Living La Vida Loca in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has come a long way from its original existence as a small fishing village. The white sand beaches and friendly atmosphere of this bay town (Bahia Banderas is the second largest natural bay in North America) are just two reasons vacationers flock to Puerto Vallarta twelve months a year. Many vacationers even end up buying real estate for a second home or retiring to this beach haven.

There's practically no such thing as a high and low season in Puerto Vallarta as the weather is attractive to travelers whether it is their warm months of winter or the sun and surf of summer. Enjoying 300 sunny days a year, Puerto Vallarta boasts an average temperature of 83 degrees.

Known as the cleanest and most welcoming beach community in all of Mexico, this area fuses Mexico's rich heritage with upscale luxury and charm. You have the opportunity to soak in Hispanic customs in the downtown area where locals have many handmade items for sale and also see the yachts coming into the port, depositing celebrities and other high rollers for their day excursions.

Top-Tier Accommodations

Escape the daily routine to a serene adults-only all-inclusive resort and savor the senses of paradise. When you combine adults-only and all-inclusive, you know you're treating yourself to the best that Mexico has to offer. Casa Velas Hotel Boutique (toll-free 866-612-1097, [email protected]) in Puerto Vallarta has distanced themselves from the pack of hoteliers catering to Americans by creating a truly unique getaway. Nestled onto the pristine Marina Vallarta golf course, the three-story hotel is surrounded by lush landscaping complete with exotic plants and towering palm trees. A short five minutes from the Puerto Vallarta Airport, Casa Velas is Mexico's only adult all-inclusive resort to be honored with AAA's prestigious Four Diamond Award.

Opened in November 2005, Casa Velas Boutique Hotel assures superiority as a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World. One aspect that separates this boutique hotel is its dedication to customer service. The hotel employs 2.1 staff for every 1 guest and you feel the difference at every turn. From the waiter to the hotel operator, the staff is there to please and make your living easy. Most of the 80 suites are accompanied by your very own patio plunge pool or Jacuzzi. This touch adds a great deal to the overall excellence of the hotel. Simply grab a cerveza from the mini bar and relax in your personal hot tub, overlooking the golf course below and staring at the stars above.

At Casa Velas, all meals, snacks, drinks by the pool, and even tips and gratuities are included. Casa Velas travels the extra mile for their guests and also includes 24-hour suite service so when you get the munchies at midnight, you simply call down and order whatever you want off the menu. And, a real favorite of guests, the mini bar stocked with sodas, beer and snacks is also included.

Owned by the same family, Grand Velas Nuevo Vallarta is just approximately 20 miles away from Casa Velas and offers many of the same amenities and comforts, such as: all inclusive, pools, spa, excellent customer service and amazing food. But, in addition, it's on a swimming beach, has three gourmet restaurants, and is much larger. The main point of difference, however - it's not an adults-only resort.

Muy Bien Mexican Cuisine

Home to some of the country's top chefs, Puerto Vallarta is a food lover's paradise. Visitors can stumble across an authentic taco stand or make reservations at an elegant restaurant perfect for even the pickiest palette. If you're lucky enough to be in Puerto Vallarta in November, they host the International Gourmet Festival, a 10-day culinary feast with samples from top chefs at 21 participating restaurants that attracts visitors from around the globe.

A few of the new fine dining kids on the block include:

Azul96 combines cutting-edge, contemporary design with an innovative menu that blends Mexican, Asian and Mediterranean elements. The restaurant has already won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for having one of the best wine lists in Mexico. Its sky bar overlooking the ocean complete with sushi bar and a makeshift beach is a popular hotspot open until 4am.

Ztai is a sleek, world-class, multi-purpose space where patrons can savor Chef Oscar Rodriguez's sophisticated Asian-Mediterranean cuisine or try the Ztai-signature cucumber martini in the Z lounge overlooking the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The Zen-like garden with its waterfalls, legendary trees and lounge beds is the ideal place to unwind at the end of the day.

Puerto Vallarta's star chef Thierry Blouet from Five Star Diamond Award restaurant Caf? des Artistes presents Thierry's Prime Steak House in the new shopping complex, Plaza Peninsula. An American steak house with French flair, this is an elegantly decorated family restaurant serving prime meats.

Spiaggia is a contemporary restaurant located on the beach at the southern tip of Puerto Vallarta's hotel zone set in a stunning 45-foot palapa. Spiaggia's cuisine is an inventive blend of Pacific Rim flavors prepared in the restaurant's wood-burning oven or charcoal grill. The resident DJ spins an eclectic range of music for patrons. Spiaggia also offers a beach club and lounge in a casually elegant setting where one can listen to the DJ's selection or just sit back and relax to the sounds of the waves.

A few other local favorite restaurants include Vista Grill, with an amazing ocean view, DeSantos, and Caf? des Artistes.

And by Night

Night life abounds in this ciudad caliente (hot city). "El Malecon", the boardwalk and shopping area downtown boasts art galleries, markets, shops, restaurants and bars for those looking for nightlife.

Mandal? is a night club with a lounge and dancing area just in front of El Malecon, which means they have a terrific ocean view as well as an incredible DJ. Other good places to visit would be Hilo and La Bodeguita del Medio.

Golden Golf Privileges

A golfer's paradise, one can enjoy Puerto Vallarta's courses year-round due to the tropical climate. In January, it is not uncommon to have sunny days in the low 70s and evenings in the low 60s. Marina Vallarta, the course surrounding Casa Velas hotel, offers beauty and convenience. This Joe Finger designed course offers 6,701 yards and a par 71 layout. Twenty minutes away, the Jack Nicklaus par 72 course offers 7,073 yards of grassy hillsides, a dense forest of palm trees, giant ficus trees and natural creeks; and nearby, the Tom Weiskopf course is also a 72-par with nearly 7,000 yards of more extreme terrain surrounded by dense jungles, deep ravines and swift creeks.

Experience Puerto Vallarta

Any hotel concierge is also able to coordinate tours to unexplored beaches, ecological reserves, the Sierra Madre, cruises around Banderas Bay, whale watching (November-March), mountain biking, sport fishing, aerial tours, and hiking. Vallarta Adventures is the most recognized company, and they offer great tours such as the Rythms of the Night, private expeditions, and Las Caletas.

You really have the best of both worlds in Puerto Vallarta. You enjoy the luxury of an award-winning resort area coupled with the authenticity of the state of Jalisco, the birthplace of the Mariachi and home to the blue agave fields that provide the sole ingredient for the manufacture of Tequila, the drink of the Aztec Gods. Feel like a god in Puerto Vallarta and know they welcome you any time. Bienvenidos

Helpful websites for planning your trip