I admit that I have been Quite lax in finishing up my piece about our recent trip to Puerto Vallarta Mexico. I have a few free moments now, so I might as well bang it out while I still have the images of beautiful beaches in my head and the taste of the strongest margarita I have ever had on my palate.
To recap, my BF and I took a trip south of the boarder near the end of August, and I have already told you all about why you should travel to Mexico in the off season, and where you should stay once you get there – well at least where to stay if you are gay in Puerto Vallarta. Now I will tell you what you must do while you are there! Let me preface this by saying that my BF and I are not the kind of travelers to fly someplace to simply sit around for four days. We like to experience as much as we can, so we pack our days full of activity. This may leave you feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation, but it will also guarantee stories and memories for a life time!
Lets start with what to do. Activities! Puerto Vallarta is much more that a party destination for the spring breakers and a resort location for the rest of the world. The city is nestled right in-between the Sierra Madre mountains and the Pacific ocean, and adventure seekers dream! There is hiking and biking and horse riding and boats and parasailing, but we chose to go scuba diving and, the most fun ever – zip lining through the jungle!
Our hotel was instrumental in helping us decide what activities to choose. We told them we wanted to be active, so they pulled out brochures for companies that they have personally tried out and recommended. This is key! Follow the recommendations of your hotel! There are many companies that you can have adventure with, but only a few that will guarantee not only a great time, but your safety!
Our first adventure was scuba diving! Now, neither one of us was certified as a diver, but this company, Chico’s dive shop, offered a one day excursion that included a scuba training session in a pool at a local resort, and then an afternoon of actual ocean diving along with a trained scuba master. This does not give you your scuba certification, but will let you be safe enough to still enjoy an afternoon in the Pacific. I admit that I was nervous about this one, but my BF urged me to try, and the end result was an amazing experience. The instructors were patient and very thorough, and I felt completely safe even before I stepped foot in the pool where we learned how to check out tank levels, and all around how to be safe.. The next step was a trip out to a place called Los Arcos, these rock formations that has lots of sea life to explore. Granted, it was nothing like a dive on a fully established coral reef, but for a first timer, it provided plenty of interest. You are taken out on 2 dives, each in a small group – no more than 5 people – with a dive master who constantly checks on your air supply and your safety as well as points out sea creature – we held a blow fish! – and also took pictures of our adventure with an underwater digital camera. Diving is tricky, and I had a bit of trouble on my first dive. The pressure got to me a little, as well as breathing compressed air for 45 min. But the second dive was spectacular! By then I had gotten the jitters out and could really enjoy what I was seeing! I am so glad that we did this and we both are interested in diving more. Oh, and those pictures they take can be purchased at the end of the trip. It was a little expensive - $40 – but well worth it to have photos of that experience.
As they say, there is no rest for the crazy, so the very next day, we were off again, this time on a high speed boat ride to a small fishing village south of the city where we were picked up by these gigantic jeeps that jostled and bumped us up the mountains to the base camp of Outdoor Adventure – a zip line park high in the Sierra Madre mountains. Now if you don’t know what zip lining is, let me give you a quick explanation. You go to the top of a mountain where you get clipped onto a long cable via various harnesses and rigging, and then proceed to “zip” through the rain forest canopy down these lines having the thrill of your life as well as getting some breathtaking views.
I had gone zip lining while in Belize a few years ago with my family, but this company’s set up in Vallarta was far superior. For one, their guides are top notch! Not only are they highly trained, but they have amazing senses of humor and create an atmosphere of fun and excitement the entire day! By the end of your 2 hours in the trees, you feel like you have made new friends! Also, the rides down the lines were spectacular – long and fast, and some straight into a pool made by a fresh mountain river. There is more I can describe about our Outdoor Adventure, but you will be better by trying it yourself. I can guarantee it will be some of the most fun you will ever have! They too take photos of your experience that you can buy at the end of the trip – again $40, and again well worth the money.
Once again, I have run out of time. I still need to tell you where to get the best food and the best deals while shopping. I guess that means there will be one more installment, so stay tuned! In the mean time, check out the websites of Chico’s Dive Shop as well as Outdoor Adventures, which is part of a tour company called Vallarta adventures. Discounts are available at both sights if you book on line!
