Puerto Vallarta’s
rich natural resources come from the exuberant forests
of the Sierra Madre Occidental
mountain range; scatter through the gray, gold and white
sands to finally submerge themselves in Bahía
de Banderas, thus creating ideal sites for an
intense contact with nature; from bird watching to
fishing tournaments as well as sports competitions and
even extreme sports such as canopy or zip-lining.
The surroundings of
this jewel of the state of Jalisco are the
habitat for 400 species of birds and 300 varieties of
orchids in addition to deer, jaguars, iguanas, lynxes
and alligators … on a trek through the forest, the
visitor finds cedars, walnut trees, gum trees,
Brazilwoods, palm trees, mango trees, avocado and
guanabana…
Some of the beaches
that make up beautiful Puerto Vallarta are
only accessible by sea, which allows them to conserve
all of their biodiversity to this day, such as:
Yelapa, with its beach of fine sand and gentle
waves, and Cabo Corrientes, where the sea
turtles go to lay their eggs and where you can savor
the biggest oysters and shrimp in
the region.
Other beaches that offer
landscapes that are still free of constructions include
Playa Las
Ánimas, ideal for going snorkeling; Quimixto,
where you can also admire a lovely waterfall and eat
delicious seafood; the perfect place to discover the
sounds of the forest and to explore an underwater
canyon.
Various tour
companies offer hikes through the forest for bird-
watching as well as installations for canopy adventures
or zip-lining. Some rustic and other, boutique-type
hotels guarantee you a more intimate and relaxing
contact with nature in Vallarta.
To get to these
heavenly places where tranquility awaits you; you need
to board a water-taxi or “panga” from Boca
de Tomatlán–a peaceful fishing port where
the river waters converge into the ocean and where they
offer delicious dishes with a very traditional flavor.
On the other hand,
marlin, red snapper, grouper, mahí, sailfish, tuna,
tarpon, wahoo, and elephant fish all inhabit the depths
of this beautiful bay in addition to the famous
hump-backed whales. There’re also various species of
turtles; hawksbills, leatherbacks and olive ridleys, as
well as dolphins: bottle-nosed, spotted dolphin and
spinner dolphins.
A favorite spot for
scuba-diving and snorkeling is Los Arcos Marine
Park, two rocky formations located between legendary
Mismaloya Beach and Las Gemelas. From up
top, Los Arcos offers a spectacular view of
Bahía de Banderas, while down below,
deep tunnels, caves and reefs form a beautiful and
internationally famous underwater labyrinth. “Cañon
del Diablo” is on the west side of Los Arcos. Its
500-meter depth affords the expert diver the fascinating
experience of “canyon diving”.
The Marietas
Islands are 30 minutes from Puerto Vallarta,
a protected species preservation site. After enjoying
the picturesque beauty of Old Puerto
Vallarta and Gringo Gulch–a complex of
lovely American jet-set residences–from afar, the
visitor can submerge himself in the waters of the
Pacific to admire manta rays, dolphins, porpoises,
hump-backed whales and a variety of fish species.
Fishing season in
Puerto Vallarta, where you can capture
handsome specimens of sailfish; blue, black and striped
marlin, as well as yellow-finned tuna and mahí-mahí,
practically lasts the whole year long. The fisherman
claim that everyone who goes fishing in Puerto
Vallarta will come back with something in their
boat. What you can take for granted is that the
fun here is always accompanied by the intense scents and
sounds of the forest and refreshes itself with the ocean
breeze.
Next>
Puerto
Vallarta
|
Recommendations for your outings in
Puerto Vallarta: Make sure you know
all that is included in the tour
that you’re going to purchase
beforehand. *Check out several options
on the internet before you make your
decision. *On adventure tours, ask about
restrictions as well as the required
minimum age.
For any
outing by yacht or other vessel:
Always take your bathing suit, sunblock
and suntan lotion, as well as a towel,
hat and money to buy handicrafts or
souvenirs. *All passengers boarding at
the Puerto Vallarta Marina must pay a
$15 MXN (pesos) tax. *On snorkeling or
kayaking tours; a deposit is sometimes
required for the use of the equipment,
which is refunded upon finishing the
activity.
For any
trip through the Sierra Madre mountain
range: Always take your bathing suit
and a towel, a sweater or light jacket,
insect repellent, comfortable closed
shoes and money for purchasing
handicrafts or souvenirs.
If you
scuba dive: Remember not to go scuba
diving if you are boarding an aircraft
within 24hrs.
Shopping
suggestions: We recommend that you
shop in galleries that hire Huichol
artisans
*When
purchasing
tequila;
make sure that the label states 100%
agave.
|
|
Spanish
