Categoría: 365 Fun Things To Do In Puerto Vallarta

School children in Puerto Vallarta, public and private, from pre-kindergarten to high school graduates are well dressed, tidy, and start each day with nary a hair out of place. They wear crisp uniforms and shoes are shined to a gleam. Regardless of economic background, these students start their days with a mother’s blessing and probably a reprimand. For the largest percentage, they are well behaved in public. Giggling and some boisterous displays can often be seen but usually quite benign in nature. School regulations are strict and slovenliness is not tolerated. It’s refreshing to see from a Northerner’s perspective. We worry whether our children will be shot in school, whereas south of the border, having proper knee socks tops the list of daily concerns.

We have the pleasure of watching youth on buses. sitting in seats, calmly watching out windows, waiting for their stop. Sometimes a small boy will board and play horrible tunes, sing, and perhaps strum some kind of instrument and when passing a cup for change, will be polite and gracious, even if we’ve just given him money to shut up and get off the bus. We find that when we ride the bus in our own country, we are simply praying the kids who board the bus are only going to the next stop.

What is the difference in these children that makes them more obedient and seemingly more respectful than their Northern counterparts? Firmness and a lack of leniency at home; kids in Puerto Vallarta just don’t get away with the same kind of stuff.

Though many assume it’s the fatherly influence, that’s not normally the case. Discipline and obedience are the result of the mother’s persuasion. Machismo isn’t something found in a Mexican kitchen, where home-life exists. Parental control is a serious matter and children in Puerto Vallarta know who they answer to in matters of conformity. Traditional values are a huge factor. Mothers use a calm demeanor while striking the fear God within the family. There is a lack of harshness on the whole and even the language represents this, with its soft romantic tones. In Spanish “you can’t” translates to “no se puede.“ We rarely hear the moms in our neighborhood yelling at their progeny. Mexican children listen to their mothers and revere them, placing them high on an

invisible pedestal, next to the beloved virgin. The worst thing one can say to a Mexican is about defiling his mother and they are strong fighting words, rarely spoken.

Friends have asked us about moving their children to Puerto Vallarta and sending them to local schools. We think it’s a marvelous idea and encourage them to spend time in the homes of their schoolmates.

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Our Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens of Puerto Vallarta belongs to all of us, even though the curator Robert Price is the founder, developer, property owner and magician of this amazing venue south of town. Beginning with a magnificent yet simple lodge in 2004, Bob and his mother, Betty, who has since left us for heavenly gardens, lived on site when we originally visited. Their quarters were modest and humble, yet splendid and regal, with beds on the upper floor, open to the jungle and a traditional Mexican kitchen lay below in early stages of construction. This building is now called Hacienda de Oro and is the site of a grand restaurant on two levels. Tiles commemorating events, anniversaries, memorials, pets, family, and friends are made to order and have supported some of the Gardens many causes along with adding magnificent color and a treasure of memories.

Weddings are commonplace at the Botanical Gardens of Puerto Vallarta along with a host of lively events such as annual Thanksgiving and Valentine’s dinners, Anniversary commemorations, the Bugambilia Festival, and Member Appreciation Day. There are singular events that include special guest speakers and entertainment, well chosen from local and regional attractions, both professional and amateur.

Recently the Botanical Gardens of Puerto Vallarta won 4^th Place in the Ten Best Botanical Gardens of North America, competing with famous gardens such as Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum of St. Louis.

Forty-six hectares of hiking trails wind in and out of the native jungle/forest above the incredible Holstein Orchid and Vanilla House, Divine Chapel and many other delightful attractions, new and original.

Vallarta Botanical Gardens has developed educational programs for local studies and participates in public environment awareness programs. The Gardens is a haven for bird watchers; both amateur and professional botanists will be delighted by the gathering of exotic plants from around the world. The conservation and propagation of orchids is at the heart of the garden’s mission.

Take the El Tuito bus, available and easily marked at the corner of Aguacate and Carranza in the Romantic Zone; there’s one every thirty minutes. The Vallarta Botanical Gardens is closed on Mondays from April to November but open every other day of the year from 10 am to 6 pm; admission is 100 pesos and school groups can visit at no cost if they have advance reservations. Little ones under four years of age get in for free.

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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Gay Hotels in Puerto Vallarta

Hotels in Puerto Vallarta welcome everyone but there are specific locations that cater to the gay crowd and go the extra mile to make sure their guests are not only comfortable but provided with the best concierge services. We have friends who recently had their entire family stay with them at a gay hotel and everyone was treated equally. Welcoming parties, shows, a majority of gay guests and a nice at-home feeling are what you will find at the following accommodations. All have private baths, air conditioning, parking and are within less than half an hour drive from the airport in Puerto Vallarta.

Blue Chairs Resort has a variety of rooms for all budgets. Rooms range from double standards to master suites and kitchenettes, with high season rates as low as $63/night. This hotel is about as close to the beach as you’ll get across from Los Muertos, and has their own rooftop bar and restaurant. They offer a continental breakfast buffet and have a lower level bar/café. Rooms are stylish and often include Mexican rustic furniture. They provide flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, safes, tea and coffeemakers in-room. Blue Chairs Resort has a full service spa, a rooftop pool and fabulous views, with balconies on some units.

Casa Cupula is a boutique hotel approximately five minutes from the beach, on foot. This is an adult only hotel and their prices are also very inviting. If it’s a more intimate setting you’re looking for, Casa Cupula is for you. With two swimming pools, hot tub, spa and a roomy terrace, plus an onsite gym, there’s not a whole lot more to ask for. But…they also have an onsite restaurant Taste, which gets rave reviews for their international cuisine. A casual bar onsite is a good place to stop for a fresh margarita before settling in to your beautiful decorated room, which is fully air conditioned. Other amenities include in-room mini-bar, coffeemaker, bathrobes, safes, flat-screen TV with DVD player and free WiFi. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck peso at this Puerto Vallarta location.

Olas Altas Suites has long been a favored destination in Puerto Vallarta for gay couples and is very family friendly. People go back to this location year after year and are pleased to be recognized by the same loyal staff. It is up the street from Los Muertos Beach and steps away from several gay bars, restaurants and clubs in the area. Taco stands and fine dining are adjacent to the lobby, with their own Restaurant Michel, serving Italian fare onsite. All suites provide fully equipped kitchenettes, TVs, free WiFi and the pool at the sister hotel is available for guests at the suites.

Hotel Mercurio is located up the street from the famous Puerto Vallarta pier. Step out the front door and there it looms at the bottom of the street. A huge appeal of the Hotel Mercurio is its pool, which is open 24 hours a day. Massages are available upon request and the pool bar is open from early in the morning until very late at night. It’s a perfect spot to be on a hot summer night after dancing and partying.  Gourmet breakfasts are another Mercurio specialty.

These hotels have on hand whatever you need for a day at the beach; towels, umbrellas and beach chairs, some for an additional charge. Pet accommodations should be inquired about ahead of time.

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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We have been asked about the sculpture of the ladder on the Malecón. Two children climb to the top while a mother-like figure at the base seems to either plead with them or bid them farewell. Some people claim this is the artist Sergio Bustamante’s tribute to an air flight that went down between Puerto Vallarta and San Francisco. We are here to set the record straight.

Sergio Bustamante, a Mexican artist from Sinaloa, who resides in Guadalajara, is known for his unusual figures of suns, moon, people and whimsical creatures, fashioned into jewelry and statues.

Regarding this particular piece, Bustamante says “I like getting people to interact with it, with my art. It’s about freedom.” What it isn’t about is an airplane crash. Bustamante asserts that his inspiration came from the well known philosopher, Bertrand Russell, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950, who said “When the intensity of emotional conviction subsides, a man who is in the habit of reasoning will search for logical grounds in favor of the belief which he finds in himself.” Hence, the beseeching faces of the three figures and their quest to the heavens.

The sculpture is one of the largest and grandest on the Malecón, at a height of nearly two hundred feet (60 meters) and tourists are encouraged to photograph one another in their very own quests, but advised to be careful. It is located at Corona Street. Smaller versions of Searching for Reason, along with other Bustamante pieces are available at his website.

There is, however, a sculpture dedicated to the victims of that fatal flight of Alaska 261 in 2000, though most tourists most likely would not realize this unless they went on a sculpture tour. Indeed, many locals are unaware of its significance. “The Friendship Fountain” (Dancing Dolphins Fountain) by James “Bud” Bottoms & Octavio González

Gutiérrez can be found close to the Arches on the Malecón. It was dedicated in 1987, long before the airline tragedy. At Port Heuneme, Santa Barbara on the California coast, where debris from the accident washed to shore, is a sundial with a dolphin leaping from it, a similar piece of art and forever joined in spirit. Puerto Vallarta and Santa Barbara are sister cities. According to the artist Bud Bottoms, heuneme means resting place in Chumash, the local Indian tribe. The Indians believed that drowning humans become dolphins.

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