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Flights to Puerto Vallarta Increase With the high season virtually at our doorstep, a number of airlines have stepped forward with new flights arriving at our destination. American Airlines announced an increase in flights arriving from Dallas to two daily flights. Additionally, daily direct service will be offered from Chicago’s O’Hare beginning December 15. Denver-based Frontier Airlines will also begin direct flights to Vallarta starting this month, and is joined by Canada’s Air Transat, which has just been green lighted to offer scheduled air service between Canadian cities such as Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver with Puerto Vallarta, among other Mexican destinations.
Vallarta Promoted in Mexican TV This Month Ventaneando, a popular TV Azteca show, will be broadcast from Puerto Vallarta November 9 – 16, as part of the local tourism board’s efforts to increase awareness of our destination both nationally and internationally. The broadcast dates are tied in to the various cultural activities taking place in Puerto Vallarta this month, such as the Festival Gourmet, the Arts Festival and the Homage to John Huston, among others.
Art Season Begins in Vallarta The first art gallery receptions of the season began this past week, heralding what promises to be a flourishing season for local art galleries and art collectors alike. As in seasons past, the downtown galleries will offer their bi-weekly Art Walks, with Marina Vallarta galleries offering similar events. “Vallarta Lifestyles” has produced a 12-page full-color Gallery Guide to be distributed free of charge by local art galleries. The Guide includes informative articles, gallery reviews, as well as exhibition schedules. Vallarta Lifestyles’ Gallery Guide can also be found within the pages of Lifestyle’s Fall-Winter issue, currently available in newsstands.
Banderas Bay Sea Turtle Season Ends Sea turtle season ended in October, having shown an increased number of nests as compared to last year. As in past seasons, the continued effort of several Vallarta hotels, as well as that of non-profit organizations such as Nuestra Tierra, made possible special protected areas designated in selected beach areas along the bay. Traditionally, sea turtles emerge from the sea at night, burying their eggs in the sand. Unless they are protected, the eggs become easy prey to predators, both human and animal. With the eggs transported to a safe area, however, they incubate for 40-70 days before the hatchlings emerge and are released on the beach to return to the sea.
Week of Octubre 25, 2003
John Huston Homage Film Schedule Released Further details about the upcoming Homage to John Huston were revealed to the press this week. The event will include free screenings of some of the acclaimed director's films, such as "The Maltese Falcon," "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" and "The Night of the Iguana," which was shot locally. Please check our event calendar for specific dates and times.
City Hall's Day of the Dead Altar Competition Announced As Mexico's traditional Day of the Dead celebration approaches, City Hall announced their yearly altar competition, to take place October 31 - November 2. Puerto Vallarta citizens are invited to create their own altars and display them in and around City Hall. Participants will be judged on authenticity, originality and creativity. Alternatively, folks are encouraged to stop by and admire participants' creations.
First Humpback Whale Sightings Reported Although the timings are coincidental, humpback whales seem to take a cue from visitors and snowbirds who flock to Puerto Vallarta every November. And although the official whale-watching season does not begin until December 15, sighting reports have already begun. The humpback whale travels to this region every year from the Pacific Northwest adding to the uniqueness and charm of our destination. As in years past, many activity organizers will offer whale-watching expeditions through the season, allowing us to better appreciate the average 200 whales that populate Banderas Bay every year.
Refugio Infantil Bazaar Fundraiser Successful The bazaar held in Caloso to benefit Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza (RISE) successfully raised over $19,000 pesos. The well-attended event drew many interested in either selling their used goods or purchasing someone else’s, with 50% of the sales proceeds going to RISE. RISE is a non-profit shelter for babies and children under the age of 14 who have been turned over by DIF, a Mexican government organization that protects the rights of children. For more information please visit their web site at www.refugioinfantil.com.
Week of Octubre 18, 2003
November Arts Festival Schedule Announced Running from November 7 to 18, this year’s Arts Festival will offer something for everyone. The program, announced by Cultural Department director María José Zorrilla, opens with a parade along the Malecón, followed by a performance at Los Arcos by Peruvian singer Tania Libertad. A popular and highly respected artist, Libertad is known for both her extensive catalog of boleros and for her abiding interest in the black music of Peru. Look for details on the many festival-related performances in our events calendar.
Spotlight Productions Readies Fall-Winter Musical Revues Spotlight Productions, Vallarta’s only English-speaking community theater company, announced their productions for the upcoming high season. “The Best of Spotlight,” their first offering, will be performed during the month of November at Santa Barbara Restaurant – in their usual dinner theater fashion – and also at The Jungle Restaurant in Paradise Plaza. The revue, directed by Kathy Overly, will feature a selection of their best numbers from previous years. Their Christmas show, a perennial favorite, will be performed in December at both locations. Please check our events calendar for specific performance dates and times.
Investors Continue to Develop Hotel Projects in Punta de Mita Nayarit’s secretary of economic development, Ernesto Navarro González, has recently announced a multi-million dollar investment in Punta de Mita. Such investment will result in the construction of over 1,100 hotel rooms over the next four years. “This commitment places the state of Nayarit in general, and Punta de Mita in particular, as one of the destinations in Mexico with the highest level of quality in the country,” he commented. The project will also generate 25,000 new jobs.
Time Share Airport Module Undergoes Renovations The highly controversial time-share module that visitors must unavoidably travel as they exit the airport’s customs area will not go away, as many had hoped. It will be remodeled, however. Beginning now and before the end of October, the module will be re-built as dictated by Mexico’s Civil Aeronautics Commission after having received many complaints. The new module will be L-shaped and its personnel will now wear nametags for easy identification, should there be any interaction problems with tourists. The new and narrower booth design also increases the width of the main corridor.
Week of Octubre 11, 2003
Hurricane Stirs Concern among Vallartenses Better safe than sorry seemed to be the general consensus among locals as Hurricane Olaf approached the Mexican coast last week. Olaf was downgraded to a tropical storm before it reached Vallarta; however, the memory of Kenna’s effects last year was enough to mobilize the city’s protection agencies. School was cancelled a couple of days and evacuation centers were promptly and efficiently set up as needed. Three cruise ship arrivals were cancelled. And although the city did lose some income as a result of intense rains and high winds, no further damages were reported.
New Non-Profit for Vallarta Property Owners Founded Recently founded, the Asociación Pro Vallarta Sur, A.C. is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the interests of property owners south of the Scala building and as far as the southern city limit. Its 25 founding members include several major hotels, time share projects, over a dozen condominiums and five residential subdivisions: Conchas Chinas, Sierra del Mar, Lomas del Pacífico, Coto San Joaquín and Playa del Paredón. Also represented are private landowners and developers in the area. With approved bylaws and an operating budget established, Asociación Pro Vallarta Sur A.C. will focus on maintenance and improvement of the road to Barra de Navidad, care of beaches, garbage collection, security, public relations and promotion, as well as other issues specific to the Mismaloya area. For more information, please contact Ana María Torres at 221-6213, 221-5295 or lospalmarespv@prodigy.net.mx.
Vallarta Hotels Elect New President Vallarta hotelier Gabriel Igartúa Sánchez was elected president of the Mexican Hotel and Motel Association of Puerto Vallarta last week. The owner of Hotel Las Palmas, Igartúa Sánchez will begin his one-year term December 1. In a press conference, he announced that his work plan would initially consist of promoting Puerto Vallarta both nationally and internationally and strengthening the organization by providing more services to its membership, which consists of over 70 hotels in greater Vallarta.
Public Library Hosts Pet Photo Expo In an effort to raise public awareness concerning the needs of homeless pets around Vallarta, the public library at Los Mangos, in conjunction with SOS Animal A.C., hosted the opening of a pet photo exhibition. Guests of honor preceding the ceremony included local writer and painter Peter Gray, his wife Bury and SOS Animal A.C. president Mónica González. The exhibition will be open to the public through the end of October. Additionally, pets will be available for adoption at Los Mangos Saturdays, 11 am – 4:30 pm. For more information, please call 224-9966.
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