Adventure and Scrumptious Eats in Puerto Vallarta

Nestled between the Sierra Madre Mountains and Banderas Bay along Mexico’s Pacific Coast resides CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. Not only does the location lend itself to stunning natural views but the popular beach town of Puerto Vallarta is home to a vibrant culinary and arts scene with festivals and enough adventure activities to fill up the wanderlust tank of any thrill seeking traveler.  

Puerto Vallarta is the prime place to feed your inner adventurer with plenty of activities to be outdoorsy, especially if you love being in or around water:

• For prime surfing check out Sayulita just a few minutes to the north. 
• Yelapa provides the ultimate day trip where you can hike to waterfalls, try the local moonshine called Raicilla (be careful, this stuff is potent!) or take a zipline canopy tour. Fun Fact: The movie Predator was filmed here!
• El Malecon, known as the Puerto Vallarta Boardwalk is where travelers will find more restaurants, bars and shops than you can shake a stick at. 
• Make sure you get your nomnom on at La Palapa, located on Playa Los Muertos in the heart of the Romantic Zone. Not only does it offer primo sunset views, but the cuisine is spot on if you’re looking for delish local foods.  

While you can find the usual mixture of delicious authentic Mexican cuisine and touristy traps in Puerto Vallarta, some of the best meals I had during my stay actually took place at the CasaMagna Marriott’s onsite, beach front restaurant – Las Casitas.  

While we’re on the topic of delicious food, one would be remiss to miss out on the resort’s Sunset Guacamole experience every Tuesday and Friday evening. The sunset’s vibrancy was matched only by the explosion of flavors happening inside my mouth thanks to the best guacamole I’ve ever had. Ever. I just had to get the recipe and I promise to share it soon!

The foodie in me recommends pairing the sunset and guac with one of their signature margarita creations like the Hibiscus or Tamarind. While guests can enjoy the gorgeous sunsets from one of the oceanfront rooms, personally, I’d rather view it peaking over the edge of the infinity pool. 

As I mentioned before, Marriott Casa Magna Puerto Vallarta is nestled along the shores of Banderas Bay, an area one could describe as a living aquatic play ground. With numerous tiny islands just off the coast, national parks, and a bustling ecosystem above and below the waters surface there is limitless potential for those once-in-a-lifetime moments every traveler craves. The bay is perfect for kayaking giving you optimal viewing for dolphin and whale sighting as well as taking in the gorgeous mountain range, right from the water. 

Also located on the Bay of Banderas, between Las Gemelas and Mismaloya beach, travelers will also find the stunning Los Arcos National Marine Park.  This protected marine preserve consists of several small islands, or granite rock formations, that have colorful coral reefs and arches, deep tunnels and caves. Whether your preferred mode of exploration is snorkeling, scuba diving or boating it’s easy to lose oneself in the marine park.  

The Los Arcos Marine Park is not the only one in the bay, there’s another one at the Marietas Islands, one of the world’s protected biosphere reserves established by the UNESCO. A group of small uninhabited islands form the Marietas Islands where the protected National Marine Park hides a gem: a beach inside a crater. 

It’s this location along the Bay that also offers travelers the opportunity to do one of my favorite things, giving back while they travel. Puerto Vallarta is one of the most visited beach resort destinations in Mexico and is also a popular habitat for sea turtle hatchlings. For over a decade CasaMagnaMarriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa has participated in the Puerto Vallarta Sea Turtle Conservation Program. Through the program the resort has aided in the release of more than 370,000 turtles. Visitors that stay at the resort wishing to participate are allowed to aide in the release alongside the professionals, if the timing is right

No vacation would be complete without a bit of rest and relaxation, less a wanderer grow weary. The CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta is also home to the Ohtli Spa which has earned the reputation of Puerto Vallarta’s biggest (and most relaxing) spa. For the ultimate relaxation experience we recommend arriving a little early to warm up (or cool off) in the Roman tub, cold plunge pool and foot bath, and take full advantage of the sauna and steam rooms.