Who: Heather and Damon Artery of Cheyenne
Where: On the beach of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Best meal: The chile rellenos at Cafe’ de Olla are amazing, and the tamales wrapped in banana leaves aren’t far behind. But watching the sun descend into the Bay of Banderas while feasting on fresh fish at a beachside table at El Dorado makes for a lasting memory. Also, the skewered shrimp and and fresh fish at the beach are both cheap and wonderful.
Best deal: Public transportation is abundant and inexpensive, not to mention exciting. Taxis are cheap, but to complete your Puerto Vallarta experience, be sure to ride the buses. For only a few pesos, one can take a city bus south of town to Playa de Mismaloya, see where “Night of the Iguana” was filmed and cavort on the beach that featured Bo Derek in “10.”
Best time to go: It might be wise to avoid spring break and the rainy summer months. Also, Holy Week brings thousands of locals to the beaches, making the traffic awful and the hotels busy. November is our favorite time for great weather and fewer visitors. However, whales winter in the Bay of Banderas and are most easily spotted from December through March.
Best travel tip: Find one of the nice places to stay in the Zona Romantica section of Puerto Vallarta (south of Rio Cuala). The beach is great, the prices affordable, the great restaurants abundant, and you know you are truly in Mexico and not insulated by walls and gates in some resort area. If planning a destination wedding in Mexico, find a bilingual wedding coordinator and check references. An effective coordination can take much of the stress away from the bride and groom so they can enjoy their day.
