Travel Reflections - Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
My very first visit to Mexico is very much defined by the city of Puerto Vallarta and the beautiful Airbnb where my family had the privilege of staying. We didn’t choose to stay in an all-inclusive resort or even a hotel because we like the freedom and space we get with a private home. Keep these details in mind as you read the following reflections and as you consider planning your own trip to Puerto Vallarta.
Activities
If you love the beach and all ocean-related activities, you won’t be bored in Puerto Vallarta. The main beaches are crawling with entrepreneurial locals trying to get you on the water by any means possible from banana boats and parasails to paddle boards and jet skis. One week seemed like the perfect amount of time to do everything we wanted to do while still having time for poolside relaxation and unscheduled wandering of the city.
Here are some of the activities you can expect to find in Puerto Vallarta:
Explore various beach towns (Las Animas, Yelapa) and hire a water taxi to get there
Hike along the coast to secret beaches or through the jungle to waterfalls
Cruise the Bay of Banderas (Via Jet Ski, Paddle Board, Banana Boat, Parasail, etc)
Shop both at local shops and big malls
Snorkel
Swim in the pool and in the ocean
Take an Art Walk along the Malecon Boardwalk
Whale Watch
Beauty
The main beaches may be crowded with hawkers and tourists, but even so, the beauty of Puerto Vallarta is undeniable. Ideally, try and escape to a more secluded area or view point (even if that’s a hotel rooftop!) to be in complete awe of the natural beauty around you. The massive Bay of Banderas is framed by the jungle-covered Sierra Madre mountains so any direction you look there are amazing views. Even the hundreds buildings along the coast have uniquely beautiful aesthetic. Brand new luxury hotels and apartment complexes are intermixed with more classical residences complete with clay or thatched roofs.
Food
It’s not too hard to find great Mexican food in Los Angeles but there’s just something different about having it in Mexico! We did our best to seek out local restaurants and even food stands but unfortunately for me the most authentic places lacked vegetarian options. Luckily, I do eat fish and good seafood is abundant in Puerto Vallarta. My favorite meal was at Casa Tradicional. I ordered the catch of the day cooked with vegetables in a clay pot. This restaurant was definitely touristy but the food was fantastic and the tequila was flowing.
Safety
It’s possible I have been asked about how safe Puerto Vallarta is more times than I have been asked about how safe Cape Town is! I fully believe in being cautious about increased crime in certain places, especially when you are a foreigner. But rest assured I felt very safe walking around in Puerto Vallarta, specifically in Zona Romántica where we were staying and spent most of our time. In fact, I felt safer walking around Puerto Vallarta than I have walking near my apartment in Downtown LA!
Like any big city, there is certainly crime. However, with street-smarts and a heightened awareness of your surroundings that you should have any time you’re in an unfamiliar place, you can feel comfortable walking and exploring the city. I also want to mention that Puerto Vallarta is a very LGBTQ+ friendly city! There were parts of Zona Romántica that, if dropped there blindly, I may have thought were West Hollywood. Because of that, I’d like to believe this is a fairly safe destination for LGBTQ+ individuals to visit.
Zona Romántica
I’ve now mentioned Zona Romántica a few times so I might as well share a few more specifics about the area!
The Vibe: I loved this area because even though it was full of tourists, it was far enough from the massive cruise docks that it wasn’t overflowing with them and had a very chill and relaxed vibe.
The Prices: The activities (water taxis, parasails, snorkeling, etc) are fairly overpriced because the locals know there are always going to be some tourists willing to pay the high prices. We rented paddle boards for $20 an hour one day, took a 30 min water taxi that was $15 per person, and were quoted $50 per person for whale watching. Food on the other hand was not nearly as pricey. Alcoholic drinks were usually around $5 and most entrées were around $10 with the most expensive ones being around $15.
The People: I’m sure this isn’t unique to this particular area of Puerto Vallarta, but we encountered the most kind and helpful locals everywhere we went. Starting with our Airbnb host, and then our waiters/waitresses, boat taxi drivers, all the way to the individuals working the airport security check on our way out - there was a consistent, unique warmness that I loved about everyone we encountered in Puerto Vallarta.
Taking time to reflect after a trip is a super important part of travel! I often make realizations or observations about a place or culture once I’ve had a week or two back home to process my experiences. Interested in similar posts or need ideas to start writing down your own travel reflections? Check out my reflections from Ethiopia and South Africa!
Want to hear more about this trip? Check out my YouTube channel for a 2-part travel vlog capturing our Mexico adventures!
