Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

A Date With Nature

The term “Eco-Tourism” can trigger fear in many travelers.  Sure, we all want to protect and celebrate the beauty of Mother Earth.  But don’t worry, you don’t have to live in a tree house, drink rainwater and eat wild berries to enjoy nature on your vacation.   Puerto Vallarta integrates an unspoiled environment with cosmopolitan sophistication, creating the perfect introduction to eco-friendly tourism.   This unique destination allows you to explore the “green” through day excursions and still sport your little black dress at night.

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and Sierra Madre Mountains, Puerto Vallarta is blessed with crystal clear beaches, tropical forests and secluded hideaways.  Add a thriving art scene, elegant hotels, world-class restaurants and colonial character, and you create an ecological paradise for even the most refined urbanite.

The Great Outdoors

You will not have to seek out natural beauty in Puerto Vallarta—it is all around you.  For those who want to explore a little further the surrounding areas are packed with outdoor adventures.

Go extreme.  Feel the excitement as you cruise on a speedboat, ride a mule up a mountain, rappel through a waterfall and soar 200 feet above the terrain on a 1000 foot-long zip line.  Me: Tarzan; You: Jane.  Enjoy a thrill while you survey the unique ecosystem cloaked beneath the jungle canopies of Puerto Vallarta.  This “Outdoor Adventure” is a physically demanding tour. You should be in good shape and able to walk uphill for 30 minute stretches.  Expect to get a little wet and dirty as you splash through streams and natural pools.  Perfect for adrenalin junkies, this six-hour expedition incorporates all the elements of the ultimate Mexico adventure experience.   Need proof of your prowess for your friends back home?  Smile… A professional photographer accompanies each group to document how tough you really are.

Relax.  One hour from Vallarta, Las Caletas is a private cove accessible only by boat. From the white sand beach springs a lush forest and nature preserve.  Truly a spot for adults and children alike, the calm waters allow for snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking or beach bumming.   The transitional forest up the hill, reflecting the dry and wet seasons of Puerto Vallarta, contains plant and wildlife native to both rain and arid forests.  Adults can relax with a massage, open bar and paella cooking class while the children explore the jungle on a special kids-only canopy tour.   Or enjoy some quality family time with parrot encounters and guided nature walks.

Flip for Flipper.  Submerge yourself in a new understanding of these amazing fellow mammals at the Dolphin Adventure Center in Nuevo Vallarta, just north of the city.   First, learn how to best communicate with bottlenose dolphins during a brief interactive presentation and then plunge into the salt-water lagoon. For 30 minutes you will swim, interact and play with these gentle creatures.  Capture amazing photos as you steal a kiss from your new best friend and hang on to his fin while you glide across the water.

A Room With A View

Breathe.  Enjoy an ocean view from each of the 280 rooms at the Westin Resort and Spa. With the beach to the west and Marina Vallarta to the east, the modern Westin delivers amazing vistas from all angles.  Dotted with over 600 palms, the resort creates a tropical paradise five minutes from the airport.   Private balconies allow for serene scenes while the pools promote a more festive vibe. Swim up to the bar and taste a tamarind margarita or lounge on the private beach.  Perfect for families, the Westin Kids Club offers activities and programs for children 4-12 years old.  So relax: with an in-house babysitter you can comfortably swim back for another.  As the sun sets, head to the hotel restaurant, Arrecifes, for a beachside meal—background music provided by the breaking waves of the Pacific Ocean.

Drink local.  Situated near the yachts and outdoor cafes of the Marina, the Marriott CasaMagna Resort and Spa recently underwent a $10.7 million makeover to ensure a stylish stay.  One of the few resorts with its own brand of tequila, CasaMagna grows the blue agave plants in its cactus garden.  Sip the reposado tequila by the infinity pool or take a bottle home as a perfect souvenir.  Are you exhausted yet? Don’t worry; CasaMagna features the largest resort spa in all of Puerto Vallarta.  Indulge in the Piña-Cocoa Abrigo Dulce (a decadent body wrap using sweet pineapple pulp and hydrating cocoa butter) before heading to the Caliwey Relaxation Lounge for a water Shiatsu massage.

Fall in love. Hacienda San Angel represents the perfect marriage of colonial Mexico and old Hollywood glamour.  A collection of 20 guest suites in five open-air villas, Hacienda was originally a Valentine’s Day present from actor Richard Burton to his then-wife, Susan.  Perched as a hillside hideaway with sweeping views of the Guadalupe Cathedral and Banderas Bay, this luxury boutique hotel seamlessly integrates 3 swimming pools—each unique with custom carved fountains and hand painted tiles—a rooftop Jacuzzi, private plazas, a private chapel and one of a kind antiques, into an authentic Mexican estate.

A Perfect Meal

Take it outside.  Regardless of where you stay, you must visit the restaurant at Hacienda San Angel not just for dinner, but an alfresco dining experience.  Enjoy contemporary Mexican and International cuisine with 180-degree views of Old Town, the mountains and the bay.  Arrive in time to meander through the hotel’s terraces before cozying up for a sunset-lit, mariachi-scored gourmet meal.

Spice up your life.  Any good meal is a fusion of flavors and the Mediterrexican dishes of Trio Restaurant blend classic Mediterranean recipes with hints of Mexican spice.  From the culinary passion of European chefs, Bernhard Güth and Ulf Henriksson, sprouted an obsession with local, fresh ingredients in 1997.  Thirteen years later, Trio continues to raise the gastronomical profile of Puerto Vallarta, winning the Five Star Diamond Award from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.  Casual and elegant, Trio extends the celebration of its surroundings beyond the plate by featuring local artists, musicians and an extensive wine selection showcasing flavorful Mexican wines.

Go bold.  Head to the colorful courtyard of El Arrayán restaurant for a celebration of authentic, Mexican food.  Built within a redesigned Mexican home, the pink terracotta walls, vibrant tablecloths and lively artwork create the perfect backdrop for a traditional meal. Winner of Virtual Vallarta Reader’s Choice Awards for “Best Mexican Restaurant” five years in a row, El Arrayán’s menu blends pre-Hispanic ingredients (chile, cactus paddles, bean and corn) with European introduced elements (pork, beef and cheese) now considered to be Mexican staples.  Life is better shared; and this meal is no different.  Embark on a culinary tour of the country’s regions—Plantain Empanadas from Veracruz, Chapulines Tacos from Oaxaca, Cochinita Pibil from Yucatan—while sipping on their trademark margarita, made with tangy arrayán fruit.

Puerto Vallarta seamlessly combines nature and comfort.  Spend your days exploring extreme adventure and reinvigorating relaxation.  Spend your nights savoring gourmet meals and breathtaking views.  Put a little crunch into culture, and drop a little glamour in your granola.  Whether you are a tree-hugger or city-slicker, Puerto Vallarta celebrates the charm of a colonial Mexican town with the sophistication of an international city.

*Aeromexico, Mexico’s largest airline, provides service to Puerto Vallarta from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio, Miami, Orlando, and New York.  The flights have stopovers in either Mexico City or Guadalajara.  For more information, log on to www.aeromexico.com or call Aeromexico at 1 (800) 237-6639.