TOURS & ACTIVITIES IN PUERTO VALLARTA, ETC.

• La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
  La Cruz offers a cooler beach climate all year round, making vacations more appealing. Here you will be able to relax and get restored, because of the unspoiled expansive site, the gracefulness of landscaping and its wonderful environment.
  
  La Cruz is a quaint fishing village and a favorite destination of boaters from all over the world. In fact, many have made it their home. People from the US, England and Canada have fallen in love with this peaceful village and settled here for good providing la Cruz with a wide array of business. You will find a friendly Huichol Indian art gallery and café that supports indigenous weaving, a gourmet German restaurant that serves European cuisine that features live flamenco guitar music, an American bar / restaurant with live American music and local charity events, plus a wide variety of local restaurants and street stands where you will find an excellent selection of seafood, salads, tacos and quesadillas.
  
  La Cruz is surrounded by the most beautiful beaches, like Destiladeras, Punta Mita, Careyeros, and La Cruz own beach: La Manzanilla, widely known by the inhabitants for its calm waters and delicious food offered at its palapa restaurants. If you are feeling adventurous, you can discover a whole array of beach paradises at Sayulita, San Francisco (15 minutes by car) or El Monteón , Chacala, Chacalilla, Rincón de Guayabitos, La Peñita. (around 40 minutes by car), ask around and you will find out why Nayarit is worldwide known for its pristine and unparalleled astonishing beaches.
  
  
• Puerto Vallarta
  Within 15 minutes from Villa Bella is Puerto Vallarta, the quaint colonial seaside town, with a full range of day and night activities, just for your information, Puerto Vallarta receives over 2 million tourists per year. Puerto Vallarta is considered the perfect place for shopping; fine dinning and having lots of fun in its picturesque downtown streets and El Malecón (Waterfront Promenade). The river that bisects the town has a five-acre island near its mouth called Cuale River Island. Stroll around and you will find boutiques and restaurants, a children's park, a small botanical garden and an archaeological museum featuring Indian artifacts and musical instruments from the nearby states of Nayarit and Colima.
  
  Many ships leave every morning from the marina and head south along the coast to a bohemian seaside cove known as Yelapa. The palm-lined village has a South Sea atmosphere and several beachfront restaurants. A 20 minute walk takes you inland to a 150 foot waterfall surrounded by jungle.
  
  Playa Las Animas is another deserted tropical paradise, accessible by boat.
  
  Mismaloya, located 13 km South of Puerto Vallarta is where Night of Iguana was filmed. Walk along its curved wedge of sand and wander through the tropical jungle.
  
  
• Bucerías
  Bucerías is a picturesque town, its name means "where the divers live".It is also the house of a growing number of expatriates. Bucerías offers a calm and tranquil beach with clear waters, tranquil sea and golden sand. It is absolutely ideal for jogging, or just to enjoy a walk while looking at the sunset. The town offers a variety of restaurants, a gastronomy school, many coffee shops and bars, souvenir stores and puestos. You will find at ease at its beautiful plaza that faces the ocean, definitely another favorite. Bucerías is a favorite town, locals said it looks know just exactly like Puerto Vallarta used to look 50 years ago. It is true, Bucerías has a simple and tranquil style and you will find it very inviting and relaxing.
  
  
• Punta de Mita (15 min drive)
  Punta de Mita is one of the most privileged beaches of the area, there you will find white coral sand beaches with transparent blue ocean.
  
  You can enjoy a day at Punta de Mita beaches, like Emiliano Zapata and El Anclote, everyone's favorite with a number of Palapa Restaurants and water Activities.
  
  Punta Mita also houses the exclusive Four Seasons Resort and unique Golf Course with a hole in the ocean designed by Jack Nicklaus. The area is also known for the few million dollars lots on sale that are being bought by the rich and famous from all over the world.
  
  
• Sayulita (15 min. Drive)
  Sayulita is a surfer's dream. This a enchanting town spreaded in a series of hills, a small bay with plenty of water activities, night life and many restaurants. Sayulita´s Playa de Los Muertos is another favorite, with a colorful cemetery overlooking the ocean. Sayulita is a bohemian town, and the artist community have found their place in its charming houses in the hills.
  
  
• San Francisco (San Pancho) (15 min Drive)
  San Pancho used to host the University of the Third World, back in the 70´s. A clean traced town with a variety of arts and crafts, water activities and restaurants. San Pancho, as the locals know it, has giant waves and a open sea ocean. This beautiful town is surrounded by a very thick forest and horse tours and hiking are definitely recommended activities.
  
  
• Beaches
  Villa Bella is surrounded by the most beautiful beaches of the Banderas Bay, like Destiladeras, Punta Mita, Careyeros, and La Cruz’s own beach, La Manzanilla which is widely known by the inhabitants for its calm waters and the delicious food served at palapa covered restaurants.
  
  There is also a whole range of beach paradises at Sayulita, San Francisco (15 minutes by car) or Chacala, Rincón de Guayabitos, La Peñita. (Approximately 40 minutes by car), ask around and you will find out why this area is known worldwide for its pristine beaches.
  
  
• Water Activities
  If you go diving or snorkeling you will delight in the calm waters and the clear visibility of the sea.
  
  There are many water activities available in the area.
  
  
• Nature and Ecotourism
  The area is widely known as one with the largest biodiversity ecosystems. Humpbacked Whales arrive in Banderas Bay to mate every year at the beginning of the winter, it is also a natural sanctuary for marine turtles and exotic birds. A wide variety of Eco-tours and activities, like golfing, hiking, sailing, snorkeling, surfing, bird watching, fishing, horse-back riding, and even canopy walks, are available in the area.
  
  
• Fishing
  The seas in this area rank among the best for both deep-sea fishing and small game fishing. Here you will find sailfish plentiful, roosterfish, Dorado, swordfish, tuna, bonito, and lots of bass and snapper.
  
  
• Golf
  Great golf in Vallarta is easy to find, with seven spectacular courses within 30 kilometers of the city, and two phenomenal courses on the south coast, locating a course to suit your tastes is just a short drive away.
  
  Special golf packages are currently available and can be designed to fit your specific needs and desires. Elsa work with you to plan a spectacular golfing vacation, or we can set up multiple rounds of golf for large groups at discount prices.
  
  Vista Vallarta Golf Club
  Jack Nicklaus Designed Venue of the 2002 PGA World Cup
  Located about 3 miles inland from the Marina Vallarta area and Banderas Bay, located next to the Tom Weiskopf Designed Course. This beautiful course, melded into the foothills of the Sierra Madres Mountains, offers breathtaking views. The Jack Nicklaus Signature Course opened April 2001.
  
  Vista Vallarta Golf Club
  Tom Weiskopf Designed Venue of the 2002 PGA World Cup
  Located about 3 miles inland from the Marina Vallarta area and Banderas Bay, located next to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. This beautiful course, melded into the foothills of the Sierra Madres Mountains, offers breathtaking views. The Tom Wieskopf Designed Course opened November 2001.
  
  Marina Vallarta Golf Club
  With a magnificent view of Banderas Bay, this Joe Finger designed course is excellent for all skill levels. Within walking distance of some of the finest hotels in the Marina area, this course features natural lagoons, three holes on the ocean, obstacles of palm trees and tropical shrubs, an abundance of wildlife, and water fountains.
  
  "El Tigre" Golf Course
  Puerto Vallarta is quickly becoming synonymous with world-class golf, and Paradise Village’s El Tigre golf course has just raised the standard with its new upscale golf facilities and exclusive country club, located in Nuevo Vallarta, close to fine resorts and accommodations.
  
  Four Seasons at Punta Mita
  Jack Nicklaus Design
  The prestigious Four Seasons Punta de Mita course is now open to members, guests of the Hotel Four Seasons, and non-members as well. Opened in September 1999, this Jack Nicklaus signature course has a unique feature found nowhere else, one hole is on an island off shore, making it as challenging as it is breathtaking.
  
  Mayan Palace Golf Course
  This beautiful course surrounds the Mayan Palace Hotel in Nuevo Vallarta. The course is very open, with a number of interesting water and sand hazards to test your skill. For the less experienced player the strategic placing of the tees allows you to play with the more experienced golfers and still enjoy a challenging game.
  
  Flamingos Golf Course and Country Club
  This established golf course in Puerto Vallarta continues to be a popular choice. Located north of Nuevo Vallarta, the recent change in owners has resulted in the completion of a new club house and pro-shop, as well as course updates. Excellent course for all skill levels.
  
  
• Culture
  The area is also known for its multicultural variety, since ancient times this fishing village was populated by a diverse array of people that left behind artifacts currently displayed in the Tepic Archaeological Museum. Puerto Vallarta has a big diversity of Galleries and a prehispanic museum in Rio Cuale Island.
  
  
• Shopping
  Puerto Vallarta is a shopper's paradise; almost everything made in México is availaible, you will find a wide selection, from fine art to dinnerware. There are also many fine art galleries, arts and crafts and souvenirs shops and markets in the area. The city is also known for its growing number of artists, in Puerto Vallarta you will find the opportunity to buy art pieces by some local and foreign painters and sculptors. The main downtown shopping area is in Juárez and Morelos streets. Most stores close from 2 to 4 PM and stay open until 8 PM. The Flea Market is another downtown choice that you can't miss.

Weather
Cool beach weather almost all year round.

Summer months (Aug- Sept) bring a raincoat and umbrella.
Winter months (Nov- Feb) a light jacket will occasionally be handy.