Deep Sea Fishing in Puerto Vallarta - It’s Not for Sissies

You are mistaken if you imagine that a vacation in Puerto Vallarta includes little more than stretching out on a blanket on the beach. Here’s a news flash for you: Puerto Vallarta is terrific sport fishing territory. This place rocks when it comes to deep sea fishing and charter expeditions, so book your Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta now to make certain you have a place to sleep when the fishing season is at its peak.

Fishing fans love their sport in Puerto Vallarta, although many of them choose to catch and release whenever possible. Experts consider these waters some of the best; the catch of the day might include yellowfin tuna, dorado, sailfish and blue and black marlin–mostly respectable in size, occasionally gigantic. If you’re fixing for a fight, the big ones around Puerto Vallarta are happy to oblige.

Competitive fishermen need look no farther than Puerto Vallarta to find top-notch tournament fishing opportunities. The Fishing Club of Puerto Vallarta sponsors an event in the fall that draws hundreds of participants; the annual International Puerto Vallarta Sailfish and Marlin Tournament has become a widely respected event among those who know and love sport fishing. If you like to combine good deeds and fishing, check out the Hook the Cure Fishing Tournament in Puerto Vallarta; proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

It doesn’t matter why you want to go deep sea fishing in Puerto Vallarta–a number of good charter fishing companies can accommodate. Wander along the dock at the end of the day to see which boats are sporting the most flags, a sign that the crew caught a big bunch of fish. When you book your trip, confirm that your license and fees are included in the cost. Then eat a hearty breakfast, grab a cap and set out from your Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta for a day of sport fishing adventure on the Pacific.

A Day with Dolphins in Puerto Vallarta

You have been in Puerto Vallarta a couple of days now; you’ve gone shopping, you’ve enjoyed a few beverages, you’ve taken in the local scene. Today, it’s time to get away from your Mexico Vacation Villa Rental, get away from town attractions, and do something entirely different. One adventure that gets rave reviews is a day swimming with dolphins.

That’s right – you can actually get in the water with these intelligent creatures and experience them up close and in person. You can choose a dolphin experience that suits your comfort level, from interaction with dolphin and trainer in a very small group to a larger group encounter. And if you have your suspicions about dolphins, you can enjoy their antics from afar.

You can experience a dolphin adventure with a variety of operators, so shop around and read the reviews before you book a tour. Vallarta Adventures offers dolphin encounters at its Dolphin Center in Nuevo Vallarta; they ask that you leave your jewelry at home and don’t wear sun block (it’s not good for the dolphins). Sea Life Park Vallarta, also in Nuevo Vallarta, is a dolphins-plus adventure. You can spend all day playing in the water: get acquainted with dolphins in their pool, take a ripping ride on the water toboggans and float a lazy river.

However you choose to enjoy your visit with the dolphins, you’ll return home to your luxurious Mexico Vacation Villa Rental at the end of a satisfying day, slip into the hot tub with a cold beverage, and enjoy a quieter kind of encounter with another gorgeous Puerto Vallarta evening.

Go Whale Watching on Banderas Bay

If you’re like most people, you planned your vacation and took that Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta so you could spend some time in and on the water. Nature lovers will tell you that whale watching is one of the most exciting and satisfying adventures you can have on Banderas Bay. A day spent interacting with these splendid animals will leave you with a new sense of wonder for the natural world.

Humpback whales are the stars of this show; each one has unique markings on dorsal fins and flukes, so individual whales are fairly easy to identify. Take a camera and offer to be part of one of the photo-ID research programs for these wonderful creatures. Treat the whales with respect; keep your distance and don’t chase them, and you and the whales will be happier for it.

Whale watching tour operators are regulated by the government of Mexico; there is a legal season for this pastime (usually mid-December through April) and responsible operators are licensed by the government. Be a thoughtful visitor; when you enjoy watching the whales within these limits, you help to ensure the whales’ future well-being.

Choose your tour operator based on what you want to get out of the experience. A couple of operators, including Ecotours de Mexico and The Whale Watching Center, have trained biologists and oceanologists on staff. When you go whale watching with them, you’ll have a great time on the tour and you may learn a lot about whales from these knowledgeable guides. Because they work with small groups on small boats, you need to make a reservation in advance.

A whale watching excursion can be a day-long adventure, so be prepared when you set out from your Villa Puerto Vallarta. Take a hat, sunglasses and sun block. Many tour operators provide drinks and snacks, but it doesn’t hurt to take a bottle of water, just in case.

Get Out There and . . . Relax

As soon as you get settled into your Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta, you’re going to want to get going. You want to see the sights; swim, snorkel and splash; and try all the amazing adventure outings you can find. Believe it or not, all that fun might just wear you down until you feel like you need a day off to relax and regroup.

That’s great, because Puerto Vallarta is home to a huge collection of day spas that can help you loosen up. Naturally, you can spend a day in the spa at one of the big resorts, but that’s not so very different from what you will get at home. Since you’re in Mexico, you might like a spa experience that includes a taste of local culture.

One favorite day spa is Terra Noble. Its rustic outdoor setting doesn’t suit everyone’s taste, but if you have an interest in more traditional healing arts, consider their Temazcalli Ceremony. The steam bath, medicinal herbs, and chants draw from Aztec traditions, and the experience is designed to restore your spirit using elements from Mother Earth.

If you’re reluctant to take too much time away from the fun and sun, bring a massage therapist to you. Yin-Yang will pack up a massage table and arrive at the door of your Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta, prepared to massage away the knots and knocks you’ve collected on your vacation. All you need to do is decide if you want your massage in the cool comfort of the villa, or if you prefer an outdoor experience on your private patio beside the pool.

Golf with a View in Puerto Vallarta

You know how gorgeous Puerto Vallarta is, so it should come as no surprise that it has more than a handful of gorgeous golf courses. In fact, some people will tell you that the city is becoming a golf destination. If you love the game, you really ought to spend a day away from your Puerto Vallarta Vacation Villa Rental with your clubs, your sun block and your bug spray, giving your golf balls the ride of their lives.

Golfers are pretty vocal about their experiences on the course, and it’s pretty hard to find anything negative to say about Vista Vallarta Nicklaus. This championship course sits high in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, giving golfers magnificent views to go along with the challenging golf.

Four Seasons Punta Mita’s claim to fame (if you ignore the fact that several holes are prime ocean-front property) is the "Tail of the Whale," a hole built on a rocky island in the bay. Tee off from the beach and sink your putt on the green shaped like - what else? - a whale’s tail.

Los Flamingos Country Club is one of the oldest courses in town, and it’s a favorite with many golfers for a couple of reasons: its lush vegetation and its reasonable rates. If you’re still learning the game and refining your skills, this might be the course for you.

One of the nicest things about staying in a Puerto Vallarta Vacation Villa Rental is coming home to it after playing 18 holes. Unwind in your private pool, then enjoy the sunset and a great meal on your own patio. You might just convince yourself to hit the links again tomorrow.

Puerto Vallarta Has a Fine Arts Scene

Perhaps you were unaware of it, but Puerto Vallarta is becoming more widely recognized as a center for the fine arts, and for the work of Mexican artists in particular. Art is like a window into the heart and soul of a culture, and if you’re already in love with Puerto Vallarta and Mexico, you really ought to make time to learn more about its thriving art community. When you're finished exploring, you'll be able to describe to your friends the pieces that adorn your Puerto Vallarta Vacation Villa Rental.

If you enjoy sculpture, painting and other art forms, and you’re visiting Puerto Vallarta during the city’s high season for the arts (November through April), make sure your catch the Old Town Art Walk. The circuit features many of the best galleries in Viejo Vallarta/Old Town; they stay open late on Wednesday evenings just for this event. Although you can do it on your own, most hotels and local businesses can give you a brochure with detailed information and a map of the walk.

If you just don’t have time for the art walk, you still ought to visit one or two galleries. At Galeria Vallarta (Juarez 263, down the street from the main Plaza), you can see works by featured artists and you can shop. Pick up posters, jewelry and local handicrafts for those poor folks who had to stay home. The gallery staff will pack and ship your purchases so you don’t need to worry about damaging your treasures on the way home.

When you’ve finished the art walk and you’re back in your Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta, take a minute to look at the way the decorator used local arts to create just the right balance of comfort and elegance. Then go back to the galleries in Old Town and select some pieces for yourself.

Zipping through Los Veranos

It happened. The day finally arrived when a day at the beach just didn’t appeal – you’re water-logged, you’re sunburnt, you want a day to get the sand out of your toes and do something different. That is the day you need set out from your Puerto Vallarta Luxury Villa Rental and take a trip to the forest for a really cool change of routine.

Canopy Tours de Los Veranos will give you a tremendous canopy tour of the tropical forest south of Puerto Vallarta. This is an adventure you just have to try. The name says it all: you are going to tour the forest canopy, otherwise known as the treetops. Obviously, this isn’t something you want to try if you’re afraid of heights, because you will be way up there. If you’re up for it, put on your shorts and tennies, and bring your bug spray.

Canopy Tours provides a ride from Puerto Vallarta as part of the tour, which lets you relax while someone else does the driving. The trip out of town usually takes less than an hour, so enjoy the scenery. When you get there, the professional staff and guides set you up with equipment and training, and they do their level best to make certain you don’t hurt yourself zipping through the forest.

To experience a canopy tour, you travel from one point to another suspended above the forest, zinging down a zip line. You can control your speed by changing the shape of your body: spread out to slow down, bunch up to go faster. Once you get over the first shock, you’re probably going to want to go faster, but don’t forget to take time to look at the forest, the trees, the birds. You will have a blast, and at the end of the day, you can go back to your Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta, relax on the patio with a cool drink, and talk about who went fastest. Or, you can review the action again and again on the DVD you purchase from the company.