Hola Puerto Vallarta - HOLA RAQUEL

80 hours in Puerto Vallarta

Headed to Puerto Vallarta for a my amigas, Ivonne’s birthday! From beach days to food comas, this vacation was exactly I’ve been needing! Here’s my guide to PVR <3

HOW TO GET TO PUERTO VALLARTA

From San Francisco I flew on Delta to LAX then onward to PVR. Both trips were quick and easy. When arriving into PVR, be prepared to stand in long lines to clear customs. After customs you’ll make your way outside and be greeted by the dozens of taxi drivers and more lines for a taxi.

You’re going to want to make your way over to the side of the airport where theres an overpass. Walk across that bridge and order an Uber. There’s no crowds and less of a wait time. Ubers are not allowed into the airport, so if Taxis aren’t your thing, you’ll you have to make your way over to this location.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel San Tropico; A super cute boutique hotel, located in a prestigious neighborhood. Away from the main area of Puerto Vallarta, this is perfect for those that want a calmer environment to relax or work remote from. If you plan on renting a car, there is parking spots available, free of charge.

WHERE TO EAT

So many places, so little time! Everywhere we walked there was something delicious catching our eye. My advice would be to explore and try whatever catches your eye. Here’s what caught ours:

Cha Cocina:

I would visit this place over and over again for eternity! I order the mole chilaquiles and I think about them to this day. The mole was on the sweeter side and made to perfection. Please add this place to your list!

Coco’s Kitchen:

a classic restaurant for incredible food no matter what time of day. I ordered the huevos rancheros with a green juice, both were made with love. The restaurant is both indoor and outdoor; we sat in the outdoor area and it was beautiful!

Mariscos el Memín:

We took mariscos to-go for our boat day. We ordered aguachiles, ceviche and empanadas; every item was made fresh! (forgot to take photos)

Noroc:

A one of a kind experience! More on the finer side of things, Noroc had a great menu and ambiance. The best part (besides the food) was the experience of sitting is booths surrounded by water. I recommend going for dinner around sunset hour. The restaurant overlooks the ocean and at gold hour, the restaurant feels magical.

WHAT TO WEAR

Hot by day, cooler by night. I recommend packing light and breathable fabrics and a light jacket for the evenings. The sun is strong and I needed to buy a hat during the trip because I could feel my skin burn.

Here is everything that I took with me on my trip!

THINGS TO DO IN PUERTO VALLARTA

Rythyms of the Night:

Plan an evening for a dinner and a show. A show full of vibrant colors, enchanting live music and sounds as the Huichol traditions. We took a sunset boat ride to an island for this dinner and show. During the boat ride, to and from, you are given complimentary drinks and snacks. After the show, everyone is then escorted to dinner. The dinner is buffet style and was mediocre. The show however was engaging, fun and had us in awe!

Boat Day:

Boat rentals are available just about anywhere near the marina. Flybird Cocktails sponsored our boat day in honor of Ivonne’s birthday! This was my first time being in water so blue and clear, the day was perfect!

Visit Sayulita:

The cutest beach town with great food, cantaritos and artesian shops! More details, here.

Visit Playa Animas:

A short drive away is a little town with boats that will take you to an island. We stopped here on our way to Puerto Vallarta from Sayulita. Perfect for a day trip, and probably best during the week. The locals mentioned that on a weekend it can be very crowded.