Sunday, August 31, 2008
Luxury Rental in Costa Alegre: Villa Dulce Suenos
Friday, August 29, 2008
Getting around in Puerto Vallarta
Taxis - Puerto Vallarta's taxis are not metered, so agree your price before you get in. Hotels often post taxi rates on a board, and depending on how far you're going to travel (defined by zones), the price will vary. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish
Rent a Car - If you are being picked up at Puerto Vallarta's airport to get taken to your resort or rental accommodation, then you may want to consider renting a car to explore the local environment. Note that parking is not that easy in Puerto Vallarta (but is possible) in town.
There are some stunning areas just north and south of Puerto Vallarta that can be explored along the coast roads, and renting a car locally is ideal and effective way to experience them.
Highway 200 is a beautiful coast road which hugs the edge of the land facing the Pacific Ocean. If you plan to explore the Costa Alegre as part of your visit to the region, a rental car will be essential, unless you plan to simply stay-put at one of our villa rentals.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Off the beaten-pass: Discover Costa Alegre
Miles upon miles of palm trees line the land just inside the coastal shores. Jungle covered mountains plunge into the Pacific coast, or fall short to reveal golden sand beaches, begging to be discovered and walked upon by tired feet.
The Costa Alegre is not a destination, it's an area between Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo. Costa Alegre offers highly exclusive travel experiences with self contained resort luxury villas that feature privacy and seclusion surrounded by a stunningly beautiful tropical paradise.
Today, this region is extremely accessible - by air (Puerto Vallarta or Manzanillo airports) and by road (Highway 200 on Mexico's Pacific Coast) - and has become a favorite holiday destination for foreigners and Mexicans alike looking for highly exclusive, extra-special travel experiences.
Costa Alegre (the "Happy Coast") is a stretch of land about 150 miles long, that features tropical forests and magical coves. This area is one of the most exclusive areas to get away from it all in Mexico. Celebrities often come here to get away from prying eyes and camera lenses. Costalegre is an area made up several towns and villages with potential for the traveler looking for that extra-special experience in Mexico.
Find-out Mexican Destination's exclusive villa rentals in Costa Alegre.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Getting to Puerto Vallarta
By Air - Puerto Vallarta's international airport is extremely well-served by a range of airlines. You can fly to Puerto Vallarta from the United States and and other points in Mexico including Guadalajara, La Paz, Leon and Mexico City.
By Bus - You can travel to Puerto Vallarta on a luxury bus from Mexico City - but note that the trip will take around 14 hours. From Guadalajara, the journey time is about 6-7 hours. Puerto Vallarta is flanked by large mountains, so the roads in and out of the area are steep, winding, and take time to negotiate. Flying is the most sensible way to get to Puerto Vallarta, unless you are on a budget, and don't mind the wait (and want to see the sights along the way).
By Car - The road journey to Puerto Vallarta from inland Mexico (e.g. Guadalajara, Mexico City, Chihuahua, et al) is mountainous and winding. Expect it to take longer than you anticipate if you've only looked at non-topographical road map. The easiest route in and out of Puerto Vallarta is by using Highway 200 -- the coast road -- although if you plan to go inland to Guadalajara or Mexico City, then this road will take you well out of the way you really want to go. Traveling out of Puerto Vallarta by road north to Punta de Mita, or south to Costalegre and Manzanillo is straightforward: the roads are good and the terrain is easy to negotiate in a car.
before you get there, make sure to take full advantage of our luxury villa vacation rentals.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Mexican Destinations: Horseback riding in Puerto Vallarta
Other outfits include Rancho Capomo, which provides ecological horseback riding tours.
Rancho Ojo de Agua also offers high-quality tours. It is about a 10-minute taxi ride north of downtown, toward the Sierra Madre foothills. The morning and sunset rides last 3 hours and take you up into the mountains overlooking the ocean and town.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Mexican Destinations House Rental: Villa Amapas
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Mexican Destinations: Puerto Vallarta Walking Tours
Among the sights you shouldn't miss is the municipal building on the main square (next to the tourism office), which has a large Manuel Lepe mural inside in its stairwell. Nearby, right up Independencia, sits the picturesque Parish of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe church, Hidalgo 370 (tel. 322/222-1326), topped with a curious crown held in place by angels -- a replica of the one worn by Empress Carlota during her brief time in Mexico as Emperor Maximilian's wife. On its steps, women sell religious mementos; across the narrow street, stalls sell native herbs for curing common ailments. Services in English are held each Saturday at 5pm, and Sunday at 10am. Regular hours are Monday through Saturday from 7:30am to 8:30pm, Sunday from 6:30am to 8:30pm. Note that entrance is restricted to those properly attired -- no shorts or sleeveless shirts allowed. Three blocks south of the church, head east on Libertad, lined with small shops and pretty upper windows, to the municipal market by the river. (It's the Río Cuale Mercado, but I recently overheard a tourist ask for the "real quality" market!) After exploring the market, cross the bridge to the island in the river; sometimes a painter is at work on its banks. Walk down the center of the island toward the sea, and you'll come to the tiny Museo Río Cuale (no phone; Mon-Sat 10am-4pm; free admission), which has a small but impressive permanent exhibit of pre-Columbian figurines.
Retrace your steps to the market and Libertad, and follow Calle Miramar to the brightly colored steps up to Zaragoza. Midway is a magnificent view over rooftops to the sea, plus a cute cafe, Graffiti (no phone), where you can break for a cappuccino and a snack. Up Zaragoza to the right 1 block is the famous pink arched bridge that once connected Richard Burton's and Elizabeth Taylor's houses. In this area, known as "Gringo Gulch," many Americans have houses.
Find out more about Puerto Vallarta Vacations and luxury villa rentals.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Exclusive Mexico Villa Rental: Casa San Sebastian
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Mexican Destinations Summer Specials - Casa Dos Angeles
Summer Special! Stay 7 nights, pay for 6
Enjoy old Mexico charm with all the modern conveniences. This lovely, two bedroom villa offers a 270-degree view of the ocean, Los Arcos, the Sierra Madres, and Puerto Vallarta.
Your own secluded hideaway will take you back in time. You’ll enjoy 3,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor living space, a beautiful private pool overlooking the ocean, a spacious patio, large living room, dining room, and kitchen. This luxury villa rental is located in a small, exclusive, gated villa community just 10 minutes from Puerto Vallarta
Take a five minute stroll down the hill to the beach or you can drive right up to it with your picnic lunch. Guests to Casa Dos Angeles take pleasure in a secluded beach, with white sand, a gentle surf and swaying palm trees.
See more amazing vacation rentals on Mexican Destinations.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Mexican Destination other exclusive locations: Punta Mita
Punta Mita is located on Mexico's Pacific Coast, about 30 minutes northwest of the international airport in Puerto Vallarta, one of Mexico's premier vacation destinations. Punta Mita is easily accessible by air and is just a few hours from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas and other major cities in the United States.
Situated at the northern tip of Banderas Bay, Mexico's deepest natural bay, and bordered by the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains to the east. The Punta Mita peninsula is surrounded on three sides by white, coral-sand beaches and crystalline waters. The land features a rich bio-diversity that includes numerous species of tropical fauna and flora while the warm waters teem with tropical fish, turtles, and other aquatic life.
Punta Mita is also home to the luxurious Four Seasons Resort, including the 18 hole Jack Nicklaus championship golf course, restaurants and spa.
With Mexican Destinations, pick your perfect Punta Mita vacation rental.Thursday, August 14, 2008
Destination Wedding in Puerto Vallarta with Mexican Destinations
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Mexican Destinations - Exclusive Luxury Rental: Villa Esplendora
Sunday, August 10, 2008
With Mexican Destinations find Alternatives to Mexico's tourist meccas
Alternative: San Pancho, about 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, is still more fishing village and mango processing town than tourist destination, but it has a smattering of beautiful villa rentals, a growing number of fine restaurants, and an idyllic beach where men cast their lines from shore, competing with flocks of resident pelicans. It's a quieter version of Sayulita, 10 minutes to the north — which would have gotten the nod on this list a couple of years ago, before the condos started going up and the main street got choked with traffic.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Mexican Destinations - Luxury Property Focus: The Casa Flores
Monday, August 4, 2008
What Makes Puerto Vallarta Quaint?
Although the city has reached the size of St. Louis with 350,000 inhabitants, it still possesses the atmosphere of a small village where everyone seems to know each other. Residents often consider Puerto Vallarta to be charming in an old fashioned way due to the friendliness of its people; where everyone that you meet is readily open to new friendships as recently revealed when surveyed readers of Conde Nast magazine voted Puerto Vallarta the friendliest resort destination in the world.