Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – On May 26, Mexican open water swimmer Stephanie Montero Bending triumphantly completed the final leg of her remarkable 127-kilometer swim across Banderas Bay. This ambitious journey, known as the “Vuelta a la Bahía de Banderas,” began on the evening of May 20 and concluded in the early morning of May 26, divided into six stages.
Last November, Stephanie showcased her incredible stamina by swimming 37.5 kilometers in Banderas Bay for 14 hours non-stop, raising funds for humpback whale conservation. This year, she surpassed her previous achievement by nearly quadrupling the distance! To accomplish this, she divided the swim into six stages over six days, marking the first swim of its kind in Mexico.
In the early hours of May 26, Stephanie completed her final stretch from Mismaloya to the beach at the Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa, realizing her dream of swimming across Banderas Bay in stages.
Stephanie’s achievement extends beyond the realm of sports, making significant contributions to environmental and social causes. Her journey was paired with a substantial fundraising effort, for Nado por las Ballenas, an initiative that promotes the conservation of the humpback whale and the marine ecosystems of Banderas Bay (Jalisco-Nayarit) through:
- Environmental education
- Whale watching surveillance
- Bay Zero Campaign
- Cultivation and monitoring of corals
- Entangled whale rescue
- Ghost network recovery
You can support these conservation efforts by making a donation. Click HERE to contribute.
Stephanie is joined in this noble cause by the Northwest and West Fund (FONNOR), an organization committed to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. FONNOR will manage and administer all donations, ensuring they are effectively used to benefit Vallarta-Nayarit’s environment.
A documentary video capturing the emotions and experiences of this incredible swim – including joy, frustration, fatigue, pain, hope, and immense passion – will soon be available on the Nado por las Ballenas Facebook page.
