family vacations in puerto vallarta

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Riviera Nayarit

Weekend Beaches to Visit

For expats and nationals, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta in Riviera Nayarit are top coastal cities to live in. It’s easy to see why, because Puerto Vallarta has some of the best beaches in the area. The Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay provides a beautiful backdrop, mesmerizing scenery and tons of great beaches for those lucky enough to live there. Are you wanting to kick back and relax on the soft sands drinking a delicious cocktail or just watching people in the water? You can do that in Puerto Vallarta as there is a beach that will meet all of your needs. To learn more about the best beaches in Puerto Vallarta, continue to read below.

Playa Los Muertos: Action and Excitement

Do you want to be surrounded by excitement and action, and you don’t mind crowds? If you do, then Playa Los Muertos is the perfect weekend beach to visit. Playa Los Muertos Beach is easy to find as it is the main beach in town located by the Puerto Vallarta Malecon Boardwalk and Pier. The Playa Los Muertos Beach is walking distance to many different shops and restaurants in Old Town, Puerto Vallarta, and this beach is the most popular in Puerto Vallarta. Playa Los Muertos Beach is perfect for people who want to enjoy the warm sun and enjoy mingling with the crowds. There are also restaurants that provide tables with shade right on the beach, too. Are you an adrenaline junkie and looking for something exciting to do? You can go parasailing, jet skiing, and water skiing, then take a spin on the big yellow banana boat for a fun, yet silly ride. The Puerto Vallarta pier was specially designed to resemble a sailboat, and once dusk arrives, the lights on the pier create an illuminated, romantic atmosphere.

Conchas Chinas: Quiet and Beautiful

Are you wanting to go to a beach that isn’t crowded, but instead quiet and beautiful? If you are, then Conchas Chinas Beach is the perfect beach spot for you. Conchas Chinas Beach will get you away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The waters are spectacular as they are a clear turquoise blue, and the sands are white and soft. Since the waters are so clear, the ocean waters are perfect for swimming, but the area can have strong undercurrents from time to time so stay aware. At the southern edge of the beach, you will find several shallow tide ponds, and you can watch fish and crabs just enjoying the water there. You will want to make sure you bring a picnic when you come to the Conchas Chinas Beach as there aren’t any restaurants on the beach. At the top of the stairs above the beach, you can find a few port-a-potties if you need to use the restroom. A day at the Conchas Chinas Beach will create memories that you and your family and friends can remember for many years. Living in paradise is pretty sweet, isn’t it?

Playa Palmares: A Favorite Beach with Locals

Playa Palmares Beach is a favorite beach with the locals. The Playa Palmares Beach is located on Conchas Chinas southern edge, right below a condominium complex that has the same name. Guests to the beach can use the stairs that are located off of the main highway and the stairs lead straight to the Playa Palmares Beach. Usually, the beach isn’t crowded and the water is crystal clear, which makes it great for swimming. There are no public bathrooms at the Playa Palmares Beach, but some of the local hotels have restaurants. Plan ahead and bring a picnic with you when you are visiting this beach.

Boca de Tomates: Unusual Beach Experience

The Boca de Tomates Beach is ideal if you are wanting an unusual and authentic Vallarta beach experience. The Boca de Tomates Beach sands are black, and many visitors are just not used to this. To get to the Boca de Tomates Beach, you will have to drive a few miles on a dirt road, but it is just a few minutes from the Puerto Vallarta Airport. The Boca de Tomates Beach is home to many local wildlife such as crocs and iguanas. Unfortunately, this isn’t the best beach for swimming because of the dark sands, but visitors can enjoy the wildlife and the sea turtles. The sea turtles come to this beach every year to lay their eggs, then when the baby sea turtles have hatched, the conservationists will release the baby sea turtles to the sea. This is amazing to watch and a fun experience for the whole family. On the beach there are numerous seafood restaurants where you can dine and get something cold and delicious to drink. It has been said that the best pescado zarandeado and shrimp ceviche can be found here at one of the little restaurants on this secluded beach.

Playa Colomitos: Beauty and Adventures

Playa Colomitos Beach is the beach for you if you are in search of beauty and adventure. Visitors can go on a tour of the bay on a boat, as there are several small beaches just south of Puerto Vallarta where visitors can only reach by boat. The Playa Colomitos Beach is perfect for visitors looking for relaxation among nature and adventure. To get to the Playa Colomitos Beach, you will need to take a taxi ride to Boca de Tomatlan, and this is usually about a twenty-minute journey from Old Town Puerto Vallarta. Then in Boca de Tomatlan, you will take a water taxi which lasts approximately fifteen minutes until you arrive at Playa Colomitos Beach. The sands on this beach are white and soft, and the waters are a bluish green color. The waters are clear and ideal for swimming. Before you travel to this beach, you may want to make reservations at the Ocean Grill Restaurant, which is a lovely and elegant open air restaurant next to the beach. They provide fresh and tasty cuisine that comes with an amazing view of the ocean.

Did you enjoy the information that we have provided on the best weekend beaches to visit in Puerto Vallarta? Are you a long time Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta resident or a new expat in town? If so, you should see how many of these beaches you can visit, then let us know which one was your favorite.

Recommended: Check out our Villa La Estancia Real Estate Discovery Program
by VLEAdminRE,
Real Estate, Riviera Nayarit

PV’s History: Fishing Village to a World Class Tourist Destination

The rich heritage and history are just a few reasons why Puerto Vallarta is a favorite vacation destination in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta has become very popular and tourism is thriving. Puerto Vallarta’s origins have a lot to do with its close proximity to valuable mining centers in the Sierra region. In addition, the beautiful Bay of Banderas along with the Ameca River agricultural valley have contributed to the history and development of Puerto Vallarta over the years. Do you live in Villa La Estancia in Riviera Nayarit and want to learn more about your hometown? If so, continue to read below to learn more about PV’s history, and how today it is a hot spot for international tourists.

PV’s History: Fishing Village to a World Class Tourist Destination

Before the nineteenth century, there isn’t much-documented information about Puerto Vallarta’s history. Archaeologists have found evidence that Aztatlan people inhabited this area around 580 BC. Centuries later in 1524, the Spanish invaded the area which led the native people and the Spanish colonizers to battle. The battle was very large and it occurred between Hernan Cortes and up to 20,000 native Indians. Ultimately, Hernan Cortez won the battle which led to the Ameca Valley being controlled by Spain. The valley was later renamed Banderas, because of the vibrant and colorful flags that the native Indians carried with them when they were battling. Puerto Vallarta appeared on the maps and with sailing logs as a safe place for the Manila Galleon trade. The Banderas Bay beaches and the Banderas Valley were places that ships that could go to during their travels when they were seeking refuge or a replace to restock supplies. Also, Puerto Vallarta was an area where any smuggled goods could be sent forward inland to towns that were located near Mascota, so they could avoid customs that were located in San Blas, Nayarit.

Puerto Vallarta: The Transformation

Puerto Vallarta went through a major transformation during the sixties and seventies. With this transformation, the town was converted from a small fishing village into a world class tourist destination that it is today. The federal government of Mexico started off by resolving disputes with old properties that had stopped developing for most of the twentieth century. There were numerous communal lands that was converted into land that became privately owned. In addition, in 1973 revenue from land trust sales were used to assist the city to grow even more.

Puerto Vallarta: The Night of the Iguana Legend

Another major element about the history of Puerto Vallarta’s surrounds the filming of the “The Night of the Iguana” movie in 1964. The movie was directed by John Huston, an American director, and the movie was filmed in Mismaloya which is a small beach village just south of Puerto Vallarta,. The media in the United States covered the affair between Elizabeth Taylor (actress) and Richard Burton (actor) who were the two stars of the movie. The media news reported all the fights and lover’s quarrels that the two stars had during filming, and the media attention actually helped put Puerto Vallarta on the map for tourists in the United States who were intrigued by the drama.

Puerto Vallarta: Improvements with Transportation

Another aspect that played an important role in Puerto Vallarta’s history is that the Mexican government began investing in transportation to and from Puerto Vallarta in the late 1960’s which made it much easier for tourists to visit. The Puerto Vallarta International Airport was constructed, then ground transportation was also improved, so automobile traffic could be increased to the city as well. Also, on June 1st, 1970, the El Salado wharf was inaugurated, which made Puerto Vallarta the first harbor town in Mexico. Today, the cruise ship terminal is actually located where the El Salado wharf was initially developed, and Puerto Vallarta was officially designated as a city in 1968. The federal and state government in Mexico helped make Puerto Vallarta a tourist destination. In the 1970’s, hotel and resort development started to increase, and currently there are more than fifty 5-star and 4-star hotels and resorts in the area. Over the last several decades, tourism has significantly increased in Puerto Vallarta, and there are numerous expat communities with residents from Europe, Canada, and the United States purchasing Mexican real estate or buying a second home in the area.

Puerto Vallarta: Modern Day

Today, Puerto Vallarta has economic wealth due to its perfect climate, natural scenery, breathtaking beaches, and rich heritage. Back in the early eighties, the peso was devalued which made PV a super deal for foreigners visiting the area. In the early nineties, a federal Agrarian Law was put into place that allowed foreigners to own ejido land via bank trusts. More land and properties were able to be sold, which led to increased development and construction in private homes, resorts, and condos. Puerto Vallarta’s growth was on the rise again, which allowed many foreigners to invest in real estate in Puerto Vallarta. Today, tourists who want a great vacation that they can afford come to Puerto Vallarta because it is still reasonably priced.

This article was based around PV’s history, fishing village to a world class tourist destination. Are you interested in buying real estate in Puerto Vallarta now? If you are, then you should check out Villa La Estancia in Riviera Nayarit, a quiet and tranquil PV neighborhood located on Banderas Bay. Our private beachfront residences are solidly constructed and no attention to detail has been spared. Visit our property today for a tour, and soon you could be living the Puerto Vallarta lifestyle with your dream second home in paradise.

by VLEAdminRE,
Residences, Riviera Nayarit

Mango Lover? Don’t Miss the Mango Festival in PV

Villa La Estancia residents take note! The 3rd edition of the PV Mango Festival is scheduled for this weekend on Saturday, July 6th at 4:00pm down in Puerto Vallarta’s Old Town at the Lázaro Cárdenas Park. This annual event is organized by the Instituto Vallartense de Cultura y el Comité de Ciudades Hermanas Highland Park and is open to the public. You can purchase 25 pesos tickets that are used to buy food and drinks in a typical Mexican “kermés” style. While it is hard to leave the comfort of your amazing home in paradise at Villa La Estancia, we recommend you get out and about and visit this year’s Mango Festival on Saturday, July 6th in Puerto Vallarta. You won’t regret it!

Don’t Miss the Mango Festival in PV!
Almost everyone can agree that mangoes are one of the most delicious fruits as their sweet and juicy flavor is almost impossible to resist. Villa La Estancia residents need to mark their calendars for Saturday, July 6th to make sure they attend the Mango Festival in Old Town Vallarta’s Lázaro Cárdenas Park. Get ready to sink your teeth into a bevy of delicious mango inspired treats. Lázaro Cárdenas Park is conveniently located just a block inland from the Malecon boardwalk and Los Muertos beach. Bring along the whole family and your sweet tooth! Attendees will enjoy a nice variety of mango based food and drink offerings, and there will be live entertainment on hand to keep the party going all evening long.

Mexico is 2nd Largest Exporter of Mangoes
Did you know that Mexico is the 2nd largest exporter of mangoes in the world after China? Mangoes are originally from India, and first arrived in Mexico in the late 1700’s when Spanish traders brought them over from India. Mangoes thrive in warm climates, therefore they subsequently flourished and today are one of the most popular fruits in the country. These days, mangoes are grown in many states in Mexico including Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Michoacán, Veracruz and Chiapas.

Help Support Local Charities
Not just fun festival for the public, charitable hearts will love that money raised from the event is set to benefit 3 cultural and community projects in the area including DesembocArte, Los Fridos and the local Rotary Club. DesembocArte is a children’s art workshop focused on supporting the arts for children from the neighborhood of La Desembocada. Local children’s artwork will be featured at the Mango Festival as well. Los Fridos is an organization that teaches art and music to children via hands on training activities. Last but not least, the Rotary Club helps local patients who need financial assistance to purchase leg prosthesis. They also help provide medical, dental and ophthalmological care for outlying neighborhoods in need. Villa La Estancia homeowners should come down and support these causes by attending this weekend’s Mango Festival.

Are you a Villa La Estancia resident? If so, make sure to attend this weekend’s 3rd annual Puerto Vallarta Mango Festival on Saturday, July 6th, 2019 starting at 4pm. It will be a sweet event that the whole family!

See more things to do in Puerto Vallarta:

Golf, Golf and More Golf in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit

Puerto Vallarta’s Local Art Galleries

Puerto Vallarta Icons – the New Pier

Puerto Vallarta: Dream Vacation Homes

by VLEAdminRE,
Riviera Nayarit

Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival: March 8th – 10th

Do you live at Villa La Estancia in Riviera Nayarit? If you do, make sure you make plans to attend the Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival on March 8th through 10th at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a day trip down from your home in paradise, and celebrate the local wildlife that makes life in Banderas Bay so special. Read below to learn more about the Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival which is guaranteed to be a fun and educational day for all that attend.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Just an hour drive south of Villa La Estancia in Nuevo Vallarta, the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens regularly hosts educational and cultural events. This month, Villa La Estancia homeowners should take time to day trip to attend the Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival on March 8th through March 10th. The Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a non-profit organization that heavily relies on donations to maintain operations at the naturally beautiful sanctuary situated 30 minutes south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. The Vallarta Botanical Gardens works hard to organize conservation projects and educational events that locals and visitors alike can enjoy. Would you like to know how you can help support your local community? Please visit the Botanical Garden’s website for more information about membership opportunities. A simple financial donation from residents like yourselves will ensure that this incredibly important organization continues to prosper.

Bird & Nature Festival Workshops

This year, the Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival will include numerous workshops in both English and Spanish to accommodate event attendees. The Vallarta Botanical Garden entry free is only $200 pesos per day. However, all tours and workshops that are offered outside of the Botanical Gardens cost between $600 to $1000 pesos each. A few of the top workshops to attend include a tour of the Macaw Sanctuary in Cabo Corrientes which is also known as “Santuario de las Guacamayas.” Stop and smell the roses and enjoy bird watching with a morning bird walk through the Botanical Gardens. Step back in time and see local crocodiles in their native habitat at the Estero El Salado. There is also a workshop about woodpeckers that are found only in the state of Jalisco, and a tour of Rancho Primavera located further south in El Tuito. Do you happen to have a young child who loves to draw? There is a free bird sketching course for children 8 years old to 12 years old that will be held at the Botanical Gardens Hall of Flowers. There is also an adult bird sketching course available as well that costs $300 pesos per person. Visit the Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival website to see the full schedule of events here. Make sure to sign up for any workshops that interest you as space is limited.

Botanical Gardens Location

Villa La Estancia residents should take advantage of the affordable admission fees to attend the Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival as it is only 200 pesos per day. Want to attend all 3 days of the weekend festival? You can get a weekend pass for only 500 pesos. Children under the age of 4 can enter the gardens for free. All admission costs are collected at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens which is situated 24 km (15 miles) south of downtown Puerto Vallarta. Please note that there is limited parking at the Botanical Gardens, so it is best to arrive via public transportation such as by bus, taxi or uber if possible.

Villa La Estancia homeowners should plan to head south to attend this year’s Vallarta Bird & Nature Festival from March 8th-10th. This celebration is a time to appreciate how the natural beauty of Banderas Bay, and pay homage to the incredibly rich and colorful wildlife that live amongst us.

See more: Happy Healthy Lives in Puerto Vallarta

by VLEAdminRE,
Destinations, FAQ, Riviera Nayarit

What to Expect from a Vallarta Lifestyle

So, what is it that foreigners do once they make the move to Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit to join the full-time community there? The list of potentials is endless, to be honest, as there is really something for everyone here. Get to know the Vallarta Lifestyle:

The Beach | Vallarta Lifestyle

The beaches and coves around Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit are, not surprisingly, at the top of this list, and for good reason! There is such variety in the beaches of Banderas Bay that you can be absolutely certain of finding the right beach on which to practice your favorite sport (whatever that may be!). Whether you wish to find stunning scenery to photograph, amazing coves to explore, or you want to swim, surf, paddle board, snorkel, scuba dive, or even freedive you can be sure to find the perfect place to do it all when you live in Puerto Vallarta. Get ready to put your hiking boots on, however, because there are simply not enough days in the year to see all that Puerto Vallarta’s coastline has to offer.

Vallarta’s Farmers Markets

During high season (October to May) you will find that Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit is the hub for some really lovely farmers markets! On Sundays there is a market in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle which benefits from stunning ocean views and access to some of the freshest seafood in town. Don’t forget to watch the street performers when stop to grab a bite to eat! On Saturdays from 9:30am to 2:00pm you will find the Old Town Farmers Market in Puerto Vallarta. This market has everything from street food and live music to art, clothing, jewelry, crafts, and locally grown produce! You can find the Old Town market at Lazaro Cardenas Park (adjacent to Los Muertos Beach).

Charity and volunteering

There are few better ways to make friends than through passion for a shared cause, and in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit there are plenty of wonderful charitable causes which would benefit from your time and attention. There are animal shelters, orphanages, and old people’s homes; there is also “children of the dump”, a women and children’s refuge. There are also some schools for disabled children which could benefit from your experience and help. What better way to make friends than by giving back to the community in which you now live, laugh, and love?

Movie Theatres

Puerto Vallarta has almost as many movie theatres as gas stations (well, maybe not quite), and they’re generally reasonably priced as well as utterly charming. Thanks to this variety you can be sure you’ll find one that suits you to a T fairly quickly! At the Isla shopping center, for example, there is a VIP cinema which features in show waiters who will attend to your needs through each showing. If you have kids, on the other hand, there is the cinema adjacent to Pitillal which has a slide running all the way from the top row to a pre-show kids area.

Live Theater

If you’re a lover of live theater you should definitely get involved with Act II entertainment (found on the corner of Basilio Badillo and Insurgentes Street). They are always on the look out for fresh talent, and besides the viewings are affordable; even if you don’t want your shot at stardom you can enjoy the productions they put on! The theatre itself also has a lovely piano bar which is a great place to kick back, have a drink, and meet new people for those who enjoy a bit of luxury.

Taking a road trips

When you live in Banderas Bay, there are plenty of place to explore. Hire a car or take to public transport and explore the many wonderful colonial towns, lakeside villages, and seaside cities which pepper this landscape.

Share with us what do you like the most of the Vallarta Lifestyle!

by VLEAdminRE,
Real Estate, Residences, Riviera Nayarit

Raising a Young Family in Banderas Bay

If you’re looking to relocate to Mexico and have a young family in tow, finding somewhere that’s child friendly and full of potential is absolutely paramount. Banderas Bay, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, could be one of those places which presents a great choice for you and your loved ones. Here’s why…

Climate

People who live in colder, wetter climates are well-used to the reality of kids being stuck indoors for days at a time due to poor weather, but in Banderas Bay this is less of an issue. Very rarely will your kids ever have to stay in with only the TV and games consoles for company here; the climate and weather are perfect for exploration and adventure. Banderas Bay does, in fact, benefit from year round sunshine and ideal temperatures from November to mid-April with no rain clouds in sight. Summer can see heavy rainfall, but generally it is only for a few hours a day.

The environment

Banderas Bay is a fairly small area to be found on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and has a long stretch of sandy beaches and coves that will delight children of all ages. The waters are safe to swim in, and the temperature is fair year round; you could swim, surf, and make sandcastles in a new place every weekend for months and never be bored.

Banderas Bay is also lucky enough to be surrounded by the stunning Sierra Madre mountains which are not only stunning, but offer a wealth of pastimes to enjoy. You could go hiking, zip-lining, mountain-biking, or horseback riding if you wished. You could even choose to live close to the river; this river is often calmer than the sea shore and is great for swimming in. your kid need never be bored when there’s so much of the great outdoors to explore here.

Activities

Raising a family is far from dull, and it can often be stressful, but in Banderas Bay there’s a huge amount to get excited about. There are so many clubs, activities, sports and groups for your kids to get involved with here that you might start to miss them! You could get involved, too, of course. Why not take up paddle-boarding or surfing? Learn to salsa, or just pick up some of the hobbies that fell by the wayside at home? There are also plenty of sports on offer at the local stadium.

Childcare and schooling

Childcare is much more affordable in Banderas Bay than in the USA and Canada; you’ll probably be able to afford hiring a full-time nanny if you wish. As a Villa La Estancia owner you will also be able to call upon the resort’s babysitting services if and when you’re stuck for childcare. This is a real plus if your kids are younger than school age and/or you need a break. There are also a few good bilingual, private schools to be found in the bay which vary in location and price; there’s no reason why you shouldn’t find the right one for you and your family.

The culture on Banderas Bay

If everything we’ve already mentioned doesn’t convince you that living in Banderas Bay is a good thing for you and your family then the culture should. This is such a diverse country that you can be sure your children’s eyes will be opened to many different ways of life. They can learn a second language, which will be good for future career prospects, and learn from their teachers and new friends in a way that will help them to grow into open-minded and accepting people.

by VLEAdminRE,