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Aqua Sports
Jetskis are popular at Los Muertos
Beach
Don't miss one of our sunset
cruises aboard L'Escapada |
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Aqua Sports such as water
skiing, wind surfing, and now jet skis are all available at the beaches, as
is Parasailing. (Note: several major travel insurance companies have ruled
and written in their policies that Parasailing accidents are NOT covered). A
SCUBA DIVING tour around Los ARCOS (three interesting rock formations, the
middle of which you can drive a small boat through and which teem with
aquatic life) can be organized through MEX- DEV's tour desk. Details of this
tour and many others are available at the tour office as well as some video
footage (in the works) to help you decide which tour you would prefer. You
might look into this at the beginning of your trip and talk to other guests
for their reaction and plan an activity every second day for instance. Many
tours are scheduled for certain days and therefore the decision to partake
might best be made early in your trip so as to not be disappointed,
especially if you are only staying one week. Many of the popular Fiestas are
only once or maybe twice a week and if you miss the day ..well you miss the
boat. Speaking of boats MEX-DEV has a company
owned 32' sloop called L'Escapada and we usually try to make one sunset
cruise per week so plan ahead and sign up early as the maximum number we can
take is ten. Fishing needs several days to set up in high season, so
"telegraph" your interests to whoever is at the desk during or
after the briefing. For snorkeling or diving you can rent all
the gear you need. However, it is always better to have your own mask and
flippers at least, as "fits" are important and selections can be
limited. Many seasoned divers bring their own regulators but tanks are heavy
and a nuisance, besides the airlines demand a premium. We rent tanks in some
of the tours. Neophytes can have prior scuba lessons in a pool for a nominal
sum. If you have ever considered taking up diving, this is an excellent
opportunity to give this sport a try, at a very modest cost compared to other
places. One of the beauties of this resort is its people. The natives have
analyzed what they like doing and have offered it in a business type manner. We have a PADI certified Instructor who
does custom dive tours for MEX-DEV that are carefully planned, based on
feedback from our many customers. Many of the tours combine several elements
that other more commercial tours embrace but in two or three tours instead of
one. Last year he was guaranteeing (not for the faint hearted) a ride on a
manta ray on his Isla Marietas dive tour If you happen to meet LALO MORENO who now
owns a restaurant at the Marina, ask him if he remembers Guillermo who got
perhaps the biggest fish ever in VALLARTA, on a breath dive - a seventy-two
pound Amberjack. We fed twenty-two people in a real Pachanga at La Palapa and
still had some left over. If you are into hunting for fish, bring your own
gun as they are not easy to rent and not the greatest when you do. Certainly you will want to get out on the
BAY one way or another either to dive, snorkle, fish, or just enjoy the view
from the water. Costs can run anywhere from $25. to $450. per day or tour,
depending on what type of boat and what other activity is involved. Make sure
you try at least one tour that involves a boat. Mex-Dev's company owned sloop
L'ESCAPADA is the best "wet" deal on the bay as yours truly is the captain
and that's what I like doing best, so I've purposely made it very attractive
pricewise. Ask the tour desk about the 'Sunset cruise' You get four hours
with nibblies and drinks for the same price as six minutes on the parachute.
Many of these tours become cheaper when additional people join, so if you're
interested in something, try to enlist other persons with your mini group and
save money. When four or six (depending on the tour etc.) are going at the
same time often MEX-DEV will use the company van to transport the players
gratis, at least to the embarkation point.
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If you are not up to the
parachute rides, now getting expensive at up to $25.00 U.S., spend a little
more and make a morning out of it by going for an air tour of the bay with a
sister company of MEX-DEV. (coming 2005). This is an excellent opportunity to
take some pictures of the hillside where CASA ANITA or Villas SONIA are
located so you can show the friends back home where they should stay when
they come down. Another outfit at the airport offers a tour
to SAN SEBASTIAN DEL OESTE, which is a 300 year old town in the mountains and
which has barely changed in this period - truly old Mexico. Visit a Hacienda
and see the vats where the silver ore was semi-refined, before the trek on
burro’s backs. It still is five to fifteen hours by car (depending on the
car) there and only 12 minutes by air... to the inevitable Spanish galleons
with holds awaiting the plunder. By prior arrangement Bud ACORE, an American
with a Mexican heart who owns the Hacienda, may be persuaded to cook you a
gourmet lunch and give you a guided tour. His clientele includes John Houston
and many Hollywood luminaries. Ask the tour desk to arrange this type of
exclusive tour. This type of non-touristy tour is not always available or
it's seasonal, so don't expect or build you whole trip around this. However,
if it's available, you will never forget the experience. Someone once asked me how to best describe
MEX-DEV and what is our mission? The response in part would encompass
something like this .... we nudge ordinary folk out of their comfort zone to
experience things that are not offered by our competitors. We provide a
comfortable and homey retreat, yet we prod people to indulge themselves in
new taste delights as well as uncover some of the romantic mystique of this
enchanted land. We perceive our mission as rolling back the curtain to allow
you to 'feel the real warmth of MEXICO'.
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Take a trip to YELAPA, a
small primitive village with no electricity and a small waterfall, Mexican
MECCA to the hippies of the sixties and perhaps a little overrated for that
reason. The only way to get there is by boat. The Princess Yelapa, now a
party boat too rather than just a ferry, is probably the best but not the
cheapest now that they have offered the open bar routine. If you’re prone to
sea sickness however, consider that it is a bigger boat and less apt to be
offensive in that area. Smaller "pangas" leave the Rosita Hotel
area daily at different times in water taxi fashion and are the popular
method for the natives, indigenous or ex-pat types. The BOOZE CRUISES or party boats, and there
are more and more each year it seems, are to name a few, the BUENAVENTURA,
Vallarta Fiesta, Cielito Lindo, Shamballa, Princess Vallarta and so on. Most
are cat or tri-maran hulls which assure some stability and because it's a
large Bay it's usually quiet and calm especially in the mornings. Most of the
boats follow this format. They follow the shoreline along the shore heading
south, serving a continental breakfast. You will pass by both Villas SONIA
and CASA ANITA/CORONA del MAR and other lovely villas in the chic GOLD COAST
region, which comprises Las AMAPAS and Conchas Chinas. The BUENAVENTURA is a 54-foot yacht that
holds up to 80 people comfortably with tables for four. It was the only
cruise in the Bay that served breakfast as you cruise the coastline of
Vallarta. First stop is Los ARCOS rocks with the famous arches which smaller
boats navigate through. This is an opportunity to snorkel. All equipment is
complimentary and you have 30 – 40 minutes there to experience the tropical
fish and colourful coral. Back on board you can take advantage of the full,
national-drink open bar. Everything from cold beer, tropical fruit punch,
Bloody Marys, and of course Margaritas! The trip continues southward along the
coast to Quimixto, a typical fishing village. Quimixto is only accessible by
boat and is next door to where the famous actor and director John Huston
built a home and lived for many years, until he died of emphysema a few years
ago. The beach itself is dotted with little palapas but the main attraction
is the inland waterfall. Rent a horse or hike through the lush jungle (20 – 30
minutes depending whether you walk, get a horse or donkey) to the cascades of
cool, fresh water. Take a dip to rinse off the jungle dust before you descend
the mountain trail back to the beach. Once back on board the Buenaventura you'll
cruise along the shoreline to Las Animas beach. Only accessible by boat, Las
Animas is inhabited exclusively by fisherman and members of the
"Ejido" or Indian reservation. This is one of the best beaches on
the whole Bay of Banderas and a cadre of beach restaurants cater to the
cruise boats. A special buffet for BUENAVENTURA guests exclusively is waiting
on the beach when you disembark. There is plenty of time to digest your meal
by walking the lovely beach, or resuming your underwater explorations, or
maybe a game of volleyball. Parasailing is offered as well but is not
included in the tour. Nor are the horses going to the waterfall. On the way back across the BAY your Captain
and crew will host a tequila party. A real way to end a wonderful day on a 5
star (their call), all-inclusive boat cruise on the Bay of Banderas. Watch
out for sunburn and hangover. Another popular boat is the BORA-BORA which
is a trimaran sail boat, that offers drinks and food included - Bloody Marys,
Margaritas, beer and "pelican" (actually it's chicken but they
always kid you so people don’t eat too much). There are several more large
embarkations that have horned in on this market offering variations of this
fare, known as "booze cruises". One of the more popular of these is
the CIELITO LINDO which is a trimaran, also 50' but it has a little more
class than the others. The owner is a past president of the Chamber of
Commerce locally and a tour wholesaler himself, so he really does know what
people are after. Reprimand Jose the captain if he doesn't point out
"CASA ANITA la mas BONITA" as you cruise along the shoreline in
front of all the lovely villas. Some of these rent for as much as $1500.
U.S a day (we represent one of these) and one is listed in FORBES magazine
for sale at $950,000. Actually it recently sold to two architects who have
gutted it (we bought 57 doors from this bazaar and recently converted them to
closet doors, replacing curtains) Richard NIXON, when he was President,
stayed but a few hundred yards from CASA ANITA on the GOLD COAST. (COSTA DE
ORO) 'sounds even richer if you roll your "RRR's". Don't let anyone
try to tell you differently but the GOLD COAST comprising Las AMAPAS and the
CONCHAS CHINAS area is NO QUESTION the best area of Town. Gringo Gulch is
also a popular spot but Beverly HILLS (British Properties?) is definitely Las
AMAPAS or The GOLD COAST; the Belair of VALLARTA.
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Once a week in season there are fights at La PALOMA bull ring across from the MARINA. The first Matador faces the first bull in a fight to the death at 17:00 hrs sharp. |
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The mariachi band, peanut
and beer vendors create the atmosphere of a baseball game. Go and see one,
then decide if you like it. After all, bullfighting is the hockey of Mexico.
Tickets are available from the MEX-DEV office. If you want to really delve
into this, read Hemingway's "Death in the Afternoon". Don't dismiss it without trying to
understand it. It's a courtesy to try to learn about the culture of your
hosts and admittedly this is the hardest to sell but it has a great deal of
pageantry involved and the manner in which the matador and his assistants
carry out their 'dance' is criticized or applauded with a Ken STARR kind of
scrutiny. Need I say more? Go once at least, to see if you can get
captured like Ernest and Bill (me) did.
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Fishing for the prized
"bill fish" Sail or Marlin is available from our tour desk. We are
in touch with the fisherman’s Co-op as well as some independents who we feel
offer better deals. Most of the boats are registered with a co-op office near
the Rosita Hotel (north side of town), at the end of the promenade or malecon
as they call it, but you get whatever boat is in the rotation which is not as
good as us getting BRUNO or one of Dr. Calderon's boats when they are
available. BRUNO is the original fisherman in
VALLARTA. He speaks English and experience in this domain IS important so see
OUR TOUR office. Also, if you want to share a boat, Annette or SONIA or yours
truly will co-ordinate and consult fellow guests to share expenses, as this
can be expensive by yourself. Also the bonus is that when you catch fish,
which is almost a sure thing, you can bring home the fish, cleaned by the
boatman for a wee tip, and have a "Pachanga". Don't confuse a PACHANGA (which is a FIESTA
with a "Richter" value of about 7.9), with a PANGA, which is a
small 18' fiberglass fishing boat with outboard motors. Types of fish caught are sailfish, dorado,
some wahoo, albacore tuna and robalo in the game fish department. In the
bottom fish department, include huachinango, grouper. Other good eating fish
are sierra and toro or yellow tailed tuna. In the small boat department for fishing in
the Bay we have a very good contact named FELIX who operates a
"panga" by the hour with a three-hour minimum. His boat's name is
the ORCA. He used to be a diver and has a visual picture of the good spots to
fish.
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There are several very good golf
courses in the Puerto Vallarta area |
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Los Flamingos, which for
years I erroneously called a Robt.Trent Jones Course, is 7075 yds. and is one
of the best golf settings this writer has ever seen or played. The green fees are $80.USD currently
including power cart. Walking is allowed at a lower rate after 1:30pm. No tee
times but early golf in the tropics is advised. Transportation across from
the SHERATON HOTEL is available at 07:30, 09:30 etc at two-hour intervals.
They have a bus of their own, which will pick you up at designated stops. The
Sheraton Hotel is the most southerly and the most convenient place to catch
it. Inquire with us before or by phone as to the schedule as this can change.
They are in the next state and a time zone separates you, so plan thusly.
Actually the drive to the Golf course is quite nice. It is about forty
minutes from town, to the North. Careful, if you miss the bus and take a cab
out to the golf course and plan to return with the bus; he won't accept
you...something to do with the union of cabs etc. (I wonder if our
competition knows this and tells their customers) Its not a pretty sight to
see grown men shouting at a bus driver who is refusing them to get on a bus
that is 80% empty.) We can rent you clubs if you like but if
you're an avid golfer, consider taking your own. We do have five complete
sets of clubs for rent. The airlines charge a modest fee for transporting
sporting equipment. Most rental ones at the Club are poor and expensive to
rent. I buy at garage sales and ask guests to bring a set down now and again
to rotate and upgrade the sticks. Yes, we do have left handed ones (two sets)
and a set of Lady PALMERS. Bring balls! The other course is located in town behind
the Marina Hotels and is about $110 USD. When I asked someone who played them
both what he thought, this is the answer I got. In the words of a one
handicapper Scotsman he deemed both "as good a challenge of golf as one
can find anywhere"
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We have assembled a choice of
tours that is well illustrated in a catalogue binder available at the office. |
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Guided Tours are available
from wandering vendors or travel agents. However, again it is wise to consult
with our office, as many are fronts for timeshare seminars. These apparent
"deals" are really time- share traps. Travel agencies are clearly
indicated. If you deal with our tour desk you can be sure there is no
timeshare ploy involved or if there is, let us know and we'll drop them
pronto. We sample every guest on which tour they
liked and have assembled a choice that is well illustrated in a catalogue
binder available at the office. There is no tour offered that we can't fill
for you.We also are preparing videos of our tours which are custom or
"combos" and the product of polling our many guests as to what they
like. All the tours that are offered via the travel agencies etc. in town we
can offer, and at the same prices. If you run into a better deal it is likely
a lead in for a timeshare presentation. Beware of the cute young people in small
kiosks or alcoves along the malecon and throughout the town proper who are
actively soliciting you as you walk by. Best to nod and say "thank-you, we're
leaving this afternoon" than waste at least five minutes hearing their
pitch or worse, going for it and wasting a half day! Tropical, Jungle and
City tours are popular and not expensive. They run around $15 U.S. or
equivalent in pesos and give you a quick orientation of the town and
surrounding area. Some of the more interesting
"custom" tours are to PUNTA de MITA or to the Tres Marietas
Islands. Some of our combo tours, unique and exclusive to MEX- DEV, involve
walking, riding in a vehicle, riding in a boat, and riding on horseback all
in the same day! These might be $30. to $40. but involve all of the
preceeding and maybe snorkeling and a volleyball game as well. ASK SONIA, LUIS, ANNETTE or BILL. Another
difference with buying your tours through us is that you can charge them to
either your Mastercard or Visa and save the cash that seems to disappear
rapidly. Money magically changes into blankets or carvings or onyx chess sets
and tee shirts and on and on and...
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Horses can be rented with or
without a guide near Los Muertos Beach
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If you haven't ridden in
years, now is the time to try again. These horses don't KNOW, how to run;
they are docile and the trip up the Cuale River is very interesting. You will
see the women doing their washing in the river and animals and children
galore. The vegetation and jungle are very interesting. A normal excursion
takes two to three hours (they are slow horses). Bring a camera. Horses can be rented with or without a
guide near Los Muertos Beach, in the mornings preferably. You can presently
find horses on Olas Altas and Lazaro Cardenas Streets but a movement is afoot
to have them removed as they impede traffic etc.).Or better still, ask the
desk about the dude ranch called EL OJO DE AGUA. in addition to riding this
will be an educational experience as well as fun. They used to grow beautiful orchids at the
ranch and they go riding twice a day at 9:30 A.M. and at 2 P.M. The distance
to the ranch from Town is a short cab ride and they'll take you riding for
three hours, explaining all the trees and 'Flores'. This is an excellent
educational as well as entertaining outing and certainly good value. They
offer free one way transportation via cab, if you get your voucher through
us. He (Octavio Gonzales) recently bought the
balance of the Mexican Cavalry's local "string" as they have
mechanized with pick-ups etc. Now he boasts the best rental horses in town.
Time this excursion to give your sunburn a rest. One of the owners of this enterprise used
to serve breakfast at the small hotel I first stayed at, almost twenty years
ago. I used to watch him lift weights and he taught me several songs on the
guitar. Later he became the chief of Police and a prominent dentist (post
graduate studies in Illinois) and he still has his practice but loves the
ranch life and so will you. He's my dentist as well as was John Huston’s and
Elizabeth Taylor’s (while she was here). Just indicate to the desk your interest in
horseback riding and we'll post a notice on the blackboard and get a group
together and perhaps you'll get the transfers two ways to the ranch, which is
up against the mountains but isn't that far.
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Guns are prohibited without
special permits. Jaguar, ocelot, wild boar, pigeon and migratory ducks as
well as small deer are hunted but prior arrangements are necessary. Contact
this writer if you are interested. Duck and pigeon are the most affordable
types of excursions running about $300.U.S. /day with everything supplied.
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Para-Sailing is available especially
down at the PLAYA LOS MUERTOS. CAUTION, travel insurance companies have
singled out this activity as NOT being covered.... If this isn't indicative
of something, then what is? Sail board rental is also available in this area
along with moto or jet-skis but get ready to pay $40. for half an hour! We
are planning a new 'sporting experience' to be offered exclusively to MEX-DEV
guests where we will drive a gang out to Punta de Mita to our new property
and they will have the "run of the house" on jet skis, windsurfers,
scuba gear, snorkeling gear including a four wheeler 500 cc ATV bike.
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Rent a car for a day or two
and explore. It’s safe. Pancho Villa pensioned off all the banditos. A drive south to CHICO's Paradise is well
worth it for luncheon and fresh water swimming in rock pools. (forty minutes
from Vallarta). Car rentals are expensive so consider sharing perhaps and
making it a full day or two of usage. It’s costly but you will enjoy it. Also
take advantage of the auto to stock your refrigerator with heavy articles
like watermelon etc. When you calculate a number of taxi rides into your
rental, the price of the car rental is not as bad. Ask our desk staff who can point you out a
good company and even reserve for you. They will come to CASA ANITA and
pick-up there also, which is convenient. The deals change constantly and your
best bet is to consult Sonia, Annette or Bill.
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Conditions are usually very
good. Bring your own mask and flippers (no wet suits needed here). If you're
a hunter, bring a spear gun as they are in demand. It used to be that you
could dive all week for free by leaving the gun. However, it seems when you
get married somehow your priorities become very mixed up, and diving and guns
assume lesser significance. Oh well! Robert BERTRAND, who is our resident tour
guide and Scuba Pro, (PADI CERTIFIED)has, in concert with us after careful
consultation and revision of the many comments of returning MEX- DEV guests,
come up with several tours that satisfy most customers both old & young,
novice and expert. We are planning to do at least two dive weeks per year
which will be for hard core divers offering three included dive days in the
package. Call Victoria office for details and dates. It is sometimes frustrating to hear that
someone has found a similar tour that is $5. or $10. cheaper and of course a
gang goes and finds out that they had to buy a $10. lunch that was included
in our tour, or the cab ride to access the deal was $8. each way and so on.
Be careful of deals that seem "unreal". Usually the catch is you
have to sit through a timeshare seminar to get the "deal". Water conditions in the Bahia de BANDERAS
or Bay of FLAGS as it is known on charts can vary greatly and also be
different in different parts of the BAY the same day. Here is where
experience comes in as nothing is a frustrating as getting all set and then
finding conditions unacceptable. While the waters here are never like COZUMEL
in terms of clarity, there are many redeeming graces such as a very
interesting "bottom" with a kaleidoscope of fishes to observe and
even catch if you're good and also the very fact that you get out of the
water because you're tired, never because you're cold. You are likely to see anything from
groupers to giant sea bass (can go up to 500 lbs - I saw one once) to sea
turtles, manta rays (they're harmless) and of course the inevitable Moray
eels, which are to be avoided. No sharks have been caught in the Bay but
outside in the blue waters where the sailfish abound, there are plenty.
Robert guarantees a "ride on a manta" in his Marietas tour under
$100. with two tanks. That is, if you're up to it?
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There are several tennis
courts available, the most accessible is the John Newcombe Tennis Club which
is at Las Glorias. It has changed names but everyone knows it by that name.
Courts can be rented by the hour and they have clay and hard surfaced types,
some open and shaded (roofed with lights). The Club de Tennis Vallarta is more out of
the way but taxi drivers know; or if you're driving, it's inland from where
the POSADA VALLARTA or port is. Bring your own equipment, as it is expensive
to buy here. In a hurry? We have some tennis rackets that you can rent from
us.
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