Eat the Seafood!
When it arrives by boat on the beach, you eat it.
Our resort set up big tents and prepared fresh fish, veggies, coconut drinks and other yummies right on the beach for lunch for us. NICE!
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Seafood
Venture Out By ATV
Four Wheelers are a great way to travel and an amazing way to see Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay. Estigo Tours did a great job for us. They give everyone a clean bandana to borrow to cover your mouth and nose in case it’s dusty off-roading or just to look cool. We just used ours to look cool. I think it worked! Just look at us!!!
No experience is necessary to drive the 4 wheelers – just a valid driver’s license. They teach you how to shift, back up and drive fast. What else do you need? If you’re not a fast learner, you do at least have on a helmet.
This was a great tour around the town and into the mountains. This was also a private tour with just us and our guide. He knew the area well and was full of information. He took pictures all day and then sent them to my email before I was even back to the hotel for FREE. Nobody gives you pictures for free anymore. What a great added touch. I would definitely recommend this company. Very friendly and accommodating. They hooked us up with Alberto, our driver for the afternoon. We did this trip in the morning – maybe 9am.
Bring or wear sunscreen. Our tour was plenty sunny! I love the sun.
We left the downtown store on the 4 wheelers and drove through town a little ways. WOW were those cobblestone streets bumpy! Lots of interesting sights along the way. Traffic watched out for us. Not scary at all. Not even intimidating.
After the town, we went into the jungle. I had no idea the ride could get bumpier. I’ve done ATVs through the jungle before – several times. I had my big camera with me and only a little hand towel from the hotel and a dry bag. I don’t know why I wasn’t better prepared. I am the one who booked the trip so I know what to expect. I wrapped the camera and flash in the towel and secured it in the bag and tucked it into the trunk compartment. There was nothing else in there so it was free to slide and bounce around. I was a little nervous. Well maybe more than a little.
About 30 – 45 minutes later, we arrived at our first stop. I was so nervous to open the trunk and see if my camera had survived. For the entire off-road journey, I kept hearing a banging noise and I knew for sure that it was my camera bouncing around. Once our guide opened the compartment, I cautiously opened the bag and pulled out my camera. All looked good. I turned it on and took a picture. YEAH! It had survived. The bag hadn’t even moved from the corner I tucked it into. WOW! The noise I had heard – the banging – was the lid not being secure. I was so happy.
Our first stop was a nice park part way up the mountain and very scenic. We had time to hike around on our own.
We went to the last bay town on the road leading out of Vallarta for lunch, Boca de Tomatlán, an authentic Mexican fishing village. Our guide had told us about the wonderful fish they serve, fresh caught each morning, so I had to have it. I didn’t even look at the menu. He ordered it for me and then it arrived!
Doesn’t that look amazing!
No! I didn’t think so either. ‘OMG! What am I going to do with this?’ That my first question. I would never have ordered a whole fish, but I was so glad I did after I got over the shock of seeing it on my plate and ate it. It was delicious and wonderful and WOW! We have Thai Fry in FL but they don’t put the yummy spicy sauce on and I haven’t yet figured out how to make it.
This is truly a beachside lunch.
What an amazing place to have lunch. We were just feet from the water enjoying fresh seafood, homemade fresh salsa, guac, and chips. It was just GREAT! Be sure to visit Mi Ranchito Seafood Bar & Grill. You won’t regret it.
Here is my review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g664429-d3809416-r534196410-Mi_Ranchito-Boca_de_Tomatlan.html
It’s a 5 star.
We booked this tour online thru Estigo Tours. They had great reviews and kept in contact with me via email. All 3 of the tours we booked with them were private. How awesome is that?? They gave me great directions for our taxi driver and everyone at the store was friendly and helpful when we showed up. After we returned, they seemed to genuinely care that we had a good time.
We had a great time!!!
In case you can’t read it, it’s a 5 star.
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Yelapa! One of Our Favorite Excursions
We booked a private boat tour with Jet – Jet’s Private Boat Tours – through Estigo Tours. We had a terrific time on our tour with Jet, the owner. He showed us parts of Vallarta we had never seen.
Here’s my review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150793-d12357208-r534187052-Jet_s_Private_Boat_Tours-Puerto_Vallarta.html
It’s a 5 star.
He took us to private beaches and beach towns only accessible by boat, and to snorkeling places with so many colorful fish.
We explored an abandoned beach house on a beautiful private beach. It was truly amazing. Since our tour was private, we could stay pretty much as long as we wanted. We spent about 4 hours with Jet.
This could be such a cool place if someone put some money and work into rehabbing it. Where are Chip & Jo???
Looking out from the house.
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What an amazing place! What an amazing day!
After cruising along a scenic shoreline, well beyond where there are any roads, We arrived at Yelapa.
Yelapa is built right into the side of a steep hill. We climbed and experienced a small piece of their lifestyle. They have no cars and no paved roads. Access is by boat only.
We walked the streets of a quaint Mexican village, Yelapa, that only got electricity 10 years ago and internet 1 year ago.
We saw so many cool sights along our journey. Once we arrived at Yelapa, we walked through the town and met some locals. The town bar is a guy with a few beers.
Jet is friendly, knowledgable, flexible, and fun and easy to talk to. He speaks fluent English and Spanish.
They have narrow cobblestone streets for 4 wheelers, horses, donkeys, dogs, and pedestrians.
We hiked up the side of the mountain to a waterfall. This is where the town’s drinking water comes from.
More amazing views and good times from our Yelapa day.
About 1500 people live there. They have a school and a church.
We crossed a river in our bare feet and headed to the bay town for lunch. Delish!
Lunch beachside.
Some of us sampled homemade moonshine. We both enjoyed fresh seafood and guac.
A quote from my hubby……’I’m always amazed at the things you’ll do withOUT alcohol! I guess I’ll just have to imagine the things you would do WITH alcohol.’
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The Pie Lady is known far and wide and by many – even outside of the town. People at the hotel told us about her and both of our taxi drivers (to and from) love her pies. One of the concierge girls we met at the resort asked us to bring her back a piece of pie, so we brought enough for us and our new Bradenton friends too. We tried several varieties – YUM! You buy them right out of her tupperware – right off of her head!
So many very cool experiences!
Just Cruising.
You won’t find this in hotel zone or downtown PVR.
The view from Yelapa looking over the bay. Gorgeous!
What an amazing day!
We would definitely recommend this trip. We hope to return during whale season and book another tour with Jet to go out to see them.
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Downtown PVR
Puerto Vallarta is sometimes referred to as PVR – its airport symbol, or just Vallarta. No trip is complete without a visit to the old downtown area with its cobblestone streets, beautiful churches, statues along the water, the flea market, sand sculptures, and so much more.
Before we headed out, we exchanged some US dollars for Mexican pesos. Our resort had the best exchange rate and did not charge a fee. It seems that the taxi drivers prefer to be paid in pesos but they do accept dollars. Check with your hotel valet for expected taxi rates before you leave. If your rate is too high, you can negotiate. The flea market and street vendors mostly deal in cash – US or Mexican.
Downtown is very walkable. We’ve never felt threatened or scared any time we’ve been in Puerto Vallarta. The Malecon is definitely the tourist area with plenty of shops, restaurants, street vendors, statues, and even beaches.
I love the arches. They are sometimes hard to get without people.
On this particular day, there was an art show.
I took this in 2017.
And this in 2006 – it’s changed a little. The one with all the letters is hard to get with no people – even during off season. Be patient.
The church is just 1 block from the water. It’s tall. You can’t miss it.
The streets are full of cute buildings, old architecture, little shops, cars, bikes, scooters, and tourists. It’s crowded but not terrible. Some of the streets are cobblestone – rough ride but cool to see.
We’ve shopped at the flea market several times. There are great deals there. Decide how much something is worth to you and make an offer. I don’t try to get something for nothing. I realize these people are here to make a living, so I don’t necessarily try to get them to their lowest price. I just want to pay what’s it’s worth to me.
I love seeing the sand sculptures along the beach.
More street statues.
Watch for unique ‘ART’ everywhere you look.
Beware of the street vendors. They ask you again and again to buy their ‘goods’. Check out the flea market. You can find nearly any kind of ‘treasure’ there. They will negotiate also.
If you just gotta do it…..there are plenty of tourist hot spots.
If you love lighthouses, don’t plan on seeing any lighthouse tours in your search. I think this is the only lighthouse we’ve seen in PVR.
Found these super cute girls just sitting on the wall.
Here is my review: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g150793-d2440853-r534187484-Puerto_Vallarta_s_El_Malecon_Boardwalk-Puerto_Vallarta.html
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Our Fabulous Puerto Vallarta Adventure 