Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The Beauty of Bahia de Banderas:

A charming, friendly town with an authentic Mexican vibe, Puerto Vallarta offers a vibrant culinary and arts scene, local festivals and soft adventure opportunities. From the blend of architectural styles along cobblestone streets to the warm, charming people and robust culinary scene, Puerto Vallarta is Mexico unfiltered. Amazing sunsets at the bay are just one of the many perks. From locally inspired activities to creative and colorful event set-ups, an all-encompassing experience awaits. If you love a beachfront escape as much as you do the mountains, Puerto Vallarta, located between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay, is the place for you. Local festivals such as the Puerto Vallarta Gourmet Festival and the Guadalupe Processions, honoring the town’s patron saint, highlight some of the area’s cultural attractions and anticipated events.

Sumptuous lunch trays on the day cruise out to Las Caletas.

(Images: Ruksana Hussain)

Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa is perfectly located here on the bay for you to enjoy the ocean day and night. When you are not out exploring the coast, take part in a tequila tasting led by the resort’s own Tequila Ambassador, unwind at the Ohtli Spa or cool off at the swim-up bar in the infinity pool. Removed from the crowded hotel zone and near the exclusive Marina Vallarta, the resort is just minutes away from the galleries, markets, restaurants and boutiques downtown. Every room overlooks the infinity pool and bay, each with a private balcony or terrace. Needless to say, there are splendid sunrise and sunset views no matter where you stay on the property. There is no shortage of things to do here. Book the Ambassador suite and you’ll have a spacious terrace complete with a whirlpool jacuzzi from where to soak up the views. From November to April, there’s even a chance you might just spot Humpback whales by massage and hydrotherapy treatments. The right from your own balcony. Iyari Grand Luxury Suite is a 280-square-foot private room designed for those who want a piece of the Ohtli spa to themselves. Couples, destinations bridal parties or even celebrities seeking a paparazzi-free escape love this space. Four restaurants are onsite - Las Casitas, Mikado, La Estancia and Champions Sports Bar - plus a Ceviche & Tequila Bar.

Participate in the successful sea turtle rescue and marine life conservation program at the Marriott PV.

Activities around PV are many. Tee off at the nearby Marina Vallarta Club de Golf, head out on a whale watching excursion or cruise to a secluded private cove for dinner and a theatrical outdoor performance at Rhythms of the Night Tour. Get away to a private beach to nap in a waterfront hammock or explore with a mask and snorkel at Las Caletas. Vallarta Food Tours highlighting the area’s culinary scene and the Malecon is a great way to get acquainted with the city and hangout where the locals do.

Experience a custom tequila tasting at the herb garden.

Marriott Puerto Vallarta grows its own blue agave on property in the cactus garden and is one of only a few resorts in the world with a proprietary brand of tequila called Casamagna. Its five varieties include blanco, joven, reposado, añejo and extra añejo. Audrey Formisano, Tequilier, hosts weekly tastings to help familiarize you with the satisfaction of sipping on this magical potion.

The herb garden on property is an opportunity to take a seat under twinkling string lights at the handcrafted wooden table and enjoy the scents of the surrounding herbs including sage, rosemary, spearmint, peppermint, thyme, basil and a variety of chili plants. The hotel offers garden tours guided by chefs who explain the way the spices are used in local cuisine, followed by a cooking demonstration and a four-course dinner. Additionally, the “Dine Around Mexico” sixcourse tasting menu offers guests the chance to sample dishes from different states of Mexico while onsite in PV. If your visit permits, make time to accommodate this fabulous culinary experience.

Part of the dessert spread at the hotel’s highly-recommended buffet.

This is also one of the few hotel properties in the world to have an animal rescue and conservation program, giving back to the environment where it is located. For the sea turtle rescue program here, in the summer months, biologists commissioned by the Marriott comb the beaches to preserve and protect sea turtle nesting areas. Since the program started more than a decade ago, more than 4,000 nests have been incubated at the hotel’s nursery, and over 1,200 incubated naturally at the beach. Don’t miss out on the chance to name their tiny sea turtles, gather at sunset, wish them luck and set them free to return to the ocean. It will be a highlight of your visit and a fond memory for a lifetime.

Art and sculpture installations on the property, this one at the spa. www.PuertoVallartaMarriott.com

If being out in the calm of nature is all you seek then The Vallarta Botanical Garden, named one of “the top 10 North American Gardens Worth Travelling For” at the North American Garden Tourism Conference in 2019, is a must for your itinerary. The garden was also included in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice 2019 Best Botanical Gardens in North America. It houses native plants from Mexico and around the world across 20 acres of land. This includes the most visited public collection of orchids in the country. There are four conservatories showcasing local and international exotic flowers, plus vanilla, chocolate and coffee plantations; a museum; a rock collection; and a population of hummingbirds and other wild birds. The Los Horcones River, offering breathtaking views, runs alongside the property, which is also home to the award-winning restaurant La Hacienda de Oro.

For dining in the area head to El Arrayan - serving authentic Mexican dishes in an intimate courtyard, Cafe des Artistes - a unique dining experience in a creative old town setting or head on out to where the locals are ar La Palapa and Pepe’s.

If you seek adventure then jungle canopy zip-line tours, ATV jungle treks, hiking, biking and horseback riding are all available but for friends of the water, deep-sea fishing, boat tours to Las Caletas (a private cove for swimming), and Marietas Island for snorkeling are recommended. Visit the mystical Huichol Indian Village and partake in gallery walks for a taste of the local culture or plan for some whale watching and birding tours to satisfy your animal loving spirit.

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