Timothy Real Estate

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  • Cruising the Water in Puerto Vallarta

    Cruising the Water in Puerto Vallarta: There are many options for sailing and boating in Puerto Vallarta with a lot to see and do. You might choose a small panga (open skiff) or a large luxury motor or sailboat, decide to go fishing or snorkeling, see a sunset, visit the Marieta Islands, go on an eco-tour?the choices are abundant. We have a couple recommendations but online searches are the best way to go.
    In the winter you?re bound to see whale, dolphin and manta ray, all thrilling for those who primarily live on the land. If you?re lucky enough to catch a fish, there are restaurants where you can have your quarry cooked along with selections of vegetables and rice; a great memory-maker for all ages.

    Several tours leave from the Puerto Vallarta Marina, a location you can reach easily by bus, taxi or private car. Customize your trip by telling your captain what your preferences are; he?ll have suggestions, too. Depending on your initial direction, you?ll usually head south and have a views of the shoreline, Malec¢n, and Romantic Zone. Destinations will depend on how much time you want to spend on the water and this is a good time to throw the rods out to see if you can snag your lunch. Yelapa is the furthest most but there are stops at Quimixto and Las Animas, too. These small villages are reached only by boat, though we no longer consider them remote. If you?re offered the chance to visit a secluded beach, be aware that several other tourists have also been enticed by the suggestion of seclusion; it?s often very busy.
    Most of these trips are suitable for children and there are some wonderful places to drop anchor for swimming in shallow water. Los Arcos, where the big rocks jut out of the water to the south of Puerto Vallarta, is a great place for snorkeling and all passengers are provided with life vests and equipment.

    Arrive early; we recommend starting at 9 a.m. If the heat of the day becomes a problem you can always head back or you may want to make it an all day event. Have cash ready for extra expenses. You may want to buy souvenirs, t-shirts, pie from the pie-lady. Don?t forget to tip; we suggest 15% of your total cost for the day. You will be responsible for your own food at these locations but your boat will offer drinks and water, and often snacks.

    A Five Star trip can be had with La Vida Bella Boat Tours for as little as $50 per person for a three hour tour. You can always extend your trip; check with the captain to make sure he doesn?t have an afternoon trip booked.
    Gay cruises are popular and we recommend Diana?s. She has been offering gay and lesbian cruises in Puerto Vallarta for 20 years and sells out in advance. Book online. For $110 USD, you get continental breakfast, snacks, unlimited drinks (though we also advise sensible limitations), and your lunch is included on shore with a beverage. You?ll be able to snorkel, feed the fish and swim. This trip leaves the pier at Los Muertos Beach at 9 a.m.

    Que es c¢mo es.

    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

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  • North Of Vallarta, San Blas, Nayarit

    San Blas: North of Puerto Vallarta, about a three hour drive, is the municipality of San Blas. We recommend finding accommodations for at least one overnight to explore the area. San Blas is rich in history, the original embarkation point for Spanish explorers traveling north and establishing ports in places as far as Nootka Sound in British Columbia, Canada. The coastline is dotted with Spanish names, a testament to the fact that a vast amount of exploration began in Mexico. The entire Strait de Juan de Fuca was founded over decades by Spaniards.
    The official settlement of San Blas is 1768. Under the orders of the crown by Viceroy Marqués de Croix, a designated one hundred and sixteen families arrived, but the territory was actually established as early as 1531. It helps to have an idea of both the movement of the conquistadors across what was then known as New Spain, as well as a grasp of geography to understand what an amazing achievement this was.

    Ship building began in earnest, and in May 1768 San Blas formally became the new west coast naval base for the Spanish Army. It was from here, in 1775, the San Carlos launched on a voyage that would last four months, unload supplies at the earlier established mission of Monterey, and end in what is now known as San Francisco Bay. Jose de Canizares, the first mate of the San Carlos, was the first recorded European to enter the bay and stake a claim.

    San Blas is also a site of a tragic past, where slavery of the Yaqui Indians was set in motion. Removed from their land and marched 200 miles to board trains bound for Oaxaca, the majority perished during the journey or died in the sugar and tobacco plantations less than a year of their enslavement.

    When in San Blas, check out the fort on the hillside that still has the remnants of Kings of Spain carved in the stone frontage. The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was built in 1769, remains behind the ruins of the fort. This is the church that inspired the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem The Bells of San Blas, though the beautiful bronze bells are long gone. The 19th century customs house maintains its historical lure on Calle Benito Juárez, which is a short walk from the plaza in the center of town.

    Hotels, bungalows and Airbnb’s are extremely reasonable in San Blas. We have found accommodations with pools, close to the beach, and within quick walking distance of great restaurants and bars for under $100 for two people for a couple nights. The shrimp is excellent in San Blas. We recommend using insect repellent if dining on the beach to ward off the sand fleas.

    Que es cómo es.

    Thanks to our guest blogger Adam Garcia for this article! (opionons expressed are his own)
    ——-
    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

  • RESTAURANT WEEK Returns to Puerto Vallarta May 15-31, 2013

    Puerto Vallarta’s very own Restaurant Week returns from May 15-31 with over 30 participating restaurants.  This will mark the 9th year where attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a special three-course menu at reduced prices of $189 or $299 pesos (drinks and tips not included).  Restaurant Week has become one of the bay’s favorite events celebrating Puerto Vallarta’s incredible culinary scene.  This year’s event gives foodies the chance to explore delights from new establishments to high-end, white table cloth eateries at affordable prices. Leave the cooking to someone else and head over to that restaurant you’ve been meaning to try.

    Click HERE for the Restaurant Week 2013 Menu Guide.

    Taniel Chemsian

    —

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in property sales and services has combined the most thoroughly professional and experienced talents to keep clients informed about the intricacies of Mexican real estate ownership, local real estate markets, local codes and regulations, financing, rentals and perhaps most importantly, sound analysis for every aspect of real property ownership. With combined real property services experience of more than 35 year’s worth of real estate sales, accounting, management, and property services, Timothy Real Estate Group is unequaled in its professionalism and experience with foreign investors. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • Puerto Vallarta: Armed With Knowledge

    Guns and Mexico

    Lately we’ve heard a lot about gun ownership…everywhere. Is it legal for civilians to own guns in Puerto Vallarta? The Mexican Constitution does address this issue; Article 10 is very specific. Firearm laws in Mexico are certainly not as loose and unlimited as the United States but they do provide for a right to bear arms. To possess a gun as an ex-pat is also possible, according to Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution.  You must have a permanent resident visa in order to do so.

    You can hunt, which means you can bring in a firearm to Puerto Vallarta on a temporary basis. To do this, you must have a written invitation from a shooting or hunting club in Mexico and the allowance is for a limited time, usually during the specific season of the hunt.

    Other than that, any firearm you bear must be licensed in Mexico. This requires completing the request to Sedena for authorization.  Sedena is the government department of the Secretary of Defense, which manages Mexico’s Army and Air Force.

    The following requirements are your steps towards applying to Sedena for approval to own a gun in Puerto Vallarta: You must have a certified government-issue copy of your birth certificate (not a photo copy); proof of your legal status in Mexico; proof of residency (CFE/electric bills do the trick); photos; copy of photo ID; a photocopy of your CURP, which is basically your Mexican Social Security Card/Number. If you are buying a long-gun, you will need proof of your active membership in a hunting or shooting club. That’s the easy part.

    Next you will need to travel from Puerto Vallarta to Mexico City because that’s where the only gun store is, in all of Mexico. DCAM (The Department of Commercialization and Armament and Munitions) is government-owned and operated. It’s not easy to find citizens in Mexico City who can guide you there because most are unaware of its location and existence. You may buy one gun. Pistols and revolvers are allowed for home protection. There are no 9 mm’s, Commandos, Magnums or other large calibers. DCAM has a website you can peruse.

    It is possible to own up to ten guns but they must be long guns for the exception of one handgun of .22 caliber and active membership in the afore mentioned club is absolutely required.

    If you pass all the requirements, the only place you will be allowed to have your gun is in your home. Illegal carry of a firearm in Puerto Vallarta is enforced and can get you deported, along with indictment and severe sentencing. All guns, whether sport of defense, require carrying permits, even if you’re simply going to target practice. Possession of a permit will include a medical exam, psychological exam and drug test. Of 123 million people in Mexico, there are approximately 3,000 carry permits in issue, so good luck with that, considering many of those permits belong to police and security officers.

    Que es cómo es

    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

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  • Vallarta: Clean It Up!

    Clean It Up!

    One great thing about Puerto Vallarta is the expat effort to contribute to the community. There are many events, including planting flowers, food drives for orphanages, shelters and animal rescue groups. One of our favorites, because it has such an immediate impact, is the endeavor to keep the streets clean. There are several groups gathering energy to collect trash and they’re getting a fair amount of media coverage, as well.

     

    We are thrilled to see new groups spring up from time to time, and the latest is the Colonia Clean-Up – Emiliano Zapata, doing their part in Colonia Emiliano Zapata. They had a very successful crowd last month and are scheduled for another clean-up on August 4, which is a Saturday. Anyone can join in to help out, and they plan to extend this into high season, meeting every first Saturday.

     

    The meeting point is at Lazaro Cardenas 421. That’s between Calles Aguacate and Jacarandas. They start at 9:30 am and go until 11:30 am, meeting back at the starting point for lunch and beverages, which are provided by the organizers. You can find a link on Facebook to let them know you’ll be there, so they have somewhat of a head count.

    Colonia Clean-Up will provide garbage bags, tongs, and gloves. Each person or team is assigned a specific are, all within the border of the colonia’s streets. If you want to be super efficient, you can divide recycle from garbage, and even separate plastic from aluminum cans.

     

    Some of us would really like to help with this great community contribution but can’t deal with the heat, don’t do well walking the sometimes tough cobblestone streets, maneuvering the curbs and sidewalks. We know people who love to help in any way they can but aren’t in town. For those who want to make a donation, $100 pesos will hire a neighborhood kid to represent you (only you will be aware of this representative, but everyone loves the kids being a part of the movement). This is such a great cause and keeps us in touch with the neighbors, too. For information on how to make your donation, check out the Facebook page for Colonia Clean-Up – Emiliano Zapata.

    Que cómo es es.

    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

    [idx_slideshow link=”zm4d8372nk9″ horizontal=”3″ vertical=”1″ auto_rotate=”9000″ source=”location” display=”all” sort=”recently_changed” destination=”local” send_to=”photo”]

  • Vallarta: The Maple Forest Of Talpa

    The Incredible Maple Forest of Talpa

    The lovely village of Talpa, east of Puerto Vallarta, is a wonderful getaway for a weekend or midweek for those of us without constraints. Though we have driven through, stopped for meals, shopped and even spent a night or two, it was a great surprise to learn about La Cumbre, a forest that is only a short distance above Talpa. Unexpectedly, we came across a fir, maple, conifer wooded area that has puzzled botanists for some time, due to their strength of survival, and mysterious location. Trees and plants in this setting have been traced back to the Pleistocene and Tertiary eras. This flora has survived and integrated itself into its surroundings for millions of years. La Cumbre can be found in the El Refugio arroyo, deeply veiled by the growth around it.

    This is an adventure for medium to serious hikers. Long pants and sleeves are advised, as well as sturdy shoes. Going this time of year is ideal because the rains will have washed away dust and fed new growth. To get to there from Puerto Vallarta, travel from Mascota, then southwest through the town of Talpa, and follow the paved road to Tomatlán. Keep track on your odometer and when you are approximately 27 kilometers up, look for a sign; not highly visible, that says Bosque de Maple. It’s a dirt road and you need to proceed for about five kilometers to a trailhead that has no evident marking but you’ll know when you see it. You are now in the cloud forest; carry on in a northeast direction. If you do some scouting around and you’ll easily find the camping area. It’s a dreamy space with evidence of previous visitors.

    Remember to not leave a trace. Whatever you pack in, you pack out. Respect the wildlife. Be considerate of other visitors, but this is Mexico, so you can expect most people to be friendly. We can’t stress enough how unusual it is to find Sugar Maples in a Cloud Forest in Mexico! Botanists have ventured into the region  since this discovery in the late 1990’s to marvel at what is ordinary in Vermont, Wisconsin and Ontario but seemingly miraculous such a short distance from Puerto Vallarta in the mountains of Jalisco.  It is unfortunate that the area remains unprotected by the government and some activism could help to change this, especially with a new administration. At this time it is victim to everyone from the CFE (Federal Electric Commission) to wandering cattle, illicit marijuana farmers, vandals and loggers. There is really nothing the likes of this enchanted hiker/botanist’s dream. It has survived mother nature and human ignorance but we recommend planning a trip, before someone decides it’s off limits.

    Que cómo es es.

    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

    [idx_slideshow link=”zm4d8372nk9″ horizontal=”3″ vertical=”1″ auto_rotate=”9000″ source=”location” display=”all” sort=”recently_changed” destination=”local” send_to=”photo”]

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: Getting Around

    Getting Around

    Do you need a car in Puerto Vallarta? That’s very debatable, and the opinions on this issue are as varied as the assorted experiences.
    We’ve known many expats who’ve driven their US and Canadian cars to Puerto Vallarta and gone through the arduous process of getting them “Mexicanized.” We’ve done this ourselves with three separate vehicles over the years. If you love your car that much, then do it, but we have learned to purchase autos locally. If you’re only here for six months and plan to cross the border again to the north in 180 days, you can ignore the above.
    A huge difference for us was the arrival of Uber in Puerto Vallarta, however we try to use all modes of transportation equally; bus, taxi and Uber. Buses are cheap and they go just about everywhere within Puerto Vallarta proper. Buses also go to places outside the city limits that we’re still in the process of discovering.
    Some taxis and Ubers won’t allow dogs in their cars. We can’t blame them in certain cases. We have a friend who was very upset when a taxi wouldn’t allow her to bring an injured, bleeding animal in the back seat, demanding a ride to a veterinarian clinic. We came to her rescue at the time and supplied old sheets, which we always have in the vehicle to save the upholstery. Most taxis and Ubers in Puerto Vallarta have no problem letting pets ride along. We’ve advised friends coming from the beach to be respectful and not hail a taxi when you are covered in sand and dripping wet. Use common sense.
    Buses don’t have chicken crates and pigs on rope-leashes as they did years ago. No holes in the floorboards to see the road passing beneath your feet. Some buses even have AC these days! Entertainment is available, as well, especially on long routes, south to Boca de Tomatlan, for example, or north to the Marina. Minstrels of all ages with instruments as diverse as guitars or two sticks beat together will board, sing and play, then walk down the aisle with an open palm. We recommend a small offering, in hopes they will proceed to the next bus down the line.
    Uber has been a life-saver for many who reside away from bus lines or without close access to taxis. Uber can find you regardless of where you call from and they’ll drop you at your desired destination. With the simple installation on your phone and attachment to a payment source (we use PayPal), you have a great alternative. We have found Uber cars to be clean, modern, and more often than not driven by English speaking Mexicans.
    Costs for these methods are low. If you want to go carless in Puerto Vallarta, it’s inexpensive and easy-peasy. You also support the local economy.
    Que es cómo es.

    ——————————

    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

  • Getting to Know the Jungle Around Puerto Vallarta

    Puerto Vallarta Botanical GardensA visit to Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens

    Every outing we have ever gone on with botanist Miguel Cházaro has been an adventure. One day our friend took us to visit a cloud forest of maple trees and giant ferns, not far from Talpa, Jalisco. The next morning we had planned to return to Guadalajara, but Cházaro said, “There’s a botanical garden near here you really must see. It was started by an American and it’s unique.”

     

    Well, “near here” took six hours to get to plus six hours back  and we ended up reaching home at midnight. But I must admit the eminent botanist was right: the Vallarta Botanical Gardens are a must-see, no matter where you find yourself in Mexico. The place is located 24 kilometers south of Puerto Vallarta, right on Palms-to-Pines coastal highway 200.

     

    Step out of your car and you’re in the jungle. We were visiting in July and everywhere we went, hundreds of “skippers” fluttered all around us. These, explained a sign in English and Spanish, are Hisperiidae butterflies, smaller than most and given to skipping, flitting, darting and zig-zagging, from which they get their popular name. Clouds of them danced all around us as we began our tour of the Botanical Gardens, which cover an area of eight hectares, criss-crossed by pathways with exotic names like The Vanilla Trail, Jaguar Trail and Guacamaya Trail, leading to even more exotic-sounding places like The Jungle Overlook, The Swinging Bridge, Tree Fern Grotto, The Garden of Memories and The Giant Strangler Fig Tree.

    And everywhere you go, every step of the way, there is lush vegetation: sensuous tropical flowers, bizarre, creeping vines and gargantuan trees which soar to amazing heights in this tropical climate. Here you will find orchids—an amazing multitude of orchids. There are even orchids that resemble anything but orchids, plus a few that (to our great surprise) exude alluring perfumes. And of course, there was the tastiest of all orchids, Vanilla planifolia, whose vines grow abundantly there (and you can buy the beans or extract in their store).

    Here, too, are cocoa pods growing before your very eyes and attached directly to the tree trunk. Each pod holds 20 to sixty seeds, the main ingredient in chocolate. There are also rare cacti of every sort, exotic Nymphaea ‘islamorada (“Purple Island” waterlilies), Red Ginger, once exclusively reserved for Hawaiian royalty and such a huge collection of anthuriums that we wondered whether they had found all 1901 types. Along that line, the gardens have so many thousands of species that no one has even tried to count them.

    All of this is thanks to Robert Price, founder of this marvelous project, who kindly took out time to chat with me at the gardens’ Hacienda de Oro Restaurant over frosty glasses of incredibly refreshing and delicious drinks. One of these contained chaya and chía, while the other was a combination of iced lemon-grass tea, tapioca and ginger, sweetened with agave nectar. “Some of our visitors suspect we have spiked these two drinks with frog’s eggs,” quipped the curator of these gardens.

    Robert Price, who was born in Savannah, Georgia, told me he came to Puerto Vallarta in 2004, planning to stay for only six months. Fortunately for us and for Mexico, someone knocked on Price’s door one day, selling orchids. “Those orchids were absolutely incredible, gorgeous, says Price, and I asked the man where he had found them. ‘In the mountains,’ he told me…and eventually he brought me to this very place. I took one look and said to myself, ‘This is where I want to stay!’ ”

    Now all Price needed to do was to figure out how to make a living in the middle of a jungle. “Well,” he says, “I noticed there were no botanical gardens along the coast and that seemed surprising to me. But I love nature and the idea of starting my own botanical garden came into my head. So I researched the internet to find out how to do it. And this is the result. I think this is what I was sent here to do.”

    Price’s enthusiasm may be infectious. For one thing, he has managed to convince the citizens of Puerto Vallarta to beautify the place by turning it into “The City of Bougainvilleas” and at present over 300 of these flowers have been planted by the PV Garden Club toward that end. In addition to that, it seems the gardens he created in the coastal mountains south of Puerto Vallarta have inspired a much larger and truly ambitious project called The Banderas Bay Initiative, which aims at preserving and protecting the biodiversity of 10,000 square kilometers of ocean, jungle and mountains, stretching from 2000 meters below sea level in Banderas Bay to 2260 meters above sea level at the peak of Ceboruco Volcano. This huge project is being run by Price’s friend, entomologist Rick Main and Dr. Max Greig, Rector of the UDG Coastal University.

    According to Main, the Banderas Bay Initiative has, in turn, inspired an even greater challenge and—in my opinion a truly Herculean task: the cleanup of the watersheds that pollute Lake Chapala and the Santiago River.

    All of this demonstrates that a little idea can go a long way, and Bob Price’s dream may ultimately reach far beyond the boundaries of his botanical sanctuary. After all, says Price, “Gardens are a Civilizing Force and are perceived as places of culture.”

     

    The Vallarta Botanical Gardens website is vbgardens.org and the phone number is (322) 223-6182. It’s open daily from December to April but closed on Mondays between May and November and the entrance fee is only 60 pesos.

    Vallarta Botanical Gardens is a non-profit organization “dedicated to those who work to preserve the beauty of the Earth, and who labor to teach others the value and wonder of their environment.”

    I hope by now you will agree with me that this amazing place is well worth a 12-hour detour. I leave the final word to Susy Pint:  “These gardens are the best I’ve seen anywhere in the world—and I’ve seen a lot.”

    By John Pint

    www.vallartabotanicalgardens.com

     

    Stay informed about Puerto Vallarta Real Estate and sign up for our newsletter… click here

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in Real Estate sales and services has the most professional and experienced Realtors in the Puerto Vallarta area who understand the intricacies of Mexican Real Estate ownership, the local market, Puerto Vallarta property codes and regulations and financing.  The Timothy Group uses that knowledge to provide a sound analysis on every aspect of property ownership. Timothy Real Estate Group is known for professionalism and experience and they bring this to every transaction they work on for the benefit of Real Estate investors and developers alike. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • PVAngels – Charity and Community United

    PVAngels is about introducing the world to a safe, thriving and community-driven Puerto Vallarta, raising tons of support for its local charities and having a boatload of fun doing it.

    IMG 9303 ABR28mayt

    The PVAngels site is a unique blend of community awareness through the daily posting of local news and events, formal introductions to the charities and their needs, online fundraising, social networking and giving back.

    The dream of PVAngels is to create an atmosphere of pulling together in making our perfect little corner of the world a better – and better known – place.

    IMG 9629 ABR28mayt

    Whether you’re an individual, group, company or corporation, PVAngels will inform, entertain and be of benefit to you, and we welcome you to become involved.

    We are delighted to be associated with Carl Timothy, Taniel Chemsian and everyone else at Timothy Real Estate Group, who’s class act in caring about the community shines through all their support for the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Navy League’s Toys For Tots, Becas Vallarta’s student scholarships, Asilo San Juan Diego’s senior assisted living and countless other admirable local charities.

     

    All the best,

    Team Angels

    teamangels@pvangels.com

    www.pvangels.com

     

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    Timothy Real Estate Group has professional designers and stagers that can help you prepare your home for the war.  Gorilla tactics that work because it is a Price War and a Beauty Contest that can mean making and saving more with your property investment.  Stay informed about Puerto Vallarta Real Estate and sign up for our newsletter… click here

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in Real Estate sales and services has the most professional and experienced Realtors in the Puerto Vallarta area who understand the intricacies of Mexican Real Estate ownership, the local market, Puerto Vallarta property codes and regulations and financing.  The Timothy Group uses that knowledge to provide a sound analysis on every aspect of property ownership. Timothy Real Estate Group is known for professionalism and experience and they bring this to every transaction they work on for the benefit of Real Estate investors and developers alike. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: Rumors in Puerto Vallarta

    Rumors in Puerto Vallarta

     

    Social media has given new life to people who love gossip. There are countless sites to look up news about anyplace in the world but it’s important to crosscheck, investigate, and do your own research when it comes to rumors.

    In recent months, Puerto Vallarta has been touted as the safest tourist destination in all of Mexico.  Though reports have claimed there is heightened security, we haven’t noticed any differences over the years, nor have we ever felt unsafe here. Common sense is always the way to go. There isn’t any reason to believe that traveling to Puerto Vallarta is any different than other destinations in the world. We’ve always joked about the most dangerous part of visiting Puerto Vallarta is getting through the timeshare gauntlet leaving the airport. But even that is an opinionated rumor. Timeshares give a lot of support to our local economy, we have many friends who love owning them, and further, we have friends who work in the timeshare business.

    Over the years we’ve heard all types of rumors but most of them come from wild imaginations that have been exposed to thriller movies and think someone’s creative tale was based on fact. On the other hand, there have been movies filmed right here in Puerto Vallarta and some visitors are intent on revisiting the locations they thought they saw in a film. Some movies, like Beverly Hills Chihuahua show off Puerto Vallarta with lovely backgrounds and street setting. Terminator takes place in the jungle, which is almost inaccessible for the exception of a highly embellished movie set known as El Eden, several kilometers above the small village of Mismaloya. It’s all fantasy, except for the backdrop.

    TV shows that revolve around people buying real estate can make an impression on those who plan to visit. Some might think we all live in mansions here in Puerto Vallarta. There are definitely some incredible view homes, but there are also many more humble and very affordable dwellings.

    For the most part, Puerto Vallarta is as uneventful as a sleepy rural village. We do have our share of parades, festivals, charity and sports events, bike and foot races and an occasional film being made, but we if you’re looking for the type of excitement you see on television, you probably will need to go to Hollywood.

    Que es cómo es.

     

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    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future.  We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy.  We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes.  We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal.  You have a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate