Puerto Vallarta
 

My husband and I are headed to PV for the first time for a week at the end of June. Any suggestions of things to do or see? He would like to golf and we both like to snorkel. Also we would be interested in tours. Do we need a car? We are staying at Lindo Mar. Thanks for any advice.

I've spent quite a bit of time in Vallarta. Honestly most of your questions are just a matter of preference, opinion, and your interests.

I've never rented a car myself. I think it would be more trouble than it's worth. It's very easy to get around using busses and taxis (even a long walk up the beach into from your location).

It's interesting just to walk all around downtown (El Centro). The Malecon (a seawall promonade lined with statues, sand sculptures, etc.) is very fun especially lively on weekend evenings. I like to visit the church with the crown on the top.

There's only a couple PV people here on Fodor's. But there is an excellent forum at Trip Advisor (in the destinations section, not the restaurant or hotel reviews part). Two good websites are:
www.vallarta-info.com (also has excellent maps)
www.allvallarta.com

My favorite restaurants are: Fredy's El Tucan on B. Badillo for breakfast. Joe Jack's Fish Shack and Cafe de Olla (also B. Badillo) are great for lunch or dinner. La Piazetta is a nice Italian restaurant with an outdoor patio on Olas Altas. Cafe Roma on Encino is a fun pizza place if you find yourself downtown shopping and need a break for lunch (it overlooks the river). River Cafe is a more upscale place with nice atmosphere, all meals, plus live music in the bar in the evenings (quiet, jazz duo).

Eating at any of the beachfront restaurants right on Playa Los Muertos (the popular main public beach) is great for drinks at sunset, then stay for dinner... La Palapa is the more high-end, but lots of others all right in a row. You can literally eat at a table with your feet in the sand and waves washing up!

Re:snorkeling. Don't take a day boat out to Los Arcos. The water is very murky deep and there are few fish.

You will not need a car in PV. As Suze pointed out, taxi & bus are the way to go.

Here are links to our last two trip reports to PV. Highly recommend the zipline with Los Veranos. Very fun!! Also liked Boca Bento and Barcelona Tapas for dinner.

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...rip-report.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...o-vallarta.cfm

MY

Water clarity varies and is usually much better in the summer months. I would highly recommend Reinhard Dressler - http://reinhard.ash.com/about.html for snorkeling.

You are staying on the best "off-the-beach" snorkeling spot in PV. The Suites are very nice. Have a great time.

We rented a car for one day, actually from noon to noon. That way we drove north
to Bucerias in the afternoon the first day and to the south, Boca de Tomatlan, Mismaloya and El Eden the next morning. Other than that we used the buses which we loved.

We also took the bus to Boca de Tomatlan and took a "water taxi" to Yelapa for the day.
Have fun. Enjoy the many restaurants. Have some coconut pie!

we're going to be in pv at the same time. not really looking forward to the heat (90+) and humidity. we usually are there in late january when the weather is ideal = 75 and sunny. there is so much to do in the area. we have been on the ship to LAS CALETAS - a day cruise to john huston's beach (great food, real drinks and very good snorkling on a deserted beach). also agree about the ZIPLINE with Los Veranos - great adventure and i'm afraid of heights. A great WEDNESDAY NIGHT ART WALK to 10 or so great gallaries just a couple of streets off the malecon.

our slogan on virtual tourist is "we travel to eat", so food is a biggie to us. for an excellent upscale meal NO WAY JOSE can't be beat - just into the old town on 5th of febrero. EL BRUJO is a don't miss mexican cantina high up in old town on the corner of naranjo and venistiano carranza(much better than some of the popular tourist joints like pippi's that everyone seems to flock to). on the beach just before the malecon is EL BARRACUDA - excellent seafood with most meals about $13 - a great place for sunset (on the corner of nicaragua/paraguay). a real local joint for great marlin tacos and burritos is TACON DE MARLIN - all locals across from the gas station on honduras a block from the bus line, not at all fancy or drinks just great food. another upscale place is BARCELONA, a tapas bar on a 3rd floor porch overlooking the city. reservations are a must if you want this fabulous view of the city at sunset. when i say upscale i mean a drink, meal and app. each for about $50-60, not nyc prices. also in the marina district is a real deal EL COLEGUITA. it is the first restaurant on the marina if you are coming off the highway or the last if you are coming from the marina. excellent seafood for about $10 and it includes a cup of fish soup, free tequilla (ask for more than the little shot they give you), banana is creme sauce and kaulula and cream. before the meal there, treat yourself to the best massage that you have ever had. 75 minutes for $40 at VENUS SUNSHINE SPA. i had alexa and offered to take her home and leave my beautiful wife of 42 years.

as you can tell from my ranting, we just love pv and are only going in june because my son and family can make it then. we already have reservations for the last 2 weeks in january. hope you love the place as much as us.

hi, we were in PV in April and are going back in Dec.
I posted this thread to get some more tour ideas. This may help you in your search. i highly recommend the Unique Botanical Gardens tour.

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexi...o-vallarta.cfm