The iconic letters that symbolize Puerto Vallarta have been repainted by Marcela Lepe, daughter of painter Manuel Lepe, with help from her nephew Luis Lepe. These will soon return to the Malecón.

Marcela Lepe Quiroz restored and redecorated the maxiletras, inspired by the naïve art of her father, Manuel Lepe Macedo. These letters will be back in their place next to the famous El Caballito sculpture on the Malecón, where they are a must-see photo spot for tourists and locals.

With support from her nephew Luis Lepe, Marcela restored the original shine and honored Manuel Lepe’s memory with the true colors and strokes of his style. The letters were initially altered by the city council five years ago, but now they reflect Lepe’s authentic work.

Marcela told CPS News the letters are recycled and iIt took almost a month and a half to change parts of the structure and almost 20 days to paint them. Marcela doesn’t know the exact cost because of the paint and materials, but it means a lot to her. She is happy with the positive feedback from the people of Puerto Vallarta.She is happy to take this back because it was an unauthorized copy of her father’s work. Now people will appreciate it, and Vallartenses will quickly recognize Manuel Lepe’s hand.

The reinstallation process includes applying an anti-graffiti coating, taking about a week to complete. Marcela is grateful for the support from the Vallarta Institute of Culture and hotelier Gabriel Igartua.