Puerto Vallarta Tours by Land

Best Way to Occupy Your Green Thumb: Vallarta Orchid Society: Did you know that there are about 240 indigenous species of orchids growing wild in the greater Puerto Vallarta area? TJ Hartung, founder of the Vallarta Orchid Society, does. This society was inaugurated in 2006 with the goal of educating people about orchids, as well as rescuing and preserving the existing orchid species in our area.

Best Way to Pamper Yourself: Mexico Boutique Hotels: There are many ways to honor that special someone in your life, but beyond the traditional gift ideas, why not surprise and amaze them with a once-in-a-lifetime experience they will cherish and talk about forever? Mexico Boutique Hotels is the guide to selecting upscale getaway destinations, which are maintained to the most stringent standards. Here are some local choices, guaranteed to impress.

Best Public Art Installation: The Art of Chase: “Recuerda Quién Eres” (Remember Who you Are), reads the message in a colorful mural located on the right just as you enter El Centro from the north. It was created by Chase, a successful Belgian artist, along with his talented colleague, Blue. In just 10 days, these graffiti artists transformed four previously neglected public walls around town, covering their rough surfaces.

Best New Maritime Adventure: Sea Lion Encounters: The Vallarta area is well known for animal adventures such as swimming with dolphins and whale watching, but you may not know that you can now interact with sea lions and even go snorkeling with them.These grand whisker-faced creatures are extremely social, comical and mischievous by nature. They love to interact and play with humans, and being close to them is an exhilarating experience.

Best New Animal Conservation Group: Guacamayas Siempre: Guacamayas are as emblematic in Mexico as bald eagles are in the United States. Can you imagine Mexico without the guacamayas (Military Macaw)? Well, neither can Bob Price, founder of the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens, or any of the other members of the newly formed conservation group Guacamayas Siempre (Guacamayas Forever).

Best Free Nighttime Entertainment: The Malecón: Here in Vallarta, some of the best things in life truly are free! Visit the Malecon at night and immerse yourself in a beehive of activity and entertainment without needing to spend a peso. Experience a romantic sunset with a magnificent unobstructed view of the western sky. Nightly entertainment at Los Arcos Amphitheater includes hilarious clown shows and, from time to time.

Religious Pilgrimages to Talpa: The town of Talpa located in the mountains about 115 km or 71 miles from Puerto Vallarta, has a huge influx of special visitors each March. Pilgrims (peregrinos in Spanish) come to pay homage to Our Lady of the Rosary of Talpa throughout the year, however they arrive by the thousands every March.

Discovering Off-Malecon in Vallarta: Every city has its hidden corners, its unseen treasures. While sculpture is featured on the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta, those who know the city suggest that you not stop there. In fact, some of the more interesting corners are off the main drag. This piece focuses on Vallarta’s off -Malecon sculptures, as well as tidbits and stories related to them.

Bucerias Art Walk: An amazing array of arts set out along a charming cobblestone street is what made the Bucerias Art Walk a triumph in its inaugural 2006-2007 year. This season the art walk in this Nayarit pueblo on the beach is back, with more artists, more events and more special plans designed to entice visitors to come enjoy the abundance of excellent talent and fine crafts.

Jogging in Paradise: Not only is Puerto Vallarta a great destination for enjoying beaches, nightlife and art, it’s also the perfect place to enjoy exercising! Both early in the morning and late in the afternoon, it’s quite common to see people running along the Malecon, whether on their own, as couples, in groups or with pets.

El Tuito: Small-town Charm Just an Hour Away: With the advent of spectacular restaurants such as Le Kliff and outdoor activities such as those offered at Canopy Tours Los Veranos and the Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens, an increasing number of visitors and locals are stretching their boundaries and exploring all the wonders our South Shore has to offer.

Marvel of the Sea: Long before jet skis and condominiums, ATVs and fishing trawlers, female sea turtles crawled from the oceans and bays along the Pacific coast of Mexico to fling away loose sand and construct their nests.

Best New Excuse to Walk Around Puerto Vallarta: Malecon Extension: Long a destination in itself, the Malecon meanders along the edge of Banderas Bay. And now it’s possible to stroll this “boardwalk” from the historic Hotel Rosita at the north end of town past the Los Muertos pier and farther south – all without having to shake sand out of shoes.

Best Place to Develop a Green Thumb: Botanical Gardens: Historically, a garden was not only an escape from the enclosed interiors of impersonal construction, but also a way of creating an Eden by including Mother Nature in the embracing environment. Bob Price of the Vallarta Botanical Gardens focuses on “bringing native Mexican plants into safe contact with us so we can see them face to face.”