Leisurely Day Trips From Puerto Vallarta

Within a short bus trip from downtown Vallarta it is possible to visit one of several sleepy towns nearby such as Las Juntas, Ixtapa or Pitillal

. These towns provide an insight into authentic Mexican life. Uniformed children attend schools while venders sell their food preparations in the plaza. Crafts such as ceramics and woodwork are created by locals to be sold at markets.

In Pitillal, the church of San Miguel Archangel in front of the plaza is home to a wooden sculpture of Christ approximately 25 feet in height.

Scattering along the shoreline of the 22-kilometer Banderas Bay in which Puerto Vallarta is centered, there are other small villages such as Bucerias, Boca de Tomatlan, Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Punta Mita and Sayulita, which offer quieter places for visitors to relax or dine while watching the waves roll in.

Driving north from Vallarta on the main highway and into the state of Nayarit, the rich agricultural area of the Banderas valley becomes evident and roadside stands sell all manner of produce including coconuts, bananas, pineapples and jack fruit as well as sweet candies made of coconut, milk, fruit and nuts such as pecans.

Within a couple of hours of Puerto Vallarta along the coast of Nayarit is the Port of San Blas. Once a busy port used to import goods from the Pacific, sediments have caused the harbor to be inaccessible to large ships. The remains of an old fortress still overlook the town which still honors a local hero, Jos Maria Mercado, who lost his life leading a rebellion against the Spanish. Within the town is a market where souvenirs can be bartered for. Situated beside its newer replacement at the edge of the square is the original, small mission church. This church inspired the poem The Bells of San Blas by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Not far from San Blas is a wildlife reserve known as La Tovara. By chartering a boat and driver and traversing the serpentine canals which pass through the mangrove swamps, many animal species can be seen. There are mammals such as the cuatimundi. There also are a myriad of migratory bird species such as egrets, herons, cormorants or ahingi birds. These can be seen perched on branches with their wings parted to dry in the warm sun. With a little luck the more timid and rarer, rose-colored spoonbill can be spotted. Reptile life includes iguanas lazily basking in the sun while clinging to overhead branches and on both waterlogged branches and muddy embankments are crocodiles also drying out in the warm rays. These crocodiles are a protected species here and a breeding center is maintained to ensure the survival of the species in these crystalline waters.

Other excursions from Puerto Valletta include visits to the Nayarit capital of Tepic or a drive up into the Sierra Madre mountains to see the small town of San Sebastian. Still other journeys include cruises to points along Banderas Bay in the day or in the evening and bus and airplane trips to the mountain villages of the Huichol people for an opportunity to buy their colorful crafts. Yet another incredible excursion is a trip to the Jaliscan town of Tequila where the famous Mexican liquor is produced. Samples of the liquid can be tasted along with a tour explaining the distilling process and the planting and harvesting of the blue agave plants from which tequila is produced.

All of these nearby sights offer from a few hours to a full day of activity and can be explored on your own or through group excursions that are available through local tour companies in and around Puerto Vallarta.

by: Peter Knight

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