Positioned on the west coast of Mexico and sheltered from the colder, rougher Pacific Ocean by the Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta is a colourful, buzzing trip vacation spot and cultural middle for each the nation’s residents and for Individuals touring from the north. Whether or not you resolve to remain at one of many many all-inclusive resorts dotted alongside the shoreline, or in trip leases independently within the metropolis, there are dozens of wonderful actions for households within the space, from exploring the numerous pure wonders to testing town itself.
Throughout our keep, we opted for a mix of the simple life at Goals Vallarta Bay Resort and exploring town after we weren’t lounging by the pool or studying on the balcony. I feel the world is so wonderful for teenagers due to the massive vary of actions, each city and pure, and due to the heat and vibrance of the folks and space.
It’s additionally super-easy to get round, with tons to do throughout the walking-friendly neighborhood of Zona Romantica and with Ubers costing not more than $10-15 to cross your complete metropolis.
When you probably received’t get to do every little thing on the record (and in case you do: I commend you!) this can be a good place to choose and select what sounds most becoming for the folks in your loved ones.
Goals Vallarta Bay Resort
The primary query to reply is at all times — the place to remain? We opted for the all-inclusive Goals Vallarta Bay Resort, which, like all Goals resorts, is particularly designed with households in thoughts. We liked that every little thing throughout the resort was family-friendly, from the pool areas to the eating places, whereas anybody who might need a distaste for kids has the choice to remain throughout the best way on the adjoining Secrets and techniques resort (so you understand everybody round you is on the very least tolerant of littles).
When you have the finances, an all-inclusive means by no means worrying about meals or meal prep, plus a number of free actions for the entire household to get pleasure from with out each having to plan. Goals additionally helped e-book our day journeys, too. It’s such a good way to reduce your psychological load and each day labor throughout a trip — and not less than to our household, it’s effectively well worth the splurge.
Maybe most significantly, Goals Vallarta Bay presents the Explorer’s Membership, an extended-hour childcare service that enables youngsters to have an entire blast whereas their mother and father catch a sit-down meal alone or chill on the seashore for a number of hours with out having to fret about anybody drowning. Outfitted with an enormous vary of each indoor and out of doors actions, the house is acceptable for teenagers 3-12 and presents mother and father peace of thoughts with direct communication through telephone and textual content.
It additionally has an space for older teenagers the place they’ll lounge about, play video video games, play tabletop video games, or simply socialize with different youngsters who’re trapped with their households all week.
Whale Watching
By far my favourite factor to do in PV was see the whales! As a result of the world is on the sting of a big, protected bay, about 700 humpback whales and their infants winter there within the hotter, calmer waters whereas the newborns construct up their blubber and study the methods of the world.
I used to be completely flabbergasted to search out that I might simply see whales swimming within the ocean, breaching, enjoying, and smacking their tails on the water all from my balcony on the Goals resort — and I couldn’t consider how shut they’d swim to the shore. Actually, there was a “Whale alert†bell that the resort would ring if whales have been near the shore and enjoying.
In fact, if you wish to see whales nearer up, there are a selection of choices. Going out on a paddle board or kayak could be a good way to stand up shut whereas feeling nearer to the water — however could be a tiny bit scary for some youngsters. Smaller rubber motor boats can transfer quicker and get nearer to the whales, however have much less facilities than bigger tour boats. We opted for a bigger boat that held over 100 folks — the perk there was that it wasn’t as tough and there have been loads of snacks, drinks, and restrooms.
You too can see orcas and dolphins within the space, although we didn’t catch any throughout our keep in mid-January. Peak season for whales is February to March.
Chook Watching across the Marietas Islands
There plenty of excuses to get on a ship throughout your keep in Puerto Vallarta, and one among my very favorites was to go bird-watching on the Marietas Islands. Positioned far into the bay (you can not see them from town), these federally protected uninhibited lands are extremely lovely and lovingly preserved. As a result of many actions, included searching, is banned on the islands, it’s a fashionable relaxation cease and breeding floor for dozens of chicken species, together with the spectacular blue-footed boobies and the stunning red-billed tropicbirds. My favourite is the magnificent frigate chicken, which I by no means grew uninterested in watching soar over the ocean throughout our week-long journey.
Chook-watching journeys are sometimes paired with different adventures to the islands, together with snorkeling and visits to remoted non-public seashores — they usually’re an important selection you probably have little youngsters who can’t but swim within the open ocean.
Snorkeling
We selected a bird-watching and snorkeling combo journey to the Marietas Islands, which was good for seeing the plethora of life each within the sky and underneath the waves. Whereas the water was admittedly juuust a bit chilly in January, we have been handled to many forms of tropical fish in addition to a super-cool octopus. Others on our journey noticed sea turtles and manta rays.
Whereas the snorkeling waters aren’t crystal clear, and aren’t what you could be used to in case you’ve vacationed on the gulf facet of Mexico, it’s nonetheless such a cool technique to join with the land and see what’s underneath the waves.
Should you’re fortunate, and visiting through the winter months, you possibly can even hear whales singing when your head is underneath the water. Wow!
The Malecon Boardwalk
The bustling cultural middle of town is positioned in Zona Romantica — and the preferred space is the seashore and boardwalk alongside the shore. Slowly work your means down the seashore, stopping to look at the numerous whimsical sculptures, the tons of road distributors, and road leisure.
This can be a good spot to eat a number of road meals, purchase handmade souvenirs, or simply sit on the seashore and chill out. It’s additionally an incredible place to folks watch.
And it’s really easy with youngsters. There are tons of locations to cease and sit down, take a break, and eat a taco (whereas the mother and father have a chilly cerveza). There are additionally variety of clear public loos — simply don’t overlook that they value 10 pesos (about 50 cents) to enter.
On the finish of your time, attempt to catch the sundown over the water at one of many many beachside bars or eating places earlier than heading again to your resort or rental.
Mirador de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross)
Puerto Vallarta sits proper subsequent to the ocean, and never too many blocks to the east, it rolls uphill into the mountains. On the fringe of one among these hilly neighborhoods is the Mirador de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) lookout. Guests comply with a twisting set of stairs up a steep hill for an cardio 10 or quarter-hour earlier than arriving at their vacation spot, which incorporates a big cross (therefore the title) and a tall tower of a lookout the place you possibly can see your complete metropolis and your complete bay curving out earlier than you.
Whereas it’s a little bit of a trek, particularly you probably have little youngsters, it’s value it for the gorgeous views. I liked doing it on our first day on the town, because it supplied me with an ideal psychological map of town that made it simpler to get round for the remainder of the week. Simply notice: that is NOT a good suggestion you probably have a stroller. In any respect.
Cuale Island Flea Market
Is there something higher, in the entire world, than a global flea market? The reply is solely nope. Whereas there are distributors actually throughout PV, most of the finest ones are focused on this small island oasis proper subsequent to Zona Romantica in addition to on the opposite facet of the shore from the river.
There are all types of products to purchase on the market, however I used to be particularly enamored with the Huichol (Wixárika) indigenous beaded jewellery, the brightly coloured stuffed animals, the wall hangings, and extra. There may be actually one thing for everybody, and the costs are nice particularly for authentic arts and crafts (sure, I’ve heard you possibly can barter, however actually, I used to be glad to present the artists what they requested).
There are additionally a number of cats roaming about, which I discovered completely pleasant.
Self-Guided Mural Tour
One of many coolest issues about Puerto Vallarta is that there’s artwork completely in every single place. You actually can’t stroll a block with out seeing a beautiful, inventive mural — and actually, I’d say a big minority of the photographs I took through the week concerned some road artwork. It’s such a cool technique to take selfies and household portraits throughout your trip — and easily strolling round city and recognizing them is an exercise unto itself.
Hidden Seashore
Should you’ve checked out any photos of Puerto Vallarta, you’ve in all probability seen photos of Hidden Seashore — an incredible stretch of sand within the Marietas Islands that’s partially hidden underneath a dome of land. Created by bomb testing many years in the past, the seashore is barely accessibly throughout low tide and guests can solely go throughout very restricted circumstances on account of environmental protections. E book at tour with corporations like Vallarta Adventures, and they’ll get you there — and I promise the boat journey there and again will likely be enjoyable, too.
Simply notice: you do must aggressively swim within the ocean (with life jacket) to be able to entry the seashore, so I wouldn’t advocate it with super-young youngsters or youngsters who aren’t assured in open water.
Day Journey To Sayulita
Even in case you go for every week or extra, you received’t probably run out of issues to do in PV throughout your keep. However if you wish to discover the better space a bit extra, or if you’re a fan of smaller, very bizarre little hippie seashore cities, choose a half-day or day to go north up the coast to Sayulita.
Identified for its native artwork, laid-back vibe, ex-pat inhabitants, and exquisite seashores, this was the proper place to cease in small cafes, store for indigenous arts and crafts, and sit on the seashore with a beer. Even in case you haven’t rented a automobile on your journey, taking an Uber there and again received’t break the financial institution.
Hike Monkey Mountain
North of Puerto Vallarta and never too far-off from Sayulita is Monkey Mountain, one of many highest factors within the space and a good way to expertise the wilderness and wildlife exterior of town whereas additionally getting among the best views of the Marietas Islands, Banderas Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.
Positioned between PV and Sayulita, it’s simple to get to the small city the place the trailhead is positioned both by automobile, Uber, or bus. We paired the journey with our day journey to Sayulita and it labored out nice. Whereas most of the hikers we bumped into on Monkey Mountain have been a part of tour teams, it was very simple to navigate this hike with out assist.
Cease within the tiny city of Higuera Blanca for tacos earlier than you permit!
Self-Guided Road Taco Tour
Just like the mural tour, your road taco tour wants completely no planning or route. Merely let your self unfastened on town streets and begin in search of the road taco stands which have the longest traces. Meals is so inexpensive you could style tacos from quite a few stands with no care — in addition to different meals from soups to churros. Oh, the issues I might do to eat a fish ceviche taco with a number of avocado on it proper now! Till subsequent time, I can solely take a look at photos.