My mom and I (37 and 60) are going to PV in July. We'd like to take some kind of tour one day. What do people reccommend? I speak Spanish, but my mother doesn't so some nice touristy tour with a guide would fit the bill. Neither of us drinks, but we aren't opposed to seeing how tequila is made. My mom is afraid of heights so the zip line tours are out. Those two options seem to get all the press, but I'm hoping there are other options of a more cultural nature.

There are regular city tour. Also things like home tours where you see inside of some high-end places as a fund raiser. I wish I could be more specific, but I am very casual when I vacation in PV, and have yet to do anything formally organized. You can get a good feel for the town just by walking around in El Centro, maybe taking the city busses around a bit.

I definitely agree w/Suze Take the City tour it takes you all over and you will see things you might not get to see on your o check it out at the hotel you are staying

The private homes tour only operates in the high season, not in July, sorry.

For current information you can look at:

www.vallarta-info.com
www.allvallarta.com

Thanks! I'll report back when we return.

I'll be in Puerto Vallarta mid-June for a week. If you have any other specific questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks for the offer Suze. We will be staying in the Marina area (at the Marriott) because of using points. I would be interested in any tips about that area in particular. I also will be there when the new Harry Potter book is released. Is there an English language book shop that is likely to be selling it?

Oops, I'm no help with either of those questions! Sorry. I only know the downtown and south-side areas.

I have stayed at The Marina just one night, one time at the Marriott (Alaska Air put us up when there was plane trouble). I am not aware of any English language book stores in PV. There's one called Page in the Sun but it is used books (only, I think). I would be surprised if the book makes it to Mexico right when it is first released.

There is a very active PV forum over on Trip Advisor, you might ask your questions there if you haven't already (not the hotel reviews most people think of, but there is a separate forum specific to destinations).

In the Plaza Caracol (where the Gigante supermarket is) there's "The Book Store" where you'll probably find that book, ask Tom the owner.

Las Caletas is amazing. It's John Huston's private island. YOu can book it for the day for $72 per person and it includes an open bar booze cruise on the way to the island, lunch and drinks on the island, free snorkeling, etc. It's on a bay, and the water is calmer and clearer than the rest of PVR. It's amazing. I highly reccommend it.

http://www.puertovallartatours.net/l...snorkeling.htm