On November 1st and November 2nd, two of the most important festivities are celebrated in Mexico, which is Dia de Muertos or Day of the Dead. This annual event in Puerto Vallarta usually involves festivals around town with beautiful shrines and altars displayed along the iconic Malecon boardwalk.

Festivities often include mariachi performances, folkloric ballets, Catrinas, contests, and so much more. If you live in the area or plan to visit soon, continue to read below to learn more about this emblematic holiday in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

Day of the Dead

One of the biggest events in Puerto Vallarta and throughout Mexico is the Day of the Dead celebration. The origins of this holiday date back to the 1300’s when the Aztecs celebrated Mictecacihuatl, or the Lady of the Dead. Centuries later when the Spanish conquistadors came to Mexico during the 1500’s, they introduced Catholicism and All-Saints Day (Christian Holiday) which was celebrated on November 1st. Later the Day of the Dead was moved to November 2nd to coincide with Catholic holiday.

Today, Dia de Muertos is an important holiday that allows family and friends to honor those who have passed on by making beautiful altars in their memory. Likewise, family and friends will gather in cemeteries to spend the night with their loved ones that have passed away, and they will honor them with their favorite foods, music, and drinks.

How day of the dead is celebrated

If you aren’t familiar with this unique holiday, the belief is that the human soul doesn’t die, but continues to live on forever in another world. Day of the dead believes that when you pass away, your soul will leave this world and travel to the afterlife. However, on November 2nd our ancestors’ souls can come to visit the world of the living for a day. As a result, it is very important to have an altar in place to honor your loved one.

Similarly, November 1st is also known as “Dia de Inocentes” or Day of the Innocents that honors children or infants who have passed away, and November 2nd is day of the dead or “Dia de Difuntos” when older adults are celebrated that are no longer with us.

Altar Facts

The intent of building an altar is to encourage visits by the souls, so the souls will hear the prayers and the words of the living directed to them.

• The day of the dead altar must have the favorite foods and drinks of the deceased person, and it should also include the four elements of nature which are water, wind, fire, and earth.
• The altar must contain pictures of the person who has passed along with flowers.
• The most common flower used is the marigold flower because it is yellow orange in color which represents life, sun, and hope.
• Also, bread of the dead or “Pan de Muertos” is frequently prepared or consumed by families during this time as well. This baked good is similar to a sweet roll, and the bread can be made to look like an angel, animals, or a skeleton.

As you can see, the Day of the Dead is one of the largest annual traditional events in Mexico. If you are visiting Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit you can enjoy these celebration. Every November, on the boardwalk of Puerto Vallarta you can find altars in memory of the deceased, catrinas (of all sizes), marigold flowers, bread of the dead and much more.

Find inspiration with this mexican chocolate recipe for your Day of the Dead celebration

Are you ready to book your vacation? If so, contact Villa La Estancia today. Located in the Nuevo Nayarit neighborhood of Riviera Nayarit, the property is located just 20 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta airport. Our unique hotel-condo concept property is ideally situated on one of the best beaches in Banderas Bay. In addition to being an award winning resort, we also have a limited number of luxurious beachfront residences for sale. Our oceanfront homes are spacious, finely furnished, and solidly constructed. Plus, our homeowners enjoy exclusive access to our top quality resort amenities and services, too. If you are in the market for a dream vacation home in Mexico or a low-maintenance retirement home at the beach, we have what you’re looking for. Contact us at Villa La Estancia today to learn more.

Live an excellent beach vacation when you visit Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit. Enjoy the best things to do surrounded by the Banderas Bay which is the 7th largest bay in the world and the largest bay in Mexico. You have miles and miles of ocean you can explore along with many fun activities. Keep reading below to learn the top activities you can enjoy if you live by the ocean.

Top Things to do on the Beach:

Swimming

To start with, swimming is a fun activity that people of all ages and fitness levels can enjoy when you live by the ocean. For example, you can start your day with a refreshing morning swim or end your day with a relaxing dip at sunset. Swimming is a great workout that will improve your breathing, and swimming uses your body’s muscles without putting weight on your joints. This is great for those who have knee, feet, and hip issues.

Kitesurfing

Next, a new sport and more demanding water activity is kiteboarding. Kiteboarding uses the wind to pull your kite across the water. It is a challenging sport and activity that uses combinations of wakeboarding, snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and paragliding. The best place in Banderas Bay to go kitesurfing is in Bucerias, which is a coastal town. There are natural wind currents from March through June. In general, new kiters need to take at least 10 lessons with an instructor, before they are able to go out and kite on their own.

Scuba Diving

Thirdly, scuba diving in the ocean is an adventure that is always thrilling and visually stimulating. If you are a beginner, make sure you take lessons with an instructor that is certified. El Morro is the best place to scuba dive in Banderas Bay. However, you need to be an advanced diver to dive there and you will be able to explore numerous caves and tunnels. In addition, scuba divers may also get to see manta rays, sea turtles, and many beautiful and colorful fish. During the winter months, you may get to see the humpback whales too.

Paddleboarding

Next, paddleboarding is an activity that can be either a relaxing and peaceful experience, or a good work out. Plus, it’s an activity that people of all ages can enjoy. You will get a complete body workout that will also improve your balance, too. Punta de Mita is the best area to go paddleboarding in the Banderas Bay, and it is located only 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta and about 30 minutes from Villa La Estancia in Riviera Nayarit.

These activities are a great way to stay fit during your beach vacation, and it also benefits your mental health, too. Plus, there are so many fun activities to enjoy, things to see, and interesting places to visit.

Are you ready to own a beach house?

If so, then contact us at Villa La Estancia. We have beautiful beachfront residences in the Nuevo Vallarta neighborhood of Riviera Nayarit and in Cabo San Lucas. Our exclusive oceanfront real estate is popular with expats who want to live a luxury lifestyle. Riviera Nayarit and Cabo both enjoy wonderful climates with warm, sunny days most of the year.

That way, it’s easy to stay active and make the most of every precious day. If you’re ready to learn more, contact us at Villa La Estancia and schedule a property tour to check out our limited number of beachfront residences for sale. Your dream home in Mexico is calling!

The most popular coastal place in Mexico is Puerto Vallarta, and visitors worldwide love visiting here often. In fact, many people that have visited the destination instantly fall in love with the charming coastal place.

Located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has been recognized as being one of the top twenty cities in the world by Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice Awards. Read below to learn what’s so great about Puerto Vallarta.

What’s So Great About Puerto Vallarta?

Well many people really adore the area because of various reasons. For example, Puerto Vallarta still has the traditional and authentic Mexican charm, despite numerous tourists and expats that have moved to the area.

As far as where to go, Old Town Vallarta (Zona Romantica) has some of the area’s best shops, bars, and restaurants. They still have charming cobblestone streets that are fun to stroll along with friends or family. In addition, Puerto Vallarta is home to the famous Malecon Boardwalk, which runs 2 ½ miles in length down the coast. The boardwalk is lined with unique bronze sculptures along with many restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s perfect for strolling or enjoying a delicious meal and cocktails along with the amazing Vallarta weather, too.

Outdoor Activities

Many visitors that enjoy a vacation in Puerto Vallarta decide that they want to relocate here because they can enjoy outdoor activities any time of the year.

• Mountain biking
• Hiking to Cerro de la Cruz
• Whale Watching (December and March season)
• Snorkeling
• Swimming
• Scuba diving
• Fishing
• Kayaking and Paddleboarding
• Nightclubs
• Visit nearby towns
• Walk along the boardwalk
• Visit the best Puerto Vallarta beaches
• Go ATV riding or ziplining in the jungle
• Visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens

There are many different tours available and cultural events and festivals are held on a regular basis, too.

Warm Weather

Most of the year you can enjoy a warm climate, although the coldest temperature is from December to April while the hottest season is from the arrival of summer in June.

PUERTO VALLARTA WEATHER

The rainy and hurricane seasons are between the months of July to October. The rains are a bit recurrent in the afternoons and most of the time it only stays cloudy. Puerto Vallarta has a natural security of mountains around it, which protects it from the entry of tropical rain and hurricanes.

Delicious Food

Puerto Vallarta is known for its wide gastronomy, not only can you find seafood or Mexican food in the destination, there is a wide variety of restaurants of different styles where you can enjoy from Spanish food to Italian food. In fact, every year there are a couple of gastronomic events where the best restaurants in the region meet and talented chefs show their culinary works.

Cost of Living is Lower

For foreigners, another one of the main reasons why they buy a second home is the cost of living is lower compared to cities in the United States and Canada. If you want a great real estate investment, coastal properties and housing costs are much lower in Puerto Vallarta than in other countries. Plus, investing in Puerto Vallarta real estate is the ideal way to have a dream vacation home or second home at the beach where your family can spend quality time together.

In addition, the healthcare and access to quality doctors and hospitals is great. A doctor visit usually costs around $35 – $50 dollars, which is quite affordable. Likewise, health insurance and prescriptions are much lower in Mexico than they are in the United States and in Canada. Last but not least, the cost for groceries is also affordable, and there is better access to fresh fruits and vegetables, too.

It is easy to see why so many foreigners want to move to Puerto Vallarta. Located in Banderas Bay on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, the area has so much to offer. If you are interested in a luxurious beachfront residence, then check out Villa La Estancia.