Enjoy the High Seas in Puerto Vallarta

Whether we admit it or not, one of the reasons we visit exotic, far-away places on holiday is the fact that no one knows us there. We let our hair down and cut loose, secure in the knowledge that no one from the office will hear our fractured Spanish or see our spirited interpretation of salsa dance. It explains why vacation rentals in Puerto Vallarta are so popular – we can be kids all day long. And what’s more fun for a kid than a pirate ship?

A voyage on the fearsome pirate ship Marigalante will provide hours of fun for all the kids who stay in vacation rentals in Puerto Vallarta, including you. The ship sets sail six days per week (apparently, pirates take Sundays off). A day trip will introduce you to the hair-raising adventures of Captain Crispin the Terrible and his pirate crew. Make no mistake – these brigands are determined to see you have a good time.

The day trip leaves between 8 and 9 in the morning and includes breakfast and lunch (and an open bar for big pirates). Guests enjoy snorkeling, paddling kayaks and other water sports, while kids like the pirate games and treasure hunt. The evening sunset tour is fun for adults; it starts around 5 p.m. and includes with dinner and fireworks.

John Huston’s Slice of Puerto Vallarta

Stay in a Puerto Vallarta villa rental and you might find yourself almost overcome with the sense of romance that surrounds the city on Banderas Bay. If you want to take that dreamy ambience a step further, plan a day trip to the old home of film director John Huston.

A short trip by boat will bring you to a lovely, quiet private beach that was once home to Huston; a bit north is Mismaloya, the dramatic setting for the film, Night of the Iguana. For those who don’t remember, this is the film that featured a behind-the-scenes affair between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Trips leave from Maritime Terminal at 9 in the morning every day except Sunday. Guests should plan to be away from their Puerto Vallarta villa rental for about 6 hours, and they can expect fun much of the time (some people don’t enjoy the boat ride so much).

The day starts with breakfast (it is the most important meal of the day), and includes a variety of water sports (snorkel, paddle a kayak, enjoy a guided tour of the area). And just when your tummy starts to remind you that it’s time for another meal, the staff serves up a wonderful buffet lunch.

Sightseein by Air from Puerto Vallarta

Some folks who stay in a Puerto Vallarta villa rental refer to them “land excursions,” to distinguish them from expeditions that involve climbing aboard a boat of some sort and crossing the water in Banderas Bay to enjoy time in a secluded location. Others might be inclined to disagree, arguing that anytime one’s feet (and the rest of one’s self) leave the ground, one ceases to be traveling on land.

No matter what words they use to describe it, many guests who enjoy a week or two in a Puerto Vallarta villa rental don’t mind taking off (literally) to explore some of Mexico’s hidden treasures. A number of tour operators are prepared to fly visitors to some special attractions that are not that far from town by air.

For example, a short flight over the Sierra Madres will put you in the historic mining town of San Sebastian. Once upon a time (a few hundred years ago), this was a busy mining center; today, it’s a quiet village tucked into the hills. The trip will give you a chance to explore Mexico far from the tourist zone and get a first-hand glimpse of that country’s past.