...
In 1524 Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura and a small band of conquistadores, having been engaged to conquer the central regions of this country, were traveling the mountainous areas along the coastline of the Pacific. From there, they were the first to view the vast panorama of present-day Puerto Vallarta.
 Electing to explore the distant valley and shoreline, the men descended upon a horde of Indians prepared for war. As the Spaniards were few, Cortés knew he could not win and tried to talk the Indians into surrender.
The chiefs refused his proposition. Cortés was about to order a retreat when Captain Angel Villafaña, second in command, intervened and persuaded Cortés that this would be a God-given opportunity to show their Spanish courage. Reconsidering, Cortés resolved to fight, but first told his soldiers to pray to the Virgin Mary for help.
The Spanish troops were fewer than a hundred men, including an old monk named Juan de Villadiego. On the flag he carried was a Holy Cross-inscribed "In this I defeated and the one that carries me, it will defeat." On the other side was a rendering of the Immaculate Conception and the words "Mary, Mary, pray for us." Gathered in front of the Spanish force were the multitude of hostile Indians armed and ready to fight.
Just as Cortés was about to give the order, a miracle occurred. The banner of the Holy Cross was illuminated by a brilliant ray of light which formed a halo pointing to the Holy Virgin. Both the Indians and the Spanish were awestruck, realizing they had been "touched by a divine grace," and withdrew from battle.
To commemorate this event, Captain Don Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura named the site "Valle de Banderas," and today the bay is known as "Bahía de Banderas" - the Bay of Flags.
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In 1541 the settlements around the bay were named for the first time. The Spanish explorer Captain Don Pedro de Alvarado disembarked in Mismaloya and promptly named the entire area "Las Peñas" after the massive rocks that guard the entrance and serve as landmarks of Mismaloya Bay. It was not until 1918 that the city was officially renamed Puerto Vallarta in honor of the Governor of Jalisco, Don Ignacio L. Vallarta.
For three centuries the Spaniards ruled with a firm hand. Their tall masted galleons would anchor in this cove, take on a King's ransom in gold and silver, and set sail for the treacherous journey home. Many never made it, perishing in these waters after falling prey to notorious pirates or enemies of Spain, including Sir Francis Drake. The "Las Peñas" or rocks became a place to hide and take refuge.
In 1821 the proud Mexican people freed themselves from the Spanish king and created a dynamic new nation. Mismaloya and Puerto Vallarta languished in the past, while the new Republic moved into the future.
Some 150 years later in 1963 the tall white bearded movie director, John Huston, came to Mismaloya to film Tennessee Williams' "The Night Of The Iguana." He brought a talented and tempestuous cast with him - Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, Deborah Kerr, and Sue Lyon - who attracted reporters and tourists in droves and changed Puerto Vallarta from a simple fishing village to a world class tourist destination.
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