Puerto Vallarta, the good life

A historic city, fabulous beaches, decadent local gastronomy, electrifying nightlife… what more could you ask for for a successful holiday? Puerto Vallarta, the “treasure of the Mexican Pacific coast”, is without doubt one of the most beautiful regions in Mexico to escape to this winter.

It is impossible to get there without taking the time to wander the cobbled streets with the charming colorful facades of the old town, the “Zona Romantica”. The bell tower of the Notre-Dame de Guadeloupe church sits proudly in this area where you can find small shops, restaurants, bars, and art galleries.

The seafront, fabulously fronted with its one and a half kilometer promenade, provides a breeze on normally hot days. When evening comes, the festive lights come on and the rhythm of the music picks up. It’s party time in this part of town popular with the LGBTQ+ community.

Puerto Vallarta is also about the beaches where you can relax with breathtaking views of the hilly peaks surrounding Banderas Bay and Mexican gastronomy at its best.

The food

Although the hotels offer fine dining, one has to venture downtown to try these local dishes.

• Pescado Zarandeado: a fish cut in half from head to tail marinated in a paste of hot peppers and spices, then smoked for hours.
• Tacos Birria: A traditional dish from the region usually served for lunch with well-spiced braised meat in a corn tortilla.
• Tortas Ahogadas: a “wet sandwich” or bread stuffed with pork and topped with salsa.
• Chilaquiles: typical Mexican lunch of tortilla chips covered in red or green sauce, chicken, fresh cream, cheese and onions.

Must-do activities

There are a thousand and one ways to enjoy Puerto Vallarta and these must-sees should be part of your stay:

• Visit the Zona Romantica, also called the “old Vallarta” known for its pretty and typical cobbled streets and its many bars and nightclubs.
• Stroll through the Vallarta Botanical Garden and its Cactus Garden, cross its suspension bridge, admire the orchids and native plants.
• Sail to the Marietas Islands to snorkel from La Nopalera Beach.
• Taste tequila from the state of Jalisco, the most important producer in Mexico, in one of the shops in the centre.
• Smell the smells of fresh produce from the Olas Altas market every Saturday and encourage local artisans for your souvenirs.

The climate

Located on the west coast of Mexico, the temperature in Puerto Vallarta ranges from 29°C to 33°C from December to May. Nights are a little cooler below 20 degrees Celsius so consider wearing a light jacket in the evening.

Getting There

Air Transat offers all-inclusive packages from Montreal, Quebec and Toronto with several departures per week.

From Montreal, Air Transat flies to Puerto Vallarta 4 times a week until mid-February and 5 times a week until April.

From Quebec and Toronto, Air Transat transports you to the destination twice a week from December 20 to April 29.

GOOD ADDRESSES

Hotel :

• The Occidental Nuevo Vallarta Hotel is a recently renovated all-inclusive hotel complex located in front of a splendid beach and offers 6 restaurants, 3 bars, 3 swimming pools and a Miniclub.

Restaurants:

• To enjoy authentic pork tacos made with criollo corn: Tacos El Puerco de Oro by Dona Martina.
• For a breathtaking view and to savor a freshly caught lobster: The Kliff.
• For a slice of Madame Agustina’s coconut pie: Tienda Yuti in the village of Yelapa.

Bars:

• For the best cocktails in town and live music: the Bar la Playa
• To dance to the upbeat music at a famous club: the Mandala

TO KNOW :

• The official language is Spanish.
• The currency is the Mexican peso.
• The capital is Mexico City.

More details on airtransat.com