Puerto Vallarta - A Little Taste of Tropical Mexico!
Written: Jul 06 '01 (Updated Jan 27 '03)
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Pros: Reasonable prices, tropical setting, friendly people
Cons: Parts of the town are dirty. Lots of pushy street vendors
The Bottom Line: A wonderful tropical vacation spot with lots to see and do - and some of the friendliest folks I've met.
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| LordBalfor's Full Review: Puerto Vallarta |
My wife and I recently returned from a wonderful stay in the lovely town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was a terrific trip, filled with wonderful memories and I highly recommend the place.
Our journey began with a flight on Alaska Airlines from Seattle. The weather was superb all the way down, affording terrific views Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood and the volcanic crater-strewn eastern side of the Oregon Cascades. I had somehow forgotten just how many craters and cinder cones there were in eastern Oregon. There were literally dozens of them of all sizes – quite an impressive and interesting sight.
Anyway, after stopping briefly in Los Angeles so that customs could inspect the plane, we took off again and headed for Mexico. Passing over the marshlands at the outlet of the Colorado River at the northern end of the Sea of Cortez, we continued down along the coast. In the distance, beyond the sparkling blue waters, were the hazy mountains of the Baja Peninsula, while directly beneath us stretched mile after endless mile of white sandy beaches punctuated by scattered coves and occasional marshes. I was surprised at the complexity of the shoreline and the number of small (and sometimes not so small) islands along the way. On the maps I’d seen of this area (admittedly not too detailed), the shore appeared to be rather boring – this was far from the case however, and the ride down was one of the most interesting I’ve ever taken. The coves and islands looked fascinating, sporting a number of small, seemingly picturesque villages and anchorage’s dotted with boats. Though it’s hard to say for sure from 30,000 feet, it seems to me that this area is ripe for additional tourism.
Along with the interesting sights afforded by the coastline, the interior made for fascinating viewing as well, for when the plane drifted slightly inland, a whole new scenery opened up outside my westward-facing window. Directly below was an astonishing series of ever-changing vistas. Each time the interior came into view, it seemed the scenery had changed. First there was a trackless sea of apparently endless sand dunes with not a speck of green anywhere to be seen. This was classic desert, rather like what you’d expect to see over the Sahara. The dunes went on and on. You know when you hear on the news about illegal immigrants who die of thirst and exposure while trying to sneak across the border into the United States? This is one of the places that they are talking about – and after flying over it and seeing just how barren it is, I can understand how it happens. Actually, I find it amazing that anyone could cross that desert. My observation of this sandy desert was brief however, as the plane adjusted course a little and drifted out over the water once again.
Later, when the plane pulled back over the shore, the view was totally different, This time the scene was one of an incredibly complex pattern of overlapping dried out watercourses, layered one upon the other. Millennia after millennia of flash floods have no doubt left behind these series of channels and runoffs that scar and re-scar the land over and over again. To be sure, the floods are undoubtedly rare, but it was obvious that they do occur, and the end result is what can only be described as some of Mother Natures’ finest works of art (though perhaps only when viewed from the air). I’m serious, the whole effect really did look like some bazaar work of modern art – desolate, but incredibly intricate and really quite beautiful. The plane then once again pulled out over the water, leaving this view behind.
Later still, on another pass over the interior, the view had changed again. This time we were over a series of marshes. Small rivers, seemingly springing out of nowhere, carried their life-giving waters down to edge of the sea, where lakes and saltwater marshes no doubt provided homes for any number of birds and animals. Here, too were a number of farms, undoubtedly drawing sustenance from these same waters. As we made our way south, more and more farmland began to appear, and it became obvious that the availability of water was becoming more widespread. Soon, villages and towns began to show up as well, and before long the plane headed out to sea where it banked to the east, made an “S” turn and dropped us down onto the tarmac at Puerto Vallarta’s airport.
It was much drier here than I expected. Puerto Vallarta is far enough south so that it is out of the desert belt and into the jungle belt of Mexico. However, unlike Hawaii (which is at the same latitude), Puerto Vallarta’s dry and wet seasons are VERY pronounced. We went in late May (the tail end of the dry season) and were told there had been virtually no rainfall since December. No kidding! It was bone dry. This detracted a lot from the natural beauty of the place. Though the palm trees were of course green, almost all the underbrush was dead looking and barren. In fact, probably 2/3 of all the trees were entirely without leaves. Apparently the dry season is “winter” as far as the vegetation is concerned.
I knew that the rainy season (which lasts from about mid-June until October) is the “off-season” and I had deliberately planned the trip to arrive during an off-peak time. Neither my wife nor I am particularly fond of crowds, so the plan was to get there at the very end of the dry season (when the tourist season was winding down). However, we’d rather not go someplace tropical when we have nice weather here in Seattle (really just from July through September) since we have so little of it here and hate to be gone when it makes it’s brief appearance – hence the timing of our trip.
If I had it all to do over again, however, I think I’d plan the trip for late September/early October. This would take us there at the tail end of the rainy season when (hopefully) the rains are dying down a little (some late afternoon showers are OK) and the jungle foliage is at its most lush – but early enough so that the crowds have not yet arrived. This is just my opinion – but hey, that’s what Epinions is for. In any event, I don’t want to sound too negative. The place was still beautiful and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Our arrival at the airport was pretty smooth, and soon we were loaded into a minivan with another couple and on our way to our hotel. Puerto Vallarta is situated on the Bay of Banderas (Bay of Banners), an enormous crescent of sandy beaches that curve up against the rugged, jungle-clad Sierra Madre mountains. Pinned this way (between the mountains and the sea), it is long and narrow, with several very distinct (and very different) neighborhoods. Although some parts are better than others, overall it is a pretty city (often considered one of the nicest in Mexico), with narrow lanes and cobblestone streets. There is some poverty there and some rather dirty sections, but in general it’s a pretty nice place, and, since the airport is north of the city proper and our hotel was south of town, our drive gave us a pretty good overview of it. Later, we returned for a more detailed examination (and of course shopping).
Among the different sections:
Nuevo Vallarta: This area comprises a string of huge mega-resorts along the beach and a nearby, brand new upscale suburban development laid out along a series of saltwater marshes and canals. A sanctuary for all kinds of birds (including herons and egrets), it is also home to a number of crocodiles (some of them quite large) and iguanas, as well as the usual assortment of frogs, turtles and various other amphibians. The homes here are mostly new, large and would not look out of place along a waterway in South Florida somewhere. We took a boat tour along the canals and found the area to quite pretty. These beautiful homes are set on generous lots, many of them with waterfront settings, backing as they do onto these watercourses. This section is north of the city proper (and actually in a whole different state and time-zone).
The Hotel Zone: This is a very modern section of the city, home to the bulk of the areas’ big hotels. It was nice and clean and had almost a “Southern California” appearance. If you want to go to Mexico, stay in a huge resort, with brand new facilities that have everything you need, and feel like you never left the States, then this is definitely the place for you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not really putting it down. Some of the hotels along this strip have absolutely stellar reputations, and there are many fine restaurants and shops. Supposedly the worlds largest swimming pool, nearly a mile long sits at one of the hotels along the beach in this area. If you like Waikiki, then this is where you should probably stay if you go to Puerto Vallarta.
The Marina District: A recent addition to the city, this area is anchored by a new marina and condo complex that looks like it could be part of San Diego. Clean, modern and full of Americans (many of them no-doubt retirees residing in Mexico), it is very nice and interesting for those who like to spend some time checking out the mega-yachts that can be found there. If you take any of the water-based tours that operate out of Puerto Vallarta, you will likely board your boat at the huge, sterile cruise-ship dock that lies in this general vicinity.
El Centro: The main downtown area, this is home to the Malecon – the popular promenade that lines the downtown beach. Here you can find shopping galore during the day (especially jewelry stores which seem to overflow the place), and rambunctious nightlife after dark. Here too you will find the ever-present time-share vultures and hoards of street vendors offering “real silver” (Not!) bracelets and necklaces at prices 4 to 5 times what the same items go for in the legitimate stores. Overall, it was not my favorite area of the town, with some streets being a little on the dingy side. On the plus side, there are some nice photo opportunities here (as the place has a lot of Mexican character - with narrow cobbled streets and faded, whitewashed buildings), and there is every kind of restaurant you can imagine (including Planet Hollywood and Hooter’s for those who are a little homesick). There is also a really cool shop/museum featuring terrific scale model displays of some of the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan. I believe this shop serves as a conduit for a time-share sales pitch but the folks there were not as pushy as those in a lot of the other places we encountered along this strip. In any event the models are really cool and well worth a look. There are also a number of interesting items to purchase in this shop.
Isla Cuale: This long, skinny island in the middle of the Cuale River is easy to overlook, as the short bridges that pass over it give hardly a hint that it is there, so you may have to keep you eye out for it. Crowded with lush, green trees, it is a little oasis in the middle of town – a wonderful place to stroll, shop, and take some fabulous photos. There are a couple of really nice restaurants along the river here and lots and lots of artist’s shops selling everything from purses and backpacks to dresses, hats, tee shirts and jewelry. In some ways this area reminded me of Honolulu’s International Market, situated as it is among the wide overhanging trees. In any event, the place is well worth a visit, and can provide a welcome respite from the often-oppressive heat of downtown. If you wish, you can cross to the island on a none-to-sturdy looking rope bridge suspended over the rocky river.
The Romantic District: Our favorite part of the city, this is a quaint, predominantly residential area just south of the River Cuale, just below where highway 200 climbs the bluff that extends south of the city along the coast. Here the cobbled streets are tree-lined and bordered with an odd collection of houses and shops. It is the “Bohemian” part of town, home to a large number of small galleries and artist workshops. There were many Americans (and Canadians) residing in this area side by side with their Mexican neighbors, and everyone seems to know everyone else. There are narrow, winding alleys leading to unexpected little courtyards where fountains trickle and locals sip their morning coffee while chatting animatedly with their neighbors. Some the homes here are quaint and modest, while others are large, beautiful, and quite extravagant. There are also some nice little hotels in this area, and if you are seeking an “in town” vacation (as opposed to our “somewhat secluded resort” type of vacation), this is where I suggest you stay. These hotels are much smaller than the mega-resorts of the Hotel Zone, and lack some the facilities of those giant complexes, but there is much, much more atmosphere to the place and it is not necessary to drive in order to find things to do outside of the hotels themselves. The beach in this area is considered to be one of the better (and more popular) in the Puerto Vallarta area, though in all honesty, we ended our explorations here a block or so short of the waterfront, so I can’t give you a personal report.
The South Shore: This is a long stretch of winding coastline, bordered by highway 200 and dotted with a series of beautiful beaches and rocky outcroppings. He lie some of the areas’ most beautiful homes and condominium complexes, along with a number of high rise resorts. Though not nearly as large as the mega-resorts in the hotel zone, some of these complexes are pretty big. This area is undoubtedly the most scenic part of the Puerto Vallarta region as the jungle-clad mountains here pretty much come down to the sea. Our resort (the La Jolla de Mismaloya) lay perhaps 10-12 miles out along this stretch of road.
Among the things we did (besides shopping and laying around the pool at our resort):
1) Took the “Rhythms of the Night” cruise: This was by far the best experience we had on our entire trip and almost worth making the trip to Puerto Vallarta for alone. Essentially, this is a combination party cruise, extremely romantic dinner, and terrific dance and music show (in an incredibly exotic setting). You begin your adventure at 6 p.m. or so at the large, sterile, cruise ship dock just north of downtown, where you are loaded onto a fairly large, modern catamaran, for an hours’ ride south along the coast. During this time the crew (mostly multi-lingual college-aged kids) serve free drinks and try hard to keep everyone entertained. This part of the trip was okay, but essentially just another “booze cruise” (though admittedly the crew was pretty personable).
The real pleasure of the evening however, begins when you arrive at your destination. The boat takes you south to Caletas, a remote spot along the coast with no roads and limited electricity (provided apparently by gasoline powered generators). Here, at a spot only accessible by boat, and nestled among the trees and bushes of the jungle, sits one of the most unique restaurants we’ve ever encountered. Strung out along perhaps 200 meters of picturesque beach (broken up into small sections by rocky outcroppings) can be seen a collection of open, thatched roofed buildings and a number of small dining tables set among the palms and out on the open beaches.
As the boat pulls up to the long stone quay that juts out into the water, the haunting sound of a conch shell echoes across the waves, your first clue that you are in for a very different kind of dining experience. As you clamber off the boat and make your way along the quay, you are greeted by costumed dancers striking poses along the beach and overhanging rocks along the shore. Here you are led along a winding pathway through the palms to the thatched roofed dining areas and cozy little tables. The tables among the trees and on the beaches are fairly widely spaced so that each couple has some degree of privacy while those in under the thatched roofs are a little closer together. In this manner, the entire group of guests is strung out on this long stretch of beach, each type of seating (under the trees, out on the open beach, or under the thatched roof canopies) has a terrific view of the setting sun, and each is a totally different kind of dining experience.
Smartly dressed waiters and waitresses serve rolls and wine at your table and you are given a few minutes to enjoy the sunset before a delicious buffet dinner is served. As the sun drops into the beautiful blue waters of the tropical Pacific and the sky darkens, you find you are dining by torchlight and candles, the only sound being the gentle “swish” of the incoming waves as they expire against the sand, and the call of birds and insects emanating from the jungle-covered slopes. It was absolutely wonderful! The most unique and romantic dining experience we’ve ever had.
But the evening is not yet over. After your leisurely dinner under the stars, you are called back along the winding, torch-lit trail and led a little deeper into the trees. Here, set among a small clearing, sits an amphitheater literally carved out of the hillside. Colored lighting enhances the setting and a small group of musicians (playing bongos, Peruvian pan-flute, and synthesizer) helps set the mood as you are seated on a series of long wooden beches. Overhead, set against the slightly darker silhouettes of the overhanging palms, the last traces of light fade from the sky as it gradually changes from indigo to jet black, and before long the show begins.
I really can’t describe the show properly as I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Set against the ever-present backdrop of the jungle’s nightly chorus, dancers clad in enormous Aztec-style headdresses and brightly colored Spandex, tell us tales of Mexico’s past. For those of you who have been to Hawaii and took in the evening “Horizons” show at the Polynesian Cultural Center, it is a similar show to that (though with a much smaller dance troop and not nearly so elaborate), but with a much more exotic setting. It was one of the coolest experiences we've ever had. The combination of lighting, music, talented brightly-clad dancers, the warm tropical night air, and the constant sounds of the jungle made for a truly vivid and memorable experience. All I can say is “Wow!”
Sadly, the show eventually ended and we filed back along the trail, past the burning torches and through the palms to the huts along the beach. Here we had a few minutes more in this terrific place before it was time to board the boat and head back to town. On the way back, under the canopy of stars, drinks were served and a dance organized. I am NOT a dancer, but feeling wonderful after a terrific evening and loosened by a few drinks, even I got up to take some time on the dance floor.
Here, under the dim crescent moon (that somehow just didn’t quite look real), my wife and I danced sweetly to “Lady in Red” as the ships’ lights were dimmed down to nothing. Off in the distance the lights of the city twinkled, while overhead, the stars did the same. A pretty nice ending to pretty darned nice evening. If you do one thing in Puerto Vallarta, take this cruise with your sweetie. If was one of the most memorably things we have ever done and perhaps one of our most romantic evenings ever. A word of advice however: book this trip as soon as you arrive. We made reservations on a Tuesday (our second full day there) and couldn’t get in until Friday night (our next to the last night there) – and this was during the “slow” season. In fact, you might want to book this trip in advance. For more info take a look at Vallarta Adventure’s web site.
The URL is: http://www.vallarta-adventures.com/tours/rhythms.html
Trust me on this, if you do only one thing on your trip to Puerto Vallarta – take this tour!
2) Dined at Chino’s Paradise: This exotic dining establishment, set just up the Mismaloya River from where we stayed, is located not far from the site where the film “Predator” was made. To reach it you must either rent a car, take a tour bus or hire a cab (which is what we did) to take you up through the dilapidated barrio along a winding, deeply rutted road best handled by a 4-wheel-drive vehicle like a Jeep or a LandRover. Man, we had no idea where we were headed. The road just kept getting rougher and rougher. For a brief moment the thought flashed through my head that we were going to taken out, robbed, and dumped in the middle of no-where.
Finally, the cab pulled into a gravel parking lot and dropped us off. Here sat a tour bus, a couple of cars and a Jeep. We climbed out, paid the cab and surveyed our surroundings, suddenly wondering how we were going to get back down to our hotel. Too late, I turned to ask the driver, but he was already gone. “Oh well” we thought, “we’ll worry about it after we eat”.
Making our way past a woman selling shoes out of a rickety wooden lean-to, we ambled along a winding pathway that followed the river upstream, and soon came within sight of the restaurant (sitting on the far side of the river). This was a pretty cool place!
Widely known outside the area (thanks to numerous write-ups and photos posted on the web), Chino's Paradise is often confused with Chico’s Paradise (a place we wanted to see as well, but never got around to) that also sits along a river in the hills south of Puerto Vallarta. The restaurant is a rustic, thatched roof complex clinging tenaciously to the hillsides along the shores of the Mismaloya River. Even during the dry season, the vegetation here is fairly lush, just after the wet season ends it must be incredibly beautiful. Crossing the wooden bridge to the far side, we wandered “in” (I use the term loosely as there were no walls) and were immediately greeted by a warm smile and a cheerful “Hola!” (“Hello”).
There is no electricity here, and the restaurant is only open during daylight hours (I believe it closes at 6 P. M.). All food is fresh and cooked to order over an open fire. The menu is a little limited and changes every day based on what is in season and available. After having the days’ menu explained to us and making our choices, we were escorted up some crooked concrete steps built into the hillside to our table. The seating areas of the restaurant are arranged along a series of terraces, some having half a dozen or more tables, some having only 2 or 3. All of them are laid out under a sprawling thatched roof, part of which was being re-done in preparation for the coming summer rains. All the tables look down on the river (running very low when we were there) and the pretty little pool that sits at the base of a small waterfall.
As we waited and sipped our drinks (enormous concoctions poured into hollowed out coconuts and pineapples), we watched swimmers frolicking in the light green water. Occasionally, one of the other diners would though a piece of bread into the water and hoards of hungry trout would swarm over to feast.
Though the setting was really cool and the service superb, the thing that really made our meal there so memorable, was the wonderful food. Quite simply, our meal, (particularly my wife’s choice – a fine seafood platter), was one of the best meals we have EVER eaten, anywhere, anytime – certainly in the top 10 or 12 meals. It was sooooooooo good (and I’m NOT a big seafood lover) and in such large portions! Man oh man - what a meal!
3) Went on a bus “Safari” up into the jungle and out to a pristine, private beach for a BBQ: This was a pretty good tour that that would have been even better had we not been traveling with a really obnoxious couple in our group. They were folks in their mid to upper 30’s (they apparently had a son back home who was 18) who were acting more like they were 18 themselves. Apparently they were staying at an “adults only” hotel (the guy mentioned several time how the female hotel employees wore thong bikinis) and were definitely “on the prowl” for some extra-curricular activity. That was okay and didn’t bother me so much (folks can do what they want), except that they were so darned loud – especially on the way back to the hotel (at the end of the day), when the buses' cooler was opened and booze brought out. I have to admit, there are few things I find more pathetic than a man going on 40 who yells out on a crowded bus “YEAH ! BEER!” I might expect that of a teenager or college student, but coming from someone his age, it was just plain stupid.
But I digress. The trip started early in the morning when we loaded up in a big, heavy, diesel tour bus (that reminded me of school bus on steroids), and were taken north to Nuevo Vallarta, where we were put aboard small boats for an up-close look at the canals and marshlands. We saw a lot of birds here, some iguanas and one juvenile crocodile. It was pretty interesting and the houses along the water were very nice.
We then re-boarded the bus and headed north again, leaving the state of Jalisco (pronounced “Hell Ees Co”) and entering neighboring Nayarit. Here we crossed the broad fertile valley of the Rio Ameca (dotted with lush, green banana orchards and pineapple plantations) before heading up into the mountains. This area was actually fairly green, even at the end of the dry season, and as the winding road made it’s way along the narrow tree-clad valleys, we passed a succession of villages and farms, most of them looking pretty well kept up and fairly prosperous. After the rainy season, this area must be stupendously beautiful.
In any even before long we found ourselves near the ocean once again. Here we had some refreshment (consisting of freshly made tortillas, salsa and bean paste washed down with a little taste of tequila) at a small rustic house overlooking the water. We then took a brief hike down to a beautiful (and pretty much deserted) beach for a refreshing swim. The day was very hot, the jungle pretty much airless, and water felt absolutely wonderful (especially after searing our feet on the blistering sands to get out to it). Though the waves were a little rough (I got knocked on my butt and washed up on shore with sand EVERYWHERE), we had a good time in the water, even if we did return somewhat bruised and battered. Later, after time for a little afternoon siesta under the shade of a canopy, we were treated to pretty good BBQ. All told it was a worthwhile diversion, and you might consider such a tour.
4) Went on a boat tour/snorkeling trip to Yalapa: This was not really a good trip – though admittedly some of the blame lies with us (me specifically). This tour left directly from our hotel. We were taken out to a beautiful trimaran boat and scooted across the waters to Los Arcos, a cluster of large rocks jutting out from the sea. Here we were loaded into life vests, fitted with facemasks, snorkels, and fins and allowed some time to explore the waters around the rocks and examine the sea life.
Anyway, I am a very poor swimmer and rather afraid of deep water. I have SNUBA dived before (see my Kauai review for an explanation of SNUBA), and went on a helmet dive in Bora Bora’s fabulous lagoon – but I just didn’t like the water here. It was a little too cold for my tastes (though admittedly warmer than I thought it would be), too murky, too rough, and (to be honest about it) just plain a little too deep for me to be comfortable. I found I was reluctant to wander far from the ship, so I saw only a few fish. There was no fault on the part of the operators - I just couldn’t get comfortable in the water.
Later, the boat headed down to coast to a small, secluded cove where we were again given a chance to snorkel (and again I didn’t like it much – the water there was even cooler than near Los Arcos). Finally, the boat took us to Yalapa, a small, isolated village sitting on a beautiful bay. Here we hiked through town up a waterfall where we bought a cold pop at a rustic café and watched some local children frolic in the muddy water. I had high expectations for Yalapa but was mostly disappointed. The village was dirty, with trash laying about everywhere, and had a generally unkempt appearance. In addition, the smell of dog feces was strong here and definitely lent an unappealing air to the place. In all fairness, there was also a touristly looking beach nearby that seemed much cleaner, but we didn't have time to explore it.
5) Had delightful dinner at Tony’s Restaurant: We heard about this place from another couple we met at the hotel. Apparently, he did some free-lance writing for Conde Naste magazine and claimed to know a lot about which restaurants were the best in the area. After taking his suggestion and trying Tony’s I have no reason to doubt him. The restaurant lay just upriver from our resort, in the midst of the barrio we rode up through to get to Chino’s. It was actually within walking distance, but since we had no idea where it was we took a cab there (then walked back down the hill after dinner). It looked like a nothing little place and was barely marked. Warmly welcomed by a group of small children who took us by hand and guided us inside, we soon found ourselves in a wonderful multi-floor restaurant with open sides (overlooking the valley below) and packed-earth floors. The service here was really good, the staff nice and friendly and food terrific. I highly recommend it.
Aside from these activities, we spent a lot of time around the pool at our hotel (see my La Jolla de Mismaloya review for more detail on this delightful place), and just generally unwound. All in all we had a terrific time. I have to admit to some apprehensions about a vacation in Mexico. My only previous experience with it had been a very brief trip to Tijuana that had some very unpleasant aftereffects (I had a real ugly case of Montezuma’s Revenge – oh my God! Not only did I think I was going to die – I almost wanted to!). In any event, I was not anxious to repeat that experience. In fact, if not for my wife’s oft-repeated wish to see Mexico (she had never been), I never would have made this trip at all.
Anyway, Puerto Vallarta pretty much changed my opinion of Mexico. We had no problem with any food or drink anywhere we went (we even had ice in our ice tea and bought ice cream cones from an ice cream shop on the downtown waterfront). While perhaps not up to the cleanliness standards of San Diego or other U. S. cities, clearly, Puerto Vallarta is not Tijuana. Yes, there was some poverty there, and some dirty parts of the town, but overall, it was a pretty nice place. I didn’t like it as much as Hawaii, and certainly not anywhere near as much as fabulous Bora Bora and Moorea in French Polynesia, but I definitely do not regret going there, and plan to return to Mexico at some time in the future (we’ll try the Yucatan coast next time). Mexico can be a delightful place, with much to offer – most of all perhaps its’ wonderful people. The folks in Puerto Vallarta were some of the nicest, friendliest folks I’ve ever encountered.
So if you are thinking about going, go ahead and do it. Chances are you’ll have a pretty good time.
PS: For those of you who wondered how we ever got back down from Chino’s Restaurant – we hitched a ride with an American couple who had rented the Jeep in the parking lot. The usual technique is to grab a cab that someone else just took to get up here – and hope that you are not the last person to arrive! Also, to avoid the crowds associated with the arrival of a tour bus, get there after 3 P.M.
PS2: I should mention, that all the beaches in the Puerto Vallarta area seemed to be home to a particularly vicious variety of sand flea. These things just chew the heck out of your legs (especially from the knee down) and left us with enormous welts that took well over a month to go away. Be sure and spray your legs with insect repellent.
PS3: I just thought I'd mention this: Those of you have have been to Cancun and other Mexican beach resort locations on the Caribbean - do NOT expect to find the warm, shallow, clear water found in the Caribbean ANYWHERE on Mexico's West Coast. The Pacific water is (in spite of the name) generally rougher, deeper and colder.
PS4: For those of you who are interested, you might want to take a look at my review of the La Jolla De Mismaloya Resort titled “La Jolla De Mismaloya – The #3 Beach Resort in all of Mexico!”. You can find it by clicking on “More Epinions by LordBalfor” at the top of the page...
... or just click here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_30321315460
PS5: You also might want to take a look at the photos from my trip. The are posted (along with our Tahiti, Hawaii, and Bora Bora shots) on Webshots.com at the following URL:
http://community.webshots.com/user/lordbalfor
Enjoy!
Ken
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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Epinions.com ID:
LordBalfor
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Member: Ken Klein
Location: Seattle, Wa
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 110 members
About Me:
I am in love with the tropics (especially the South Pacific).
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