City Happenings and Things to Do
Mexico’s best beach destinations not only feature picturesque landscapes, but are also defined by their natural charm, culture and traditions, and gastronomy. With all the warmth and hospitality that characterizes Mexico, Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and Cancun are ready to welcome you as a friend. Here is your guide of fun and exciting activities to do when you arrive. We look forward to seeing you in paradise soon!
Puerto Vallarta
Here is a list of fun things to do, so you can put together your perfect itinerary.
Restaurant Week 2021
Restaurant Week is fast approaching and will run from September 15th to October 10th, 2021. This gastronomic festival takes place over three consecutive weeks at participating restaurants in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit and it will undoubtedly give your palate something to look forward to. Whether you are a true foodie, or just love good food, this is your opportunity to try all the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta. During this epic culinary event, restaurants will offer a set three-course menu (with three options for each course) for a reduced price. Some of the 2021 participating restaurants that are worth checking out are: The Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar, Café des Artistes, Hacienda San Ángel Gourmet, and La Cappella.
Craft Beer
Puerto Vallarta has two breweries that are located in the Romantic Zone. One, called Los Muertos Brewing, has a broad range of beer differing in flavor and strength. Choose from 14 beers on tap including hand-crafted ales, IPAs, and stouts that pair perfectly with their delicious wood-fired pizzas. The second option is Monzon Brewery. You can stop there daily anytime between 12:00 pm and midnight (apart from Mondays), to get an education on the beer-manufacturing process and taste their delicious craft beer. We recommend the tasting flight, which includes 4 different brews.
Conchas Chinas
Conchas Chinas means “Chinese shells” and was named after the type of seashells found on its beach. This upscale neighborhood in the south part of the bay is just a 10-minute drive or taxi ride from Garza Blanca Preserve. Conchas Chinas has gated communities and condos. It is known by locals as ¨The Hills¨ (as in Beverly Hills), since there are many million-dollar homes perched on the mountainside that are owned by international celebrities. Playa Conchas Chinas (Conchas Chinas Beach) is much quieter than its surrounding counterparts including Playa Los Muertos, and is one of the least crowded beaches, but there are also no services or public restrooms along the beach. Why not pack a picnic and plan to spend a couple hours there? If you have your own snorkeling equipment, it is an ideal place for snorkeling, with clear waters and hidden coves.
Surfing Lessons
If you have always wanted to learn to surf, this is one of the must-do activities while visiting Puerto Vallarta. People flock here from all over the world to surf the waves. The most popular surfing spots are La Lancha in Punta Mita, and the main beaches in Sayulita and San Pancho. You will find a ton of surfing schools with professional bilingual instructors, who will have you standing up on the board in no time. WildMex Surf & Adventure is a reputable surf school with locations in La Lancha and Sayulita. If you are already a surfer pro, they also have surfboard rentals. If you want to head a little further out to San Pancho, we recommend San Pancho Surf School.
Los Cabos
Los Cabos is full of hidden gems and endless adventures suitable for every member of your family.
Cabo Pulmo
One of the region’s jewels located just 60 miles north of Los Cabos is Cabo Pulmo, a protected National Marine Park recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The reef at Cabo Pulmo reef is one of the largest coral reefs in North America and is estimated to be around 20,000 years old. It is known for its diverse marine life, with several species of tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, and whales. The two most popular activities in this national marine park are scuba diving and snorkeling. You can spend a calm day relaxing on a pristine beach and exploring the spectacular underwater landscape.
Boca de la Sierra
If you want to get off the beaten track, Boca de la Sierra is a true hidden paradise located at the foot of the Sierra La Laguna Mountain range, just 5 miles from Miraflores. Boca de la Sierra is a hidden gem, still unknown by most state visitor guides.
To get here, you will need to park your car about 100 yards away from the road, and follow the trail towards the lake. The stunning landscape is made up of mountains with gentle waterfalls and a diverse array of flora and fauna, including black oak trees and palms as well as mule deer, raccoons, hawks and eagles.
After your trek in nature breathing in the clean fresh air, head to Miraflores for lunch. This quaint town has a population of 2,000 and offers several gastronomic delights. This area is also surrounded by organic farms and ranches.
San Dionisio
If you are looking for an alternative type of tourism, San Dionisio is a rural community located north of Los Cabos. This small town only has 50 inhabitants and is made up of 14 ranches. The main hosts are the natives who live on the ranches and they offer outdoor adventures to visitors including trekking, rock climbing, and mountain biking with unique pathways around the canyon.
To get here take the La Paz highway towards Santiago.
Cabo Submarine
Cabo San Lucas is known for its diverse marine life. When you take a Cabo Submarine tour with Cabo Expeditions, you and your family can stay dry while viewing the dramatic underwater scenery. This activity is perfect for the whole family, and is suitable for all ages, including young children. This tour lasts approximately one and a half hours and is available all year round. The Cabo Submarine is semi-submersible, so the top deck stays above the water surface. You can go to the lower deck, to observe fish swimming around as well as other marine life, such as sea turtles and sea lions, from the windows. If you are searching for a fun family activity, take a ride on Cabo’s bright yellow submarine. During the tour, your guide will share knowledge about Cabo’s different species of marine life.
Cancun
Next time you are in Cancun, dive in to the ancestral magic of the Maya.
Museo Maya de Cancún (Maya Museum of Cancun)
This museum in Cancun is dedicated to Maya culture and here you will receive a powerful introduction to this interesting civilization. The museum houses three rooms. The first one is dedicated to archaeology and here you can view a collection of Maya artifacts collected at key archaeological sites, the second room details aspects about the ancient Maya, and the third room offers engaging temporary exhibitions on subjects such as Maya history and art.
The Maya Museum of Cancun also includes access to San Miguelito, a former Maya community that is home to several ruins including pyramids, stone temples, and dwellings with fragments of wall paintings.
Go Swimming in a Cenote
If you are planning a trip to beautiful Cancun, swimming in a cenote is far beyond any activity you can do. A cenote is a sinkhole that results from the collapse of limestone bedrock. However, they are much more impressive than they sound. These magical open caves with crystalline waters and cavern labyrinths can be found all along the Yucatán Peninsula. There are approximately 6,000 cenotes of various types, ranging from deep underground caves for adventurous cenote divers to open pools suitable for swimming.
The ancient Maya considered cenotes to be sacred and used them as a ceremonial stage to present their gods with offerings. They were also their main source of fresh water. Today they offer mystique to adventure-seeker spirits, who are open to new and astounding experiences.
Cenote visits can be included as part of a scheduled tour, or if you decide to rent a car, you will find some of the best cenotes a little further towards Playa del Carmen or Tulum. If you are headed in that direction, you can stop and explore several along the way.
Cenote Azul or “blue cenote” is one of the best cenotes in the area, located just off the main highway between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Appropriately named after the striking shade of blue water in this open-air cenote. With plenty of leisure space for snorkeling, swimming or jumping off side cliffs, Cenote Azul’s layout offers shallow water areas perfectly suited for the little ones to enjoy, as well as deeper sections suitable for scuba diving.
Not far from Cenote Azul, Cenote Jardin del Eden pays homage to the Garden of Eden for its paradise-like qualities such as; an open sinkhole of crystalline turquoise water, encompassed by the lush jungle landscape. Swimming or snorkeling in this stunning natural wonder is a true Mayan experience.
La Ruta de Cenotes or “route of cenotes “, is one of the best areas to explore several cenotes, since it is a strip in Puerto Morelos with cenotes that are dotted along both sides of the road. You can get here by taking the Federal Highway 307 to Puerto Morelos (approximately a 30-minute drive from Cancun). Some of the best cenotes in Cancun are found along this route including Cenote Popol Vuh, Siete Bocas, Zapota, Mojarras, and Kin Ha.
Cenote Kin Ha translates to sun & water in Mayan and is a divers' paradise. Located just a few kilometers down La Ruta de Cenotes, this cenote is 40 meters deep with a semi-open formation perfect for diving into the underground waterways and catching the enchanting light spectacle seeping through the open rocks.
Cenote La Noria is also located along the Cenotes Route, just a few yards away from Cenote Kin Ha. Step down the carefully placed wooden steps to reach this sapphire blue, fresh water cenote, with 47 meters in diameter and 18 meters in depth, allowing plenty of space to swim. Explore the natural rock formations of this semi-open cave, the ceiling is covered in stalactites, giving it a cool Mayan bat-cave vibe, bats included! A perfectly placed platform serves as a great place to stand on and take in the majestic views.
When visiting a cenote in Cancun, make sure you bring biodegradable sunscreen to preserve the environment, water shoes, swimsuit, waterproof dry bag, and a quick-dry towel.
If you are planning a trip to beautiful Mexico soon, you will find there is an extensive array of activities to enhance your vacation. We hope you have found our list of both mainstream and hidden places to visit useful to make the most of your time while you explore the surroundings.