Flying on an early morning flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor, Arizona to Puerto Vallarta Airport went pretty smoothly with a hosted American Airlines aisle seat. Mind you, international flights call for a two hour arrival buffer time although it makes no sense as you can check in online and just find your gate fast especially with TSA pre-check but airlines haven’t caught up yet I guess. Also, try not to check your luggage. You really don’t need all that stuff you packed, trust me. I’ll make a basic bitch carry on travel bag blog post soon, I promise.
Much like the Cabo San Lucas airport except bigger, the Puerto Vallarta Airport is buzzing with energy once you pop out the exit past all the timeshare hagglers who used to make a pretty penny off of clueless tourists. If you want to snag an Uber or Lyft, you have to walk about a mile away to arrange a pickup as they are banned from all the many transportation options right outside the exit. I was a sweaty Betty as soon as that humidity kicked in as this Phoenician is not used to the moisture anymore. So once we wrangled up some other journalists whose flights were not delayed, we were off on an adventure with one of the largest press trips any of us have ever attended.
After arriving in the Bay of Banderas, we headed on an extended golf cart to lunch at La Cantina at mega resort Vidanta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. One by one our full group of 17 people slowly trickled in looking a little dazed and confused and I was happy that I am not the only one who can’t sleep the night before a press trip! I immediately vibed with so many people in this group, it was uncanny. But with similar backgrounds in journalism, it felt like familia real fast. We delved in immediately and pretty sure I ate my weight in guacamole right off the bat!
Full from lunch, we were off to the surf capital of Riviera Nayarit, part the Magical Towns of Mexico, Sayulita. It is a busy little bohemian art community that resonated well with my soul. Lots of American and Canadian expats blending right in and already well-acclimated to Mexico on their scooters and golf carts. Mixing with locals in a very laid-back atmosphere, it was a sleepy scene with a bit of drizzle from the sky to add to the ambiance. You should wear water shoes in the ocean as there is a bit of trash however it doesn’t kill the vibe. Enjoy some snacks floating by on carts and a beer or cocktail in your hand from the beach bar (hold the ice and only drink bottled water unless you’re feeling lucky). Whale and dolphin sightings are popular here as well as a more chill nightlife. Huichol Indians display their colorful art in the plaza in the heart of town and I’m pinching myself for not buying some. TripAdvisor named Sayulita a “charming fishing village” and it’s on the Best Places to Visit 2023 so you know it’s legit! We were set free to explore on our own and I enjoyed meeting some locals including some huge iguanas.
Visitors can also enjoy browsing the fine art galleries and stylish colorful shops with clothing, handicrafts, decorative items, handmade cosmetics and jewelry. There are also several beachfront restaurants and cafes, luxurious villas, small hotels and spas.
Once we were loaded up in the van and ready to go, it was back to Vidanta to check in and head straight to dinner. Located between the Pacific Ocean and Sierra Madre Mountains, Vidanta is like a Mexican Disneyland (you heard it here first). With nine miles of Ewok-style walkways, one mile of beach, 27+ pools, over 38 bars and restaurants and 2,700+ rooms within five tower hotels. As if that wasn’t enough, they were building more rooms as we drove in and finishing an amusement park set to open in the winter. We stayed in the Grand Luxxe III and book-ended the press trip with a stay the first night and last night with the Visit Nayarit tourism board. The adventure begins with being whisked away by a well designed golf-cart shuttle system from parking to your lobby where you are given a fashionable wristband that allows you access to your room and lets staff know you are legit.
Dinner that night at Tres Aromas was delicious even though we were all too pooped to party and I tried lengua de vaca (cow tongue) for the first time. Breakfasts were a huge, fresh buffet full of anything your heart desires including breakfast sushi, the coffee was excellent, the rooms were ice cold, big luxurious bath tubs, beds like a fluffy marshmallow and views on the balcony to die for. I only wish we had more time to play! Guess I’ll have to return to ride the ferris wheel… shucks!
That morning we were packed up and ready to head to Jala, a Spanish-influenced town at the base of El Ceboruco Volcano. We made a couple of quick stops and one of them, this field of agave plants.
We started the Jala adventure officially with a hike to El Salto Waterfall where an adorable puppy who we lovingly named Taco adopted our group as we played in the water followed by impromptu modeling photoshoots. We even encountered wild horses running past us unbothered like something out of a movie. The water was clean, clear, crisp and fresh and nature was recharging all of us. Four miles from Jala, this Mexican waterfall springs to life during the rainy season from June to September from a height of nearly 100 feet.
After getting recharged in nature, it was time to check into Nukari Quinta Boutique, a 5-star hotel in the heart of Jala, Mexico. I’m just now learning about an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub (which I would have jumped in if I’d known but we were on the move), garden, shared lounge, terrace, room service, a 24-hour front desk, continental and American breakfast and more in this curated space.
Nukari Quinta Boutique has European stype air-conditioned rooms with wifi and private bathrooms. The property provides room service, a 24-hour front desk and organizing tours for guests. At the hotel, all rooms have a closet. Each room is equipped with a safety deposit box and some feature mountain views. Guest rooms in Nukari Quinta Boutique are equipped with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. Continental and American breakfast options are available daily at the accommodation. Nukari Quinta Boutique offers 5-star accommodations with a hot tub. The nearest airport is Tepic Airport, 43 miles from the hotel.
Lateran Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption is adorned with pink and green stone with ionic and Corinthian columns inside. I was lucky to capture the priest doing his thing during a service happening.
Located at the bottom of El Ceboruco Volcano, Jala is the perfect example of a Spanish-influenced town engulfed by nature. Wandering the cobblestone streets in itself is fun. The historic center of Jala is a vibe, particularly the streets of Mexico, Zaragoza, and Hidalgo, all of which have been given historical heritage designations by the government.
The namesake rooftop restaurant, Nukari, was our picturesque place for dinner that night. That evening was the most flavorful, delicious and festive dinner on top of the rooftop. Some of the crew met up for happy hour and enjoyed tasting their way through the cocktail menu. I was still doing dry July kick so opted for a hibiscus tea that was sweet and addicting.
We all frolicked, full and happy until bedtime (or beyond for some) and awoke to a heavy downpour while we loaded up the van for the next stop from the Hoteles Boutique de México. It was a long, stressful drive to our boat as traffic was snarled, we got a bit lost and had some slightly sick and super sleepy campers. But we made it in the nick of time to the dock for the 3 day 2 night adventure on Islas Marías, the former prison island now eco-friendly tourist destination. That’s a whole separate post and experience, it’s jam-packed with bright and dark tourism. But for now we’ll resume to when we returned to San Blas, where we left from!
Arriving back in San Blas, we were more rested and in good spirits ready for the next adventure and our last full day in Mexico. San Blas port plays a vital role in maritime operations, transportation and is the hub of maritime communication to the Islas Marías. We foresee a lot of growth happening in the future here as tourism and military merge together and the area keeps expanding.
Now that we were stuffed like little piggies (and I had multiple Mexican cokes with cane sugar rocket fuel), we were off for another boat adventure however this time a lot more rustic. It was time to explore the mangroves! The boat ride through the mangroves showcases the nocturnal wildlife that inhabits the wetlands. Amidst the mangrove tunnels of the La Tovara tour, we saw so many birds, baby birds in a nest hungry for food, reptiles and more. The sunset time creates an air of mystery, as the only source of light is the moon and stars, accompanied by the intriguing touch of the most iconic myths and legends of San Blas.
The next morning we were up and at ’em (kind of) for our delicious buffet breakfast and goodbyes. I got a little time zone mixed up when I realized I had no time to hightail it to the front of the hotel for our golf cart ride back to the van to the airport. When I finally checked in, I legit was crying after leaving while making my first post with time and wifi available because somehow Visit Nayarit pulled off the largest, most familia press trip ever! It was also a subtle reminder from the universe that my people are journalists and to keep moving forward. Until next time, amigos. Gracias!