Puerto Vallarta Lifestyles Magazine   Order by Amex   Order by Check   Articles   Profiles   Search

Yelapa, forever Yelapa by Isabel Cuevas    summer-fall/99 Many years ago - around thirty, perhaps - a group of people with heads full of romantic ideas and their bags full of "ethnic" clothing, discovered a magical place perfect for their lifestyle. It was called Yelapa. And, it became home to many of them until this day. At the southern end of Banderas Bay, close to Cabo Corrientes, lies a small cove where the village of Yelapa, built within the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, exerts its magic over those who visit it. Through this enchanting area flow the waters of the El Tuito river creating imposing cascades in the midst of a lush jungle, inhabited by iguanas and intensely colored guacamayas, where an incredibly varied vegetation thrives. In the past the people of Chacala and el Tuito - two towns perched in the highlands of the sierra - would come down to Yelapa to sell oil coconuts and rubber to the large ships that anchored out front. After traveling up and down the mountains for years, some families finally decided to settle down in the area during the thirties. Later on, in 1964, when the movie The Night of the Iguana catapulted Vallarta into international fame, Yelapa became a tourist destination and its people abandoned the old trade to devote themselves to the happiness of their visitors. People in Yelapa are hospitable and simple. Under the palapas of their restaurants you may see the fishermen arrive with your next meal hanging from their shoulders. Tradition has it that desert be a slice of fruit or "French" cheese pie that the celebrated Agustina has been baking for 26 years. Afterwards, a walk to the 65-ft waterfall and its crystal-clear water pool is an excellent way to refresh yourself. There are horseback rides through the village, where all houses are profusely decorated with flowers, and a two-hour long excursion to another waterfall hidden in the jungle. On the beach you may run into Philippo Lo Grande, a fine painter who has been a captive of Yelapa for 13 years. He told us about the intense cultural life of this town that many talented artists call home. All of them, in conjunction with other caring citizens, are fighting to make of Yelapa an ecological reserve. Spending the night in Yelapa under the light of the moon or under the spell of the millions of stars that multiply in the heavens thanks to the absence of artificial lights, is to say the least, a unique experience. The song of the cicadas, the constant murmur of the surf and the croaking of the frogs are a balm for the spirit. Accommodations are not plentiful, but they are undoubtedly charming. The La Lagunita de Yelapa hotel, located on the beach, features 30 bungalows, a restaurant, bar and a swimming pool. The rates vary according to the season between US$35 and US$50. In the midst of the jungle and 30 years ago, Benny and Miki Shapiro built Rancho El Sueño with four houses, a bungalow and a room. Although rustic, the decor is imaginative and has lovely touches like hanging beds, a bathtub in the bedroom and doors and windows done in woven palm leaves. The rates vary according to three different seasons from US$45 to US$85 per night. The water taxis to Yelapa leave from two locations: the Malecón downtown (next to the Hotel Rosita) with a fare of $70 pesos per person one way, or from Boca de Tomatlán with a cost of $40 pesos per person one way.

Back | Top of Page | Home | Free Newsletter | Search | Help | Tell a Friend

m3 © Producciones ViVa