Discovering Puerto Vallarta's Wild Side

The city ranks as runner-up to Cancun as Mexico's most popular resort, and its Banderas Bay is the third largest in all of Mexico, but for a heady mix of old world Mexico and new world eco-travel, Puerto Vallarta can't be beat.
The one-time fishing village today offers tourists of all tastes and desires their time in the sun.

If it's the good life you crave, there's Marina Vallarta and its high-end hotels, world famous luxury yacht marina and 18-hole championship golf course. This is the place to hook up with a fishing charter to drag a few lines around Banderas Bay, one of the world's premier big game sport fishing locations.

More modest digs can be found in the Vallarta's Hotel Zone, though many of its hotels and resorts are still of very high international standard. Beaches are sandy and plentiful here, and not surprisingly, water sports of all kind are available all along the Hotel Zone.

If it's cobblestones, not sand, you like between your toes, Viejo Vallarta is the place to stroll amongst authentic Mexican architecture and along narrow lane ways filled with interesting shops and restaurants. Eclectic inns and small resorts are the norm here in Old Town, and if you're a shopper, the flea market is not to be missed. Even the non-shopper will enjoy strolling through the colourful and fragrant outdoor marketplace; though if you're not in a bartering mood, keep those feet moving.

And for those who seek out a true smell of authenticity in favour of wafting suntan lotion and taco stands, there's a day trip to the almost-forgotten town of San Sebastian, a 90-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta that takes you from the tropical beaches of the Pacific through lush jungle and up into the Sierra Madre Mountains, where at 1,370 metres you'll find the one-time mining town.

And if you do the trip with PV-based Vallarta Adventures, you'll do it in a comfortable and air-conditioned mini van and have a guided tour of San Sebastian's history.

And what a history it is. Settled in 1605 - a decade and a half before the Mayflower made Plymouth Rock - San Sebastian would see its population swell to 20,000 at the height of mining activity in the San Madre hills. Mining continued here into the 20th century, but today the 600 or so who call the village home earn their living farming cattle, corn, coffee and agave.

Tourism is also part of the local economy; however, there are few visible acknowledgements of this fact, which of course is the very reason to visit a place like San Sebastian in the first place. Highlights include the Temple of San Sebastian (built in 1608), numerous rock and adobe structures sprinkled along winding dirt roads, and some remarkable ruins of the gold and silver foundries that serviced the 25 mines in the area.

Walking the cobblestone plaza with the lush San Madre Mountains never far from sight, it's not difficult to understand why the village is on the tentative list for World Heritage Site certification.

The length of the Vallarta Adventures day trip to San Sebastian is seven hours, and at just $84 USD per person that works out to a pretty fair hourly price for an amazing trip into Mexico's past. Other historic places to visit on a day trip or overnight from PV include: Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city; Tequila, the birthplace of Mexico's national liqueur; and Talpa de Allende, an important pilgrimage site for the country's Christians.

If it's the future, or more specifically, the planet's future you're more interested in, there are plenty of tours and adventures in and around Puerto Vallarta with decidedly eco-friendly themes.

But there's a caveat, amigo. Just as with the words "organic" and "green," not all eco-adventures come as advertised. Zip-trekking through a pristine eco-system or bobbing around with dolphins are not what I consider eco-friendly activities. And isn't it interesting how age-old "hikes" have become "eco-treks"?

Still, there are plenty of bona-fide natural-world wonders on display in this part of Mexico, and there are no shortage of Puerto Vallarta-based tour companies offering all manner of adventure, from the sedate such as bird watching and hiking, to the more active such as mountain biking, kayaking and horseback riding.

One of the more unusual adventures, and one that will delight all ages, is the evening sea turtle camp and crocodile adventure offered by Ecotours de Mexico.

Working in conjunction with a team of Mexican biologists on two distinct conservation projects in Banderas Bay, the tour company has unparalleled access to two of the area's more remarkable creatures - the American crocodile and the Olive Ridley sea turtle.

The tour begins at 5 pm at Marina Vallarta, where a guide leads to the Sea Life Water Park and into a restricted marshy lagoon called El Quelele, used by the crocodile conservation program. See the animals up close and learn about their desperate fight for survival due to ever-shrinking habitats.

Then it's on to the beach to watch one of nature's greatest opening acts - the hatching under moonlight of hundreds, maybe thousands, of sea turtles, and their subsequent scramble over sand to the ocean for survival.

For a few months each year - typically August through December - Olive Ridley sea turtles arrive en masse to Banderas Bay to lay eggs, and last year some 210,000 babies made it into the ocean. Whale watching is also a popular activity in Puerto Vallarta, with humpbacks spending the winter months just off shore before heading north past Vancouver Island en route for Alaska.

And just south of town there is El Zoologico de Vallarta, the 64-hectare zoo opened in 2005 and home to some 70 species, including Mexican wolves and white tigers.
So while it is true Puerto Vallarta has that vibrant and sometimes wild nightlife so many sun seekers crave when on a winter vacation, there's also a wild side to the place for those who like to go to bed a little earlier.

Andrew McCredie - Canada.com
www.banderasnews.com

Pick of the day: ICON 1.

This a spectacular beachfront condo offering stunning views of Banderas Bay, Sierra Madre mountains, and the city of Puerto Vallarta. This beautifully decorated unit offers 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms with a modern feel. There is a large terrace that overlooks the sparkling Pacific, and the grand pool deck that surrounds the 500 foot infinity-edge pool. The kitchen is equipped with new appliances and a breakfast bar, and the dining room has seating for 8 guests. In the living room, you can relax on the luxurious sofa while enjoying the flatscreen TV. The 2 master bedrooms have balconies, while the 3rd offers floor to ceiling windows.

The property also has many great features for you to enjoy while you are on your vacation. You can spend your days in the heated 500 ft infinity pool with lounge chairs, or relax in a hammock on the golden sands on ICON´s private beach. There is a state of the art gym, a full service spa, as well as a library and kids area.

Superbly located just five minutes from airport and Vallarta’s world-class restaurant and gallery scene. Designed by the world-renown firm of YOO by Phillippe Starck, Icon Vallarta is the ultimate in luxury condominium living in Puerto Vallarta.
For  more information just contact us  at info@luxurybeach.com

Luxury Beach Puerto Vallarta

About our Company

This is where we shine, and what we offer:
- Vacation Rentals
- Real Estate
- Professional Concierge Service
- Weddings
- Property Management
- Providing you with an outstanding experience
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Luxury Beach is dedicated to creating a distinct experience for our clients where every detail and eventuality has been meticulously considered and attended to. Our service is focused on guaranteeing peace of mind for our customers. We offer our clients the benefit of our many years experience and personal insights into the local market to guarantee their success and comfort.
Our service is focused on guaranteeing peace of mind for our customers. We offer our clients the benefit of our many years experience in luxury real estate sales and rentals.
We answer every inquiry instantly…our agents’ meticulous follow-up means every customer receives the knowledge and insights they need to make informed Real Estate choices. Luxury Beach promises to make our clients property searches a breeze.
Honesty, integrity with a personal touch from the start set us apart. Our clients want the best, deserve the best and rely upon our market knowledge and information services.
Luxury Beach is changing the way luxury resort real estate is marketed from a high traffic easy access location, across from the main entrance to Marina Vallarta. We are easily located by the famous bronze Whale sculpture.
We make it easy to find a dream Puerto Vallarta vacation rental property and simple to book the reservation. Our PuertoVallarta vacation rental specialists provide the insight and knowledge you need to make an informed vacation choice. The Luxury Beach website is easy to navigate and provides all the data to simply enjoy the process and explore the many properties we have available for sale and rent in Puerto Vallarta.
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A Remarkable Team

Luxury Beach is dedicated to compliment the natural beauty of this premier vacation location, and those that live and play here, with an incomparable service level.
Luxury Beach is a leader in Vallarta vacation rentals. We market better than any other agency in the Vallarta area. Our commitment to the lifestyle of Vallarta permeates all of our actions in the name of client service. Our mission is to improve the quality of life with everyone we encounter.
What sets Luxury Beach apart is the simple fact that life here is good and we want our client to enjoy the same wonderful experience.
Our Puerto Vallarta location is one of the most breathtaking places on earth and a gateway to exploring the surrounding Riviera Nayarit. Mountains, rivers, jungles and beaches, all reach down to touch the sea. Our owners and guests in Vallarta will experience a time on earth that is timeless.
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Puerto Vallarta Vacation rental owner services:

• Google Adwords investment driving clicks to our website.
• SEO optimization to assist the positioning of Luxury Beach on the front page of the major search engines with the most widely searched key words; Puerto Vallarta Rentals and many related combinations. We target the audiences in Spanish, English and French covering Canada, the US and Mexico.
• Calendar management, so we never double book a customer vacation rental villa or condo.
• Full property management services for owners so their property is always ready for a vacation rental customer. We ensure everything is working, clean and even add a welcome gift upon arrival.
• Full accounting process so you know exactly where you are regarding the income statement for your Vallarta vacation rental property.
• Luxury Beach guarantees fast rental income processing and payment. We pay the owner the day the satisfied customer check´s out of your property.

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Puerto Vallarta Vacation rental customer services:

• Easy, on-line property search, reservation and payment system
• Plenty of images to help our customers decide the ideal vacation property
• Airport meet and direction services

Our concierge service makes life in Vallarta, well a lifestyle, the one our customers are seeking. Seaside proximity, warm sunny days and lots of activities for our customers to enjoy, shared through our vacation rental specialists insights and knowledge. The facts and fun that can only be garnered from a lifetime of living in Vallarta, is what we share.
The Luxury Beach vacation rental website has all of this information. We provide a complete guide to guest services in each vacation rental property so that our customers are informed about the joy´s to be had in Puerto Vallarta. Where to go, what to do, where to be seen; it is what we know and share with our clients everyday.
No other Puerto Vallarta real estate agency can boast such expert knowledge of the vacation rental market in PuertoVallarta and the surrounding Bahia de Banderas and Riviera Nayarit.
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Concierge:
There are many cultural events and exhibits, exciting day trips to the jungle, relaxing days at the beach and countless romantic hideaways. Immeasurable activities, both on and off the water that will keep you entertained, until it is sadly time to depart. Nightlife abounds with many popular nightclubs and countless quality restaurants to please even the most discriminating palette. Puerto Vallarta is yours to savor and is, without a doubt, one of the friendliest and cleanest beach resorts in all of Mexico.
Luxury Beach Concierge has a vast network of partnerships to help you get the most out of your time in Puerto Vallarta and Bahia de Banderas. We have partnered with the most trusted names to develop a wide array of tour and event programs for the most discerning of clients.
Whether you are here on for a weekend break, a romantic get away or here with the kids, our dedicated service can be tailored to suit your needs.
We offer zip-line and ATV tours, whale watching and helicopter rides over Banderas Bay, scuba diving with manta rays, private sailing tours to the Marietta islands, wedding and event planning and conference organization.
Please contact us to learn more about how we can make your vacation extraordinary at info@luxurybeach.com
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Property Management:
Our dedicated service for owners ensures their property is ´always ready´ should they choose to rent or return home without advance warning. Luxury Beach differs from many other property management service providers by having a fully trained team on site to deliver a seamless and professional service to owners, their families and guests.
Our Response Time Service Promise Guarantee is designed to answer every property need in a courteous and efficient manner ensuring peace of mind for owners and the HOA. We also take the stress out of the vacation rental property management for those that have bought rental properties. Our fully trained associates are on call to coordinate rental bookings, inspect and prepare the property before owner or guest arrival, and ensure internal and external properties are maintained at excellent levels.
Luxury Beach is committed to the highest level of quality and, at the same time, recognizes the need to keep expenses low and offset expenses with income. We work in partnership with the HOA to generate a profit for the owner´s through the resort´s on-site revenue centers in order to build the reserve fund and maintain the exceptional standards at the property to preserve the brand´s equity, developer reputation and property values.
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Simply providing excellence and unlimited luxury.
www.luxurybeach.com