Dan P

I'll be vacationing in PV for the first time in December with my fiance; looking for recommendations on day trips - hikes, cruises, snorkeling,etc. Also - where's the most romantic restaurant with a killer sunset view?

elena

Hola Daniel! <BR>So glad that you are spending your holidays in Puerto Vallarta. Bienvenidos! Welcome! <BR>There is much to see and do in Vallarta <BR>from day cruise on the bay, sunset sruises,or sailing vessels to a pirate ship. Most cruises include snorkeling as an activity, as well as kiyaking. Restaurants are many and recommendable. <BR>I happen to enjoy Tequila's right on the malecon for a margarita and a front seat at sunet time. Please visit: <BR>www.royale-tours.com <BR>Gracias, elena

Kate

Hi Dan - while in PV, we went for a horseback ride in the mountains. If you like horses, you and your fiancee might like this. It was three hours long (prepare for a sore butt), but we rode through the river, through a canyon, and to the top of a mountain for an amazing view of the city from above. I don't know how good the other ranches are, but we rode with Rancho el Charro, and our guide, Miguel, was great. The horses also looked good, unlike some of the ones we saw on the drive to the ranch. If you are looking for a good deal on activities, get sucked in by one of the timeshare booths on the street. You may lose an hour of two of your time, but you save a lot of money off the published prices of the tours (especially if you withstand the pressure to buy yourself a week of paradise!) Good luck.

DeLeta

Hi Dan! In my opinion, you couldn't pick a better city to take your fiance! It is a beautiful, romantic city with something for everyone. I have been there 6 times in the last 3 years and just got back from #6 3 weeks ago. Here are some suggestions and maybe some websites for you to check out. Unfortunately my PV folder is at home but if you want to know more, you can e-mail me and I can bring my folder to work and try to look up some things for you. RESTAURANTS - you will find when you get to PV that there are a LOT of restaurants, there is magazine called Puerto Vallarta Lifestyles that you can usually get in shops or your hotel that gives restaurant reviews (usually the higher end restaurants). I have been to one called Felipe's, although it was about a year ago. It is HIGH up in the hills with a terrific view of the bay and sunset. It is a multi-level, terraced restaurant and the food and service were nice when I was there. Get there in plenty of time to catch the sunset. I ate at El Set once and it was nice too. Then there are the various bar/type restaurants on the malecon which is right across the street from the bay in town. <BR> <BR>SNORKELING - Los Arcos is the closest snorkeling site and there are lots of fish there. You need to go out with a boat operator unless you want to rent one yourself and I don't know what that involves. I go with a dive shop I use which is Twin Dolphins Dive Shop. He offers scuba diving and snorkeling excursions, plus, since you will be there in December, that is when the humpback whales migrate to the bay area. Twin Dolphins does whale watching trips too in season with a marine biologist on board. Here is his website, http://www.twindolphins.com.mx. His e-mail address is: [email protected]. The owner/manager is Giovanni Macedo and he has been diving for over 30 years and is very familiar with the waters in the bay. (He's a fish, you should see him jump in and put on all his gear underewater!) His phone number from the US is 011-52-322-12492. The local PV number is 322-12492. At Los Arcos they take bananas and feed the fish (they seem to love bananas!) so they just swarm around you. There are manta rays in the water too at this time of year. I was there for 10 days and dove Los Arcos 3 times and on Monday, Nov. 1 I saw several large manta rays from the boat and then when we were diving at 75 feet I looked up and 2 HUGE rays were circling overhead. Wow, what a moment! You can also snorkel at the Marietas Islands but I think it is a little better at Los Arcos. At the Marietas Islands, which is a protected wildlife santcutary, you can see the blue footed booby birds which nest there. Also, you can swim/snorkel (if the tide is right) to the "Beach of Love", which is accessible only through a "tunnel" at low tide. It is a cool little beach. Lots of boats go there including Twin Dolphins, Vallarta Adventures, the Marigalante (looks like a pirate ship) and many more. One day trip I always recommend is the Vallarta Adventures trip to the Marietas which leaves the ier at 9:00 a.m. and returns at 4:00 p.m. It offers a continental breakfast, lunch and open bar from about 11:00 a.m. on. It takes a little over an hour to get there and once there, divers can dive and snorkelers can swim around or they have sea kayaks too. Sometimes they will have a barbeque on a beach, but you might want to ask. The crew is terrific and comes up with all kinds of games to keep everyone entertained. The boats are big and hold up to 80 or so passengers. The age mix just depends, the times I have been on it there have been college age to retirees. Vallarta Adventures has a nice website and they offer a LOT of excursions like an airplane tour, Sierre Madre Tour, a Caletas by Night Dinner cruise, which I understand is very nice too. Bike Mex offers mountain biking for all levels and there is a company that does hiking trips but I don't know their name. <BR> <BR>Well, that should get you started! You will LOVE PV, I guarantee it! <BR> <BR>Let me know if I can help you any other way! <BR> <BR>DeLeta Gurley

john

ola amigos. Try Isabel Jordans at Yelapa on the southernmost tip of Bay of Banderas. no cars, no roads, small intimate beach and village. She has bungalows open to the elements perched highon cliffside with trees growing up threw cottages(4or5). Great for honeymooners for a week. Was 50us in '95

john

whoops -- You can reach Yelapa via regular 80 passenger tour boats or live dangerously and take bus/taxi to Boca de Tomitlan, cart suitcase to beach and take open outboard freight boat to Yelapa without reservations, If Isabel fails--there is two alternative hotels but dont expect the Waldorf -- both on the beach. Isabel wil provide snorkeling equipment or refer you to the Yelapa Croquet Club where a few gringos actually do croquet ona steep hillside-- anything for a few beers with close friends. Can do Yelapa on an overnight basis as well. great dinner and view in PV on top floor of an old hotel up behind Carlos O'Briens 3 blocks up hillside - seven story hotel. Yes do El Set and walk back to Playa Los Muertos via beach in daylight. If you are experience SCUBA, you may be dissapointed in Los Arcos, a little too deep and rough for snorkeling.