Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019 Issue

– The Joy of Missing Out, that involves being
disconnected from cell phones, computers
and your usual daily routine. Either way,
Puerto Vallarta’s got it all.
For visitors who find their comfort zone in
adventure, companies such as Canopy River
offer hiking, zip lines, rappelling, Tarzan
lines, ATV tours, horseback riding, mule
back riding and more. Cruises on Banderas
Bay, with companies such as Vallarta
Adventures, range from leisurely sunset and
cocktail excursions, to role-playing on a
Pirate Ship, to scuba, snorkeling and whale
watching. Many of the secluded beaches just
south of the city are only accessible by boat
and once you arrive, the rewards include
delicious local foods and cultural events. In
Las Caletas, we watched the evening performance
of Rhythms of the Night, a dazzling
spectacle created by Gilles St. Croix,
the co-creator of Cirque du Soleil.
WT Library Photo
And the theme of culinary bliss is driven
home in Puerto Vallarta’s eclectic mix of
restaurants. At Barcelona Tapas, the owner,
William Carballo, told us about the natural
fresh ingredients prepared in the open
kitchen where there is no ‘chef’; only a team
who have worked together for the past 18
years. The restaurant, displaying the work of
local artists and commanding a panoramic
view of the city, served a delectable fusion of
Spanish and internationally inspired dishes:
potato and beet salads, luscious grilled
shrimp, delicate mushrooms with goat
cheese, bacon-wrapped dates, beef skewers
with peppers, and all united through sips of
refreshing Sangria.
But there are a host of foodie stars in Puerto
Vallarta. At La Cerveceria Union, the
Guacamole is yummy, the Octopus is tender
and succulent and the grilled Blue Shrimp
are addictive. In the Zona Hotelera, about a
20 minute walk away, no lunch can compete
with the smoked Marlin Tacos at Tacon de
Marlin, an unassuming corner establishment
where, if you prefer something other
than soft drinks, you first visit the OXXO convenience
store down the street to pick up
some cold Dos Equis beer to accompany
your meal.
In the Versailles area, the idea of local street
food with an added dash of international
inspiration creatively prepared by young
chefs in open kitchens, explains the line-ups
outside many of the restaurants. Amanda,
our guide with Vallarta Food Tours pampered
our taste buds at some choice places
that included the Barbacoa tacos at Hidalgo
Restaurant, Birria tacos at Maritiera, the
Bahia Tostada at Lamara, Octopus tacos at
Bocachica Ceviches, Shrimp Al Pastor at
Abulon and the Short Rib tacos at Ajo
Negro. We finished the tour at La Lulu
Raicilleria where we sampled Raicilla, similar
to Tequila but nicknamed “Mexican
Moonshine” for its 50% to 80% alcohol content.
The recommended snack kind of
jumped out at us: crunchy, dried crickets!
(and they were hopping good!)
Puerto Vallarta’s variety of hotels cater to just
about every vacation style. In the Zona
Hotelera, the Sheraton Buganvilias is a
large, comfortable property with easy
13
access to the Old Town by foot or taxi.
For those who prefer to be ‘where the
action is’ (the FOMO crowd), the Hotel
Rosita is a friendly, traditional property,
located where the Malecon begins. And for
the JOMO group, the hotels in the area
known as South Side offer a bit more seclusion
from the hustle and bustle of the city.
The 5-star Hotel Mousai, in the Garza
Blanca Resort offers amazing jungle and
beach views from The Rooftop as well as a
host of nature-focussed activities. The petfriendly
Westin in the Marina area promotes
the wellness brand where morning yoga,
Pilates and meditation combine with healthy
foods and stunning views of the Bay.
And when it comes to nature, Puerto Vallarta
is the hub for ‘outdoor appreciation’.
Humpback whales and Bottlenose Dolphins
are frequent visitors to Banderas Bay. Nature
lovers and birders flock to the area to view
and photograph endemic and migratory
species, as well as appreciate the flowers,
trees, marshes, lagoons, and the beauty of
the caves and arches at Los Arcos National
Marine Park. While the incredible Botanical
Gardens are about 45 minutes south of the
city, you can spot colorful birds, Iguanas and
even American crocodiles near the south
end of the Malecon.
It’s nice to know that from most hotel rooms
around the Bay, you can gently fall asleep to
the cadence of the crashing waves and wake
up to the onomatopoeic songs of “Great
Kiskadees”.
Bill, a retired Ophthalmologist from the
Philadelphia area, lives in Puerto Vallarta
most of the year. He suggested that in the
United States, a familiar expression is “Time
is Money”, but here in Puerto Vallarta, the
expression is “Time is Life”. It’s a more
relaxed atmosphere in a wonderfully warm
climate that rates high on the Global
Happiness scale. Whether you are FOMO or
JOMO, active or passive or seeking a creative
combination of vacation experiences,
Puerto Vallarta’s got it all!
www.visitpuertovallarta.com
Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019