shoonye

We are visiting Puerto Vallarta for 6 days and could use some help in deciding where to stay and how to spend our time. We are a couple in our early 30's traveling with our 4 year daughter. We travel very regularly and are interested in everything in equal parts, i.e. we like to soak the culture of a city, combined with some natural attractions and some time lazing around on the beach. What we absolutely cannot stand is spending 3-4 days constantly lazing around the beach. We like to move around and do things.

With that out of the way we are thinking the AIs of neuvo vallarta and the big resorts north of the old town and the Marina would not be a right fit for us. Are we better off staying in the Zona Romantica? On the other hand we do often like to stay in a nice resort but it looks like from my preliminary research if we wanted to do that we would have stay away from the old town area. For example, the CasaMagna Marriott or the Fiesta were appealing to us but looks like we would have to catch a bus to get into town from those resorts.

The other option we are contemplating is to spend say 3 nights in the old town and then two nights to relax in a resort like the Royal Decameron which I read is right next to a nice village - Bucerias. Or would it be better to just bus there for a day trip from the old town. Any advise or pointers will be much appreciated.

For activities we are thinking of doing a whale viewing expedition, visiting the rhythm of the nights and perhaps the zoo or the botanical gardens. Anything else you recommend that would be fun for a 4 year old?

PuraAventura

Hi shoonye!

First of all you need to know that even if the 'old town' is wonderful and you feel you are in the real culture of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta has been built as a tourist resort in the 60s-70s. It used to be a very small traditional fishing port but you can't really see it today - nothing wrong about saying this but I think it's important you are aware of it, because so many people think that there is so much heritage, but there isn't.

However, I really love PV, Zona Romantica is nice but, following your expectations I'd certainly choose to stay in Yelapa, south of PV. It is quitter (by the way, the only way to access is by boat) but there are great activities available in the sea and jungle. Only few people know about this place because everyone are heading to Nuevo Vallarta and its long beaches but you should really have a look at Yelapa. I once had a great time at the Verana hotel (http://www.verana.com), but there are also other very nice hotels for less

So yes, probably the best thing for you to do, is to stay few days in the 'old town' (don't miss an expedition to Islas Marietas - a bird sanctuary!) to enjoy the great food and atmosphere, then explore Yelapa (you can catch the water taxi at the dock in 'old PV') or the Riviera Nayarit (Sayulita is also very nice!)

Laurent

cabron

Puerto Vallarta was never built as a tourist resort, it was never a traditional fishing port, very little fishing apart from just for the normal local consumption. BTW it was founded in 1851
Nuevo Vallarta was built as a tourist resort area.
Many people know about Yelapa, I was there 36 years ago.
Your info. is way off base. Laurent

suze

That first post is full of misleading or incorrect information. I vacation once or twice a year in Puerto Vallarta and have for 20 years. Cabron lives there.

Let's back up...

Everything you said in your post is correct. The nice big resorts out in Nuevo are too far for easily doing things in town. Although some families make it work and don't mind taking the bus back and forth.

Casa Magna Marriott in the Marina is a very nice hotel, and might be a good one to consider. Yes it's a bus or taxi ride away, but a LOT closer to downtown PV (like 15-20 mins. instead of nearly 1 hr for Nuevo area).

Personally I love "Zona Romantica" best and always stay there (also referred to as Southside, South-of-the-river, or Old Town). But there aren't any "resorts" there. Just regular hotels lining the beach and inland in the neighborhood. You can look at The Tropicana or Hotel Playa Los Arcos to see what is typical in that part of town.

Another option to consider is renting an apartment. Which might be especially nice for a family. I have rented thru www.vallarta-getaways.com the past 2 trips (3rd time upcoming next month) and been very pleased.

For whales, depends the time of year. I'm not sure about Rhythms of the Night as an activity with a child along(?). Zoo and Botanical Gardens are both good. Seems like the pool with water floats and beach with a bunch of sand toys are where most of the kids I see, seem the happiest.
;-)

suze

shoonye, If you click on my screen name I have two threads from past trips that lots of other people have added great information on. Those will give you a good feel.

If you need maps, go to www.vallartainfo.com for the best ones online.

PuraAventura

Hi everyone! I hope there is no misunderstanding here. I meant that PV (the 'old town') was developed as a tourist resort in the 60s-70s. I know that at the town has been built (officially) in 1851 and at that time it was called 'Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe'. But (as I said) it was a 'very small' traditional (meaning that there was only locals) fishing port. So please, don't say that I'm wrong. My point saying this was that there is nothing really cultural (meaning that there isn't heritage in PV, except maybe the fact that Manuel Lepe born there!). Talking about Nuevo Vallarta, it has been built later (in the 80s-90s), but that time it has been built almost exclusively by American companies (nothing wrong with that, I'm just mentioning it).

Concerning Yelapa, I never boasted about being the only one to know this wonderful place! I did say that 'only few people knew about it'. Otherwise tell me why it is still a very quiet area? And please, explain me why there is so little information on the official PV website? And why 'Mexico Desconocido' one of the finest Mexican travel magazine is calling it 'a secret paradise'?

Again, I have nothing against PV, indeed I go there at least once a year (got family living in the old town since ever). My main goal is to bring useful information to others in this forum, I'm not looking to argue with anyone. So please Shoonye, just read the information provided (by everyone) and make your own choices

Laurent

suze

I wouldn't send a couple with a 4 year old to Yelapa. You can only get there by boat. And once you're there, you're there. They specifically said they like to move around and do things. Yelapa is pretty isolated to accomplish that.

shoonye

Thank you all for taking the time to share your thoughts. Laurent I get your point around PV not being a city / town with a lot of cultural heritage like say Mexico City or Oaxaca. That won't disappoint us. We do like places fairly well developed for tourists and like to poke around the local markets, restaurants and food stalls. In other words a regular city with a lively scene is good enough for us sometimes, and if it has natural beauty (like PV does) all the better. Yes, we wouldn't like Cancun though. When we visited Yucatan we spent most of our time in Akumal, Merida and Uxmal.

I read up on Yelapa and it sounds like an interesting half day trip but not sure if we want to be that isolated.

Suze, it does sound like the Marina area may be a good compromise, not in the old town but still a nice resort not too far away. We will likely consider that. Am also looking at the condo options at the site you mentioned. If nothing else we may just do Posada Roger for the first few nights and a night or two further north. Thanks for the point on Rhythms for a child. I checked the website and it does say 6 is the minimum age. We are visiting in mid Dec so that the whale season should be getting underway.

cabron

For about 2-3 hours midday Yelapa is bustling with tourist, off the several tour boats that stop there daily , hardly unknown, many sites devote at least a page to it.
http://vallartainfo.com/yelapa.html

suze

Hotel Posada de Roger is a lovely little hotel with great atmosphere. Very basic, but clean, friendly staff, cute pool. Kids seems to love it there. It would be a fine place to land if you wanted to look around and see what that part of town's all about.

Or for more upscale, choose Casa Magna and taxi or bus into downtown sometimes (look around both north and south of the river, Rio Cuale).

Rohelio

Hey Laurent,
I thought that the information you wished to share was just great, no need to split hairs over founding dates and the like.
All information given on these forums is based on personal experiences and personal opinions, from people who have been to this beautiful country before... take it with a grain of salt (or sand in this case).

cabron

Yelapa is quiet after the tour boats leave, because there's no usable road to get there, but there's a community of resident gringos.
re: the so called "official" PV website has never been a very good source of accurate information.

sjayb

You would also do good by renting a condo in PV. There are some very nice condos for rent at great prices right on the beach in PV. I have a place in the Grand Venetian where some people rent out their condos which are much roomier than a hotel and usually for for less money. This is like a resort. From her you have the pools and beaches and it is a quick cheap bus ride into downtown or you can take the bus for trips to Bucerias or Sayulita. I agree that Yelapa is not the best place for a 4 year old. I think it would be too quiet and remote. You should stay in Puerto Vallarta and not Nueva Vallarta to get the Mexican experience.