I Run Like A Girl

These last few days have been such a dream. I’m writing from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where Joe and I spent the last 5 days. We are about halfway through our vacation in Mexico, and I cannot believe how fast it’s flying by!

This is my second time in Puerto Vallarta as I came in 2018 on a girl’s trip, and it’s Joe’s and my first time together. This visit has been unique in its own way, and I’ve fallen in love with PV even more!

I have a novel to share this time, so let’s dive in. 🙂

Puerto Vallarta is a resort town on Mexico’s Pacific coast known for its beaches, water sports, and nightlife. We stayed in an Airbnb in the Romantic Neighborhood, known for its quaint cafes, cobblestone streets, and lively expat population. The chiller vibe here fit us more than the rest of PV which had more of a high-end resort feel.

We were walking distance to the Malecón, PV’s long ocean-side boardwalk with street vendors, shopping, and clubs. I loved strolling along here first thing in the morning when the city was waking up.

Side note: we are here during rainy season. We actually didn’t know about rainy season until we landed…however, it’s been a blessing in disguise as there are 75% fewer tourists than last time. Each day is sunny until ~4pm when it starts to rain in the evening. This has worked well for us because that’s about the time we wrap up our daytime activities and wind down over dinner. 🙂 The extra space and fewer crowds have been a breath of fresh air, and both Joe and I agreed we would choose rainy season all over again.

On our first day, we did a hike to a viewpoint called La Cruz del Cerro (Hill of the Cross), which helped us get acquainted to the city. Joe and I love hiking, but the heat and humidity made this 10x more challenging than a hike in the bay. 😛 It was a good workout that left my calves sore for days!

The viewpoint was extraordinary. We got sweeping views of PV’s coastline in the morning sun. This hike was certainly a highlight for us.

There was a cafe at the top, and we rewarded ourselves to coffee and a pastry. Perfecto.

The biggest highlight of our trip so far was our one-day boat cruise. We did this on my birthday and it was such a special way to celebrate. 🙂 We didn’t know much about the tour when we booked it, so when we arrived to the pier, we were surprised to see a big boat equipped with an open bar…let’s gooo!

We took off from the pier and rode for an hour to our first stop. I was immediately in a good mood just being out on the ocean. The vibe on the boat was upbeat as the crew passed around breakfast and played Latin electronic dance music. We relaxed, ate, walked around the deck, and took in the scenery.

Our first activity was snorkeling. We stopped at a remote cove, and we all jumped in with our snorkeling gear. The visibility was good and we saw many colorful fish. It felt so refreshing to turn off my brain and swim in the warm ocean. Joe and I agreed it was one of the best snorkeling spots we’ve been to.

After snorkeling, we ate lunch on the boat, and then they took us to our next spot – Yelapa. Yelapa is a small, remote beach town popular for day-trips to get a quiet break from PV. I came here last time on my girl’s trip, but we did some new things this time which made my second visit unique.

First, we did a hike to a waterfall. The hike was basically walking through town with a short portion in the jungle. It was well-paved and filled with vendors selling trinkets along the entire trail. 😛

The waterfall was nice as it was surrounded by the lush, green jungle. We had a big group so there was a queue to get a photo. I jumped in for a swim which felt amazing after my sweaty hike!

Our third and last stop was Majahuitas, a pristine, exclusive beach only accessible by water taxi or through this private tour company. It was unlike any other beach I’ve been to as it was one massive beach club! There were couches to lounge on, water activities, and more – it felt like an adult playground.

The tour’s photographer took these photos – I’m happy with how they came out. 🙂

By this point in the tour, I was pretty pooped – so we spent this portion relaxing in the ocean. I floated on a life jacket and fell into a trance.

The tour ended, and we headed back to PV when our boat’s engine broke! Mechanics came onboard to work on it, and we were stranded on the ocean for an extra 1.5 hours. We ended up getting rescued by a speed boat – it was a blast to ride as I held on for dear life. It was a humorous end to our wonderful tour…when in Mexico! I simply had the perfect birthday and truly couldn’t ask for more. ❤

Aside from the boat tour, the rest of our time was spent in our neighborhood. We were close to the beach and did a few beach sessions. We swam, ate, listened to music, and watched the waves.

Our Airbnb had an amazing rooftop infinity pool, so we also lounged up there. It was a nice change from the beach as it was private and free of the endless vendors trying to sell us things.

We did some shopping at the local flea market. After 10 years, my mini-Jansport backpack (that I use for all my traveling) finally broke on this trip! I suppose it’s new decade, new backpack. We replaced it with a cheap backpack at the flea market, and I’ll be on the hunt for a new one when I get back.

Lots of walks and exploring the neighborhood. Joe stops and pets every cat he sees; 😉 he also stops to identify all the native plants and the wildlife. I love walking with him and seeing the world through his eyes. ❤

One afternoon, while Joe was getting a massage, I ventured out to the Centro neighborhood which is adjacent to the Romantic Neighborhood. The two had similar vibes with quaint cobble-stone streets, but Centro had more artsy vibes. There were contemporary art galleries and plenty of street art lining the street.

Last but not least, I want to share some food highlights. Joe and I typically don’t focus on finding good food spots when we travel. So when I do find a good food, I get excited as I feel like I stumbled upon a gem. 😉 There were some hits and misses so far, but here were the highlights:

First up – Tacos Sonorita Olas Altas. The ambiance drew us in as it had a festive, local vibe. They had huge portions and authentic food. I loved it so much, we came here twice (including my birthday!).

Blue Azul was another favorite – a vibrant seafood restaurant with views of the lively Puerto Vallarta streets.

Lastly, Fredy’s Tucan. Every now and then, we needed a break from Mexican food, and this was the perfect brunch spot. Large menu, good prices, and friendly staff.

Up next – we are heading to Sayulita!!! Our favorite city ever. I’m so excited to be in familiar scenery in our second home. 🙂