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Puerto Vallarta
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Puerto Vallarta
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Puerto Vallarta
It may seem odd to visit a place that advertises itself as a “beach resort city” yet spend little-to-no time with feet in the sand and waves crashing against my body. I love beaches, don’t get me wrong, and there’s no doubt in my mind that Puerto Vallarta has some world-class coastal spots. I just can’t — outside of a couple of dinners overlooking beautiful sunsets — in all good conscience claim I had any fun on the beach during my time in the Mexican city.
Instead, like the glutton and sloth I become on certain vacations, I spent all of my time eating, drinking, sleeping, and getting a couple of spa treatments. Outside of grabbing food — becoming more and more of a favorite pastime as I age — I chose to remain fairly idle at the resort where I was staying, an adult-only, all-inclusive boutique golf resort called Casa Velas.
Puerto Vallarta is rightfully regarded as one of Mexico’s treasured tourist destinations. With a modest population (compared to that of other cities like Mexico City and Cancun) of 220,000, the city is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the southern tip of the Sierra Madre Occidental, one of the country’s most jaw-dropping mountain ranges. The weather borders on equatorial, so while a trip during the winter months is ideal, the population of tourists also increases to a point of annoyance. I happened to visit the city during a “down time,” and the lack of human interaction was a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the metroplex.
Despite my relative inactivity, there is no shortage of things to do within the city. From renowned art museums, botanical gardens, astounding architecture, hiking, diving excursions, and local markets, if you’re in no mood to “chill out,” you’ll have a large selection of activities. And, as is customary when one exits an airport terminal in Mexico, you will undoubtedly get the rundown of all the city’s attractions from slightly aggressive salespeople — but they might also offer you a shot of tequila (a decent consolation for giving them the time).
But, make no mistake, what the city is best known for is all-inclusive resorts — places that almost dare you to wine and dine your vacation away; a dare I joyfully accepted.
Casa Velas
One of the city’s best resorts, Casa Velas is a hidden gem that lies just five minutes from the airport. The all-inclusive resort doesn’t have any beach access, aside from its Beach Club terrace, which is accessible via shuttle. Instead, the lush garden resort rests in the middle of an 18-hole golf course. Interestingly, and perhaps as a way to get one to power down and recharge, you won’t find any TVs in the lobbies, restaurants, or pool-side bars. In fact, I found myself never turning on the TV provided in my room and wound up rarely looking at my phone. It was as close to a screenless getaway as one can get, and the resort’s quiet, tranquil vibe made any outside noise an unpleasant distraction. The spa treatments and jacuzzi on nearly every room’s balcony helped, too.
Casa Velas
However, one thing worthy of leaving the comforts of your resort is the city’s amazing cuisine. To get a full appreciation of the local dining scene, I highly recommend taking a food tour — the one I went on was the Vallarta Food Tours. Such a tour includes visits to places away from the normal path trekked by tourists and includes restaurants, food trucks, churro stands, and tequila bars. I can’t recommend enough the taco stand El Chulo, where the menu is full of tongue, beef cheek, and eyes — singlehandedly assuring no part of the cow goes to waste. Feeling adventurous, I couldn’t help but try every bit of “meat” they offered. And I can honestly say all were properly ingested and digested without conflict.