Mariachi – the Music of Puerto Vallarta

The city of Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific coast is considered one of the country’s most entertaining resort destinations. You’ll find the usual resort amenities offered up here, cloaked in shades of Mexican culture. Whether you are staying in a Mexico Vacation Villa Rental or a resort hotel, you really should make it a point to seek out attractions that identify your surroundings as distinctly of Mexico. And what could be more authentically Mexican than mariachi music?

The beautiful sounds of mariachi originated in the Mexican state of Jalisco, so this particular musical art form is right at home in Puerto Vallarta, which is located in – you guessed it – Jalisco! A mariachi group typically consists of a number of guitars and related stringed instruments, accompanied by two or three trumpets. The musicians may or may not be vocalists as well. And their music is unmistakably of Mexican origin.

A number of different mariachi groups perform in and around Puerto Vallarta. While there are plenty of street musicians in town, they’re not all mariachi. In addition to their beautiful music, which addresses themes of love and betrayal, you can recognize a mariachi group by their distinctive, silver-studded suits. Locals and visitors alike strongly recommend a session with Mariachi Cocula, who appear in a variety of venues around town throughout the week.

Your visit to Mexico can turn into something truly special when you take time to enjoy the local culture in a personal way. And if you stay in a Mexico Vacation Villa Rental, nestled in the hills around the city, you will have an opportunity to experience the city from a unique vantage point.

Escape the Crowd at San Blas

Everyone goes to the beach when they visit Puerto Vallarta. Some days, you just want to throw down your gear and enjoy the sun, but some days, you want something a bit off the beaten path. When you have one of those days, why not abandon the beach for a few hours and venture out of your Villa Puerto Vallarta to enjoy the area without the call of the crowd. One option – go north on a journey to San Blas.

This trip can be a day-long adventure, especially if you stop at the northern end of your expedition to swim and snorkel. The town San Blas is further north along the coast, about 60 miles from Puerto Vallarta.

You’ll find the pace of life much slower in this small fishing village. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, a day spent exploring town and floating in the bay will help you break your habit. Make no mistake – there are plenty of things to do in San Blas: visit La Tovara springs, see Our Lady of the Rosary Church and the ruins of the old fort, swim in Matachen Bay. And enjoy the relative quiet of the experience.

Keep in mind that holidays are likely to draw a good number of visitors to Mexico’s beach towns. For example, Semana Santa (Easter week) is the equivalent of Spring Break, and many Mexican families head for the beach in towns like San Blas. These jovial crowds add to the festive mood during any holiday season.

It’s a special treat to spend the holidays in a Villa Puerto Vallarta, so embrace the celebrations as well as the celebrants, and have a great time. If the holidays are your favorite times during the year, now is a good time to book a villa Puerto Vallarta and start your preparations for a great time on Banderas Bay.

Bring Home a Piece of Puerto Vallarta

Two kinds of people go shopping in Puerto Vallarta – people who consider shopping to be a competitive sport (team or individual) and approach it with gusto, and people who can’t say which is more fun, a root canal or going shopping. No matter which category you fall into, at the very least you’re going to want a memento of your stay in a Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta, so quit whining and start shopping.

The nicest take-aways are local treasures, items that are unique to Mexico and perhaps even to Puerto Vallarta, that will remind you of your days spent splashing in the surf and nights spent dancing till dawn. You can pick up local goods along the Malecon or at the flea market on the Rio Cuale, or you can barter with vendors on the beach. A few ideas, no matter where you shop:

You can purchase woven goods – belts, serapes, blankets and ponchos – of varying quality in a wide range of prices. You can expect to pay more for finely woven pieces crafted by local artisans, so if you’re looking for quality on a budget, treat yourself to a smaller piece like a woven belt.

Mexico is known for its beautiful silver, and again, you’ll get what you pay for. Pieces made of sterling silver will have a “.925" stamp on the back. Some of what you see on the beach isn’t solid silver, so if you want the real thing, you might be better off buying from the shops in town.

If you want to take home some handcrafted pottery or ceramics, visit Talavera at Ignacio Vallarta 266 and find something in their collection. You can choose from tile mosaics, colorful folk art pieces or an entire set of dinnerware.

Of course, you can pick up things for the young set, as well. Favorites include marionettes and traditional dolls with soft bodies dressed in ethnic costumes. Your best choice, hands down, is the piece that will bring that faraway look to your face as you revisit your stay in a Villa Rental Puerto Vallarta. That’s what souvenirs are all about!

Walk in Puerto Vallarta's Woods

Puerto Vallarta Villas are wonderful, but you have to go outside sometime! There are tons of good reasons to take a hike through the trees, and here are a few of them: it’s good for your legs; it’s good for your heart; it’s good for your mental attitude. Besides, there is no better way to see the local flora and fauna than on foot. So lace up your hiking boots (or your Tevas) and take off for a day on the trails around town. Here are a couple of options.

El Nogalito is a small village in the jungle just a few miles south of Puerto Vallarta. Drive out of town toward Mismaloya; when you reach the turn for Punta Negra beach, turn left and follow the signs on the Calzada del Cedro to the pueblo. As you get near town, look for the restaurant El Nogalito. This eatery comes highly recommended, so you might want to stop for a bite before venturing into the unknown. Besides, several trails take off from here, and you can usually hire a guide. As an alternative, you can join a tour that leaves from Puerto Vallarta. Either way, hike in the jungle, along and across the river, to the falls. Take a cool dip in the water then head back to where you started.

Many travelers recommend the hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Las Animas, along the edge of the ocean. Once again, to get to the start point, you must head south out of Puerto Vallarta; for this trip, you go past Mismaloya to Boca de Tomatlan. You can take a bus or taxi, or you can drive yourself. Cross the footbridge over the river and stay on the paved walk that follows the river until you come to the dirt trail to Colomitas Beach. Stay here to swim and snorkel, or keep going. The hike to Las Animas should take 2 to 3 hours; you can get back to Boca de Tomatlan the way you arrived (on foot), or you can take a water taxi. Then it's back to the Puerto Vallarta villas.

It should go without saying, but let’s say it anyway – you need to be in good physical condition if you plan to hike. Dress appropriately for the season and terrain you’ll be covering, and take along a swimming suit, just in case you get a chance to take a dip. Wear lots of sunscreen and take it along so you can reapply. Wear shoes that can handle trails as well as stream beds (if you’re planning a splash in the water), and always wear a hat. You’ll probably be glad you have water and snacks with you, as well.