Don J
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You can calm down. (And for God's Sake don't pay any attention to the hysterical Gringos!)
All hotels of 3 stars or above (and most even with one or two stars ) have either water filtration/purification systems and/or bottled water for their guests. This also applies to all decent restaurants! (remember NOBODY makes any money if the tourists are all sick or dead!)
As noted, the tap water in PV (like Mexico City and most places in Mexico) is certified as "drinkable" While this means that it won't kill you with bacteria, but it tastes so bad, that it is hardly "drinkable." I live down here and I don't know ANY Mexican who would drink water straight from the tap, no matter what the government says!
Almost all food places, even the street stalls use chemical water additives such as "mycrodin," "gladicin" etc. when washing fruits and vegetables and it is sold in every store and market.
I would simply be careful and eat only at good hotels and restaurants. Remember that with the heat and the lower standards of sterilization, Mexicans have a little more bacteria in their stomachs and this means we are more "immune" to the effects of the bacteria than you are. But if Mexico is still a "third world" country, its tourist industry has been purely "first world" for many years now.
(Don't forget that ANY type of change can provoke a reaction, my wife and son and I live in Mexico and every year when we visit my family in Vancouver, Canada, we all get mild diarrhea for a day or two after we arrive! In VANCOUVER!)
Your stomach will actually be safer in the tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta than in most similar places in Florida!
(and learn to differentiate between bacteria and stupidity! The Gringos come down to Mexico, they sit out all day in the blazing sun without sunscreen, eat 6 different meals like bloody pigs, chug 25 beers and 14 Margaritas, get 2 hours sleep then the next day when they are sick, they groan, "Moctezuma's Revenge." Well, maybe it is Moctezuma's fault and maybe it isn't, but its NOT from stomach bacteria...........) |
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gamerunner2001
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Do as the locals do, drink bottled water. I spend a couple months a year in and around PV, eat what I want, where I want and have only had one minor stomach problem in 12 years. Yes, there is a bit of common sense that enters into to this equation. I don't eat from the places that look dirty, that usually helps. |
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freewillyforever
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Ask at the hotel you're staying. Some of them may have a purification system installed. Otherwise, NO! |
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pseudio1
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Buy some limes, or use the ones given with every meal at restaurants. Just suck the juice from a slice or two each time you eat or drink water. No problems. Done this so many times I know it works. |
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jcirnes
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I drank tap water in the US and got sick... so you can't drink tap water anywhere, period! |
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threeonspeed
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it's not safe to drink water anywhere nowadays |
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gerardo
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if you're talking about water from the sink then no its no safe at all but if you re talking about water taht comes in galons then of course its safe stupid |
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commonsense2265
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No and be careful where you eat. If staying in a good hotel only eat there as the street food, unless heavily cooked, can contain e-coli or other bacteria. This includes salad added to street food. Make sure you take imodium pills with you and I would take some acidophollius every day . You can buy the caps in a health store and IModium at the grocery store.
Bottled water only and I even would clean my teeth with it... |
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Darkfaith21
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Nowhere in Mexico is it safe to drink tap water. Resteraunts and hotels have purification systems or use filtered water for ice so dont fret about that but mexico as a whole is not a safe place for water. Their water system hasnt been updated in decades and many of the pipes are eroded or leaking very close to sewer systems. |
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David R.
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I've been there 6 times and have eaten and drank in some out of the way places and not had a problem. What most people think is Montezuma's Revenge is the result of overdoing the spicy food and drinking too much too soon. Don't worry about things like that, but use reason and a little common sense and you will probably have a great vacation. |
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claudio_vallarta
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Offically yes. The water here in Puerto Vallarta is certified as drinkable. Some people, including tourists do so. But most buy purified water.
I myself never drink the tap water, because the revenge of Moctezuma is very ugly and costs You about a week.
But the water is the minor problem. Be careful with vegetables, these are very dangerous because of some bacterial life. The people wash them with some antibacterial drops which are available everywhere.
In the restaurants and hotels everything is well prepared, not so in the streets.
If You want to be sure respect the old rule: Cooked or boiled only !! |
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weechi
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no!! generally the hotels have filter systems, but i've been to beaches in mexico numerous time with mexican families, and no one i have stayed with has EVER drank the water, in their home city or at the beach. bottled water is cheap enough anyways, there is no reason to take the chance. mexicans don't drink the water, and you shouldn't either! :) have fun! |
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Justin D
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I would not drink anything that you did not buy bottled. Even though I stayed at a nice resort, something snuck up on me and I was sick for two days. If I return to Mexico I will only drink bottled liquids, and I would suggest the same advice to all. |
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SUPERMAN
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only if you want to end up in the ER
i suggest bottled water |
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curmudgeon
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watch out down there...we got robbed. |
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