Vallarta Blog

One Big Wave of Yoga and Surfing! Vacation with Via Yoga April 18-24, 2008, in Sayulita Mexico

Via Yoga, the company that offers yoga and surfing vacations in Sayulita, Mexico, has a retreat April 18-24 geared at intermediate surfers. Ramp up your surfing skills this week with our highly trained surf instructors. You’ll surf the waves of Sayulita and also enjoy unbeatable surf on two daytrips where you’ll explore the hidden gems of the area.

According to SayulitaLife.com, “Surfers were some of the first foreigners to visit Sayulita in the late 1960’s where they found warm water and consistent waves all year-round. To this day, the Sayulita surfbreaks and waves have fulfilled the tropical surf dreams of beginner to advanced surfers from all over the world.”

Yoga teacher Matt Pesendian has been surfing for 30 years and practicing yoga for 17, so he knows how to prepare yoga students for time on the board. His two daily yoga sessions – one dynamic vinyasa and the other gentle Qigong (Chinese yoga), will strengthen your core for surfing.

Surf instructors are Kate Slater and Murilo Evangelista dos Santos, who live in Sayulita and teach surfing for many of Via Yoga’s vacation weeks. Kate has been vacationing in Sayulita since she was a child, and has lived in Sayulita for almost seven years. She learned to surf in California when she was nine, and since then has dedicated her life to travel and surf. Murilo grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil. For the last few years he has taught at a surf school in Brazil for developing surfers and tourists. He moved to Sayulita in 2007.

Trips range from $2495 and up, and include six nights accommodations in a deluxe villa (Villa Amor, www.villaamor.com), two yoga classes per day, daily breakfast, three group dinners, two daytrips, a massage, and roundtrip airport transfers. Airfare is not included.

Via Yoga offers a dozen yoga & surfing trips each year November through May.

Contact: Via Yoga, (800) 642-9025, info@viayoga.com

 From the New York Times
By BONNIE TSUI

BEYOND the sunbathers, cervezas and spring break debauchery so conspicuously on display in Cancún and Cozumel, Mexico offers a lesser-known adventure experience — the kind that is found deep in the jungle or near small fishing villages and offshore reefs.

The same country that possesses one of the world’s most polluted capital cities also ranks as one of the richest in species diversity. Twenty-two biosphere reserves and nearly 50 national parks offer hiking and wildlife-watching opportunities; mountain chains and interior canyons are chockfull of biking trails; fertile warm-water upwellings attract pods of whales and glittering fish.

Adventurous tourists — particularly those focused on a specific outdoor sport or activity — have much to discover along the coast and on the country’s ruggedly varied interior terrain.

Almost by definition, some of these unexplored gems are in remote areas, so travelers will need to be vigilant about safety. That’s where knowledgeable outfitters are key — they can take you to little-touristed places where you’ll feel comfortable exploring the backcountry forests and secluded beaches that you might not visit alone. Regions like Chiapas and Oaxaca, while still extricating their reputations from recent political unrest, have become more stable. Before you book, consult the United States State Department (www.travel.state.gov) for travel advisories.

SURFING SAYULITA
Surfers have been crossing the border to ride waves along Mexico’s Pacific coast for decades, and this small coastal fishing village 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta has lately achieved the perfect mix of lively beachfront bars, surf camps and terra-cotta architectural charm — all, most importantly, with easy access to numerous breaks ideal for beginners and for intermediates looking to sharpen their technique. Advanced riders might head south to the body-wrecking barrels at Puerto Escondido, but the rest of us mere mortals will be content to spend a week or two skimming the waves there.

An easy right break on Sayulita’s bay, just off a curving white-sand stretch of town beach, is where longboarders spend most of their time; if those waves get too big, beginners can always move down the beach and find smaller ones. A faster left break caters to speedy shortboarders. In 2006, the Access Trips adventure travel company started a small-group surf itinerary to Sayulita and its surrounding breaks, joining the pioneering Las Olas Surf Safaris (www.surflasolas.com), which runs surf camps for women, and several others. The special flavor of the village, says Alain Chuard, co-owner of Access Trips, comes from its friendly and eclectic population (local fishermen, hippies, expatriates) and the town’s careful control over development (there are no big hotels or big chain stores here, whereas Wal-Mart has landed in Puerto Vallarta).

Most everything in Sayulita is within walking distance, from the beach to the grocery stores and cafes in the village center to the surrounding jungle. The village might not be a secret anymore, but it’s far from being overrun by tourists. Beaches are rarely crowded, a one-bedroom villa at Villa Amor, the luxury hotel in town, starts at $90 a night, and foreign travelers tend to be in their 20s and 30s.

Access Trips’ seven-day surf safaris are led by a local surfer, Javier Chavez, and a core team of instructors. The student-to-teacher ratio is capped at an intimate 4 to 1, and all trip leaders are locals. Days are spent surfing the bay and visiting other secluded surf spots north and south of Sayulita that are accessible only by boat. In the winter, humpback whales cruising by the bay are a bonus. Surfers stay in newly built bungalows with ocean views just up the hill from town, and morning yoga sessions in a private studio help ease the muscle pain left by consecutive pop-ups on the surfboard. Lunch might be grilled shrimp on the beach, and there are plenty of other outdoor activities, including guided jungle treks, mountain biking and trips to hot springs.

 Access Trips, (650) 492-4778); www.accesstrips.com; seven-day surf adventures from $1,885, including lodging, instruction, all breakfasts, a lunch and two dinners, yoga and transportation, including airport transfers; November through May.

by Justin Burch

The beaches in and around Puerto Vallarta may be the most diverse in Mexico. Located at the midpoint of Banderas Bay, the area surrounding Puerto Vallarta boasts 34 miles of coastline, 26 of which are sandy beaches. Within the city, the beaches are elegant and pristine, bordered by restaurants and resorts. Beaches to the north of the city tend to be longer and wider, with great opportunities for surfing and swimming. South of Puerto Vallarta, the mountains topple into the sea in places, creating placid coves and intimate sandy pockets.

Playa Los Muertos is the most frequented beach in Puerto Vallarta. This sandy beach is long and wide with small waves perfect for swimming. Despite its popularity, there is usually plenty of room to spread out a towel and soak up rays. Los Muertos is a bustling place full of craft and food vendors; the beach itself is lined by numerous resorts, restaurants and bars. This is also a great place to ride a parasail and get a bird’s eye view of the city. The beach has the added attraction of being on the edge of Viejo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta’s beautiful old town.

Several other beautiful beaches lie in close proximity to the city’s Hotel Zone. Playa El Saldo, also known as Marina Vallarta, primarily caters to hotel guests. However, the beach is wide and well-maintained, offering stunning views of the city and its mountainous backdrop. Playa Pelicanos is generally quiet, making it a great place to escape the beach crowds while remaining in the heart of the city. Playa Las Glorias is the name of the sandy stretch between Playa Pelicanos and Marina Vallarta. If you’re staying in a hotel north of the primary Hotel Zone, you will find this excellent swimming beach outside your back door.

North of the city, the beach of Nuevo Vallarta offers a wider stretch of sand with fewer rocks than most beaches within Banderas Bay. As favorites of families, visitors to Playa Destiladeres and Playa Bucerias can expect mild waves (perfect for boogie-boarding or learning to surf), elegant white sand beaches and fresh seafood at charming palapa-shaded restaurants.

To the North, Punta Mita, also known as Playa Anclote, is distinguished for its row of pleasant beach restaurants and gentle slope, making it a perfect beach for all ages. With consistently low, rolling waves, Punta Mita is also celebrated as an excellent place to learn to surf. There are even a few surfing schools that offer instruction to travelers.

For those with more experience on the waves, the tiny community of Sayulita is the place of choice. A surfing mecca of international renown, the shoreline of this picturesque fishing village is home to abundant coves and beaches where surfers hunt perfect waves and day trippers relax in the sun. As Sayulita has developed over the past few years into a surfer’s town with a bohemian feel, travelers will be treated to a refreshing, laid-back attitude.

A few miles beyond the northern-most point of the bay are the beaches of San Francisco and San Pancho. Sporting a windswept and primitive feeling, with deeper, creamier sand and rougher waters than inside Banderas Bay, these beaches are ideal for travelers who want a taste of pristine nature and the open sea.

To the south of Puerto Vallarta lie such treasures as Playa Gemelas, Playa Garza Blanca, and Playa Punta Negra. Because both are slightly more difficult to access, you’ll find beautiful beaches that are fairly secluded and scarcely used, with great rock outcroppings for snorkeling. In this area, you’ll also find Playa Mismaloya, where John Huston’s The Night of the Iguana was filmed in 1963, putting Puerto Vallarta on the international tourist map.

With a rustic South Seas feel, Boca de Tomatlan is a small sandy cove at the jungle’s edge three miles south of Mismaloya where the Tomatlan River meets the bay. Boca de Tomatlan is the last beach stop on the primary road heading south from Puerto Vallarta. It is another great site for swimming or snorkeling with a couple of lovely beach restaurants where you can sit under a palapa on the beach and enjoy fresh seafood.

To the south of Boca de Tomatlan are a number of quaint fishing villages, secluded beaches and peaceful coves. Playas Las Caletas and Las Animas are elegant, rock-lined stretches ideal for quiet relaxation. Quimixto, one of the largest fishing villages in the southern half of Banderas Bay, features a number of excellent restaurants and the best surf south of Puerto Vallarta. Near the southern-most point of the bay, Majahuitas and Yelapa allow visitors to feel completely removed from civilization. Bordered by lush jungles, these beaches are the definition of tropical privacy.

In celebration of the Summer Solstice, the Art Walk association prepares Art Walk in Puerto Vallarta, for the next June 20th, from 7 to 10 PM.

Art lovers will be happy to know a special summer edition of Art Walk in Puerto Vallarta is scheduled for June 20th, on the eve of the summer solstice.A coordinated exhibition with the best authors from each gallery Participating in this event.

Vallarta Art Walk’s Founder Barbara Peters of Galería Vallarta says the Old Town Art Walk Gallery Association decided on the summer Art Walk because “the many visitors expressed disappointment that there were no more Art Walks after the end of March. Next season, we will have weekly cocktails through the end of April 2008.”

Galleries will be open for the summer Art Walk from 6:00pm-10:00pm with refreshments served. Peters further explained, “Because of the evening rains during the summer season, it is difficult to plan events that require walking around the Centro area, but generally we do not have rains in June.”

For a full list of galleries participating in Summer Solstice Artwalk Vallarta contact Barbara Peters of the Galeria Vallarta. 

Also in Vallarta on Thursday, June 21 surfers from across the globe will unite to celebrate International Surfing Day. The annual observance, now in its third year, was established to inspire waveriders everywhere to take a day to share and acknowledge their mutual love of surfing and our beach and ocean environments.

“This is a great opportunity for us surfers to celebrate our sport by simply doing what we love to do most – going surfing,” says Evan Slater, renown big wave surfer and Editor of Surfing Magazine.  “It’s also a great opportunity to remind everyone about the need and importance to protect our oceans, waves and beaches.”

As in previous years, the Surfrider Foundation is hosting beach clean-ups and other events in locations throughout the world. “This year we are hosting over 75 beach clean-ups worldwide, including events in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Australia, Japan, Mexico, France, United Kingdom, Peru and elsewhere,” says Surfrider Foundation Executive Director Jim Moriarty.

For more information contact the Surfrider Foundation.

by Keith A. Fitzpatrick

 Many people come to the Puerto Vallarta area to Surf and enjoy the beaches,this is an over view of surf spots in the area, ideas for surf lessons and advice on the sport here in the Bahia de Banderas.

Over the last decade, the allure of surfing has helped transform the sport from a cottage industry into a multi-billion-dollar lifestyle market, with more people falling under its spell and taking to the water each year.

And the Puerto de Vallarta bay area has become a favorite vacation spot for wealthy and middle-class Latinos, who are rapidly buying up real estate along its glorious coastline.

Of course, they are taking up this Hawaiian tradition–the “sport of kings” in increasing numbers People of almost any age can practice the sport, as long as they can swim and are reasonably healthy.

In fact, surfing is gaining popularity among the X-generation’s wealthy elite, who are taking the fast track to surfing “nirvana” by starting out with surf instructors or hiring surf coaches to hone their acquired skills–often in the Puerto Vallarta/Banderas Bay area. The growing number of surf professionals there usually have novices up and riding during their first lesson.

Mexico’s Pacific coastline offers world-class surf and enthusiasts travel it in search of the perfect wave–on “surfari,” often camping in the wilds or staying in small towns near surf breaks. A “surfari” is not for newcomers to the sport, however.

A novice surfing a remote area alone would be akin to a mountaineering novice scaling Everest solo. The safest, easiest type of surf trip involves hiring a surf instructor or coach with local knowledge and years of experience, and more enthusiasts do precisely that in Mexico each year.

While most surf destinations are seasonal, offering only one or two locations with consistent waves three to six months per year, Banderas Bay (home to Puerto Vallarta’s international airport) has up to 300-plus days of surf, good weather, spectacular views, Caribbean colors and warm, crystal-clear water.

North of Puerto Vallarta on Highway 200, 20 different surf breaks pepper the coastline from Nuevo Vallarta (8 miles away) to Punta de Mira (22 miles away), which have up-market hotels. For surfers there is something for everyone–from small beginner waves to intense, experts-only reef breaks.

Although most of Banderas Bay’s beachfront access is privately owned and land access often difficult, help is at hand. Local surf legend, Dave Sinclair of Coral Reef Surf Shop in Bucerias (12 miles north of Vallarta on Highway 200), is not only a surf history encyclopedia and marvelous raconteur, but also an excellent source of help and information.

With 46 years’ surfing experience, his knowledge of the area and advice on where and when to surf is matched only by his knowledge of surf instructors and launches for hire to satisfy all budgets and tastes.

by Justin Burch

The beaches in and around Puerto Vallarta may be the most diverse in Mexico. Located at the midpoint of Banderas Bay, the area surrounding Puerto Vallarta boasts 34 miles of coastline, 26 of which are sandy beaches. Within the city, the beaches are elegant and pristine, bordered by restaurants and resorts. Beaches to the north of the city tend to be longer and wider, with great opportunities for surfing and swimming. South of Puerto Vallarta, the mountains topple into the sea in places, creating placid coves and intimate sandy pockets.

Playa Los Muertos is the most frequented beach in Puerto Vallarta. This sandy beach is long and wide with small waves perfect for swimming. Despite its popularity, there is usually plenty of room to spread out a towel and soak up rays. Los Muertos is a bustling place full of craft and food vendors; the beach itself is lined by numerous resorts, restaurants and bars. This is also a great place to ride a parasail and get a bird’s eye view of the city. The beach has the added attraction of being on the edge of Viejo Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta’s beautiful old town.

Several other beautiful beaches lie in close proximity to the city’s Hotel Zone. Playa El Saldo, also known as Marina Vallarta, primarily caters to hotel guests. However, the beach is wide and well-maintained, offering stunning views of the city and its mountainous backdrop. Playa Pelicanos is generally quiet, making it a great place to escape the beach crowds while remaining in the heart of the city. Playa Las Glorias is the name of the sandy stretch between Playa Pelicanos and Marinaby Justin Burch Vallarta. If you’re staying in a hotel north of the primary Hotel Zone, you will find this excellent swimming beach outside your back door.

North of the city, the beach of Nuevo Vallarta offers a wider stretch of sand with fewer rocks than most beaches within Banderas Bay. As favorites of families, visitors to Playa Destiladeres and Playa Bucerias can expect mild waves (perfect for boogie-boarding or learning to surf), elegant white sand beaches and fresh seafood at charming palapa-shaded restaurants.

To the North, Punta Mita, also known as Playa Anclote, is distinguished for its row of pleasant beach restaurants and gentle slope, making it a perfect beach for all ages. With consistently low, rolling waves, Punta Mita is also celebrated as an excellent place to learn to surf. There are even a few surfing schools that offer instruction to travelers.

To the south of Puerto Vallarta lie such treasures as Playa Gemelas, Playa Garza Blanca, and Playa Punta Negra. Because both are slightly more difficult to access, you’ll find beautiful beaches that are fairly secluded and scarcely used, with great rock outcroppings for snorkeling. In this area, you’ll also find Playa Mismaloya, where John Huston’s The Night of the Iguana was filmed in 1963, putting Puerto Vallarta on the international tourist map.

With a rustic South Seas feel, Boca de Tomatlan is a small sandy cove at the jungle’s edge three miles south of Mismaloya where the Tomatlan River meets the bay. Boca de Tomatlan is the last beach stop on the primary road heading south from Puerto Vallarta. It is another great site for swimming or snorkeling with a couple of lovely beach restaurants where you can sit under a palapa on the beach and enjoy fresh seafood.

To the south of Boca de Tomatlan are a number of quaint fishing villages, secluded beaches and peaceful coves. Playas Las Caletas and Las Animas are elegant, rock-lined stretches ideal for quiet relaxation. Quimixto, one of the largest fishing villages in the southern half of Banderas Bay, features a number of excellent restaurants and the best surf south of Puerto Vallarta. Near the southern-most point of the bay, Majahuitas and Yelapa allow visitors to feel completely removed from civilization. Bordered by lush jungles, these beaches are the definition of tropical privacy.