We landed in Puerto Vallarta for our five night stay on Saturday afternoon around 1:00 P.M.  It took at least 45 minutes to get through Mexican Customs in the airport because several other flights arrived about the same time as ours.  There were literally hundreds of foreigners entering the city.  However, the lines moved steadily and we cleared customs with no trouble.  As long as you have valid passports and properly completed forms which are handed out on the plane, then Mexico welcomes its visitors with open arms.

Traveler beware in the airport!

The next hurdle is running the gauntlet of timeshare and resort salespeople set up in the airport.  They occupy a corridor that you have to pass through on your way to the exit.  It is like navigating your way through a river full of hungry piranhas!  These salespeople will try to lure you to a 90 to 120 minute presentation and tour of their resort by offering you free whale watching, gifts, and dinners.  Of course, once at the presentation they will try to put the hard sell on you with high-pressure tactics.  Luckily, we had heard about this beforehand and knew to keep our heads down and walk briskly through this area without responding to any of their questions or comments.

We avoided one pit only to fall into another.

Just outside the corridor and within sight of the exit, we were asked if we needed a taxi to our hotel which we did.  We were then quoted a price of $23.00 U.S. to our hotel in the Romantic Zone.  Not knowing any better, we agreed and paid.  We did get a taxi ride to our hotel as desired, but we later found out that we overpaid by double!  It seems that the taxi service that operates from the airport has exclusive rights and therefore charges jacked up rates.  If you walk outside the airport and across the pedestrian bridge, you can catch a yellow cab for around half the price.  Of course, you have to walk a little ways carrying your luggage, but it can save you some money. 

This same taxi service has exclusive rights at the cruise ship pier as well.  I hate being over-charged so, in both cases, I’d recommend doing the walking to find a yellow cab that will quote you a fair price.  As always in Mexico, be sure to ask the cab driver what the fare will be prior to getting into any taxi.  There are no meters in the cabs so it is up to you to negotiate your fare up front.

I want to say that although we got charged a little extra for our taxi, my experience is that the locals in Puerto Vallarta are excellent hosts.  I am endeared with the Mexican people and their hospitality.  As when traveling in any country, it is important to educate yourself to get the best deals and avoid paying higher than usual prices.  I haven’t found Mexico to be any better or worse than the good, old U.S.A in this regard.

Looking for clean, basic accommodations?

We stayed in Los Arcos Suites which is a boutique hotel in an older section of Puerto  Vallarta known as the Romantic Zone.  It is a sister facility to the larger Playa Los Arcos.  I was pleased with our hotel because it provided the things that I value most in a hotel.  This includes in no particular order:

1. Clean
2. Quiet
3. Comfortable bed
4. Shower with hot water and good pressure
5. Friendly and helpful staff
6. Great location
7. Inexpensive rate

My wife and I are not all-inclusive type travelers.  We do not consider the hotel the destination as some do.  We use our hotel for sleeping, changing clothes, showering, and storing our stuff.  Therefore, this hotel worked out perfectly for us.  In addition, we had access to the pool, hot tub, beach chairs, bar, restaurants, and spa at Playa Los Arcos which is just about a half a block away.  The staff at Los Arcos Suites was friendly and helpful.  They provided directions, restaurant suggestions, and other tips when asked.  We found Miguel, one of the bellhops, an especially good source of quality information.

Great eats in Puerto Vallarta!

Prior to arriving, I had heard a lot of great things about the restaurants in Puerto Vallarta.  Of course, tastes in dining vary widely so even with the positive reviews, I was hopeful, but skeptical.  I came away with the impression that there is truly something for everyone in terms of cuisine.

My wife and I are not gourmet diners.  We don’t go for the foo-foo stuff.  We like good food at a reasonable price.  When I say reasonable, I don’t necessarily mean cheap.  We just like to feel we are getting a good value for what we pay.  I tell you this so you will know where I’m coming from as I present to you my “Best of Puerto Vallarta” list.  So, here it goes.

• Best Margarita – Pipis family style restaurant serves the biggest and best margaritas that I tasted.  They are described as being served in fishbowl glasses and that is very accurate .  I ordered strawberry and my wife got banana.  They were both excellent!
• Best Breakfast – Memo’s Casa de Hotcakes won this hands down.  I got pancakes with peanut butter, bananas, and caramel.  They were heavenly!  Everything I saw come out of the kitchen looked delicious. 
• Best Coffee House – A Page In The Sun is an open-air, corner coffee house that was just down the block from our hotel.  It is a well-known establishment in Puerto Vallarta.  It offers coffee, lattes, fresh juices, pastries, and books.  The popularity was obvious because available tables were hard to find from sun up until late into the evening.
• Best Lunch – A Taste of Italy is a small diner a block off the Malecon that serves traditional Italian fare.  Even while in Mexico, it is good to have a meatball sub or a plate of spaghetti as a change of pace.  We even got a free beer with the purchase of a sub during lunch.
• Best Dinner – If you like meat, then you can’t beat Brasil Steakhouse.  You pay one price which is about $19 for men and $16 for women at Brasil.  They then bring you serving after serving of various meats from their open, wood-burning stoves.  We were served ribeye, N.Y. strip, filet mignon, flank steak, sausage, turkey, and chicken.  The meat was accompanied by several tasty side salads.
• Best Fajitas – I enjoyed some fabulous fajitas at Fajita Republic.  I got a combination of chicken, shrimp and steak.  They were excellent!  They were served with fresh guacamole and pico de gallo along with all the other usual garnishments.  My wife also offered an honorable mention award to the ribs!
• Best Sunset View – The sunsets in Puerto Vallarta were beautiful!  We enjoyed them at Burros Bar which is right on the beach while sipping 2 for 1 piña coladas.  It was awesome watching the golden sun turn the evening sky all shades of red and orange as it dipped into the ocean. 

There is adventure galore!

While in Puerto Vallarta we went whale watching, snorkeling, parasailing, and on an outdoor adventure tour.  It was all a lot of fun.  We spotted humpback whales every time we got in a boat.  However, most of the females had already had their babies so the whale action was a little calmer than during prime mating time.  If you want to get the spectacular pictures, then you might want to consider going in December or January.  Still, it was awesome seeing real whales up close and personal.  We also had a pod of about 6 to 7 bottlenose dolphins surface just in front of our boat when we were on our snorkeling tour.

Unfortunately, we were disappointed in the snorkeling we did while in Puerto Vallarta.  The water was very murky and it was almost impossible to get a good view of any underwater life.  I heard several divers saying the same thing.  I don’t know if the water is clearer other times of the year, but I think in the future I’ll stick to Cozumel for snorkeling and diving.

The outdoor adventure tour we took with Vallarta Adventures was incredible.  We sped south of Puerto Vallarta in Banderas Bay to the village of Boca de Tomatlan.  From there, we lumbered up into the mountains in 4x4s to our destination.  Once at the base camp, we rode mules up higher and then raced down about nine zip lines that were as high as 250 feet.  We also rappelled down a waterfall and off a platform hanging in the trees.  The guides were knowledgeable, professional, and a ton of fun.  I would highly recommend this tour to all you adrenaline junkies out there.

I’m ready for my next trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Overall, the trip certainly lived up to my expectations.  I’d go again in a heartbeat.  I really think that Puerto Vallarta has something to offer everyone.  The scenery and weather are beautiful.   The locals are friendly and very welcoming.  Also, there is a wide variety of restaurants and accommodations to suit any tastes.  I have enjoyed several great trips to Mexico and I have never been disappointed.  Get your passport and get going to a life full of adventure!

Photos by me and my wife!

Technorati Tags: Puerto Vallarta,adventure,travel,Mexico,whale watching,Banderas Bay

I am going on an adventure the week of Feb 25-29 to sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  There will not be any new posts while I’m gone.  However, there are many new, exciting things I have planned for the site in the coming months so please stay tuned!

Adventure is the spice of life! 

We energize ourselves when we explore new places.  I love broadening my horizons by traveling to places with new cultures.  I think it is a key aspect of living a super-charged life.  I will be going to Puerto Vallarta next week.  I have never been there before and I look forward to seeing a new place and to having all kinds of new adventures.  It is exciting and stimulating.

Puerto Vallarta is a seaside paradise.

Puerto Vallarta is located on the west coast of Mexico in the northwest corner of the state of Jalisco.  It has both mountains and beaches.  It faces Banderas Bay which is the largest natural bay in Mexico.  I just checked the forecast and the daily highs will be in the mid 80s.  This a nice contrast to the weather here in Oklahoma City where its usually in the mid 30s and 40s in February.  I am looking forward to wearing shorts and sandals for long, lazy days of basking in the sun!

Opportunities for adventure abound.

There are tons of things to do in Puerto Vallarta.  My wife and I are planning to go on a  whale watching tour and an outdoor adventure tour.  Humpback whales come to Banderas Bay every year from December to March.  It is supposed to be one of the best places in the world for seeing these amazing creatures.  The bay is also home to Bottlenose dolphins and giant Manta Ray.  I am fascinated with the underwater world.  It is just so bizarre to a guy that has always lived in a land-locked state.  We have gone to Cozumel the past couple of years which offers incredible snorkeling and I have enjoyed it immensely.

Our outdoor adventure tour consists of a speed boat ride to a secluded beach at the edge of the jungle and a 4×4 ride in a Unimog to 2000 feet above sea level in the Sierra Madre Mountains.  From the base camp, we will take a mule ride higher into the mountains and subtropical forest.  We will then take a series of zip lines, rappel down a waterfall, cross mountain bridges, and splash through streams to get back to the bottom.  What an adrenaline rush!  I can’t wait.  This is ecotourism at its best!

Fun is on the menu.

Puerto Vallarta has over a thousand restaurants!  I doubt I’ll get to visit them all, but I’m going to try.  I love experiencing the cuisine in other cultures.  The seafood is supposed to be amazing.  I love fresh seafood which is hard to find in Oklahoma. 

We are also looking forward to some fun nightlife.  The Malecon or boardwalk is home to Mariachi bands and street vendors in the evenings.  There are also numerous dance clubs featuring hot Latin beat music.  Puerto Vallarta boasts more than a hundred places offering all sorts of live music – romantic, jazz, blues, Peruvian, and Cuban.  It is going to be a blast exploring it all.  I hear it all in my head right now so don’t wait up for me!

Rest and relaxation is right around the corner.

I’ll be thinking about you while I’m lounging on the beach, dining in great restaurants, listening to awesome music, and going on thrilling adventures.  Okay, maybe not. 

It is great to get away.  Rest and relaxation in a setting that totally gets your mind off your real life is in my opinion is an essential element of a fulfilling life.  I hope by describing my plans that I have inspired you to pursue an adventure of your own.  I can assure you that you won’t regret it.  Don’t forget, if you don’t already have a passport, then apply for one early.  They are required now and it takes several weeks to get one.  Happy traveling!

Photos by waywuwei.

Technorati Tags: Puerto Vallarta,adventure,Mexico,ecotourism