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Day Trips
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Day trips by rental car to
Punta de MITA, the North point and the desolate sandy beaches along the way,
is a natural. Many people take the Punta de Mita tour (where Canadian's Four
Seasons Hotel chain has built a 100 room boutique resort Hotel). Get the lay of the land.
Many guests pair up for economy of the car rental and return to some of the
beaches that they passed on the tour. Nude bathing is frowned upon but they
claim it happens often along this shoreline but since nobody is around...! To the South, the road
follows the coast for about ten miles from town then turns abruptly into the
mountains and winds it's way up 2000 feet for another ten miles past CHICO's
PARADISE, to the village of El Tuito. Yes, this is Chico Perez's second to
last success. He sold this to build the Chico's International just by
Felipes. Chico's Paradise is overlooking the Tomatlan river, which plunges
down narrow gorges to the Bahia de Banderas and looks Polynesian nestled in
the Jungle. Five miles further on is the
village of El Tuito, famous for REICIA, the local name for mescal, pulque or
better known as MOONSHINE.
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Guadalajara Tlacquepaque/Tonala
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Side trips to these very
interesting cities is feasible if you are staying two weeks or more but it's
pressing things if you are staying for only a week. Some people go to
GUADALAJARA or the neighbouring famous market of TLAQUEPAQUE (pronounced
til-la-quay-pa-quay) and back in the same day. It takes forty minutes by jet
with MEXICANA and airfare is less than $250 US return. Two days with one
overnight is however more reasonable and the cost is small. Good modest
Hotels can be had for about $55 US a night right downtown and restaurants
abound. The real interest, apart from the physical
appearances, museum, statues, etc. is the shopping. From time to time, we
offer packages "overnighters" and the deal and prices vary but the
coefficient of saving is wasted if you are not a serious shopper. In other
words, sure the prices are higher in Vallarta than in Guadalajara but the
cost of getting there and staying overnight may eat up the savings. However,
you will be richer for the experience. Cabs are cheap and can be rented by the
hour, which is like a tour in itself. Every cabby knows where to get it
'reasonably' (reasonably = relatives). It will be reasonable but perhaps an
adventure. Never mind, go along with it and let your nose for value guide you
rather than any suspicions of "kick-backs". Think of the story
you'll tell once you get the "whatever" back home and relate what
you had to do to get it. If you are planning a side trip to
Guadalajara ask the office for a copy of the walking guide to TLAQUEPAQUE which
is a must, also how to find the restaurant with 'no name'. We will probably
have a deal (they vary from week to week) for this side trip. Even if you go
by bus (a cheap but dreary four to five hour trip) ask us for the ground
material.
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A World unto itself.
Imagine a city with a population almost the size of CANADA's when I went to
school. OOPS!... Here, a lifetime could be easily spent and the list of
things to see and do would still be long. Budget three days the first time, at least,
to get the feel of the place for the next and succeeding times. If you are
planning to visit either GUADALAJARA or MEXICO CITY ask your travel agent (or
us) for excursion fares in conjunction with your ticket for added savings in
travel. Must sees are the pyramids, the gardens of
Xochimilcho, Chapultepec Park where Emperor Maximillian and Carlotta lived in
a castle, which you can visit for a small fee. The museum of Anthropology
(closed Mondays) is also a must see, a guide is recommended unless your written
Spanish comprehension is good. Don't forget the Ballet Folklorico at the
OPERA House, situated at ALEMEDA Park at one end of the Paseo Reforma where
the magnificent Statue of Independance is located. And and and... how do you
describe a city, where your country's population lives, in one paragraph? At 7340 feet of altitude, be careful, as
you will become tired quickly when you are not used to it. Guadalajara is at
5008 feet of altitude above sea level, which is a factor also but not like
"Dee EFFE", as the Mexican's call it. Guadalajara's climate is
known as the best in North America by wide acclaim. It is therefore not
surprising that over 50,000 expatriates of both CANADA and the U.S.A. are
living there or more pertinently along the shores of Lago CHAPALA, a half
hour’s drive beyond the airport.
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Yelapa is that
often-mentioned little village located at the far end of the south side of
the Bay that was made popular by Hippies of the sixties. Consider their age
when they rave about this place and ask them what they did there? Actually, it is a nice peaceful place
inhabited by about 400 people. It is teeming with tropical flowers and
colorful birds. The famous "Pie Lady" has lived there all her life
and her daughter is taking over her business of fresh baked pies sold by the
slice or the whole pie (banana, coconut cream and of course her legendary
lemon meringue). You can order a fresh whole red snapper
grilled over an open fire on the beach or visit the inland waterfall. There
are various boats and trimarans making daily excursions to Yelapa and the
MEX-DEV management has tickets for all of them.
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The CITY TOUR is a must for
the first timers. It is an excellent way to get acquainted with the town
properly. Your English speaking guide will give you a good historical
overview of Puerto Vallarta (he read this guide) while pointing out the flea
markets, plazas and cathedral. You can snap photos of Liz and (late) Dick's
houses in Gringo Gulch then relax and enjoy the scenic drive along the Gold
Coast past Casa Anita and the Camino Real and Conchas Chinas residential
area. The next scheduled stop is Mismaloya beach. This is the famous movie
site of the Night of the Iguana and there are still many of the buildings
used on the set, although in decay. The sight is still gorgeous although an
AMERICAN Hotel has invaded the other side of the bay and the palapa huts that
sold coco locos have given way to high rises behind the beach which, thank
God, is still untouched and likely to stay that way, what with Mexican law
governing Federal Zones - namely the land adjacent to natural water is public
property. It is interesting to see the irony of Vallarta in this Bay of
Mismaloya. On the one side the modern sleek hotel, as good as anything you
will find anywhere. On the other side of the Bay Huston's movie set left like
it was during the fateful shoot. The producer and a camera man were hurt when
a railing made with beach sand and no steel gave way and they fell backwards
nearly jeopardizing the movie. The irony lies in the monument of the
antithesis of what VALLARTA is, mirror imaging with what draws the people to
this place namely the natural beauty and the colourful people. You are not
likely to meet those people on the north side of the Bay. But on the south
side, well it's worth the trip. The next stop of the day is a beautiful
restaurant in the jungle built on and over the river with bridges and fresh
water pools, called Chico's Paradise. Chino's Paradise down the way is
similar but will give you the chance to see a live alligator. From there we
head North to a little village called Pitillal where you will have the chance
to see the town square and church as well as trying a fresh fruit snack, if
you like. The last stop of the day is at the beach
where you can have a nice lobster or shrimp lunch on the beach and enjoy the
afternoon in the ocean or relax on the beach. Arrange this tour with Sonia or
Annette and your guide will pick you up at either CASA ANITA or Corona del
Mar or even Villas SONIA and drop you off at the end of the tour.
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This is an ideal bus tour
for those who want to taste a bit of the 'real Mexico' and learn a thing or
two in the process. Your guide takes you north on this tour past the airport
and marina to the next state of Nayarit. You'll visit either a banana
plantation or a coconut grove and an authentic Mexican tile factory where
they make the hand made and hand painted tile. Tennis or walking shoes are a must as your
guide will walk you through the jungle and show you gum trees. Have a taste!
Without sugar, it isn't like Wrigleys but its something you'll never forget
and certainly something you can't do at home. You'll visit a little village and make
tacos with the locals finally moving on to the last stop, one of the most
beautiful beaches on the north shore of the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Flags).
Here you can have a swim in the ocean and get some sun. There is a quaint and
rustic restaurant where you can get a reasonable lunch if you've worked up an
appetite traipsing through the jungle. A one day in advance notice is required for
this tour which lasts about six hours similar to the Tropical Tour.
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The only inhabitants are frigates,
albatross and gulls by the thousands |
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Try one of the all day
trips to the Marieta Islands situated as sentinels or guardians of the
entrance to the BAY over the horizon to beach dwellers but visible to MEX-DEV
properties, especially at dusk when they are backlit by the setting sun. They are situated twenty miles out from the
head of the Bay where the town of Puerto Vallarta is. To get there you boat
to the Islands themselves. The boat trip is by larger boats like the GERONIMO
catamaran or the MARIGALANTE Pirate Ship and your guide will relate the
legend of the pirates who buried treasure supposedly in one of the myriad of
caves that are both above and beneath the water. This place is enchanting and will be the
focus of where you would imagine to meet Robinson Caruso or be your refuge if
things get intolerable back home. Idyllic for snorkeling or scuba diving,
surrounded by colorful coral and crusteceae, while teeming with a
kaleidoscopic selection of small fishes and eels. The beauty is that you lose track of time
while scouring the reefs and rocks once you have mastered the breathing
through a snorkel. Water temperature is not a factor in exiting the ocean,
but rather fatigue! The only inhabitants are frigates, albatross and gulls by
the thousands shrieking at you for disturbing their sanctuary, which the
island group officially is now. This tour includes lunch, snorkeling
equipment and all you can drink on board. Scuba Diving has an extra cost. Ask
for prices at the office with Sonia or Anita and enjoy a day at peace with
nature.
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