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 Travel & Outdoors | April 2007 
Its People Make Vallarta Hard to Beat
 Quebec Daily Herald-Tribune
| | In Puerto Vallarta, 90 per cent of the local economy is built upon tourism which means everyone knows "la tourista" is the most important person around - you are always well looked after. (Erich Haubrich/PVNN) |
Recently, the Mexican tourism industry vis-a-vis Canada has taken a bit of a bad rap.
Increased reports of violence and political unrest in some areas of the country, coupled by a few high-profile cases, may have dissuaded some Canadians from travelling to this beautiful country.
Relax.
If it is safety and security, combined with fantastic tourism opportunities, beautiful beaches and great cuisine, then Puerto Vallarta should be at the top of your vacation destination choices.
This tourism mecca, located on Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean side (Banderas Bay is the fourth largest in the world) caters to tourism in every sense of the word and this is highlighted by its safety factor, boasting one of the lowest crime rates in the world for cities with a better-than-500,000 population.
Here, 90 per cent of the local economy is built upon tourism which means everyone knows "la tourista" is the most important person around - you are always well looked after.
Booking your all-inclusive package through a reputable tour company such as Air Canada Vacations will ensure that your time here will be well spent, of great value and in the company of reputable tour operators.
The one thing you must be aware of right from the get-go is how to avoid the time-share trap.
Our Air Canada Vacations guides on the ground in Vallarta were very vehement about this: Time-share condo sales are huge in this part of the world and salesman can make very good money simply by having people agree to come to demonstrations or viewings, even if customers do not buy. So along the beautiful cobblestone streets of the city, founded in 1851 by Guadaloupe Sanchez, which runs for a good couple of miles along the bay, you will be chatted at frequently with offers of everything from tequila tasting to free fishing. Most of these are hooks for tim- share sales.
In fact, recent renovations to the Vallarta airport were done with these salespeople in mind. An elongation of the arrivals area was done - not to make it more convenient for passengers, says our AC Vacations rep, rather, to allow time-share agents (many of whom represent some of the biggest and most beautiful hotels) an extra crack at confused tourists.
Beware.
Now, if you want to buy a time-share in Puerto Vallarta, good for you.
There are many up-front ways to do this and it likely isn't the first thing you should be thinking about when you are arriving at the airport.
Therefore, we are duly advised, do not agree to go with anyone who does not have the official sign of the tour company you are with (as opposed to handwritten, or vocal IDs) and then ask to see proper criteria and the manifest which specifically lists your arrival as part of the itinerary. Then you are in good hands.
The long-and-short of it is: Keep smiling, keep walking and learn how to say, "No Gracias" and wave your hand like Queen Elizabeth - albeit at a more rapid pace.
Now that you are safely at your hotel, let the hospitality and the friendly and well-trained staff pamper you - you deserve it.
For us at the luxurious Villa Premier, this meant an aromatherapy massage and a flute of champagne while our room was prepared. This was a great place to stay, several fantastic restaurants to choose from, a large pool area and direct access to huge beach where the water was warm and the sunsets delectable.
The location is great, too. It is a comfortable walk down the seafront boardwalk to the downtown where there is a myriad of shopping, eating and sightseeing opportunities. Again, beware the time-share seller, there are many, but we found few who were too pushy and/or rude. Mostly they gave up with a smile of resignation and wished us well.
If you are an art fan, the walk is perfect. From natural beauty to the wonderful collection of sculptures and on-display creations from local artisans, you can wile away a day easily.
For those looking for jewelry, there are also great bargains. Mexico is the world's leading producer of silver (Canada is second, by the way) and, as such, the options are endless. Opals and turquoise are also everywhere, but watch for the cheap imitation silver that a lot of street vendors sell.
We were taken to an upstairs crafting locale where raw silver was being fashioned into jewelry of all shapes and sizes. It is fascinating to watch. Look for certified stores. If the price is too good to be true - it's the fake stuff. The prices are real good. Not that good.
And speaking of street vendors, there are a variety of excellent food vendors on street, but ask your tour operator or guide to recommend one or, better yet, come with you.
This is the difference between fantastic and authentic local food and a stomach ache.
Again, the majority of street vendors, including food sellers, are subject to strict inspections and harsh fines for impropriety. This comes from the authorities' realization that sick tourists are mad and never-returning tourists. This, the people of Puerto Vallarta have learned well.
Puerto Vallarta is in the state of Jalisco, and rests in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range. The average temperature is 27C and most days, a haze hangs over many areas - not because of air pollution, rather because of the humidity and the quick change in air temperature from sea to land to mountains. Believe me, we flew over Mexico City and we saw air pollution up close. Yikes!
The water here is calm, because of the protection of the bay. As such, a myriad of tourist opportunities are available with the bay in mind and you should certainly aim for that. Whale and dolphin watching and fishing options are endless. If it is a night out on a theatre boat where you can enjoy a live show, the ocean, a few drinks and a good time, the Marigalante Pirate Ship show is a good option (just know that it is bench seating and is better for the young, party crowd than for seniors, children or people with bad backs or claustrophobia).
The highlight of our visit to Vallarta was a day of snorkelling way out in the bay. The pristine waters and warm temperatures and the fact that there are many in the water with you gives you a sense of safety, though the frequency of sharks, at least any dangerous ones, is rare. The sealife in this water is incredible from the smallest jellyfish - the first thing I saw in the water - to a giant sea turtle (which guides told me I was very fortunate to see); there are endless colours of the fish, the mental rainbow that will stick with me forever.
Another must do is a canopy tour. We were fortunate to get the best one - Tours de los Veranos - where the movie Predator was filmed. High above the rivers, forests and gorges of the rainforested area about 45 minutes outside of Vallarta, cables and harnesses allow people to slide along steel-reinforced lines and witness breathtaking beauty and an adrenaline rush at the same time.
There are many imitators out there, so be careful to get the most reputable. We enjoyed a post-canopy-tour lunch with owner Jeff Coates, a Denver native and admitted ski bum, who saw the vision and followed it through. It's a magnificent, must-see place.
This is the beauty of Puerto Vallarta: Options. If you want to be pampered, lie on the beach and dip in the pool or ocean, there's no place better. If you want to take in tourist attractions, shop, eat and drink authentic Mexican, there's also a wonderful opportunity to do that.
Or you can see where Millionaire's Row is, a winding trip up the cobblestoned, narrowing streets to overlook the beauty of the bay and beach.
But at the end of the day, the key to any destination's success is its people. If they truly believe in the tourist industry, as people of Vallarta do, you are in good hands.
You will have a smile on your face, you cannot help it.
Our guide for our five-day trip, Javier, became a very good friend, reliable and sincere. We shared family stories and laughed over mutual parenting issues. This is the honesty of the Mexican people.
If you go ... Air Canada Vacations (its website is www.aircanadavacations.com) has many very good deals upcoming, and there are good options for Edmonton and Calgary departures to Mexico's Pacific coast. Try to avoid the June-August stretch if you can as it is the rainy season, though bargains can be had. You should look to September and October to avoid the high season which is November through March or mid-April. All-inclusive deals are catered to all budgetary needs. |
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