Vallarta Blog

by Erin Roach

More Americans are opting to spend their vacation time participating in what Christians have known for years as mission work — building houses and schools or visiting orphanages.

The new term for this trend is “voluntourism,” and some say it was spurred by the tragedies of 9/11, the Southeast Asia tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.

College students are choosing charitable or humanitarian work over a week at the beach during spring break, the Associated Press reported, and baby boomers with money to spend and time to donate also are fueling the trend.

“Immersion with volunteerism is so much more than you could get by sitting on a beach or on a tour bus,” Sally Brown of Ambassadors for Children told AP, adding that the number of travel organizations that offer voluntourism trips has probably doubled in the past three years.

The nonprofit Ambassadors for Children lets participants mix purpose with pleasure by boarding them at a four-star hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and allowing them to spend three of the eight days visiting an orphanage, library and preschool, AP said.

Mike Wood spent a recent vacation in Honduras, building latrines and pig pens in a village without electricity, running water or cell phone reception, AP said. He spent the days digging holes, pouring cement and cutting wood, and he managed to sneak in some visits to nearby Mayan ruins.

“It’s hard work, but there’s nothing to worry about,” Wood, a history teacher, told AP. “No one can get ahold of you so you’re not worrying about the stock market or worrying about family too much. There’s no communication so it’s a very nice break from the pressures of the job.

“Some participants told AP that voluntourism is more draining than traditional vacations but much more rewarding. “To see the people’s faces — they were so happy we were helping them. That’s something you don’t forget,” said Peggy Fuller, a North Carolina dermatologist who used her sabbatical to build houses in Sri Lanka.

Others spend their time working as mentors to disadvantaged youth, tutoring and learning how the less fortunate of the world live, AP reported March 29.”You feel that you’re helping people and you’re also getting to learn about a different culture, whether it’s West Virginia or Tanzania,” Alyssa Stahl, a Chicago banker, said.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico stands out among vacation destinations as one of the very best.

Lying at the tip of the Bay of Banderas is one of the most sparkling jewels of the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Vallarta is a unique mix of ecosystems and atmospheres, from the white sand beaches to the tropical forests and mountain vistas, to the historical colonial architecture and ancient ruins.

 With its blend of history and tradition, along with exciting sights and activities, Puerto Vallarta will leave you breathless!

Puerto Vallarta is one of the sunniest places in the world, ideal for those who enjoy outdoor adventure! Take advantage of the nearly perfect Puerto Vallarta weather and take an off-road tour of the tropical jungle framed by the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Or take an exhilarating zip tour over Puerto Vallarta’s primitive canopy, getting a bird’s eye view of all that Mother Nature has bestowed upon the tropical paradise!

Take a cultural tour of Puerto Vallarta, visiting the ruins at Ixtapa, and pass through small villages where you can learn about the Mexican culture from the people who live it. There is also hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking to keep you busy!

If you want to experience adventure at sea, your wish is Puerto Vallarta’s command! There is incredible snorkeling at the Majahuita Cover or Los Arcos. The scuba diving is superb, with the clear blue Pacific waters the setting for some truly amazing marine sights.

And the deep-sea fishing is truly first-rate, with a number of fish biting in the Bay of Banderas and the Pacific Ocean. And there is always surfing to try, of course.

In addition to all of the adventurous things to do in Puerto Vallarta, there is plenty of opportunity to relax and amble. Try relaxing beachside, with the rolling waves of the Pacific teasing your toes. Take a stroll down the cobblestone streets and stop in quaint little shops peddling their wares.

Dine at authentic Mexican eateries, serving both traditional cuisine of the region and the freshest seafood around. And stay up late and play at one of Puerto Vallarta’s lively clubs, featuring dancing, live musical entertainment, and plenty of margaritas!

Puerto Vallarta is home to some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in the world. Catering to the wealthiest, many of the lodging options offer excellent amenities and services, at pretty steep prices. If you would rather get value for your vacation dollar, you should consider a vacation rental in Puerto Vallarta.

There are several vacation condos and rental homes that are beachside, that offer incredible views, convenience, and all the comforts of home!

You still have access to all of the activities and amenities of the resorts, but you have a spacious place to come back to every evening that you can call home, at least temporarily!

Puerto Vallarta rentals often offer more space than a hotel or resort room, and often at a better value.

Rentals give you everything that you are used to at home, including full-sized kitchens and multiple bedrooms, which is ideal if you are traveling with kids!

A vacation in paradise should equal comfort. A vacation rental in Puerto Vallarta will provide you with all of the comfort you could ever want in paradise!

By FLORENCE FABRICANT

Minutes after arriving at Casa Las Brisas near Puerto Vallarta, I felt like a houseguest, not a hotel client.

As my husband, Richard, and I entered through the large wooden gate set into a stucco wall, we were greeted with a breezy hello by Mauricio, a staff member.A sleek little gray dog with a smart red collar danced at his heels. ”That’s Tristan,” he said. ”You’ll get used to him.”

He immediately took our bags up to our room, flung open the French doors leading to the terrace and asked what we would like to drink. There were no formalities or papers to sign. Minutes later he delivered big, deliciously icy margaritas, which we sipped while we unpacked.

Casa Las Brisas, one of two small resorts near Puerto Vallarta where I stayed during a six-day trip in February, is a gracious, secluded six-bedroom villa. Right on Careyero Beach at Punta de Mita, it is a 45-minute taxi ride from the Puerto Vallarta airport. A sprawling Four Seasons hotel had recently put Punta de Mita on the tourist map.

Casa Las Brisas was just beyond and out of view on a generous curve of Pacific beach dotted with large private vacation houses, some still under construction. It was reached from a rutted dirt road off an efficient new highway that we picked up some distance from Puerto Vallarta and that led to Punta de Mita.

Our room was airy and spacious, with beautiful tile work and typical carved wood colonial-style furniture, king-size bed, some Indonesian accessories, a ceiling fan, air-conditioning, but no telephones or television (there is a TV room on the property). It overlooked stone terraces, a blue mosaic-tile pool, and the silken white beach.

We took a walk, a swim in the warm, somewhat forceful surf (the sea became calmer on subsequent days) and then a dip in the pool. A fellow behind the bar, which served both the pool and the adjacent thatched palapa-style dining room, asked if we’d like a drink. Absolutely.

He was the owner, Marc Lindskog, a genial American architect who first visited Mexico nearly 20 years ago, came to love it, and wanted to find an excuse to live there permanently. He finally designed and built Casa Las Brisas two years ago.

And he runs it as if it were his home. His personal suite of rooms is behind carved wooden doors off a little public salon. The bar is open and included in the room rate — under $400 a day for two people in high season. Mealtimes are flexible; Marc’s accommodating staff is always there to see to your comfort, and his two miniature Italian greyhounds, Tristan and Allegra, become your pets.

If you have to make a call, his cellphone is available. Miscommunication before our departure had left Richard and me with less cash than we intended to bring; Marc cashed our personal check. No wonder some of the guests we met, all Americans and a diverse group, were return visitors.

Casa Las Brisas is a seductively quiet enclave for walks on the beach, swimming in the sea or the pool, hours of lounging, reading or chatting with the other guests or the host, glorious sunsets and, if you can muster the energy, an excursion or two. There is a workout room, but we did not bother.

It was February, the season of the whale migrations. We arranged to take a boat from Punta de Mita to watch the whales and then go snorkeling. Fabrizio Aguilar, the manager, drove us to Punta de Mita and arranged for an open motorboat with guide.

At $40 an hour, plus an extra $5 an hour to the agency that arranged for our guide, Alberto, our four-hour excursion was the only extra fee we paid during our stay at Casa Las Brisas.

We saw humpbacks by the dozen, spouting, surfacing and gracefully diving with their broad, winglike tails slipping into the water. They were so close that the binoculars we had borrowed from the hotel were unnecessary.

Then the boat took us to the Marietas, a nature reserve of rocky little islands populated by flocks of gulls, boobies, cormorants and frigate birds wheeling in the air or perched on the cliffs.

Alberto led us snorkeling close to the rocks where the water was thick with tour groups in life vests, and then swimming through a cave to a tranquil little beach where we relaxed a bit before heading back to Punta de Mita. We had a pleasant lunch in town, under the thatch of a seaside restaurant known for grilled shrimp and red snapper.

Unfortunately, we missed the paella at Casa Las Brisas. No problem; they saved us a portion for dinner.

The food at the hotel was abundant and good. At breakfast under an umbrella around the pool, almost any egg or pancake dish was available, including huevos rancheros, of course, accompanied by fresh fruit, juices and good, strong coffee.

Lunches on the terrace, under the palapa or at the bar, started with a platter of nibbles like guacamole, salsa and chips, empanadas and even crisp spring rolls, followed by sandwiches, salads, or an occasional hot dish like enchiladas or paella, with fruit for dessert. The choices at lunch were limited; there were more selections at dinner.

The food served in the evening was more or less Continental, with occasional Asian or Mexican touches. Some of the highlights were a ruddy soup lightly fueled with chilies and studded with posole and chicken, grilled filet of beef with béarnaise sauce or a robust salsa, and chicken with peanuts on a bed of noodles. We would have preferred more Mexican specialties, but we seemed to be in the minority.

Wines from Chile and Argentina, Champagne from France, beer, bottled water and soft drinks, and a wide array of spirits, were poured liberally at no extra charge. ”It’s not worth the bother to keep track, have people sign, and all that,” Mr. Lindskog said.

After three days, we left around noon in a taxi that took us south, past the airport and beyond the cruise ships, high-rise hotels, malls and congestion of downtown Puerto Vallarta, to reach our next destination, Majahuitas Resort. The taxi dropped us at the beach in the village of Boca de Tomatlán, where a launch, which we had arranged in advance to have meet us about 2 p.m., was waiting.

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By DAVID KIRBY

A warm twilight settles over the Mexican resort of Puerto Vallarta as the sun slips behind the pink clouds of the Bahía de Banderas.

Tourists at a rooftop bar burst into applause and raise their cocktails to the fiery spectacle, before settling in for the evening’s entertainment. But this will be no night of Mariachi music.

”B-Seven!” coos a drag queen named Ida Slapter. ”B-Siete! Any lucky winners?”

If it’s Tuesday, this must be Gay Bingo at the Blue Chairs Beach Resort, perhaps the gayest event in the gayest neighborhood of what may be Mexico’s most gay-friendly town.

In recent years, this Pacific coast resort about 130 miles west of Guadalajara, has emerged as a premier destination on the gay travel map, joining a growing roster of places that are drawing gay and lesbian travelers.

So how does a place become a gay destination? For years, friends had told me that ”PV” was becoming a new gay mecca, but I was skeptical. I had been there in the 1980′s, and could remember just one gay bar, and that was about it. Now, the place feels almost like West Hollywood.

My friend Doug and I arrived on a Continental flight from Newark in March, with a plane change in Houston, early enough in the afternoon to check in at the Blue Chairs and hit the beach right downstairs. Blue Chairs is the unrivaled daytime epicenter of gay social life in Puerto Vallarta.

”Ten years ago, it was just a place on the beach, with blue chairs, where gay people would gather in the afternoon to play volleyball,” said David Lansley, an American whose Mexican boyfriend, Paco Ruiz, was a pioneer in Puerto Vallarta’s evolution into a gay-friendly place when he opened the Club Paco Paco disco, which beats until 6 o’clock each morning in the heart of the gay zone on the southern edge of the city, around Olas Altas Street and Los Muertos Beach.

Now, Blue Chairs is an institution. The six-floor, 40-room hotel, which opened in May 2001, rises high above the beach below. Its rooftop Blue Sunset Bar offers a nearly mandatory happy hour and weekly parties that range from bingo to karaoke to Hollywood movie night (outside under the stars).

Blue Chairs also offers massages and facials, and a weekly ”booze cruise.” And of course, there is the lively repartee found daily amid the blue chairs and umbrellas on the beach, where gay men (and a few women) are catered to by handsome waiters who ferry good food and potent drinks from the hotel’s kitchen out to the sands. When we were there, the crowd was friendly, mostly over 30, and mostly from the Midwest or West Coast.

For a gay beach scene, it was pretty low key. Many there said they go back to Puerto Vallarta every year, not only for the gay scene but also the relaxed atmosphere and gorgeous natural surroundings.

The neighborhood was a rundown area of low-rise buildings and empty lots and storefronts until about a decade ago, when gay Mexicans and Americans began investing in bars, hotels, shops and restaurants. Now it is known affectionately as the Zona Romántica.

Within its square mile or so, the Zona now packs in 16 gay bars and nightclubs (two more clubs lie just north of the Cuale River, downtown) and 12 gay or gay-friendly hotels and guest houses. Hotel Mercurio, for example, is a quiet lodge just off of Olas Altas, set around a peaceful Mexican courtyard. It was opened last year by Paul Crist, who moved there from Washington, D.C.

”This area has really taken off in the last year or two.” Mr. Crist said. ”I think we have reached critical mass in terms of gay businesses.”

Some travelers find the scene too intense, and get away from the bustle by heading for Paco’s Paradise, a sort of gay Gilligan’s Island sleep-away camp that can only be reached by boat. Isolated and beautiful on the south shore of Banderas Bay, Paco’s offers snorkeling, kayaking, volleyball and good food to those who find their way there.

We made Paco’s a day trip, taking a cab from Puerto Vallarta about 10 miles south along a winding coastal road with spectacular views of the rugged green mountains and brilliant indigo bay.

Just past Mismaloya, where John Huston filmed Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in ”Night of the Iguana,” we reached Boca de Tomatlán, a picture-perfect fishing village on a sharply angled cove, the departure point for launches to Paco’s.

The rustic outpost is carved from the jungle on a small cove. Overnight guests stay in a three-story stone structure with two private suites and a dorm room. There is hot water, but no electricity. We ate lunch, swam in the turquoise water and took the 5 o’clock boat back with a dozen or so day-trippers, most of them gay men.

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If you visit Mexico often or you reside there, you are certainly familiar with Mexican telecommunications and the hassle of acquiring reliable services and successfully dialing within Mexico.You’ve also dealt with the frequent changes to the country’s area codes.

Mexican telecommunications are generally more costly than in the United States and Canada and inherently come with plenty of down time. Below we offer recommendations to save money and time according to each type of visitor.

For Temporary Visitors:
Unless it is an emergency, it is not advised to make phone calls from your hotel room. An exorbitant hotel phone bill can leave a blemish on even the most pleasant of vacations. A 5 minute phone call can cost you US$25.

Pre-paid phone cards: If you are a temporary visitor your best option is to purchase a pre-paid Telmex phone card. For your convenience MedToGo sells $5, $10, and $20 Telmex cards online for the same price you would pay in Mexico at any convenience store.

You will save yourself the hassle of exchanging your money and hunting down a store that sells cards by pre-ordering your cards prior to departure.

Internet Telephone Calls: Skype has one of the most reliable and affordable internet telephone services available. Visit the Skype website, set up an account, and purchase a comfortable head set.

While you’re abroad you can plug your headset into most any computer and make calls anywhere in the world. Skype lets you make free calls to other Skype users through an internet connection and very cheap calls to traditional telephones. It’s free to download and you can add on voicemail for a small fee.

For Frequent Visitors and Business Travelers:
Depending upon how often you travel to Mexico there are several options available to you.

Mexico Cell phones (contract not required): Sanborn’s (a chain restaurant/convenience store locted in every major city) sells affordable cell phone units that do not require you to sign a contract with any companies.

Phone time must however be uploaded to the units by purchasing Telcel phone cards. Though the cards are not as economical as the pre-paid Telmex phone cards, having a cell phone where you can receive calls is possibly a necessary convenience. This is ideal if most of your calls are to Mexican phone numbers.

Global Cell phones: There are several global cell phone plans to choose from that will allow you to make and receive phone calls using one telephone number. Verizon offers a North America specific plan that allows you to receive and make phone calls using one unique phone number.

If you are from New York, for example, you keep your 917 cell phone area code with you while you travel. People phoning you while you are in Mexico will dial your number as if you were in NY. When you call the US or Canada you add the country code , 001, to the 10 digit number.

Though you use “001″ the call will only cost you the minutes you speak. Ironically, the plan is more affordable than most Mexican domestic cell phone plans. The one drawback with the North America plan is that if you phone Mexico at any time from Mexico, the US, or Canada you will be charged international rates.

Mexico Residents and Expatriates:
Internet: Telmex Prodigy Infinitum (349 pesos/month) is the best choice for internet connectivity.

There are other companies, such as Cablevision, but none are as reliable and offer as speedy of a connection as Telmex. The one drawback is that you must first contract a basic local telephone line (194 pesos/month) to have this service.

Mexico Cell phones: There are several to choose from (Movistar, Telcel, Unefon), but if you will be making several international phone calls your best choice is a iusacell phone.

They offer international plans, reliable service, bi-lingual customer service, and a live operator to take your calls when you are not available

Yelapa: Robinson Crusoe Meets Jack Kerouac 
It’s a cove straight out of a tropical fantasy, and only a 45-minute trip by boat from Puerto Vallarta. Yelapa has no cars, has one sole paved (pedestrian-only) road, and got electricity only in the past 3 years.

It’s accessible only by boat. Its tranquillity, natural beauty, and seclusion have made it a popular home for hippies, hipsters, artists, writers, and a few ex-pats (looking to escape the stress of the world, or perhaps the law).

A seemingly strange mix, but you’re unlikely to ever meet a stranger — Yelapa remains casual and friendly.

To get there, travel by excursion boat or inexpensive water taxi. There’s also a challenging mountain bike trip with Bike Mex. You can spend an enjoyable day, but I recommend a longer stay — it provides a completely different perspective.

Once you’re in Yelapa, you can lie in the sun, swim, snorkel, eat fresh grilled seafood at a beachside restaurant, or sample the local moonshine, raicilla.

The local beach vendors specialize in the most amazing pies you’ve ever tasted (coconut, lemon, or chocolate). Equally amazing is how the pie ladies walk the beach while balancing the pie plates on their heads; they sell crocheted swimsuits, too.

You can also tour this tiny town or hike up a river to see one of two waterfalls. The closest to town is about a 30-minute walk from the beach. Note: If you use a local guide, agree on a price before you start out. Horseback riding, guided birding, fishing trips, and paragliding are also available.

For overnight accommodations, local residents frequently rent rooms, and there’s also the rustic Hotel Lagunita (tel. 322/209-5056 or 322/209-5055; hotel-lagunita.com). Its 27 cabañas have private bathrooms, and the hotel has electricity, a saltwater pool, massage, and an amiable restaurant and bar.

Though the prices are high for what you get — and you may need to bring your own towels, which are known to be in short supply — it is the most accommodating place for most visitors. It’s quite popular for yoga students and other groups. Double rates run $78 during the season and $55 in the off season (MasterCard and Visa are accepted).

A stylish alternative is the fashionable Verana(tel. 800/677-5156 or 322/222-2360; verana.com).

If you stay over on a Wednesday or Saturday during the winter, don’t miss the regular dance at the Yelapa Yacht Club (no phone).

Typically tongue-in-cheek for Yelapa, the “yacht club” consists of a cement dance floor and a disco ball, but the deejay spins a great range of tunes, from Glenn Miller to Eminem, attracting all ages and types.

Dinner ($5-$12) is a bonus — the food may be the best anywhere in the bay. The menu changes depending on what’s fresh. Ask for directions; it’s in the main village, on the beach.

The malecón is the obvious centre of night-time activity, lined with places that specialize in creating a high energy party-time atmosphere.

Old favourites like the Hard Rock Café and Carlos O’Brian’s are here, along with local contenders Zoo and No Name Café . None has a cover charge and most are at ground level, making it easy to wander along and take your pick of the happy hours .

South of the river also has its share of clubs, more down-to-earth and maybe more varied.

Worth a visit is Club Roxy , Vallarta 217 at Madero, a popular bar-club with an excellent resident band playing blues, reggae and rock and a great atmosphere that attracts locals and tourists alike (no cover).

The Jazz House , Rodríguez at Olas Altas, hosts first-class jazz in a tastefully decorated venue that should be more popular; it also serves good if slightly pricey food.

The gay scene is thriving and clubs include Paco Ranch and Paco Paco , both on Vallarta.

More formal nightclubs charge up to US$15 for entry, though by asking around you’ll come across free nights early in the week, should find half-price coupons (try the timeshare touts), and can always try talking your way in.

Christine’s , at the Hotel Krystal way up in the hotel zone, is lively, expensive and pretentious.

There are two cinemas : Cine Bahía is south of the river at Insurgentes 189; and Cine Luz Maria is north of the river at Avenida México 227.

Both show predominantly Hollywood films in English with Spanish subtitles. Look for listings in Vallarta Today and other free handouts.

Sunday tends to be quiet – some places close – except on the zócalo where, from around 6pm, huge crowds gather around the dozens of taco and cake stands and listen to the brass band. And there’s always the pool hall , at Madero 279.

Puerto Vallarta has the most exceptional dining scene of any resort town in Mexico.

Over 250 restaurants serve cuisines from around the world, in addition to fresh seafood and regional dishes.

Chefs from France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Argentina have come for visits and stayed to open restaurants.

In celebration of this diversity, Vallarta’s culinary community hosts a 2-week-long gourmet dining festival each November.

Dining is not limited to high-end options — there are plenty of small, family-owned restaurants, local Mexican kitchens, and vegetarian cafes.

Vallarta also has branches of the world food-and-fun chains: Hard Rock Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, and even Hooters. I won’t bother to review these restaurants, where the quality and decor are so familiar.

Of the inexpensive local spots, one favorite is El Planeta Vegetariano, Iturbide 270, just down from the main church (tel. 322/222-3073), serving an inexpensive, bountiful, and delicious vegetarian buffet, which changes for breakfast and lunch/dinner.

It’s open Monday through Saturday. Breakfast ($3.50) is served from 8 to 11am; the lunch and dinner buffets ($5.50) are served from 11:30am to 10pm; no credit cards.

 A second location with the same prices and hours of service is now in Marina Vallarta (tel. 322/209-0555), located in Marina del Rey, local L-4.

Tapas Anyone?–Certainly, much of modern Mexico’s culture draws on the important influence of Spain, so it only makes sense that culinary traditions would be evident as well.

Within the last several years, dining on tapas has soared in popularity here. Of the many options, these are my favorites: the long-standing Barcelona Tapas, Matamoros and 31 de Octobre streets (tel. 322/222-0510), a large and lovely restaurant on a terrace built high on a hillside, with sweeping views of the Bay.

They serve tapas and a selection of Spanish entrees, including paella, from 5pm to midnight. La Taberna de San Pascual, Corona 186 (tel. 322/223-9371; Mon-Sat 5pm-midnight, with bar service extending to 2am; closed Sun) is a cozy eatery, rich with brick walls and dark wood accents, located on popular Corona Street, in the center of downtown.

All ingredients are imported from Spain, and there’s a selection of excellent Spanish wines to accompany their flavorful tapas.

 La Esquina de los Caprichos, Miramar 402, corner of Iturbide (tel. 322/222-0911; Mon-Sat 1-11pm) is a tiny tapas place, known as having the most reasonably priced ($1.50-$6) tapas in town, and perhaps the tastiest.

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Traveling to a city for the first time is a unique experience; new places, new people and a lot of fun… The bad thing about traveling to a city the first time is that you can loose time and money by making simple mistakes from your arrival to installing yourself in your Hotel room.

I arrived… Now what?

If you traveled on a bus, you should know that the Central Bus Station and the Airport are on the north side of Puerto Vallarta, 30-40 minutes from the city and any tourist attraction. Follow our steps to get directly and safe to your Hotel so you can enjoy and cool down at your hotels pool:

• Know the location of your hotel, buy a ticket where it says “TAXI” by the authorized Taxi Windows. The prices are per Zone and they are fair if you buy them in the Bus Station Central, but the ones in the airport are very elevated from 200% to 300% more. The taxis are monitored, so you don’t have to worry about safety on your way.
• If you are not sure of the location of your hotel, villa or stay, consult it before coming to PV on the internet, the hotels website or in a travel agency.
• If you are up to a little bit of adventure (and you don’t carry too much luggage) you can take a local Bus just in front of the station on the street. Take a bus that has a sign in the front window that says “centro” not “centro-pitillal” because if you do catch a centro-pitillal you’ll have to drive one hour extra before getting to the center of the city. All buses charge the same $5 pesos (50 cents), unless you are heading further away from Puerto Vallarta, like northern Bucerias or southern Mismaloya.
• Make sure to upload all your luggage onto the taxi or bus and don’t forget anything inside when leaving the bus or taxi because there is a very high chance of not getting it back ever again (especially in the public transportation facilities).

By car…

A street map will always be a big help, so try to get in contact with your hotel or any travel agency to ask for a map and directions on how to find your destination.In Puerto Vallarta, the hotel zone and the access to the Marina are on the principal boulevard Fco. Medina Ascencio; for Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerías, drive to the north, following the road number 70. !Bienvenido a Nayarit! Crossing the bridge of the Ameca river (Río Ameca) and don’t forget to take an hour of you clock since there’s an hour difference between the state of Nayarit and Jalisco.

¡Be practical!

• Write your name on a card together with your address, your destination information in Vallarta and keep it safe in your wallet; Also mark your bags, video or photo camera and other items; in case of loosing an item, taxi drivers, waiters and other service providers will have a way of locating you to bring back your lost item.
• Never take large amounts of money with you.
• Always keep handy a little bag with your camera, bathing suit and clothes to change because the beach is always tentative!!!
• Always check your map to localize yourself and the place of your stay.

¿Where do I go?

Relax on the Beach

First thing you should do is to get checked into your stay and go for the pool or beach. There are over 40 different beaches on Banderas Bay and you’ll want to take it easy the first day of your stay since the climate changes might exhaust you after a long travel.

The Sunset on The Malecon

One of the best places to enjoy the sunset is the Malecón. Start your journey at the northern zone (at the side of Hotel Rosita and close to the Buenaventura Hotel) and look for famous sculptures on the Malecon as are the arches of “Los Arcos” one of Puerto Vallarta’s icons.

Choose a Restaurant

Dolce Vita and El Tequila’s are an excelent option to dine on the Malecón. For seafood, Mauricio’s and Coleguita are only 10 to 15 minutes (from the airport) taking the road to the north to Ixtapa. One of the best places for restaurants and Cafès is Olas Altas (also called Old Town or Viejo Vallarta). It has dozens of places to eat, dance and shop. It’s also called the “Romantic Zone” for a reason.

Viejo Vallarta

Walk along the center into the romantic zone (Viejo Vallarta) over to the street of Olas Altas, where you will find little Cafés and Restaurants on the street side that give a special touch to this part of the city. Also you will notice there are a few Hotels like Molino de Agua, Playa Los Arcos, Tropicana and Suites Emperador. There are also other attraction near the River of Pitillal like the Art Market. Don’t miss the hanging bridges!!!

Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags)

Visit the extreme south of the bay, the tropical paradise of Mismaloya and its surroundings, scenery of some Hollywood movies. If you’re lucky and it’s the right season, you can see whales, dolphins and huge Manta Rays.

You also should go to the north; towards Punta Mita there are some beautiful beaches with fine sand and turquoise colored waters.

Explore Vallarta on the Sea

On Los Muertos Beach (Playa los Muertos = Beach of the dead) the water taxis can take you to Yelapa, Mismaloya, Las Ánimas and other hidden beaches between the tropical vegetation.

If you are looking for adventures over the sea, going to the Terminal Maritima will show you a lot of sea tours that will take you around the Bay of Banderas.

The Marigalante, is a pirate ship that will serve you a delicious dinner full of fun, music, competitions and artificial fire shows just in the waters in front of Los Arcos.

Another of the favorite tours with an irresistible price, is The Bora Bora, that starts a roundtrip through the Bay of Banderas while having breakfast onboard. They’ll take you to practice snorkeling to the maritime park Los Arcos and you’ll eat on a beautiful beach on the southern extreme of the Bay.

The Princesa Vagabundo is another ship that will take you along the Bay to beaches further away. Don’t forget your bathing suit and your camera!

Finaly the Princesa Sunset is a romantic cruise ship in the evening for people in love that are looking for a special sunset. They’ll serve you delicious food while the sun hides behind the waves accompanied by nice background music.

Visit the Marina

Come to visit the Marina, one of the biggest in Mexico, with space for over 400 Yachts. Go up to the “Faro Restaurant” to view a panoramic afternoon of the bay of Banderas and finally try their culinary specialties in their known restaurants.

¡Go up the Mountains!

Puerto Vallarta is surrounded by the Sierra Madre Mountains. There are exciting tours on vehicles of all type, horses and bikes that will take you through waterfalls and paths full of adventure and fun.

Have fun all night!

Vallarta has places for all kinds of taste, from the more fun juvenile ambient to the elegance and exclusivity. Some of our recommendations are De Santos, Carlos O’Brians, Sr.Frog’s, Zoo, Christine and with its traditional Cuban style, La Bodeguita del Medio.

Puerto Vallarta Blog, Wexico 2007

When visiting Puerto Vallarta, travel packages may save you a lot of money. There is plenty of choice, so you have a good chance of finding a deal to suit you.

As a general rule, the more elements of a package you book together, the more money you save overall. With some deals, you can pay less for airfare and accommodation than you would normally pay for the accommodation alone.

You can book all-inclusive travel packages from various sources: resorts, tour operators and Internet companies. The all-inclusive resorts on Puerto Vallarta’s coast usually include food and drinks in their prices. Most offer deals on air fares too.

The rise of the Internet has led to the declining popularity of tour operators, but you should still include a couple of quotes from them when you’re making your comparisons. Finally, Internet sites such as Expedia allow you to put together a package for yourself.

Visitors to Puerto Vallarta usually come for the choice of activities on offer: snorkeling and scuba diving, for example. Because of this, Puerto Vallarta travel packages are available specifically for people who enjoy watersports, fishing or even cycling.

Don’t be afraid to ask for a package geared to your particular interest – if it’s a popular activity, the resort or tour operator probably already offers such a deal.

Remember that Puerto Vallarta travel packages aren’t necessarily the same as escorted tours. Booking a package tour doesn’t commit you to a rigid schedule; it just means that you’re buying the different elements of your trip together to save money.

However, if you prefer a structured trip, this kind of package is available too. Travel packages are actually cheaper at the more popular time of year (the winter months). This is because air access is easier during those months.

However, if you want to avoid package deals and book everything separately, the peak season is more expensive for Puerto Vallarta travel.

When booking a Puerto Vallarta travel package, always check the small print to see what exactly is included in the price. For example, a fishing package deal might include free boat trips, but require you to provide your own rods and bait.

You should also prepare for the unexpected; as the holiday motto goes, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.” If you had to cancel, would you get your money back? Many travelers take out cancellation insurance for peace of mind.

Finally, you need to decide when to book. It’s usually a toss-up between booking well in advance and booking at the last minute.

Last-minute deals can be excellent value, but it’s more risky to rely on these, because if there aren’t any available at your time of booking, you will end up paying a lot more money for your holiday.

Buses
There are buses at every corner. If you see one, just wave it down. It will stop.  The cost is $5MXP… about 50 cents.  There is no air conditioning, but this is the way normal people get around.

“Rite” (aka hitch hike)
This requires a lot of the right elements.  1.) Bravery 2.) A friend 3.) Daylight.  If you keep trying you can usually get picked up and taken as far as the car is going. 

I caught a rite from Puerto Vallarta to Guadalajara (5 hours) with some great people.  Just make sure you take all the precautions before you get in a car.  If you can, riding in the bed of a truck is safer.

Taxis
You can get almost anywhere for $5.  From the airport to downtown is $5.  If they charge you higher than $8, you can get them to lower their price by speaking spanish. 

When you are in Downtown PV, you will notice the over-abundance of taxis.

Nestled between palm-covered mountains, a river and an azure sea, Puerto Vallarta is seriously picturesque. It’s also full of cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses, and sits in front of a gorgeous sandy beach.

There are dolphins in the bay year-round, and humpback whales between November and March.

The peak holiday periods are July and August, mid-December to early January, and a week either side of Easter.

At these times, resorts attract big tourist crowds, room prices go up, and everything is heavily booked, so reservations are recommended.

November to April are reliably dry, warm, blissful and popular months for travel among North Americans and Europeans.

The water is perfect for swimming all year long. Diving and snorkeling can be good year-round, but visibility is usually highest (except during plankton blooms) in the dry winter months.

Fun surf can be reasonably expected year-round, but waves are biggest from May to November. Deep-sea fishing, also practiced all year, has its own species-specific seasons.

Bird-watchers often prefer winter visits, when birds migrate down to the coastal lagoons from North America. Whale-watching is best from January to March.

Learn Spanish at the Spanish Experience Center

Study abroad in Puerto Vallarta in the surroundings of a traditional Mexican Village,  live in the community and enjoy the culture while learning the language.

Living it is learning it!

We offer a unique program which will allow you to develop the language skills you desire in the beautiful setting of Puerto Vallarta.

Situated in the heart of the magnificent & romantic Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta is known as a premier destination in Mexico because of the beauty of the location and the variety of activities available.

The weather is fantastic throughout the year, the beaches & ocean are some of the best in Mexico. Located in the State of Jalisco, home to some of Mexico’s finest & most famous traditions, it is a short distance from numerous points of interest including Guadalajara.

We offer part-day and full-day Spanish language courses along with activity programming to give you the full immersion experience.

The school is located in the heart of Puerto Vallarta just 1 block from the beach and 3 blocks from the Malecon (boardwalk). Our Mexican Hacienda will provide all the modern comforts set in a traditional Mexican atmosphere.

The school is equipped with computers & wireless internet access which are available to all students during normal school hours. Additionally, all of our classrooms are air-conditioned.

With our small class size, individual attention and modern amenities, your experience will be ideal – living it is learning it!

Each of these fills one day. Together they touch on some of PV’s most quintessential experiences, from shopping to getting outdoors for adventure tours or golfing, or just relaxing at the best beaches and spas.

Romancing the Zone

Head south of downtown to the Zona Romántica for a day of excellent shopping and dining. Stop at Isla Cuale for trinkets and T-shirts; have an island breakfast overlooking the stream at the River Cafe or an excellent lunch at Le Bistro, where the romantic, neo-Continental décor and monumental architecture produce a flood of endorphins.

Most of the stores in the neighborhood will either ship your oversized prizes for you or expertly pack them and recommend reputable shipping companies. Crossing the pedestrian bridge nearest the bay, drop nonshoppers at Los Muertos Beach.

They can watch the fishermen on the small pier, lie in the sun, sit in the shade with a good book, or walk south to the rocky coves of Conchas Chinas Beach, which is good for snorkeling when the water is calm.

Meanwhile, the shoppers head to Calle Basilio Badillo and surrounding streets for folk art, housewares, antiques, clothing, and accessories. End the day back at Los Muertos with dinner, drinks, and live music.

Some of the musicians at beachfront restaurants work for the restaurant, others are freelancers. If a roving musician (or six) ask what you’d like to hear, ask the price of a song.

A Different Resort Scene

If you’ve got wheels, explore a different sort of beach resort. After breakfast, grab beach togs, sunscreen, and other essentials for a day at the beach and head north. Those with a sweet tooth might make a pit stop at Pie in The Sky, with excellent pie, chocolate, and other sugar fixes.

About 45 minutes north of PV, join Mexican families on the beach at Rincón de Guayabitos, on long Jaltemba Bay. Play in the mild surf; walk the pretty, long beach; or head just a mile south to Playa Los Ayala, where you can take a ride in a glass-bottom boat.

Vendors on the sand sell chilled coconuts and watermelon from their brightly colored stands. On the way back south, stop in the small town of San Francisco, aka San Pancho, for dinner.

You can’t go wrong at La Ola Rica, Gallo’s Pizzeria, or the slightly more sophisticated Cafe del Mar (brush the sand off your feet for that one). In high season and especially on weekend evenings, one of the three will probably have live music, especially Gallo’s.

Tips:
Take a water taxi out for a look at El Islote island, where with luck you might spot a whale between December and March.

Head for the Hills

For an unforgettable experience (at least for a few days, until your thigh muscles recover), take a horse-riding expedition into Vallarta’s verdant tropical forest.

Rancho Charro and Rancho Ojo de Agua have full-day excursions; the former has several multiday excursions as well, including tours to the former silver-mining towns of Mascota and San Sebastián. For those who prefer motorized horsepower, Wild Vallarta runs full-day ATV tours to San Sebastián.

Tips:
Full-day and overnight trips provide food and refreshments, but if possible bring a day pack with things to make yourself comfortable: bottled water, tissues or handkerchief, bandana, and plenty of sunblock. Don’t pack it so full that it’s unpleasantly heavy, however. Wear a hat.

A Day of Golf and Steam

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s best golfing destinations. And what better way to top off a day of play than with a steam, soak, and massage? At the south end of the Costalegre, Grand Bay Isla Navidad has variety of play (three 9-hole courses) and a spa with massage, facials, and a gym.

Above PV, the Four Seasons has 19 holes of good golfing (the optional 19th on its own little island) and an excellent spa, but the latter is for guests only. In between these two extremes are less-exclusive but still great courses.

The closest spas to the greens of Marina Vallarta and the excellent Vista Vallarta are those of the Westin Regina and the CasaMagna Marriott.

The El Tigre course is associated with the Paradise Village resort, but this excellent and moderately priced spa is open also to those who golf at Mayan Palace, just up the road and at Flamingos, at the far northern edge of Nuevo Vallarta.

Tips:
Ask your concierge (or look online) to find out how far ahead you can reserve, and then try for the earliest possible tee time to beat the heat.

If the course you choose doesn’t have a club pool, you can have lunch and hang at the pool at the resorts suggested above, or get a massage, facial, or other treatment (always reserve ahead).

Downtown Exploration

Puerto Vallarta hasn’t much at all in the way of museums, but with a little legwork, you can get a bit of culture. Learn about the area’s first inhabitants at the tiny but tidy Museo Arqueológico (closed Sunday), with info in English.

Come forward in time more than a millennium to the houses that love built…or at least bought. Occupied by lovers Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton during their much publicized Vallarta romance, Casa Kimberly, and the Burton House across from it, are open to visitors 9-6, except Sunday, for an $8 fee.

After seeing the memorabilia, wend through the hilly (and uneven) streets of Gringo Gulch for sea views and a look at homes of various eras en route to Vallarta’s Catedral de La Virgen de Guadalupe, dedicated to Mexico’s most revered icon.

If you are planning to bring your own vehicle from the U.S. or Canada, there are some facts you should know:You must obtain a temporary import permit. To acquire this, you must submit evidence of citizenship, title, registration and driver’s license, and pay a fee.

The permit may be obtained at any Mexican customs office at the port of entry or at a Mexican consulate in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernadino, or San Francisco.

You must also leave a bond (US$200–$400) at the Banjercito bank at the point of entry to guarantee that the car will be returned to the U.S. in the allotted time period.

Any foreign-owned car found in Mexico without a proper permit may be impounded and not returned. The bond will be returned to you when you report to the Banjercito branch just prior to your crossing the U.S. border.

Mexican law states that the owner of any foreign vehicle must be present whenever the vehicle is in operation. If your vehicle is driven and stopped by the local authorities, and you are not in the vehicle, it may be confiscated and not returned.

All foreign vehicles driven in Mexico must carry Mexican auto insurance. Your domestic policy will not cover you abroad, so you must purchase a policy at a retailer on the U.S. side of the border.

Insurance may also be purchased on the Internet from a number of carriers. For an instant quote on affordable Mexican insurance, visit GE Auto Insurance.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident in Mexico you will be imprisoned until liability, legal and financial matters are determined.

Legal and roadside assistance insurance may be purchased through Safemex. Safemex customers are provided with a lawyer, legal services, and/or roadside service if they run into trouble.

Special Cautions for Drivers In Mexico

Free vs. Toll Roads:
Any North American who has driven the roads of Mexico will tell you that the experience is quite different from what they are used to back home. While the toll roads (cuotas) are generally very safe, the libre or free-road system is poorly maintained.

Up until about ten years ago, Mexico’s government-maintained freeways were in shambles. They are now privatized, and today several corporations own long-term leases on the country’s numerous toll roads. Engineers from the U.S. helped with the planning and construction, resulting in an excellent and much safer roadway network.

However, these improvements come at a substantial cost to the driver. For example, if you take the toll roads from Guadalajara to Mexico City (about a five hour drive), it will cost you about US$50 each way.

Thus, most of the toll roads are fairly uncluttered and easy to drive. In contrast, a neighboring two-lane libre or free highway typically contains much slower-moving traffic.

If you get behind a semi or an old, beaten-up, 20 mph, gas-guzzler you may be in for a long night if oncoming traffic is heavy.

We always recommend that you travel the cuota roads, but sometimes the libre roads are unavoidable. We suggest that you drive defensively on all roads in Mexico, but especially on the libre roads.

Speed Limits and Driving Safety:
Speed limits are generally much lower than in the U.S., but rarely are they enforced. It is quite uncommon to see a patrol car on the highway. The military police are much more common.

Numerous potholes or the fear of hitting a stray animal is often all that is needed to regulate speed. Fences around roadside farms are uncommon, so animals can and do stray onto the highway. In more rural destinations, you might even run into a farmer or rancher herding his cattle or sheep across the highway.

In general, drive more slowly than you normally would and definitely try to drive in daylight. Streetlights are rare, especially on the libre roads, and there are so many cars on the road with malfunctioning headlights that it can be downright dangerous.

Mexican drivers seem a little more risk-prone than those in the U.S., and they often follow their own set of rules. Many drivers will pass on the solid yellow line.

Be extra careful on curvy or mountainous roads. Slow-moving drivers will often pass without a good view of oncoming traffic. Because of the rough roadway conditions, drivers tend to communicate with each other a bit more.

It is more common for passing drivers to warn each other of upcoming danger by flashing their lights. If you are approaching a narrow bridge where only one car at a time can pass, it is customary for the driver who flashed his lights first to have the right of way.

A blinking left-turn signal on the vehicle in front of you could mean that it is clear ahead and safe to pass. This could also mean that the driver is about to take a left turn, so be careful.

Road Conditions:
Roadside shoulders may have dangerous drop-offs, so use caution when pulling over. If you are planning a lengthy drive throughout Mexico, be prepared for tire damage. Potholes are numerous, especially in rural areas and on the libre roads.

Make sure you have a good spare and jack before you go anywhere. Never pull over to sleep in your vehicle along the roadside. Do not under any circumstances pick up hitchhikers, as they might pose a threat to you, and be aware that if your passenger has narcotics or other paraphernalia you can be arrested for transporting narcotics or traffickers in your vehicle.

There are fewer markings or lights along Mexican highways, especially on the libre roads, so again, try to drive during daylight hours. Under rainy conditions travel with extra caution as there may be more oil and dust or sand on many stretches of highway.

At the entrance of most small towns there are topes, or large speed bumps, in the road to slow down traffic. Do not take these lightly, as you can damage your tires or your front end if you hit them too fast.

Roadside Assistance and the Angeles Verdes:
If you do have mechanical problems and you can find a good mechanic, don’t always expect anyone to have the part you need. So make sure you take your car in for a good check up before you head out.

Fortunately, the Green Angeles, or Angeles Verdes, patrol the highways and offer assistance to stranded motorists. This fleet of trucks is driven by mostly bilingual mechanics. The Green Angels can be reached by dialing 01-555-8211/8555 anywhere in Mexico.

If you do have to use them, be prepared to direct them to your approximate location, e.g., 20 kilometers south of Puerto Vallarta on highway 200 on the way to Manzanillo. The Green Angels charge for parts, oil, and gas but not for service.

Mexico Maps:
Map out your trip before you go, www.mexicomaps.com, and give someone back home your travel itinerary. For your safety pack an extra belt, fuses, and an auto first-aid kit. Bring a flexible funnel, as some gas stations have nozzles too large to fit unleaded tanks.

Puerto Vallarta. Two words that bring images to our minds like: Nightlife, Clubs, Beaches, Sun, Attractive Bodies in Bikinis, a lot of fun and in reality Vallarta is all that and much much more.

This typical little town with cobblestone streets and at the same time a modern attractive tourist spot is a tropical paradise, considered one of the richest places in natural biodiversity and one of the few places in Mexico that combines ecosystems of jungle, forests, coasts, islands and marines in it’s territory.

If you enter from the extreme north you’ll find the green thick tropical forests, but stop! If you ask yourself why you found yourself with shadowy and gray panorama of dry trees in the vacation season of winter, the answer is that exactly in that season the vegetation looses 90% of it’s leaves.

Don’t be shocked ahead of you, when you see signs that say “Watch out with the Crocodiles”. Most probably you are near the protected federal area that has the biggest mangle forests, where crocodiles and dozens of costal birds live.

More to the center, there is an area that extends to sandy beaches of low depth, ideal for boat rides, where colorful fish, crabs and others live. In this part of the region there are some costal dunes located, since the climate here is ideal for its formations, but because of the urbanization that concentrates, there are only a few left. Some of the mammals you might see around this areas and only if they come out of their hiding places, are armadillos and coatis.

South of the region the climate is more humid, which causes the vegetation to be more intense. If you travel to these regions you will enjoy majestic lands with mountains formed by the sierra Madre. The predominant ecosystem is the tropical subcaducifolio forest, a total paradise in its fauna.

If it’s about felines, you might see cute cats like jaguars, ocelots and pumas, but also reindeers, rabbits and some times tropicals like parrots and guacamayas. The south of the coast is the preferred spot to realize submarine activities such as snorkel and diving because of its richness in marine life, besides that the water is very clear and has good visibility, even in deep depths.

Besides all, Puerto Vallarta is a big host that gives each year a warm welcome to some species like the humpback whale and the dolphins that prefer this beautiful destination in their mating season just like the turtles, which take advantage to incubate their eggs. Many are protected and taken care of in the turtle camp of Puerto Vallarta which has been worried of maintaining alive its ecosystem creating new programs for protection and care, for which there exists the world day of environment, a day of awareness and motivation for the preservation of this “much more” than an attractive tourist location.

(Puerto Vallarta Blog, Wexico)

by Justin Burch

As Puerto Vallarta possesses a more laidback ambiance than other Mexican resort cities, it is a great destination for an exotic family vacation. Most importantly, Puerto Vallarta is both safe and entertaining for children of all ages.

Puerto Vallarta offers everything from waterfall horseback rides and snorkeling tours to canopy tours that allow children to swing between the trees of the Mexican jungle. Children of all ages can swim with dolphins at the Sea Life Park or sit back and watch whales during the high season – generally November to March.

Even if you want to spend a day relaxing at your resort, better hotels and resorts will offer children’s programs featuring unique cultural and educational activities. Come see why Puerto Vallarta is not only a great place for your family to relax; but also offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a city unlike any other.

Of course, no family vacation to Puerto Vallarta would be complete without a trip to the beach. As the area surrounding the city consists of 26 miles of white sand shorelines, there are plenty of beaches perfect for the little ones.

Playa Los Muertos, one of the most popular beaches in Puerto Vallarta, features placid waves great for swimming. Even during the high season, you will find plenty of room to spread out in the sun.

Also within the Hotel Zone, Playa El Saldo – known as Marina Vallarta – is a wide and well-maintained stretch of sand offering great views of the city and its mountainous setting. Playa Pelicanos is usually quiet, making it a great place for your family to escape the beach crowds while remaining in the heart of the city.

For family fun, visitors to Playa Destiladeres and Playa Bucerias can expect elegant white sand beaches, fresh seafood at charming palapa-shaded cafes and mild waves – perfect for boogie-boarding or learning to surf.

If your children are interested in learning to surf, however, the best option might be Punta Mita. Also known as Playa Anclote, Punta Mita has long been celebrated as a great place for beginners to get wet as waves are consistently mild. Additionally, there are a few surfing schools catering to travelers unique to this pleasant beach.

Families can also find plenty to do in Viejo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town. Viejo Vallarta is a network of cobblestone streets lined with welcoming inns, independently-owned restaurants and galleries showcasing local arts and crafts.

One of the most popular activities in this friendly neighborhood is a stroll down the famous Restaurant Row, located on Basilio Badillo Street. This area features several blocks of restaurants, bars and cafes that can cater to any palette with everything from gourmet European cuisine to rustic local recipes.

Many of these restaurants will have dining options for children, much like the Hotel Zone. One of the city’s most recognizable landmarks – the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe – also rests within the narrow streets of Old Town.

The church soars above the neighborhood and has been at the center of local religious and cultural life for nearly 80 years. Constructed over a 12-year period beginning in 1929, the cathedral’s open-air theater has been used for events and festivals since its dedication.

If you are planning a family vacation to the area, the month of December may be the best time to visit Viejo Vallarta. Your family will be able to enjoy the 12-day Festival for Our Lady of Guadalupe – centered at the grounds of the cathedral – in addition to everything else this authentic Mexican neighborhood has to offer.

On Sunday nights in Puerto Vallarta, the downtown seaside boardwalk – known as the Malecon – becomes a family-friendly festival. The crowd, consisting of tourists and local families alike, always enjoys the fun atmosphere and the fireworks display after sunset.

The centrally-located Los Arcos Amphitheatre is known for free shows, while clowns and street performers provide plenty of free entertainment. Most restaurants along the boardwalk will have children’s menus available. But save some room for desert, as tasty treats – everything from cotton candy to crepes and deep fried bananas – are available on the boardwalk.

It must also be mentioned that under the new restrictions of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, all children now require passports to visit Mexico. Effective January 8, 2007, this change reflects the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s effort to alleviate travel concerns regarding border security.

When planning your family vacation to Puerto Vallarta, simply make passports one of the first steps on your list and you won’t experience any hassle at all.

Los Arcos is located at Highway 200 Sur Km 12, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

North, offshore beyond the Mismaloya cove, rise the green-brushed Los Arcos sea rocks, a federal underwater park and ecopreserve.

The name comes from the arching grottoes that channel completely through the bases of some of the rocks. Los Arcos is one of the best snorkeling grounds around Puerto Vallarta.

An eco-preserve is a place where the environment is Number One. All things natural are protected here at this popular destination. This is a federal underwater park that offers people the opportunity to snorkel and scuba dive in a rare environment.

Go underwater and investigate the brightly colored fish and steep rock walls that protect this marine area.

Snorkeling near the wave-washed Los Arcos is a Puerto Vallarta “must do.” Swirling bunches of green algae and branching ruddy corals attract schools of grazing parrot, angel, butterfly, and goat fish.

Curious pencil-thin cornet fish may sniff you as they pass, while big croakers and sturgeon will slowly drift, scavenging along the coral-littered depths

Los Arcos is an excellent and very safe snorkel site to start for experienced and not so experienced snorkelers. One can spend hours gliding above the shallow coral reef and rock bottom. It is an underwater national marine park reserve that is protected by the Mexican Government.

So it is illegal to fish, or remove anything from the bottom; hence, a ton of people friendly, tropical life is there to enjoy.

Anytime of the year you can expect endless number of schools of angel fish, puffer fish, needle fish, clown fish, parrot fish, and damsels that feed on the shallow reefs of Los Arcos. Don’t forget to keep your eyes out for octopus, lobster and small spotted eagle rays, which frequent the site year round.

There are so many reasons to visit Puerto Vallarta Mexico, in case you are in need of some inspiration here are a few of the great things about Vallarta!

1. Legendary restaurants: Eat barbecued snapper with your feet in the sand or chateaubriand with a killer ocean view.

2. Adventure and indulgence: Ride a horse, mountain bike or go four-wheeling into the mountains, dive into the sea, and relax at an elegant spa — all in one day.

3. Natural beauty: Enjoy the physical beauty of Pacific Mexico’s prettiest resort town, with cobblestone streets to climb to emerald green hills, and the big, sparkling bay below.

4. Authentic art: PV’s artists and artisans — from Huichol Indians to expats — produce a huge diversity of exceptional folk treasures and fine art.

5. Diverse nightlife: Whether you’re old, young, gay, straight, mild, or wild, PV’s casual and unpretentious party scene has something to entice you after dark.

Puerto Vallarta is the best adventure-vacation destination on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, at least for the sheer variety of activities. The water’s warm and swimmable year-round, although downright bathlike July through September.

The big blue bay attracts sea turtles, humpback whales, several species of dolphins, and a growing number of snorkelers and divers.

The fishing is excellent — from deep-sea angling for gigantic marlin and sailfish to trolling near shore for roosters and red snapper.

Banderas Bay and the beaches to the north and south have waves for surfing as well as plenty of calm bays and inlets for swimming.

Among the lush subtropical mountains — so close to the coast and laced with streams and rivers rushing to the ocean — are challenging mountain biking trails for the fit, and, for those who prefer gas-driven excitement, dune and ATV safaris into the hills.

Many family-owned ranches have horse-riding tours at reasonable prices — lasting from an hour or two to overnight forays into the Sierra.

Most tour operators provide transportation from strategic pick-up points, usually in downtown Puerto Vallarta, Marina Vallarta, and Nuevo Vallarta and sometimes in Conchas Chinas,

but you’ll save traveling from one end of the bay to the other by choosing an outfitter near your neck of the woods. Party boats and private yachts are great for accessing gorgeous and hard-to-reach beaches, primarily south of Vallarta along Cabo Corrientes.

There is something for everyone here in Puerto Vallarta, even if all you want to do is work on your tan and a good book at the same time!

The World’s First Condo for Gay Men Unveiled in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Private Residences at Casa Cupula offers discerning buyers the best of two worlds!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – You don’t have to be an heiress with the last name Hilton to have your own private residence in a five-star hotel. Condo-hotels have become very popular way to buy a home in many of the top mainstream hotel resorts.

Now Vallarta’s own Casa Cupula, named one of the “Top 5 Most Luxurious Gay Guesthouses in North America” by the editors of Out & About, announces: The Private Residences at Casa Cupula.

Billed as the world’s first condo-hotel for gay men and friends, The Private Residences at Casa Cupula combines the best of two worlds: the luxurious services and ambience of the award-winning Casa Cupula with the pride of ownership and potential return of a real estate investment in gay-friendly Puerto Vallarta.

“Building on Casa Cupula’s successful growth, it was a natural progression for us,” stated Don Pickens, General Manager for Milagro Properties – owner and developer.

“We have many guests who have purchased homes and condos in Puerto Vallarta after staying with us, but they told us they regretted having to trade off Casa Cupula’s ambience and services because they wanted to buy real estate. Now we can offer the best of both worlds.”

These condo-hotel units are available in both full and fractional ownership. A fractional interest offers fully deeded ownership in perpetuity (unlike a timeshare) for as many four-week periods as available and as decided upon by the buyer.

Buyers then keep their capital investment to a minimum but still own a luxury home of the highest quality.

 Community amenities include rooftop terrace with an infinity dipping pool, secure indoor parking, shared use of an SUV, 24/7 security and a state-of-the-art gym and spa. PLUS all of Casa Cupula’s luxuries including room service, concierge, free continental breakfast, free WiFi Internet access, luxurious linens and much more.

Each unit will be uniquely designed by some of Mexico’s most celebrated designers – no more cookie-cutter designs where each unit looks like the next.

They include home theaters with LCD TVs and music speakers in the baths and on the terraces, dual-headed showers, in-suite laundry, mini-split air conditioning, amazing views, built-in Jacuzzis… the list goes on and on. Some units also even include individual dipping pools, gourmet kitchens and private roof-top terraces.

AUTHOR: Roie Griego   

PETITION:
“Urgent Animal Adoption Center Puerto Vallarta, Mexico “  
RECIPIENT:
The Honorable Government Officials of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The undersigned wish to support and compliment the important work of the Centro de Acopio Animals by requesting an Animal Adoption Center in the Centro area of Puerto Vallarta.

Since M.V.Z. Jorge Guevara Aguilar, Jefe del Centro de Acopio Animal has already expressed in a document entitled Patronado de Contro de Mascotas y Fauna Silvestre A.C. that they intend to establish a location in city center…where individuals may receive information, visit animals & understand the adoption options offered, it would appear that we share common goals and that an adoption center in the city center can be a reality with our mutual cooperation.

Any one of the buildings currently not in use on the Isla Cuale would be an ideal location for an adoption center & place to house a limited number of animals while waiting for adoption.

This easily accessible location will offer healthy, premium animals a chance at life in good homes, both locally and internationally.

The center would be maintained by local animal-loving volunteers, and all the animals kept there would receive complete veterinary care and sterilization. The volunteers would be responsible for the cleaning and feeding of these animals and maintaining the center.

The volunteers will accept the responsibility of ensuring that these animals create no health concerns or problems for nearby businesses or other fauna.

The City would not incur any expense related to this proposal.

Our objective is to work long term with the Acopio and the municipal government, making it possible for Puerto Vallarta to take a leadership role in Mexico for its intelligent and humane treatment of the animals in this paradise called Puerto Vallarta.

With little effort on the part of the city, Puerto Vallarta can become the leading city in Mexico as being “Animal Friendly”. The Center will become a wonderful tourist attraction for Puerto Vallarta and bring goodwill to our beautiful city as well as many animal-loving tourists.

Being an “Animal Friendly” city means many positive things for Puerto Vallarta and will in turn help both the animals and make Puerto Vallarta a premier destination as one of Mexico’s most progressive & caring cities.

For more information and contents of this petition contact: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/MX01.h…

by Lee Breeze  

Plan the Perfect Mexican Wedding and Honeymoon,
How to Celebrate Your Special Day In Beautiful Mexico!

Formerly the exclusive domain of celebrities and the ultra-rich, “destination weddings” have in recent years become accessible to more and more couples looking to add an exotic twist to their special ceremony.

It is easy to combine a marriage ceremony with a beautiful honeymoon in Mexico. In fact, 10% of the 2 million American couples who marry each year plan destination weddings – a 200% increase in the past decade, according to Conde Nast’s Bridal Group Infobank and Modern Bride magazine. What could be more romantic than having a tropical Mexican wedding and honeymoon at one of Mexico’s top luxury resorts?

Destination weddings are currently one of the most popular trends for couples. Destination weddings combine a wedding ceremony and honeymoon, allowing the couple to exchange vows and celebrate with friends and family in a picturesque location away from home.

More and more couples are finding the simplicity of one coordinated destination wedding package an alluring way to blend wedding romance and exotic honeymoon adventure. Destination weddings bring together one-of-a-kind nuptials with dream locations. Most couples opting to marry in Mexico choose one of Mexico’s Caribbean resorts or Pacific locations.

From golden beaches with turquoise waters, to old colonial cities with their charm, cobbled streets, domes and archways, Mexico is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for American and Canadians to get married, and given the opportunity to get married amongst stunning scenery, it’s not hard to see why!

Another advantage of a “destination wedding” is that by requiring the wedding party to fly to another country will likely trim your guest list to your dearest friends and family.

Plus you will be able to visit with your guests over a long weekend rather than just an evening or afternoon, and with a Mexican destination just a short flight from most U.S. cities, it is easy to treat your guests to a memorable time.

If you want to get married in Mexico, there is nothing legal or technical stopping you from doing so; but you will need to plan ahead and get a few documents together, fill in a few forms and pay a few fees.

You can opt for a legal ceremony that requires blood tests and legal paperwork to be performed within Mexico. Or you can select to have the legal paperwork and ceremony done at home and save the symbolic and/or religious ceremony for the beach.

Many couples choose this option for its simplicity, and most resorts have a wedding planner to help guide you through the process, whichever option you choose. Wedding planners can also take care of all the details, from catering, lodging and music, to entertaining any children that might make the trip.

Resorts such as Golden Parnassus and the J.W. Marriott in Cancun are all-inclusive resorts that offer wedding services. If you are planning to tie the knot in Acapulco, the Avalon Excalibur is a good choice, or you can be married and honeymoon like the stars at the famous Las Brisas Resort,

Hollywood’s playground. From a beautiful, well decorated occasion at the prestigious Palmilla Resort to a nice small beach ceremony overlooking the Cabo San Lucas arch at sunset, Los Cabos has stunning locations for any style of wedding. One of the most amazing locations to tie the knot is Ristorante Da Giorgio Cabo.

Set atop a cliff overlooking the famous arch and lover’s beach, this restaurant might just be one of the most romantic settings in all of Los Cabos. The world-famous Hotel Playa in Mazatlan has been hosting unforgettable weddings for over 35 years.

They offer on-site locations such as the beach, beside their own waterfalls, pools and gardens, or in a magnificent reception hall.

The Hotel El Cid Marina Riviera Maya offers a complimentary wedding package when your guests stay at the resort. The beach-front package includes all you need to have a dream wedding, from the cake and the music, to having all the proper documents ready.

They supply a wedding coordinator to ensure your special day goes smoothly. The El Cid can even supply the witnesses if required. This is yet another advantage to an all-inclusive resort, where everything is included in the resort price, making all-inclusive an affordable option for travelers on a budget.

Mexico has two types of marriage ceremonies, civil and religious. The civil ceremony is the only one that has any legal standing, and is recognized outside of Mexico. The civil ceremony requires that the couple have positive identification, such as a passport or birth certificate, a blood test performed in Mexico, and wait three days from the filing of the paperwork to the ceremony itself.

If one or both parties are divorced, you must provide proof that the divorce has been final for at least a year. Also, four witnesses are required, two for each member of the couple. The ceremonies are performed in the local registrar’s office by a government official.

However, arrangements can be made to have the ceremony in an outdoor location. Your wedding planner can arrange this for you. The couple receives a certification, stating that they are legally married according to the laws of Mexico. This is largely recognized as legal worldwide.

The religious ceremony is mostly for show, pomp, and pageantry. These are held in a church, or perhaps an outdoor location, such as a beach or garden. The couple must show proof of a civil marriage, performed either in Mexico, or at home, before a religious ceremony can be performed.

Destination weddings take considerable planning and research, and the best properties & accommodations often book far in advance of the wedding date. The earlier you begin planning your wedding, the greater the likelihood you will be able to book the perfect property for you and your guests.

Exotic locations, luxury resorts and the ease of combining your wedding and honeymoon into one exciting event make Mexican destination weddings one of the most popular trends in weddings today.

Puerto Vallarta, México – Intejet has opened its rute number 13 to Puerto Vallarta at a promotional price of 2,800 pesos round flight for two persons, hoping to increment it’s participation in the market of national airline customers.

In the inauguration ceremony, executive president of Interjet, Miguel Alemán Velasco, stated his desire that the company be the best airline at low cost with high efficiency in Mexico.

“We’ll charge less, so that people can spend more on their destination, so they can travel with their family more often or that businessmen can have more opportunities to get to Vallarta”, he said.

Jalisco’s governor, Emilio González Márquez, pointed out the relevancy that this port of Vallarta should count with more communication ways, since it’s one of Mexico’s most important entities with a considerable number of habitants and high growth.

(Vallarta Blog, Wexico)

By Jim Tourigny

Puerto Vallarta a Port in the Storm Since the 16th century, when Spanish soldiers first landed on the shores of the Banderas Bay, it has been known as a safe haven. During that era, the need for ships to find shelter along the Pacific Coast was of vital importance.

These safe havens helped to provide ships with shelter if pirates and renegades were to attack. They also provided ships with a place to seek repairs and to stock up on needed supplies such as food, water and firewood.

In the late 16th century, Captain Pedro de Unamuno proposed that a settlement be built on Banderas Bay; however, he was not he first to suggest this. Other navigators such as Gonzalo de Francia, Sebastian Vizcaino and Lopez de Vicuna had proposed ideas that such colonies be constructed, but their requests never received any formal attention.

However, in 1644, a shipyard was built in what is now known as Mismaloya. Two of the ships constructed in that shipyard were built for Bernardo Bernal de Pinadero and were used to help colonize the southern region of California.

A City is Created During the 19th century, mining companies from Cuale and San Sebastian used the area to load and unload materials and mining supplies. At that time the area was known as Las Peñas. Halfway through that century, the area was dubbed Las Peñas de Santa Maria de Guadalupe.

This formal name was bestowed by Don Guadalupe Sanchez Torres (he delivered salt to the mines, which was needed in order to refine the silver). He named the area this because he arrived there on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Don Guadalupe Sanchez Torres was so fond of the area that in the latter half of 1851, he brought his entire family there to live. It wasn’t long before other families began to arrive and a small village began to emerge.

Each family did their part to help the local economy grow. Some brought salt while others devoted themselves to agriculture and raising cattle. It was during this time that the French and Germans began to appear in this area in search of Brazil wood, a strong wood that they processed in order to acquire dyes.

By the year 1880, Las Peñas had a population of 1,500 inhabitants. Families from various places including Cuale and San Sebastian, came to Las Peñas to make lives for themselves.

Within a few years the port was officially known as Las Peñas thanks to Admiral George Dewey’s report to the U.S. Naval Hydrographic Office, which was used to establish the exact geographical positions of cities along this coast in order to make an accurate map.

In 1885, Las Peñas was open to national maritime traffic and on July 23rd of that same year, a Maritime Customs Office was established. In October of the following year, the town was given its official political and judicial standing by the State Congress. Over the next 20 years, Las Peñas flourished thanks to the collective efforts of Don Guadalupe and the many families who settled there.

Growing pains In Puerta Vallarta The people of Las Peñas also suffered their share of setbacks. In mid-1888, a pot of grease, which was being heated over a fire in local restaurant, burst into flames and set the structure ablaze. The fire spread quickly, destroying more than half of the homes in town.

It is said that the fire would not have caused such extensive damage had nearly all the town’s male inhabitants population not been at a cockfight. In 1911, a waterspout hit the village, leaving more than 100 inhabitants homeless. In 1922, an outbreak of Yellow Fever spread through the city, causing more than 150 deaths.

In early 1911 Las Peñas’ first post office was opened, and later that same year a telegraph was installed. In 1889, the port of Las Peñas was upgraded to a municipality. It was at this time that the settlement’s name was changed to Puerto Vallarta, in remembrance of the Governor of Jalisco, Don Ignacio L. Vallarta.

 Thirty-five years later, the Montgomery Fruit Company purchased 70,000 acres for banana plantations in the neighboring town of Ixtapa.

Because of the surplus job opportunities created by these plantations, Puerto Vallarta began to flourish.

Eventually, a railway was built in order to transport the bananas to El Salado and eventually onto the United States.

Unfortunately, in 1938, the company was forced to leave the area due to new laws and restrictions that had been put into effect.

Other products such as beans, coconuts, corn and tobacco continued to be grown and shipped to national markets.

The World Discovers Its Beauty Unlike some other cities in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta was not created for tourism. However, in the 1930′s, the city got its first taste. Those who visited the area loved it so much that they began returning year after year.

Word of Puerto Vallarta’s beauty quickly spread, and each year the number of tourists grew. By 1950 the city was known internationally, but what really put Puerto Vallarta on the map was the movie Night of the Iguana (filmed in 1963) and the steamy romance between film stars Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Thousands of tourists flocked to the area, eager to see the location where the movie was made. That exposure helped the city grow quickly. Transportation improved, hotels were built and the city now had a new primary income source, tourism.

Because of that growth, Francisco Medina Ascencio, governor of Jalisco, and Sr. Jose Vasquez Galvan as mayor of Puerto Vallarta, pronounced decree No. 8366, which elevated Puerto Vallerta to the status of a city. Puerto Vallarta has come a long way since 1930.

Today, hotels and restaurants line the beaches. Cruise ships come into port on an almost daily basis. Tourism, which was once nonexistent, now draws in more than half a million visitors a year, turning this once a tiny fishing village into a sought-after vacation destination.

by Lisa DiSpirito

Browse Puerto Vallarta’s Unique Art & Jewelry Shops.

While Puerto Vallarta is best known for its peaceful beaches it also offers a variety of other attractions including an eclectic shopping scene. Shopping in Puerto Vallarta involves browsing local boutiques and art galleries on back streets and discovering the numerous stores in shopping plazas.

While shopping in Puerto Vallarta you’ll find everything you’re looking for and things you can’t live without including one-of-a-kind pottery, ceramics and the beautifully hand-blown glass that Puerto Vallarta is famous for.

Puerto Vallarta is quickly becoming a mecca for artists and art collectors. As the city’s reputation grows as an art center it sets itself apart from most other Mexican beach resort cities. Some of Mexico’s most well known painters and sculptors as well as international artists show their work in Puerto Vallarta’s numerous galleries and museums.

Walk down the Malecon, Puerto Vallarta’s boardwalk, and you will witness an outdoor gallery of bronze sculptures created by various artists. The Malecon is one of Puerto Vallarta’s most popular attractions with its convenient and attractive shopping, restaurants and nightlife.

From one unique experience to the next, shopping in Puerto Vallarta is easy and rewarding with its diversity of shops and their locations. For a change of pace from the shops and boutiques that line the beachfront Malecon, check out Paradise Plaza. Paradise Plaza is the ultimate shopping experience that offers convenience, comfort and luxury.

Located inside this entertaining shopping plaza are more than one hundred shops and restaurants. As you browse through Paradise Plaza you can enjoy cultural events and artwork on display, Mexican-inspired shops and galleries and stylish clothing ranging from contemporary resort wear to traditional embroidered dresses.

Designer clothing, ceramic tiles and fine silver jewelry are all very popular shopping items in Puerto Vallarta. Known as the world’s largest producer of silver, Puerto Vallarta boasts world-class workmanship and original designs with this precious metal.

Shoppers can choose from a huge variety of styles, some with precious and semi-precious stones, including amethysts and topaz which are native to Mexico. When searching for your perfect silver accessory, picture frame or other items be sure to look for the engraved .925.

This will be displayed on all true sterling silver. For some of Puerto Vallarta’s most stylish and innovative silver creations, stop into Daniel Espinosa Jewelry. This jewelry store is owned by one of the trendiest designers in Latin America. Daniel Espinosa has become a legend with his work with silver and the elements he combines with it to create some of the most fashionable and innovative designs.

With a wide range of jewelry, exotic fashions, casual beachwear and one-of-a-kind works of art Puerto Vallarta will surprise and delight you with its numerous shopping opportunities. Puerto Vallarta is a wonderfully unique vacation spot with unlimited shopping scattered along gorgeous beaches, tropical mountains and everywhere in between.

By Griffin Page

Puerto Vallarta is considered to be a paradise by the locals as well as by those who visit. Why do you ask? The answer is simple: The large town (as we’d rather call it because it retained most of its Mexican flavor) offers all the luxuries of a big city while allowing you to enjoy the beauty of pristine nature only 10 minutes away.

The area surrounding the Bahía de Banderas can only be described as a natural outdoor concert hall. Over 360 different species of birds either migrate to or reside in this area. Talk about an orchestra!

Because the bay is surrounded by 3 different types of mountain ranges (including the famous Sierra Madre), we profit from a wide variety of vegetation ranging from the sub-tropical jungles on the east and south sides to the low deciduous type vegetation found in the north. And if you drive to higher altitudes within these mountains, the vegetation changes again to offer you pines and oaks.

What does that have to do with birds? Well, depending on their usual habitat, behavior and diet, some birds will choose different areas to live and nest in. For example, rarely will you see a Frigate bird far inland, or see a Yellow-winged Cacique standing on a sandy beach.

The north side of the bay is dryer in comparison the east and south sides. There, you may encounter lagoons, small rivers and arroyos, agricultural areas as well as a costal environment.

A lagoon is the perfect place to enjoy the beauty of a Purple Gallinule, an American Coot or a Green Heron. Near arroyos and in forests, you may come across a Vermilion Flycatcher, a Rufous-backed Robin, a Squirrel Cuckoo and even most likely see lots of Orange-fronted Parakeets.

On the coast of the entire bay, Brown Pelicans and Magnificent Frigatebirds display their aerial acrobatic talents. A show you will surely appreciate. Also found on the coastal area is a wide variety of sea gulls, my favorite being the Heermann’s Gull for it’s 2 tone gray body, white head and beautiful red beak.

At sunset, the beaches, mangroves and estuaries provide dinner for the Snowy Egrets and Great Blue Herons while the Neothropic Cormorants perch in preparation for a night’s rest.

South and east, because of the abundance of rivers and lush sub-tropical vegetation, we can more easily find San Blas Jays, Green Jays, Yellow-winged Caciques, Barn Swallows, White-winged doves, and if your lucky, you’ll even spot an Elegant Trogon, which displays most vibrantly, the colors of the Mexican flag: Green, white and red.

As you go up in altitude, Military Macaws may be sighted; resting in a tree or flying in pairs, and their strident unique voice will surely attract your attention.

Raptors such as Hawks, Ospreys and Turkey Vultures may also be seen soaring over ocean cliffs, islands and mountains.

Very common to the area is the infamous Great-tailed Grackle. This bird can easily be recognized by its iridescent black body, purple shimmer and yellow eyes (females are smaller in size and of a mate darkish brown).

It got its name for its long fan-shaped tail and is locally known as the “Zanate”. It will boldly steel your peanuts or dog food if you leave it out on the balcony, and here, I speak from experience.

Our little corner of paradise has lots to offer to the novice or experienced bird watcher. If you’ve never been on a bird watching tour, try it. You won’t be disappointed as most become enthralled by the beauty and lovely music these lovely creatures provide. Besides, an easy stroll in a musical and peaceful environment may just be what the doctor ordered.

by Robert H. Mohlenbrock

THIS LAND

In western Mexico, where the Pacific coastal plain gives way to the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, visitors encounter a range of vegetation, from tropical deciduous forest to the “weeds” that grow in disturbed areas around rapidly developing villages.

Recently I explored parts of the southwestern states of Jalisco and Nayarit, following both coastal and inland roads. My base of operations was Puerto Vallarta, near the mouth of the Rio Ameca. This town, with its cobblestone streets, was settled in the 1850s by families that farmed, raised cattle, and purveyed salt used to refine the silver that was mined in the mountains.

Served today by a nearby international airport, Puerto Vallarta is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination. Tennessee Williams’s The Night of the Iguana, directed by John Huston and starring Richard Burton, was filmed in the vicinity in 1963.
 
What are commonly called weeds–plants that grow where they are not wanted–are generally opportunistic plant species that are adept at colonizing soils opened up by human activity or other disturbance. Many of those I saw in Mexico, such as grasses, were species I knew from the United States.

Typically, weeds germinate from seeds that are windblown or have been lying dormant in the soil. They grow and spread rapidly but usually give way to competition from other species unless the habitat continues to be disturbed. Most weeds also persist in particular natural habitats; grasses, for example, thrive where there are periodic fires that suppress woody plants.

Driving from Puerto Vallarta toward the villages in the foothills, I noticed that the vegetation along the roads included tropical plants I had seen on other trips to the Tropics. These species–grown as ornamentals or for their fruits or other uses–had “escaped” cultivation and were now mixed in with native species that were new to me.

Away from settlements, the forest consisted primarily of native species, with fewer escaped ornamentals. Had I ventured high into the mountains, I would have encountered pine and oak trees, but the foothills support a tropical deciduous forest.

One place to sample this plant community is the ravine cut by Rio Tomatlan, sixty miles south of Puerto Vallarta. Where Highway 200 crosses the river, the ravine can be followed on foot for a short way downstream until the going gets rough. Tiny spike moss, maidenhair fern, and larger ferns grow where there are moist, rocky outcrops.

No up-to-date, comprehensive field guide was available for this region, but I could identify some families of plants in this native forest based on my knowledge of temperate species. Other families, however, were strictly tropical. I made detailed notes about the plants I saw and looked them up in technical manuals after I returned home.

For wetland areas, my task was easier; I will describe their flora in a future column. Nearly one-third of the wetland and aquatic species I encountered in Jalisco and Nayarit are found in the United States; others have close northern relatives. Apparently, these habitats offer consistent conditions across an immense geographic area, enabling plant species to become widely distributed.

HABITATS

Disturbed sites harbor weedy species, many of which are found in the United States. Among these are goose grass, Egyptian grass, natal grass, broad-leaved plantain, patience dock, filaree, purslane, spotted milk spurge, black nightshade, black medic, and ragweed.

Escaped ornamentals include such fruit trees as papaya, mango, guava, and breadfruit. Indian almond, with its thick, leathery leaves, is grown more for its beauty than its fruits.

Ornamentals with beautiful flowers are royal poinciana (also known as flamboyant), wild poinsettia (a shrub or small tree, actually native in some parts of Jalisco), African tulip tree, orchid tree (a member of the pea family with orchidlike flowers), lantana, ixora, and a yellow-flowered vine known as Allamanda.

Tropical deciduous forest plants can be seen along the roadsides with the escaped ornamentals. Gumbo-limbo, with its peeling red bark, is a conspicuous tree, and there are several pod-bearing trees in the genera Acacia, Pithecellobium, and Enterolobium. The latter, known as monkey’s-earring, produces hard, flat, circular brown pods that give the plant its common name.

Coral vine, with clusters of brilliantly colored flowers, climbs over much of the vegetation. Wildflowers that are common include golden-glow (a relative of black-eyed Susan and native as well to the United States), a verbena with purple flowers, wild petunia (Ruellia), and a bright yellow-headed cosmos.

Deeper in the forest, a common tree is Lysiloma divaricata, a member of the pea family; it has six to thirteen pairs of small leaflets per leaf and small whitish flowers crowded into small spherical heads. Often growing with the Lysiloma is the silk-cotton tree, with a trunk equipped with stout spines and pink- to rose-colored flowers with five hairy petals as much as six inches long.

Other trees are soapberry, roble (Tabebuia impetiginosa), a small nightshade with velvety leaves, and Mexican elderberry. The shrub layer includes Tecoma stans, closely related to the trumpet vine of the eastern United States, and anil, or indigo bush, a source of blue dye.

Among the many vines are a purple-flowered morning glory, an orange-flowered morning glory, and a species of Clematis, or virgin’s bower. Wildflowers include a bright red cardinal flower, a handsome purple-flowered species of Salvia, and a sprawling, pale-blue-flowered Eupatorium.
 

And again, it’s Tuesday in Vallarta. Everybody working or vacationing has had enough rest on Monday from the crazy Nightlife in PV accompanied by a clearly increasingly humid and hot weather.

It has rained a few times and tourism has gone away with the cool climate, forcing everybody to hold on their wallets and look twice on prices such as food, rentals and alcoholic parties.

If you look carefully, many places have 2×1 signs. Commercial Mexicana, Gigante and Soriana have some specials on liquors and other stuff that they give you a 3×2 discount. Also remember Pollo Feliz and some other Fast-Food chains have special offers on Tuesdays like Dominos Pizza and Tower Pizza.

Also something to consider is that since it’s the rainy season, there is much more business in Home Delivery and you might get some good deals on food on wheels. Chinese Food isn’t too popular, after the Sushi boom here in Vallarta, but it’s still great food, affordable and most of these restaurants deliver right to your door. Here in Olas Altas (Viejo Vallarta) I’d say Dragon Rojo is the most known Chinese restaurant.

Besides Foods and Drinks, there are several other Home delivery services, in case you don’t want to get your feet wet. CMQ Pharmacies is one of those with home delivery services.

Check out the ones near you and try em out!

Here the phones:

PALMAR DE ARAMARA
01 (322) 224-7070 
From 9am to 10pm

REGIONAL
01 (322) 224-6989
From 9am to 10pm

MEZCALES
Tel. 01 (329) 296-5050
From 9am to 10pm

Ok, I need to order a Chicken now, I haven’t had one in months and there’s nothing better than a good movie with hot spicy chicken after a hard relaxing Monday

Bon Appetite!

By Kate Kilpatrick

I haven’t figured out why, but clowns are more popular here than anywhere else in the world.

In Mexico there are two main types of clowns: the caras blancas (“white faces”) with crisp clean costumes and big red shoes who perform at kids’ birthday parties. 

The payasos callejeros (“street clowns”) who travel from the city’s poor suburbs to mime and dance for pesos at busy intersections. Their costumes are shabbier. Many of them paint teardrops on their faces to portray their circumstances.

I heard about the street clowns on one of my first days in the city, and I’ve been trying to find one ever since, searching downtown streets. Finally yesterday I saw a family of street clowns.

I stopped on the grassy, trash-filled corner (a dying rat limped its way past me to hide behind some rocks) and watched in amazement as the father and his three children ran out into the street to perform and, during their short breaks when the light turned green and the cars rumbled past, they huddled together on the concrete median—touching, hugging and playing.

When I finally walked up to the father and asked if I could take some pictures, he was incredibly cool. A soft-spoken and humble man, Augustin told me he’d worked in a restaurant on Walnut Street in Philadelphia for six months. He says the money was good—he could earn a lot more than he does here—but that he got sick and had to return to Mexico.

Back in Mexico, he works in the fields during the week planting and harvesting corn and carrots. Every Saturday and Sunday he and his three daughters, shy little girls with big smiles, travel an hour or two by bus to come to this corner where they work together to raise money for the oldest daughter’s high school expenses.

When the light turns red again the oldest daughter runs out into the street facing the stopped cars. She jumps up and down, dancing for the oncoming traffic. I’m hungry and I need something to drink, she mimes by rubbing her belly and lifting her thumb to her mouth. If you have money don’t be greedy, she says by tapping her elbows and wagging her finger back and forth.

Before the light turns green again she winds her way between the cars hoping a driver or passenger will drop a few coins into her hand.

Then the family runs back to the median as the cars once again race past. Waiting for the next red light, Augustin straightens his tiniest daughter’s big red wig and hugs her tightly.

By Dave Simmonds

The Art of the Bribe…Mordida. When I was younger and dumber, in my late teens and early 20’s, Mexican laws, were non-existent as long as you had a $20 bill in your pocket.

Whether it was getting caught peeing in the parking lot of Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada or most anything short of murder, it seemed like a 20 spot would take care of the problem.

Working for years on that rule it’s a minor miracle that I’m alive and walking freely today. Fortunately, I wised up as I aged, as most of us do.

In fact, Mexico is a country steeped in law and tradition. What surprises many gringos is that the laws are different than in the United States. Mexico operates under the Napoleonic Code instead of English common law as is practiced in the states.

Mexico law is codified as referenced in law books, with unique circumstances having no effect on innocence or guilt. When in court, the judge looks up the law and applies it. Sentences tend to be longer with fewer back-room deals being negotiated.

The harsh penalties tend to have a direct effect on illegal acts by many Mexicans. They know they’re going to jail if caught, so they for the most part abide by the law. Law suits with large awards are very uncommon.

I know Americans who have spent time in Mexican jails, and believe me, you don’t want to be one of them. If you break the law and can bribe your way out of going to jail, do it.

Better yet, respect the laws of Mexico. Remember that you are in their country and show proper respect to the institutions that prevail. Otherwise, keep that $20 handy.

Puerto Vallarta’s nightlife ends early — about 6 a.m., when the disco music is silent and the most raucous of the clubs sweeps out its heartiest party people and lock the front doors.Everyone eats late, eight, nine, even 10 p.m. — most bands don’t start playing until 11 p.m. There is music for everyone — reggae, hard rock, flamenco, punk rock, ballroom music, pop, jazz — even folk music can be heard in Vallarta’s more bohemian haunts.

Mexican culture is everywhere. Mariachis, traditional bands of strolling troubadours, entertain on the streets and beaches most every hour of the day or night. Presentations ranging from puppet shows to major dramas are put on in an open air theatre on the malecon and major hotels host weekly forklore and festivals designed to acquaint vacationing tourists with the music, food, drink, and dance of Mexico.

The center of nightlife is the downtown malecon (beachfront walk) where many of the city’s better restaurants specialize in fine food and then bring on the bands or the canned music in the late evening. Not everything happens at street level.

Late night clubs can be found on the upper floors of malecon buildings and the best way to judge them is to listen for the music you like and watch for the crowds of people overflowing onto the balconies.

South of the Rio Cuale, in the Olas Altas – Los Muertos Beach area, is another bunch of all night discos, rock and jazz clubs, and even a few strip bars where the drink prices are high and the customers are mostly men. And outside the city, hidden away in the jungle or along secluded beaches, are luxurious restaurants and nightclubs that offer an evenings entertainment, dinner, drinks, and dancing under the tropical stars.

Most clubs are never more than a short taxi ride away, but the adventurous will want to explore Puerto Vallarta’s nightlife on foot, strolling along the malecon or ambling about the Olas Altas – Los Muertos neighborhood.

By hypermex.com

By Justin Burch  

While most tourists visit Puerto Vallarta to experience the beaches, resorts and unmatched natural beauty, there is a more creative allure just beneath the surface.

Though Puerto Vallarta is far from a sprawling city, the community houses more galleries than any Mexican destination outside the capital.

Throughout the years, artists and aficionados have flocked to the majestic landscape of Puerto Vallarta. The results can be seen throughout the galleries of the city – in everything from painting, sculpture and ceramics to jewelry, literature and fashion.

Yet, even if you don’t step inside any of Puerto Vallarta’s galleries, you will still find yourself surrounded by art – courtesy of public sculptures throughout the city and the paintings lining the walls of local restaurants. Regardless of where you set foot in this gorgeous city, you are sure to be overwhelmed by the powerful creative spirit.

Inside the galleries of Puerto Vallarta, you will find everything from folk art to the most challenging contemporary compositions of the region’s vibrant art scene. One of the most well-known galleries is the Galeria Arte Latinoamericano – a two-story collection of Puerto Vallarta’s finest painters and sculptors.

Another great destination for locally produced work is Galeria Dante. Featuring more than 50 artists from the Puerto Vallarta community, this gallery has been awarded top honors in numerous publications.

While there is a strong focus on locally produced artwork in Puerto Vallarta, don’t be surprised to find some famous names on the walls. For instance, Galeria Omar Alonso has displayed works by documentary photographer Sebastiao Salgado and European artists such as Wouter Deruytter and Michal Macku.

Galeria Corsica – a popular destination for collectors – features artists championed by Mexico City’s Museum of Modern Art. The Galerie des Artistes – a space known for its many rooms of unique pieces – has also been known to exhibit works by Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco.

One of the most celebrated art forms of Mexico is Mata Ortiz pottery, an elegant craft on display in a pair of galleries. Both Galeria Mata Ortiz and Galeria de Ollas feature some of the best ceramic work you will find anywhere in the world.

You can also find traditional work produced by the Huichol – a tribe residing in the mountains outside Puerto Vallarta – at Galeria Piramide. Not only will you be able to see incredible examples of traditional bead and woven art, you can witness these indigenous artisans working at the gallery.

One of the most popular events in Puerto Vallarta is the Old Town Art Walk that takes place each Wednesday during the tourism season – generally October to April. On these special evenings, you will find at least 17 galleries open late to display everything from the newest work of local artists to treasured paintings by Old Masters.

by Dushka

 I don’t remember the first time I went to Puerto Vallarta. That’s how long I’ve been going there.

I used to walk barefoot on the cobblestone streets in my pajamas, swim in the open ocean, whine so I would be allowed to jump in the pool immediately after lunch (the answer was a consistent, steadfast no), listen to Guantanamera, take rides on a parachute pulled by a motorboat to see the world from a bird’s perspective, take long walks on the beach with my father or a brother or a sister or a stepmother or a friend, hold my breath under water from one end of the pool to the other, pretend to play chess, play backgammon, tan with coconut oil way before SPF, highlight my hair with beer, go dancing and eat tacos at the corner stand at 4:30 a.m. before heading back home under the light of the moon.

I celebrated my birthday at the round dark wood table in that apartment at least 8 times before I turned 15. Puerto Vallarta was my default vacation spot all through high school and college.

It’s so different now. When I first started going, the Posada Vallarta was the only hotel in a long, pristine beach. Nuevo Vallarta didn’t even exist. Now there is traffic, shopping centers, a Starbucks, high-rise after high rise right on the sand and a real airport with an international wing with direct flights to Phoenix, Denver, San Francisco and who knows how many cities in Europe.

This weekend, lying on a cot under a Palapa, Salvador – the man who brought me a drink and whom I’ve known for at least 25 years – asked me what I thought of all the changes. I just looked at him and shrugged. He said sadly “I guess you can’t stop progress”.

I can’t talk about what Puerto Vallarta is like now because I have no perspective. I know it for what it used to be, and it’s definitely become something different. I guess that’s what happens to everything.

Fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta? The hardest part may be deciding when to go to this tropical paradise? Different seasons mean different fish.

So, decide on the type of fish you want to land first and then make your travel arrangements.

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is located on Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean. Population in the coastal city normally averages around 350,000, but it hosts over 3 million visitors a year, among them many deep sea fishing enthusiasts.

The tropical weather is perfect for fishing trips. Expect year-round daytime temperatures to average 80º F (27º C); nighttime gets a little cooler.

Fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta run year round, but if you are intent on landing a whopper-sized tuna, then you’ll need to visit between June and February.

Marlin (blue, black and striped) is available from later summer through November and during the spring months of March and April.

Sailfish are in season year round, but to improve your chances of landing this fish, visit during the winter months between November and April. One of Puerto Vallarta’s largest fishing events, its Sailfish tournament, is held in November.

If you can only take holidays beginning in May or June, set your sights on Dorado or Yellowfin tuna. These fish remain in season through the summer and into the late fall. Tuna, in fact, is only out of season for 3 months of the year: March, April and May.

Fishing trips and charter excursions abound in Puerto Vallarta. Trips leave every morning and cater to private intimate groups or larger groups of 4 fishermen or more.

Most fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta are complete packages, which include transportation, fishing gear, bait, ice chests, and drinks. However, be sure to check with your charter company as some expect you to bring along any food or drink you may require.

Fishing licenses, sold by the charter, will also be at your expense

Your fishing charter hosts will be expecting a 10-15% tip, so bring your Pesos. The peso is the local currency, but US dollars are readily accepted, as well.

Besides fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta, you might also want to soak up the sun on a beach. Banderas Bay is dotted with 25 miles of enticing sandy beaches. Or if it’s mountains you seek, the picturesque Sierra Madre chain is to the east.

Oh, and make sure when booking your fishing trips in Puerto Vallarta, that your charter offers purified or bottled drinking water. You don’t want a case of the trots detracting from your fishing adventure.

FishingMentor.com

Forget the tie – give Dad a little father-son vacation this Father’s Day. South of the Border.

Book by calling 1-888-PARADISE or online at www.casamagnapuertovallarta.com using rate code PKG.

by David Simmonds

They’ve tried to ruin it. Chain hotels line the beaches north of town. The jungle line creeps higher and higher up the hills Stoplights! Oh yeah, they’ve tried to screw up my first destination, 25 years ago, into the interior of Mexico…but they haven’t succeeded.

Not if you know where to hang. You see, in my mind there really are two sides (literally) to Puerto Vallarta. There is the north side of the Rio Cuale and there is the south side. And except for motoring to and from the airport, there are very few reasons to ever venture on the north.

I first arrived in PV by dilapidated VW bus in 1971, shortly after completion of the road in from Tepic (100 miles to the north). I was a 21-year-old college student and thought I had truly found my Valhalla. I never wanted to leave.

Unfortunately, my traveling buddy, Tom Dawson, considered his Stanford education to be of slightly more value than mine at San Diego State and insisted we get back for fall classes. One blown engine in the Sonora Desert later, we did just that. Has anyone ever NOT blown a VW engine?

That first trip I found a camping spot tucked in between the hills and the beach, in the south comer of town. We camped for free, bought fresh fish from the local fishermen and considered an early retirement. Ironically, I have been staying in hotels in this same section of town ever since.

My primary abode is not luxurious, but it has more charm than a southern politician: a hotel named La Posada de Roger. Opened in 1970, Roger’s, as it is known, has grown from several rooms with shared bath to the present 40 rooms, all with bathrooms. The years have added a second story swimming pool and a restaurant/bar, the Tucan.

The beds aren’t real comfortable, the beach is three blocks away, and the rooms on the street side can be a little noisy, but you’ll love this place. Roger has moved up the coast to Bucerias, and has left the inn in the very capable hands of his brother, Federico Garcia.

The Tucan has become a regular watering hole for the expats and long time travelers to PV. Late afternoon and early evening attract a wide range of interesting characters. Truth and fiction seem interchangeable, but never boring.

You may run into a white haired gentleman of 72 years. Guy. Guy came to town in 1958 and opened a fine, still operating, beachfront restaurant, La Palapa. He had been in the restaurant business in Malibu, California. prior to his arrival.

He has stories of drinking with John Wayne, carousing with John Huston; well he has plenty of stories. And I do believe them all to be true. Guy is a good man. When asked if he knew any Spanish on his arrival, Guy will reply, “Hell, I didn’t even know how to say “adios”; that’s why I never left!”

Or certainly look for “Gris” to shuffle in, cane in hand, for a cool libation. Gris (sounds like grease) is short for Griswold. I have heard his age pegged at somewhere between 80 and 90. He’ll admit to having first come to town in the late ’40′s. The daily ritual involves Chenny, the young bartender, needling Gris to the point of Gris trying to brain him with his cane, yelling, “leave me alone,” and finally departing mightily angry.

It’s all fairly horrifying until you see it a few times and come to realize: this is keeping Gris alive. You come down to it, these two, the old gringo and the young Mexican bartender, care deeply for each other. I know for a fact that Chenny would protect the Old Man from anyone.

The daytime barkeep is Juan Carlos, a real bright, charming Lothario who used to wait tables in San Jose, California. He’s pretty sure he prefers PV, and has no intention to return to the States. Juan Carlos may rent you his VW bus for $35.00 per day… something to consider.

Read the rest of this entry »

 By  SethyG

I recently was assigned to take a trip out of the country and examine the advertising from a different culture.

I didn’t like the idea of going to another country, but I complied and booked a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was a hard decision to make — going to an all-inclusive resort on the beach  but I made it.

The city of Puerto Vallarta is an interesting mix of down-trodden/poor areas and a (more than) healthy insertion of American (or cosmopolitan) flare.

It wouldn’t be surprising to me if the city’s economy relied solely on tourism — this is evident while walking through Old Town as you are accosted nearly 100 times to book a tour, or two… all funded by the same company.

Enough about PV, the city. Let’s get on to the things that I noticed about PV’s marketing efforts.

1. Your product needs an icon. – I’m not talking about a logo, per se. I’m talking about a mascot, something that the public can identify with. Bonus points for making the mascot a cartoonish character. Maybe extra bonus points for blatantly stealing an Disney character (Uncle Scrooge).
2. A common theme. – When nearly the entire world loves something, embrace it. I can’t count on my fingers the number of commercials and print ads that I saw that was themed with the World Cup. Soccer is gold down there, and there’s not a lack of it in advertising.
3. Price? Who cares! – Don’t put a price on anything. This is probably due to it being a giant tourist destination, but I don’t recall seeing any cell-phone ads with rates or phone prices.
4. Simple and Colorful. – A majority of the print ads I saw were very simple and extremely colorful. In many cases, there was no headline, just the name of the brand. As much as I like copy and clever headlines, I really enjoyed these ads. I think it really spoke to the power of the brand… or maybe there’s just not as much competition down there.

Those were the major things I witnessed in good ol’ PV, but I’m sure there’s more.

Its easy to take walking around Puerto Vallarta for granted when you live here. 

A slow walk on the beach, or through old town and Zona Romantica on the cobblestone streets.

How often do we think about how wheelchair accessible Vallarta is?

For many tourists who are physically challenged this is a large factor in where they choose to vacation.

Puerto Vallarta may not be as wheelchair equipped as the United States but there is something here for everyone, if not only an experience that makes you happy for what you do have in your life.

At age 14, I became a complete C-6 quad, without the ability to transfer. Typical story: shallow water, drowning, resuscitation, three months of rehab, then shipped back home.

Of course, depression followed. Mine lasted nearly three years. I simply couldn’t see any reason to be happy. Little did I know a one- month trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico––four years after my injury––would help me see something other than self-pity, and that was gratefulness.

My family decided to take us four kids on a month-long vacation to Mexico around Christmas 1997. I was in full-swing, post-high school rehab at the time, in a program to learn independent living skills. I was, needless to say, overwhelmingly excited to leave medical rehab behind and delve into a completely new experience.

I was sick of everything related to being disabled. This trip to Mexico was a long time coming, even though I was fully aware––in theory––that our destination wasn’t going to be wheelchair-friendly.

We flew to Puerto Vallarta via Mexicana Airlines. So far, so good. It seemed like any other airline experience within the US. The realization of what, exactly, I was getting into, however, dawned on me once we landed: There was no ramp from the plane to the airport.

I had to be carried by two Mexicans down the stairs then pushed nearly a quarter of a mile off the tarmac through the back entry of the airport, in order to go through Customs.

Puerto Vallarta is poor––extremely poor. Wheelchair accessibility is only to be found at larger resorts, popular restaurants, and if you’re lucky, at the major streets in town. That’s it. The rest of the city might as well be a gigantic stop sign that reads, “Sorry, friend. You ain’t going anywhere in that wheelchair!”

I was resigned to this fact. After going through Customs, employees of the airport bungee-corded my chair to the top of a Dodge Ram truck, lifted me into the cab, and drove my family and me to the three-story inaccessible villa we rented 10 miles away. Thank God I left my powerchair at home!

The scenery was what I expected. I expertly looked for signs of wheelchair access. It was sparse. Let’s just say if they had dumped me on the side of the road, I would’ve been horribly screwed. Never before did I feel so vulnerable. I tried to forget about that and think about all the fun we were going to have.

And we did have a glorious time, but I can’t even begin to count the number of times my bony butt was hoisted up over some stranger’s shoulder to be carried into a boat, up some majestic stone stairs to get into a top-rated restaurant, or just pivot-transferred into the back of a cab. Every ounce of out-in-public forms of independence I learned in rehab at home were utterly useless in Puerto Vallarta.

It’s strange, but I actually became accustomed to living in this completely inaccessible land. It was gorgeous and the people were friendly and always willing to help me at the drop of a hat. But could I live there? Most definitely not.

After our trip ended, I flew home. Everything about home suddenly seemed different—and better. I appreciated all of it more. The first thing that stuck out was the ease of moving about in my city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Zooming up and down the curb-cutted streets, hopping on and off the city bus via the automatic ramp system . . . I was gleeful.

It seriously felt like I was floating in water; completely effortless, weightless. I realized I had taken all of this for granted before my trip. Gratitude flowed through my veins and the self-pity that was such a constant presence in my post-injury life virtually disappeared.

It’s not a huge revelation that a month in Mexico made me appreciate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) more. But it’s noteworthy to realize that it helped me replace a poisonous emotion with a beneficial one: self-pity to gratefulness. The fighters and founders of the ADA are not merely heroes. They’re more than that. Words simply cannot describe all that they’ve done for us.

Justin Dart and everyone who fought the “insurmountable” fight: I don’t know how they did it. I honestly don’t think I’d be able to do what they did. What I do know is that I’m happily resting on their laurels, and for that, I’m humbly grateful.

By Tiffiny Carlson

The third Sunday of June, this year the 17th, Father’s Day, Día del Padre. Mexicans and americans all over Vallarta  honoring all the fathers throughout  our lives. It is not an official holiday here in Mexico.

Quite possibly alot of people here in Puerto vallarta do not know the origin of “fathers day” the official holiday coming from the United States. For those of you who dont, here is the story.

The genesis of the holiday seems similarly me-too-ish. The story goes that Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, was attending a Mother’s Day service when she started thinking about her father, a widowed Civil War veteran who brought up six children alone — essentially, he became a mother as well as a father to them.

One is left to wonder: Had the late Mrs. Smart still been in the picture, would her daughter have lobbied for a Father’s Day? The moral of this story: Much as mom’s work is often unnoticed and underappreciated, dad’s role apparently slides by even lower on our radar screen.

He may be out of the house a lot, but remember the bedtimes stories he would read to you when he got home, the games of chess and catch, those fishing and camping trips, and how nervous yet proud he was when you went out on your first date?

So here’s an idea for this Father’s Day weather you are a Mexican, Canadian or American; don’t just tell your dad that you appreciate him. Appreciate him for all he has to offer: ask him about what he was like growing up — try to find out what made him who he is today; ask him about his work — his expertise can be unexpectedly valuable; share his interests and hobbies — you may find you enjoy taking in a ball game, building a toolshed, or watching that John Wayne movie that he’s always talking about more than you ever thought you would, if you do it with dad.

And make sure to articulate your affection — reach out to him and even the most inexpressive father will reach back to you.

Here is a fathers day breakfast inspired by all the mexican dads here in Vallarta, all men love to eat and even if your dad is not a Mexican how could he not love Huevos Rancheros!

They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So why not cook something delicious for Dear Old Dad this Father’s Day?

HUEVOS RANCHEROS
Like many Latin American dishes, huevos rancheros blend Old and New World culinary history. When Spaniards arrived in 16th century Mexico, they brought chickens with them, which began Mexico’s love affair with the egg in myriad forms. Huevos rancheros, or ranch-style eggs, were traditionally served at second breakfast, around 11:00 a.m. Basic recipes call for a briefly fried tortilla topped with poached eggs and a spicy sauce. Our robust version also includes chorizo, black beans and cheese.

1/4 cup canola oil
2 thick corn tortillas, preferably stale
2 chorizo sausages, cut into 1/4-inch slices and browned
1/2 cup drained canned black beans
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/2 cup bottled salsa
1/4 cup crumbled queso añejo or grated dry
jack cheese
4 poached eggs (see related recipe at right)
2 Tbs. Mexican crema or sour cream
1 Tbs. coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 small avocado, pitted, peeled and cut into
1/2-inch cubes (optional)

Preheat an oven to 400°F.

In a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil. One at a time, fry the tortillas, turning once, about 5 seconds per side. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain.

In a small bowl, combine the sausages and beans. Season with salt and pepper. Place 2 Tbs. salsa in each of 2 cast-iron egg pans. Place a tortilla on the salsa, then top each with 2 Tbs. salsa, half of the sausage-bean mixture and 2 Tbs. cheese. Transfer the pans to the oven and bake until the cheese is bubbling and the beans are heated through, about 7 minutes.

Remove the pans from the oven; top each with 2 poached eggs. Garnish with the crema, cilantro and avocado. Serve immediately. Serves 2.

 From Tori Ritchie’s Tasty Ideas For Father’s Day: Brunch With A Kick

Open Daily noon to 1 am. The complete menu is available until 11pm.
Bar snacks are available until we close. Email or call us for reservations or more information.
322-222-2099
Basillo Badillo 212
Colonia E Zapata

Joe Jack Fish Shack here in Puerto Vallarta is a excellent place to eat. Not only do they have great food but also great service in a chill atmosphere. Their friday fish fry, all you can eat fish and chips is very popular.

I was happily surprised by their Ensalada de Camaron, not only do they know how to prepare seafood, this butter lettuce accompanied with cold marinated baby potatoes, green beans, black olives and a boiled egg was exactley what I like a salad to be!

Celebrating its first anniversary, Joe Jack’s Fish Shack has “wowed” us with Nor-Cal meets Mexico flair – flavorful, simply and expertly prepared local seafood, meats and even freshly ground burgers.

The Fish and Chips have become legendary, the ceviches unequaled. The tequila selection and handcrafted cocktails are sublime. Casual, hip, fun, and festive. Open Noon to 11pm Bar and late night munchies ’til 1 am.

Like his other ventures in the states, joe prides himself in creating a fun, “casually hip” space to enjoy food that is comforting and nourishing to the soul, an extensive drink and wine menu, icy cold cerveza, all presented and hosted by his warm, welcoming staff.
Puerto Vallarta Lifestyles Magazine
 
More Joe Jack Fish Shack Reviews
*Jack’s refreshing mint-laden mojitos or a homemade white wine sangria anchored in fresh fruit, you might even be up for Octopus Pozole (traditional hominy stew with a not so traditional twist)…Vallarta Dining Guide

*After 20 years of experience as chef and later opening two restaurants called Luna Park in North America, Joe Jack comes to Vallarta…Banderas News

*Joe Jack has arrived in Puerto Vallarta. After leaving Luna Park, his two phenomenally successful restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles…Tribune

If are looking for some tasty seafood and fresh menu items or possibly only a fine mojito, Check out Joe Jacks Fisk Shack here in Puerto Vallarta, located in the Zona Romantica.

Why not visit Puerto Vallarta with your dad for fathers day. With many airlines and hotels offering special “fathers day” rates and packages, there is something for everyones budget!

With so many activities here in Vallarta every Dad is sure to enjoy a little fun and luxury in paradise.

One thing many dads are  sure to love is a round of golf!The Puerto Vallarta area is the host to  seven fantastic golf courses, all of which have a variety of features to offer golfers of every experience level.

Sure to be fathersday  specials all over Vallarta, why not make this one to remember.  Here is a package any dad would love!

The CasaMagna Marriott in Puerto Vallarta is offering the “Puff, Putt and Pamper” Father’s Day package. The four day/three night package includes:

· Deluxe Ocean View accommodations
· Daily round of golf at either Vista Vallarta or Marina Vallarta golf courses
· Bucket of chilled Mexican beer upon arrival
· Tequila tasting
· Cigar rolling demonstration and cigars for the group
· 50 min. Men’s Sport Massage followed by a Sports Pedicure at the resort’s new 22,000 square ft. Ohtli Spa.
The package is good from now through Dec. 16, 2007 and starts at $684 per night. Use the rate code PKG when calling the hotel or booking online.

If your dad loves golf, Puerto Vallarta is a great place to surprise vacation with him. Here are the descriptions of the seven golf courses the Vallarta area boasts.

 Marina Vallarta Golf Club
The 18 championship holes of the Marina Vallarta Golf Club were designed by American architect Joe Finger. It has a magnificent view of Banderas Bay. Several natural lagoons are situated within this Vallarta golf course which is abundant with wildlife and several water fountains.

Vista Vallarta Nicklaus Golf Course
Vista Vallarta Nicklaus is a must for Puerto Vallarta Golf. Regularly hosting professional golf tournaments like the 2002 EMC World Golf Cup, it is a beautiful golf course melded into the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains and offers breathtaking views of the entire bay. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course opened April 2001 and is one of the most challenging golf courses in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta Vista Vallarta Weiskopf Golf Course
Vista Vallarta Weiskopf Golf Course, built in the rugged, dense jungle terrain of Puerto Vallarta Mexico is making a name for itself. The challenging layout of this Puerto Vallarta golf course, which presents scenic views as it winds through the jungles in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, offers just as much of a challenge as the Nicklaus golf course.

Puerto Vallarta Flamingos Golf Club
Flamingos Golf Club was the first golf course in the Puerto Vallarta area and was built in 1978. Surrounded by a lush tropical vegetation and over 1,800 palm trees, this one of a kind site combines gently sloping fairways with natural lagoons, marshes and estuaries where over 100 different species of birds thrive as well as numerous other animals such as crocodiles, turtles, rabbits, raccoons, armadillos and even white tailed deer.

Puerto Vallarta El Tigre Golf Club
El Tigre Puerto Vallarta Golf Club. “Create the most exciting championship golf course in Mexico”, was the challenge given to the team of Von Hagge, Smelek and Baril, designers of over 200 of the world’s finest golf courses. The result … a 7,239 yard masterpiece golf course that is challenging for even the most experienced golfers yet easy enough for beginning golfers to enjoy..

Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta Golf Club
Nestled between the sparkling Pacific and majestic Sierra Madre Mountains, the Mayan Palace Nuevo Vallarta Golf Club meanders through a tropical forest and winds around shimmering lagoons. The greens are flanked by at least two bunkers on every other whole, with water hazards placed throughout the immaculate fairways. Wind is a factor for players on this flat course.

Puerto Vallarta El Tamarindo Golf Club
The El Tamarindo Puerto Vallarta Golf Club is one golf course not to be missed and is considered by many to be the most beautiful golf course in Mexico. Architects Robert Trent Jones Jr. and David Flemming created a masterpiece when they were given the run of this sublime site in a vast ecological preserve.
Located 2 hours from Puerto Vallarta, and 60 minutes from Manzanillo, plan a day trip to Puerto Vallarta El Tamarindo golf club that will be unforgettable.

Following Highway 200 to the south, you will find the dense, lush jungles of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Along this highway, you will pass through a primarily residential area, sometimes referred to as Taxco by the Sea, but known to most as Conchas Chinas.

Located just south of Los Muertos Beach, Conchas Chinas starts at the water’s edge and stretches up to the top of the mountain. This residential community is one of Vallarta’s most prestigious areas where some of the most beautiful homes along Mexico’s Pacific coast are located.

This area is renowned for its exclusive villas and condos, some of which are featured in programmes screened around the world and is the choice for private relaxation. Many gated communities perched high on the mountainsides directly on the ocean, enjoy one of the best beaches in Vallarta and the town is only a few minutes away.

For many, that’s the primary reason for living in this exclusive zone just south of Vallarta’s South Side. But it’s not the only reason. A major consideration is always resale value, and Conchas Chinas has it in spades with some of the most expensive properties along the entire coast located here. In the following table of pros and cons, consider these comparisons.

Pros:
View of town and Banderas Bay
Stable value of land and properties
Location close to town, yet in another world
Most properties have parking garages and street parking is plentiful
Direct access to beach from lower Conchas Chinas properties
Neighborhood association very strong
Strict building codes

Cons:
Lots of stairs in most properties
Very few homes have yards
No playgrounds for children, although streets are generally safe
Prices may be out of the range of many

Strict building codes may make remodeling prohibitiveThe majority of people buying Conchas Chinas oceanfront properties are post-retirement. The home is usually not their primary residence, so it doubles as a family vacation spot and source of rental income.

Rentals are very successful in this area, both on the beachfront and along the winding streets of nearby Amapas and the hills of Conchas Chinas. The larger villas and condominiums on the hills are very popular with group rentals, many returning year after year for their annual conventions or conferences.

Construction varies from the earlier period in the ‘50s and ‘60s to the newer residences of the current decade higher on the hill. An advantage is that it’s one of the more stable areas for withstanding earthquakes, as the homes are built on rock. It doesn’t get more solid than that. The Vallarta style is common, with large, open terraces facing the view, frequently with swimming pool or Jacuzzi.

Although yards aren’t common, many have been built in or around the trees of the jungle, offering shade. Palapa roofs are popular as well, some of them quite expansive, offering protection for entertaining guests. Even though original wall colors were white, it’s becoming more popular to paint the adobe walls pastel colors such as peach, tangerine, yellow or nectar.

Early architects were pioneers in style and construction, such as Guillermo Wulff, associate of legendary director John Huston. Others are José Díaz, Oscar Montiel and Arturo Ramos. The hacienda style creates walls around an interior courtyard, nearly always with a fountain or water element.

Several levels take advantage not only of the views, but also of the hillside terrain. Some of the larger homes even have tennis courts, while several beachfront homes offer private beach access with showers and changing rooms.

The entire area of Conchas Chinas, whether it’s the beachfront or the hillside or closer Amapas, is the most exclusive residential area on the coast. As building continues further north, it only throws into striking contrast the advantage of living so close to Puerto Vallarta, where the best restaurants are at your fingertips.

Entertainment continues to offer a variety of theater, movies, musicals and other shows for evenings spent on the town, a major consideration for group rentals.

A variety of properties are available, such as this month’s cover. Other properties include condominiums, lots, villas and even entire buildings. Costs generally begin from just under a half million to over $4 million USD.

From someones favorite travel site.

A fishing boat docked in a tiny Mexican village outside of Puerto Vallarta. An American tourist complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

“Not very long,” answered the fisherman.

“But then, why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more?” asked the American.

The fisherman explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”

“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs . . I have a full life.”

The American interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.”

And after that?” asked the fisherman.

With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise.”

“How long would that take?” asked the fisherman.

“Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years,” replied the American.

“And after that?”

“Afterwards? Well my Friend, that’s when it gets really interesting,” answered the American, laughing. “When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!”

“Millions? Really? And after that?” said the fisherman.

“After that you’ll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends.”

And the moral is: Know where you’re going in life….you may already be there.

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Do you have a brand new passport or are you thinking about getting one? If so, the CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa wants to be your first … date/stamp.

Deal: Show the CasaMagna Marriott reception desk that Puerto Vallarta is your first port of entry and they’ll give you $100 resort credit when you check in – just mention their “Passport to Paradise” promotion. Caveat: The offer is only good for U.S. citizens with a 5-night minimum stay. Has no cash value.

What country had the honor of being your first passport stamp?
When: Offer good through Dec. 15, 2007

Why Go: They have a large outdoor infinity pool with a swim up bar. Need a babysitter? They’ve got one right on the property—go ahead, enjoy some down time.

Why Not: You’ve got a passport filled with stamps and don’t qualify.

More…Details: The deal is a well-kept secret: I called the Marriott U.S. toll-free number (800-228-9290) and the suggested (888) 727-23473 [888-PARADISE] to inquire about the deal and neither reservationist had heard of the “Passport to Paradise” promotion. They could not find it in their records at all.

Contact: CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, Direct international phone number: 52 322 226 0000

by JENNIFER GARCIA

Britney Spears had a whirlwind getaway in Mexico this weekend, where she let her new hair down – and offered some friendly advice to fellow tourists.

Over her three-day vacation, the singer, 25, stayed at the Four Seasons in Punta Mita, 26 miles from Puerto Vallarta.

Britney spears was spotted over the weekend vacationing in Puerto Vallarta where she “accidentally” flashed her thong.
Though she’s been sweating off her baby-weight by dancing in the studio, and though she’s been looking HOTT and thin when she’s seen in public, these unedited photos show that not EVERYTHING on Brit’s body is toned yet

While strolling on the beach with a pal at the Four Seasons, Spears stopped an older couple, also guests at the hotel, to warn them: “Be careful, there are lots of man o’ war jellyfish washing up on shore, you don’t want to get stung,” a source tells PEOPLE.

According to the source, Spears was “very sweet” – and the couple didn’t recognize her until she started talking to them.

“She seemed happy and carefree with her friend,” says the source.

Spears, who went to Mexico on Thursday and returned to Los Angeles on Sunday, was photographed over the weekend in Mexico wearing a turquoise-and-white sarong with her blonde hair extensions in a messy ponytail.

The weekend away comes just days after she posted a message on her Web site, saying she was at “rock bottom” when she went to rehab earlier this year and thanking fans for their support. “I love you for still loving me,” she wrote.

Spears, who has been recording a new album, also recently performed several shows in Los Angeles, Miami and Las Vegas in recent weeks.

Admittedly, recent productions here have been somewhat limited; underlining the expected resurgence in feature film production was the recent announcement by Walt Disney Studios of their “South of the Border” to shoot here in mid-July, 2007.

The project is a live-action feature film directed by Raja Gosnell (Yours, Mine and Ours; Scooby Doo 1 and 2, Never Been Kissed, Big Momma’s House) set mainly in Beverly Hills, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City, and is about a spoiled Beverly Hills toy chihuahua lap dog which gets dognapped while in Mexico and tries to get back home.

Variety reported a few days ago that Piper Perabo (The Prestige, Cheaper by the Dozen, Slap Her, She’s French and Coyote Ugly) has been the first principal cast member signed to the project. Casting Valdes opened the extras’ and local actors’ casting office for “South of the Border” here in Vallarta last week and have 8 weeks for casting, auditions and preparation.

6 to 8 weeks of filming (July and August) is planned for the Puerto Vallarta region and then they’ll head to Mexico City for about 6 more weeks of filming (September and October.)

Contact castingvaldes@yahoo.com for more information regarding casting.

Currently a “reality TV” show produced by Bunim, Murria Productions for MTV is shooting here, utilizing local buildings for sets and roving with their cameras as far as San Pancho, Nayarit.

Recently Wolfgang Richter, a Vancouver, B.C.-based producer (and instrumental in creating the British Columbia Film Commission in the mid-70′s) was here in Vallarta scouting locations for a possible feature.

Dreamworks Studios shot second-unit footage for their now-in-release feature film “The Heartbreak Kid” here on the bay. An uncomfirmed report has veteran actor/director Clint Eastwood poised with an Angeline Jolie-starring project in pre-development in the Vallarta region.

As the `friendliest city in the world’ (Condé Nast Travellers Magazine, Readers’ Poll), Vallarta has got a leg up on other potential production centers. Movie making is a tough haul, an oftentimes hectic, stress-filled long day’s journey into night process. It helps if you can have some fun, sun, good eats, and a comfortable 5-star bed to fall into at the end of that day.

And if the traffic police, permits’ department, customs, immigration, and other authorities are all on the same channel, better yet. If there’s a talent pool of extras, technicians, equipment and services available, another big plus. And if you spend less dollars, well, that just about clinches it as far as producers are concerned.

Puerto Vallarta tempts with an array of A-list attractions: Beautiful beaches, superb sports, fabulous festivals, naughty nightlife, delicious dining and drinking, and an authentic Mexican atmosphere are on the list of attractions that beckon honeymoon travelers and others to this seaside city on Mexico’s tropical Pacific coast.

1. Strolling El Malecon
The town center’s boisterous beachfront promenade, the Malecon, is a whirlwind of happy activity. When you’re here, you can’t help but feel you’ve discovered the real Mexico. (Congratulations. You have.) During the day, couples walk, singles flirt, teenagers snack, children play, acrobats perform, and venders hawk coconut fudge and leather bracelets. At night, mariachi musicians in the town Plaza strike up the band as twosomes young and old clutch one another and twirl around Malecon’s many attractions.

2. Shopping and Exploring gay Puerto Vallarta
Malecon-area boutiques are among shoppers’ favorite attractions. Bargains include silver jewelry from Taxco and soft leather shoes like woven huarache sandals that take one day to custom-make. Galleries specialize in local artists’ paintings, village pottery from Mata Ortiz and Casas Grandes, or riotously colorful Wixarika (Huichol) Indian beadwork and yarn paintings. The open-air arcade along the Cuale River sells inexpensive crafts like tooled leather items, woven and beaded jewelry, embroidered blouses and bags, and hand-painted “Talavera” ceramics.

3. Enjoying the Nightlife
Café des Artistes, helmed by French-Mexican celebrity chef Thierry Blouet, promises a memorable meal in magical surroundings indoors or out. Continue the party at a Vallarta club. Visitors who crave the excitement of crowds dancing en masse head for Christine, which flaunts laser shows and roving international DJs. For sipping Champagne and dancing on the sand, moonlit Nikki Beach is the sexiest of Puerto Vallarta attractions.

4. Golfing the Championship Courses
If your favorite club is called Big Bertha, you’ll be awed by Puerto Vallarta’s spectacularly scenic championship . Many hotels offer golf packages and golf concierges. Puerto Vallarta’s seven 18-hole Par 71 or 72 courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Robert Trent Jones, Tom Weiskopf, and Robert Van Haggen are attractions for golfers the world over. Nicklaus’ Vista Vallarta hosts the Puerto Vallarta Championship, a PGA Tour Champions Tour event, won in 2006 by American Morris Hatalsky.

5. Skimming Along Banderas Bay
Puerto Vallarta is set on ocean-deep Banderas Bay, which has watersport attractions aplenty. Intrepid fishermen come to hook big game including yellowfin, sailfish, amberjack, and trophy-size black marlin. Surfers are drawn to the tall waves off the nearby beach town of Lo de Marcos. Scuba divers seek out Vallarta waters for their crystalline visibility, black coral formations, and large marine life such as sea turtles and dolphins. Yachting season kicks off with the San Diego to Puerto Vallarta Regatta in the fall and reaches a fever pitch with the Banderas Bay Regatta in March.

6. Whale Watching
Our mammalian brethren, the whales, also consider Puerto Vallarta one of winter’s attractions, and frolic in Banderas Bay from December through March. You can spot humpbacks from the beach or close-on a licensed whale-watching expedition with a group like the Whale Watching Center, which also runs dolphin tours.

7. Sending Sea Turtles to the Sea
Animal lovers can join in Puerto Vallarta’s sea turtle release. Throughout November, tiny hatchlings break out of eggs that have incubated in protected shoreline pens. Hotel guests witness the newborn sea turtles crawl into the ocean under cover of dusk, and a cheer goes up when the last baby swims off. This heart-warming tradition is observed at beachfront hotels including Marriott CasaMagna, Presidente InterContinental, and Dreams Resort.

8. Sailing and Snorkeling around a Secluded Island
Vallarta Adventures runs diverting, reasonably priced full-day and half-day trips. One entertaining choice is a party-boat ride to Las Caletas, a secluded isle where film director John Huston lived. Day-trippers can sunbathe, swim, snorkel, hike, play with parrots, and enjoy Mexican-spiced chicken and ocean-fresh paella cooked on the beach. Attractions for those who like to veer off the beaten track, the company’s San Sebastian expedition involves a picturesque drive or thrilling prop-plane flight to a 17th-century mining town high in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

9. Tequila Tastings
Tequila is made in Puerto Vallarta’s home home state of Jalisco. This is the true Margaritaville, where extensive tequila menus invite visitors to experiment. Tequila shops in town offer free tastes, as do airport duty-free shops. (Make sure you can carry bottles onto your flight.) Concierges can arrange day trips by air to the town of Tequila, where distillery tours await. The best-quality tequilas are 100% blue agave, with no additives. Clear, golden, and aged all have their attractions. Trust your own taste buds.

10. Puerto Vallarta Food & Film Festivals
November means the Puerto Vallarta International Gourmet Festival, a ten-day epicurean extravaganza. Restaurants offer special menus and globe-trotting guest chefs; special events include tastings, cook-offs, parties, and gala meals galore.

December brings the Vallarta Film Festival, which unfurls subtitled features, shorts, documentaries, and animated film attractions from the Americas. Participants dash from Puerto Vallarta premieres to meet-the-cast receptions to outdoor screenings of classics by local hero John Huston.

  by Archana

Ok, last minute trips will not be perfect,
…but they can definitely be thrilling and awesome!!and all that jazz !

We started off on Saturday 04/14 early morning, literally dragging ourselves off the bed and into the 9 am flight after missing the early bird 7am one (How in the world did Uday think we were going to make that?).

I did not have high hopes for the city but boy was it beautiful ! I looked at several websites trying to plan activities for our 4 day trip before we got there but one got there.. it was pretty much …

good food, good beaches, good time, good weather …and .. o yea, bad pirates  !

I will let the pictures speak for themselves but I highly recommend a trip to puerto vallarta to rekindle & revamp some of that lost/weary spirit in a relationship.

It was such a nice honeymoon get-away that if two 20-somethings walked around holding hand-in-hand, they will very likely bump into a curious local (or one of the dozen or so savvy timeshare salesman) asking them if they are “honeymooners”.

Needless to say, there is definitely some nice golf courses in the city to attract the “patchy adams” (this city hosted the 2005 world championship) and enough shopping buzz on the streets (downtown is a beautiful mix of restaurants, diamond & silver shops and some upcoming shopping joints) to welcome the “peachy madams”.

Also, the city boasts some 400 odd restaurants, mostly based on the hill slopes, offering some savory menus (mostly seafood)and splendid sunsets for the connoisseur in you to feast on.

The place boasts of the same weather as Hawaii besides the intimacy of a small town, filled with friendly people and good-looking latina singles, making a nice get-away for couples and singles alike  !

So I say… pack your bags muchachos y muchachas!
(dont forget your spanish cheatsheets) Get ready for some amazing time in the BBB (beautiful banderas bay) !

It was a beautiful day at the beach at Boca de Tomates. The beach is just outside Puerto Vallarta to the north. An odd little place with fishermen on one side and a bunch of little fresh seafood beach restaurants on the other. It is right at the mouth of the Ameca River where it lets into the Ocean and it is a popular camping spot for the locals during holidays and semana santa.

But on the most interesting and cool things on the beach are these little pin-wheel kites. They are made from cut styrofoam, 2 nails and a piece of balsa wood. They are hand painted with just markers and they sell for about 30 pesos but are absolutely cool. They fly instantly, spinning, spinning in the air. The kids absolutely love them and it keep them busy forever. I cant think of a better deal for $3.

That’s one thing about Mexico that I love, the ingenuity. The kites were such a simple concept, I found myself wondering why we never made these kites in Vancouver while I was growing up. We were always stuck with the traditional kite model that never wants to fly and you have to run and run and run to make it go anywhere. I would of been very happy with one of these.

Anyways, go to the beach and get a kite. You can actually take them apart and take them home, although they are quite breakable and disposable. Boca de Tomates has been the only beach I have ever seen them on, although it could just be because I wasn’t paying attention.

Happy Kiting!

(source: thingstodoinvallarta.com)