Puerto Vallarta Adventure

This is a photo essay of my trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in August of 2022. We had a great time exploring this sea-side town and taking in the sights, sounds, and wonderful cuisine of the region.

August is hot and humid in Puerto Vallarta which provides an opportunity for bargain hunters to find great deals on lodging and activities.

We stayed at the all-inclusive Hyatt Ziva. It has five restaurants to choose from. Food, drinks, and activities are all included. The hotel has five pools to choose from. It’s a family friendly resort and has a “KidZ Club” which offers activities for the younger members of the family. The staff is very friendly and kind and extend a warm ‘buenos días’ to start the day.

A free walking tour of Puerto Vallarta is offered three days a week by the ministry of tourism. We met our friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, Reinhard, at the Municipal Tourism Office in the Old City Hall building. The tour is scheduled for two hours but we spent three hours wandering through the streets of Puerto Vallarta with Reinhard pointing out points of interest along the way. We also walked through Isla Cuale, an island in the middle of the Cuale river. The island has art galleries, restaurants, and an open-air market. If you look up, you can often see iguanas in the trees.

A good way to cool off on a hot summer day is to take an ATV ride in the mountains around Puerto Vallarta. We booked a private three-hour tour with X-Riders. Our guide, Marco, safely guided us through town and up the cobblestone and dirt road leading into the jungle. We were followed by our photographer, Ricardo, who documented the ride on his motorcycle. With the cool breeze and an occasional splash as we forged our way across the river, we arrived at Rancho mi Abuelo. There, we attended a tequila tasting and saw demonstrations of tortilla and salsa making.

The trip was a great adventure and a lot of fun. I recommend visiting Puerto Vallarta and hope to return one day.

Locations and Links:

Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/mexico/hyatt-ziva-puerto-vallarta/pvrif
BlaZe Restaurant
Casa Grande Restaurant
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/mexico/hyatt-ziva-puerto-vallarta/pvrif/dining

Free walking tours
https://visit-vallarta.com/adventures/tours/free-walking-tours/
Isla Cuale
https://www.puertovallarta.net/what_to_do/cuale-river-island/
X-Riders ATV Adventures
https://xriderspv.com/atv-tours/
La Cappella Restaurant
https://www.bellviewhotelboutique.com/lacappellarestaurant
Rancho mi Abuelo
https://www.facebook.com/GOTCHAEXTREME/