Destination: Puerto Vallarta

If you’re looking for a vacation spot where you can enjoy beautiful beaches, excellent outdoor adventures, delicious food, and fascinating art & culture, Puerta Vallarta is the perfect destination. Whether you just want to relax and unwind or are looking for excitement and adventure, there is something for everyone in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta is nestled between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific Ocean in the Mexican state of Jalisco. The charming town, beautiful beaches and the lush green jungles create an ideal paradise, and the diverse population and friendly locals create a hospitable and welcoming environment for all.

Paradise at Velas Vallarta

During our last visit, we stayed at Velas Vallarta. Velas Vallarta is an all-inclusive beachfront boutique hotel just five minutes from the airport. What a relief it was to arrive at the resort within mere minutes after what should have been a short three-and-a-half-hour flight that turned into a 12-hour American Airlines delayed flight fiasco! After spending the entire day at the airport, I was more than ready for my vacation to start ASAP!

The Food

The 10-acre property located in the exclusive Marina Vallarta district is a picturesque cream and butter-yellow structure adorned with bright fuchsia bougainvillea, surrounded by tropical gardens featuring waterfalls and three swimming pools, including one with a swim-up bar. (Nothing says vacation more than ponying up to a bar stool immersed in water and ordering refreshing margaritas and pina coladas.) 

All-inclusive at Velas Vallarta includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the property’s two restaurants: Andrea, their upscale restaurant featuring gourmet meals and La Ribera, a more casual, beach front dining option. There is also a poolside cantina and 24-hour room service. Guests also get access to the in-room mini-bar, restocked daily.

Obviously, there is no chance of going hungry at Velas Vallarta. One of our favorite meals was the Molcajete Mixto at La Ribera – a generous bowl (molcajete) loaded with shrimp, beef, panela cheese, chiles, chorizo, and nopales (cactus), served with warm tortillas and salsa – delicioso!

The Fun

Included in the all-inclusive program at Velas Vallarta are several activities: yoga with a knowledgeable yogi, pool and beach volleyball, water aerobics with enthusiastic instructors, arts & crafts, a children’s program, and nightly entertainment including karaoke and comedy shows. In fact, there are so many activities included that you could be busy every day of your vacation without ever leaving the resort. 

During the time of our visit, one of our favorite activities we did during our entire trip was painting ceramic calaveras (sugar skulls) for Dia de los Muertos. We happily painted our skulls while nibbling on cheese and crackers and sipping wine. This was a fun activity, and we came away with a nice souvenir.

An ideal day at the resort, I discovered, would be ordering room-service breakfast and dining al fresco, (with a view of the ocean sparkling in the near distance), then a relaxing yoga class on the beach, followed by a trip to one of the pools (I liked a quiet spot under the pergola behind the pool with the bar) and claiming a lounge chair for the day where I could devour a good book (The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende – perfect for a vacation in Mexico!), then cooling off in the pool when the sun gets too hot and sitting at the pool bar cooling off with a frozen margarita. For lunch, head to La Ribera and order a shrimp cocktail before taking an afternoon siesta poolside, then off to the spa for a post-nap massage. The massages at The Spa at Velas Vallarta are sublime. Book an appointment the minute you arrive – they book up quickly.

One evening we got to experience a special Teepee Dinner which is a 4-course meal with wine, served in an open-air teepee on the beach, complete with a band of all-female mariachis serenading us as we feasted on our gourmet meal. This experience is offered at an additional cost starting at $80. Velas Vallarta offers these special events available at an additional cost:

• Garden & Beach Picnics: Guests can opt for a picnic within the tropical gardens surrounded or directly on the beach complete with beautiful ocean views. Both options offer a bohemian chic atmosphere accompanied by a cheese board, paninis or wood-fired pizza, traditional desserts, and select wines.
• Teepee Dinner: Surrounded by dream catchers, candles, and torches to set the mood, the Teepee Dinner includes a four-course dinner with wine. The four-hour experience requires a minimum of ten people to book and includes one bottle of wine per couple.
• Bonfire on the Beach Dinner: Ideal for groups or large families, the Bonfire on the Beach Dinner includes a four-hour experience surrounded by palm trees and candles while relaxing around a bonfire.
• Romantic Experiences: Custom experiences can also be arranged for romantic celebrations including marriage proposals and vow renewals. These romantic experiences can include a sunset dinner on the beach accompanied by a candlelit path, flowers, and live music.

Velas Vallarta is popular for hosting events. The evening we enjoyed the Teepee Dinner, there was a large corporate party celebrating at the other end of the restaurant and we saw preparations for a wedding. Clearly, Velas Vallarta is a place for celebrations!

Experience Puerto Vallarta!

Le Kliff Restaurant

I would be remiss if I did not share some of my favorite things to do while in Puerto Vallarta. There are the beaches, the jungle, and the quaint town itself and all should be enjoyed. Here’s my list of five must-do’s while visiting Puerto Vallarta:

1. Visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens This is hands down one of my favorite spots in Puerto Vallarta. You’ll need to rent a car or hire a driver to take you deep into the jungle to reach this oasis. Once you arrive, you’ll see that you have come to a cool, green place. Yes, the garden is beautiful, but my favorite thing to do at the garden is to have lunch at Hacienda de Oro. The food and cocktails are delightful, but the best part about the restaurant is it sits elevated into the treetops with hummingbirds buzzing about while guests are entertained by the most talented classical pianist. It is Heaven.
2. Eat with Vallarta Food Tours If you want to know where the best places are to eat, go on a food tour. We discovered the best beef tacos and salsas at Don Chava, divine crab tacos at Mariscos Cisneros, and the viral-worthy tacos and tortas from the family-run and ever-popular Tacos Memo’s Grill. We devoured street tacos, churros and ended with a “nightcap” at a swanky bar. Great food and fun!
3. Fine Dining at Le Kliff This restaurant is a must – especially if you are celebrating something special. This beautiful dining venue sits on a cliff with the most amazing views. The menu features fresh fish and steaks – everything we ordered, from appetizers to dessert, was impeccable. The night we dined at Le Kliff, we witnessed the most spectacular lightning storm. It was an unforgettable experience.
4. Take a Day Trip to Sayulita A little less than an hour away from Puerto Vallarta is the small village of Sayulita. Part of me doesn’t want to share this still secret getaway. Sayulita’s beach is a surfer’s delight. You can rent a surfboard for an hour for around $15. Sayulita is also a mecca for arts and crafts. If you want to purchase art or jewelry made by local artisans, Sayulita is the place to do it.
5. Take a Boat to Yelapa Hail a water taxi and escape to Yelapa. Yelapa is a secluded fishing village with no roads, no cars, and no ATM’s, so bring cash. You will need cash to pay for a kayak, ride a banana boat, go on a guided tour via a mule or donkey, or buy a tasty pie from one of the “pie ladies” who sell a variety of fresh pies right on the beach. We hiked to the waterfalls and went swimming at the base of one of the waterfalls. Wear a swimsuit and bring bug spray.

There is so much more to see and do in Puerto Vallarta – walk along the Malecon, explore the Zona Romantica, snorkel at Los Arcos, the list goes on.

Puerto Vallarta is truly one of the most visitor-friendly destinations for travelers. The population is diverse and there are many ex-pats who now call Puerto Vallarta home. It’s an easy getaway. If you’re wondering where to go on your next vacation, add Puerto Vallarta to the list of possibilities.