best excursions in p.v.
 

My husband and 13 year old daughter will be traveling to p.v. thanksgiving week. This is our first trip to p.v. I have heard that snorkeling is not the best in p.v. Is the water clearer on the south end? Also, what night life is around for my 13 year old to enjoy? Any good restaurants around the Marina We are staying at the Marriott.
Thanks

I am a frequent visitor in PV but have never done formal excursions, having said that Vallarta Adventures seems to get consistently favorable reviews.

Better snorkeling requires taking a boat, just being south on the beach further (if that's what you meant) is only marginally better. Down by El Set for example is better than right in town. Or a bus out to El Anclote near Punta Mita maybe.

There're tons of great restaurants in El Centro (downtown) & The Marina is only a few minutes by taxi or local bus.

I'm not sure what kind of 'night life' are you looking for for a young teen?

THANKS I have heard the water is quite murky in some areas,even with taking a boat out.Are there English movie theaters in P.V.? I talked with a coworker and she suuggested renting a Jeep. Is this a good idea? I have heard parking can be difficult and some Mexican drivers speed.

Has this friend rented a jeep in PV before? If yes then you might take her advice.

Personally I would never rent a car or jeep, unless it was to take a trip outside of town, to go up or down the coast to other smaller towns and beaches. Traffic within PV is pretty wild, not to mention parking! Between local busses, taxis, regular cars, pedestrian crossings, vaguely marked one-way streets, stops lights solid or flashing (or lack of stoplights at busy intersections), etc. I wouldn't say Mexican drivers speed, sometimes they drive quite slowly to protect their cars at the speed bumps. But they do some crazy stuff (taxi cabs backing up down a one-way street, taking short-cuts along the gravel on the side of the highway and the like).

For me, either taxis or local bus are all I need. You could arrange to have a taxi driver for a 1/2 day if you want to go south to El Eden or Chico's Paradise, for example. I have done this, arranged at my hotel front desk and it was quite reasonable in price.

I know of one movie theater downtown, but they are in Spanish (maybe they have English subtitles?) You might ask at your hotel, possibly there's something different out near The Marina. I'm not very familiar with that part of town.

There is a go-cart place that some people like out near the airport I believe.

I am not a swimmer or snorkeler but have hear just what you said, that it's not very good. I think this can be effected by weather (rains make the river run and mud goes out to the Bay).

In case you didn't see my other reply here are 2 PV websites with message boards available:

www.allvallarta.com
www.puertovallarta.net

Thamks for the input. Think I will skip the Jeep. I have been looking at those other web sites also.