Mexican Adventure

A lot of highlights (check out my journal). The main point is that this is a very relaxing and fun destination, from picking up a corn on the cob on the boardwalk to shopping at the many stores along the streets. Stay in the Marina area if you want a more romantic adventure. The boardwalk is very fun and has a lot of bars and restaurants, but being away from all of that and then taking a cab there is ideal.

Quick Tips:

Research where you want to go before and plan accordingly. There are a lot of fun activities to do, and if you don't plan well, you will miss out on some. I really wanted to go on the canopy tours but just ran out of time.

Best Way To Get Around:

Cab are everywhere and pretty cheap.

This resort is located on the north side of Puerto Vallarta near the marina. It is right on the ocean, with a decent beach and a nice pool. The lobby and the rooms are clean and very inviting. Being oceanfront is a nice luxury, and waking up to the sound of the ocean hitting the beach every morning was refreshing. The food at the hotel is adequate, and the bars are all pretty fun and entertaining (pool bar, sports bar, and indoor bar). I really liked the fact that you are surrounded by mountains, except for the opening of the bay where the sun sets over the ocean.

The staff there was extremely helpful and kind. I wanted to visit a few restaurants while I was there, and once I mentioned the names, the staff called and made reservations. The location of the hotel is great. The marina is a few blocks away from the hotel and is easy to walk to. The marina offers over 30 places to dine and many different choices of food. The hotel is also a 10-minute ($5) cab ride away from the boardwalk.

The River Cafe was a nice place to visit, but I'm not sure it was everything I was hoping for. The scenery there was nice and romantic. Where I sat, it was open-air, with trees that surround the eating space, right alongside the small river that runs beside the cafe, and the decor was okay except for a couple tables looked like they were broken. The major drawback of the cafe was that there were more bugs there than I could count; being next to a woodsy area with the river, expect to swat at some mosquitoes. The drinks were good, and the food was pretty good. The location is nice because you can go out and shop in the markets nearby.

I really enjoyed this place. I'm a person that loves breakfast, and this was right up my alley. It is on the north end of the marina, with a section of inside dining. They serve American breakfast foods with some Mexican ones, all very good and fairly priced. We ate there every morning, and it was great every time. I think the service was outstanding. The server we had was wonderful; he remembered everything we told him and asked how the day before went. It felt like he was a friend. There was a nice view as well.

I loved it. They served Italian food, and it was great. This service was wonderful. It was very well-priced. My ex and I ate and drank there for about $20, and it was a meal I would have gladly paid $50 for.

This was a fantastic adventure. To start things off, you board your vessel and get an intro that will definitely produce you a giggle or two. The crew does almost anything to make you laugh. They are great throughout the trip, singing and dancing.

During the 90-minute sunset cruise, you are given all the free drinks that you can handle, which is a curse. You sail past the countryside and watch the mountains and trees glow in the sun's orange glow. The sight is truly relaxing and peaceful.

The sun sets and the stars come out. Around that time, you arrive at an island for dinner. You follow a torch-lit trail to your table. You are forced to pair up with another couple to make tables of four (the only thing I didn't care for), but the people we sat with were great (just as drunk as us) and they give you three bottles when you sit down. The food is not the best, but it's not really about the food. After the meal, you watch a play that is very well put together. After this, you start on your way home. It gets pretty chilly, so they break out ponchos that can be bought for $20 (not too bad). You can expect to be gone until around 11pm. It is worth the money. You can sign up for it online (suggested to guarantee a spot) or go to their office at the marina.

Going to swim with the dolphins was a fun experience. Once you get there, you are briefed and then you go for it. For $60, you can pet the dolphin. You get into a pool that is shallow and the dolphin is brought in. You rub the dolphin’s stomach and play with him for about 20 minutes. He then does a few tricks, and then everyone gets in a line and poses with the dolphin. They have the dolphin come up to you and give you a kiss, and you get a picture to take back.

The snorkeling cruise is a pretty good time. Once again, you are given as many drinks as you can take, which is nice. You sail out to an island near the opening of the bay. Once there, you get your gear and then get into the water. You are instructed to follow the group leader, and he directs you to an opening in the massive rock island. The opening is about 20 feet wide and about 5 feet from the top of the water. After you swim into the cave, you arrive at a beach that is in the middle of the island. It is really amazing and peaceful; I wish I could have stayed there longer. After this, you head to a beach that is on the way home and disembark to enjoy drinks and beach volleyball. After a couple hours there, you are off, heading home.