Puerto Vallarta Activities/Lodging and places to visit (11/06)
The Good and Ugly on our trip to Puerto Vallarta. Let’s start with the ugly so we can end with some positive stuff. After you arrive (only about 2 and a half hours via direct flight from Los Angeles), you head to get your bags but become toppled with endless people saying they can help you out. What they are really trying to do is sell you a visit to a Time Share presentation. What they don’t tell you is most of it is a scam. This is a way to get you to spend 90 minutes to check out one of their properties. In return you get a great gift and free breakfast or lunch. If you know what you are doing and have experience you can ask for more but for the most part they keep you longer than the alloted time, offer you less than what you can get and sell you like you cannot believe to try to get you to buy. They promise you stuff which you don’t get. They put down you receive money but it doesn’t come in cash unless it is written on your receipt. You end up getting a voucher for food or services. All in all, it can be a good deal if you have done it before and know the ropes. Otherwise, it is a burden and a losing, annoying proposition. The other ugly thing we came across in town besides getting bombarded by more time share/tour salesmen were the most annoying taxi cab drivers. Every step you take, you hear one of them asking if you want a taxi. I mean every step. There are so many of them and it is almost like you cannot see them that they have to bug you and remind you that they have a taxi for you. I suggest they head over to Athens, Greece as when I was there, I couldn’t get a taxi to stop for me.
Now to the good stuff. Puerto Vallarta has plenty of charm and activities. The sunsets are hard to beat as they are gorgeous. The ocean water is just beautiful and so warm for swimming. The town is spread out. New Vallarta is a good 20-30 minutes away by car. This is a pretty quiet area for those just looking to relax. Then there is the Port area with more restaurants and nice hotels including the Marriott. Located right on the beach and still a bit away from downtown, the Marriott and the port is another place to go if you are looking to get away for a quieter time of dining, beach relaxing and shopping. The Japanese/sushi restaurant at the Marriott with chefs cooking next to you Benihana style is a great place to dine. If you are into activities downtown is your place.
The best place to stay is the Sheraton Buganvillas. It is within 10 minutes driving (20-25 minutes walking) from the downtown area. Located right on the beach, the Sheraton is perfectly situated. It is not right in heavy downtown but close enough to get there. Don’t miss the Sunday buffet brunch down by the pool/beach with a full variety of great foods, live mariachi musicians and reasonable prices. The rooms are immaculate and overlook the ocean. The concierge service and amenities are top notch. For reservations call
Looking for activities and fun? Puerto Vallarta is the place. The beach is very nice and is right in the heart of town. A not to miss hot restaurant on the beach is called “Spiaggia”. A fine dining romantic place with big atmosphere flames, a great view of the beach/ocean and a new highly touted chef that will make this place a quite popular mainstay. I recommend the seafood, lamb and any of the Italian specialties.
I recommend Zip line canopy adventures. What a thrill! This is a must if you have never done anything like this before. Just meet them at one of their locations including downtown and they will shuttle you to the Canopy area. After your adventure slide into the brisk refreshing river before having a nice lunch overlooking the river. Don’t miss the fresh langustines (little lobsters) right from the river. By the way this is the location where the film Predator was filmed. More info and reservations at www.canopytours-vallarta.com
One of my favorite activities was Rancho Capomo Horseback riding adventures. The guides are friendly and professional. They take you up into the mountains to see spectacular views of the ocean. They also offer a six hour tour through the tropical rain forest of the Sierra Madre and the village of Las Palmas. You’ll enjoy a jungle trail, laden with beautiful tropical foliage. You’ll see four beautiful waterfalls swim in the fresh cascades and pools below, cross remote rivers and enjoy Cervezas while watching the beauty unfold in front of you.
At the end of this horseback riding tour you’ll be treated to a real Mexican lunch before returning to Puerto Vallarta.
For more information check out their website at www.puertovallartatours.net/rancho-capomo-horseback-riding.htm
Spend another day taking a boat out from downtown to snorkel or scuba dive with Chico’s Dive Shop. These highly trained professional guides make it great fun. More information at www.chicos-diveshop.com
The other Chico’s Dive Shop is located in Mismaloya where Night of the Iguana was filmed. It is about 45 minutes driving south of Puerta Vallarta. They also have wave runner rentals right on the beach next to Chicos which is great fun. If you want to get away from the beaten path, rent a car and keep driving south about 3 + hours till you get to Barra De Navidad, a small but cozy town with fantastic restaurants and gorgeous beaches/ocean water to unwind. Take a water taxi across to the Grand Bay Hotel and plan a short stay to get pampered there. Grand Bay Hotel is a high end luxury hotel with quite a few activities including renting kayaks, deep sea fishing and more. Head to the main restaurant downstairs where you will enjoy a full buffet breakfast and open pasta bar where the chef will cook your pasta to order including any ingredients you choose. More info at www.islanavidad.com.mx
If you are searching for a more reasonably priced place to stay in the area check out Hotel Barra de Navidad. It is located right on the beach. Enjoy hearing the waves crash the whole day and while you sleep for added relaxation. Email [email protected] for reservations.
Another alternative and within closer proximity is going up north about 75-90 minutes to an area called Sayulita. A quaint little town with some nightlife, lots of cool shopping and delicious cuisine. I highly suggest it to break up your trip from Puerta Vallarta. There are great beaches and even an area for surfing lessons with small waves and great instructors to teach you the basics. Make a reservation to visit Punta Mita and if you have the money, stay at the Incredible Four Seasons Resort. This incomparable resort has it all: top service, fine dining, a fabulous spa and workout room, sparkling rooms and decor, a full professional golf course and more. The resort is so big that the staff drives the guests in golf carts to the different areas of the resort. The employees are trained to remember and address you by name each time they see you. More information at www.fourseasons.com
There is quite a lot to do no matter what your interests are in this most popular Mexican getaway city. For more tips/ideas please visit www.visitpuertavallarta.com to enhance your stay.