Puerto Vallarta Rentals Blog

This past summer, the Puerto Vallarta Zoo in Mexico welcomed three tiger triplets. Bengal Tigers are an endangered subspecies of tiger although sadly they are the most populous of all tigers, with about 2,000 estimated in the wild. Programs like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Save the Tiger Fund work to address the environmental and economic challenges that threaten the remaining Bengal Tigers.

Tiger Triplets in Puerto Vallarta

Vacation at Puerto Vallarta is incomplete without relaxing and utilizing the facilities of Health Spas and Beauty Salons. Puerto Vallarta poses as a major attraction for many living in the US and Canada. Not only does this place offer an adventurous and exciting vacation, it is also a treat for those conscious about beauty, health, spirituality and relaxation. This gay friendly tourist resort has a lot of exciting attractions for the gay community as well.

Puerto Vallarta beauty salons have a wide range of treatments for men and women. It is known that the ladies desire more pampering but Puerto Vallarta spas do not ignore the needs of men and thus proves to be an equally comfortable and relaxing resort for all. “Blu Salon and Spa,” equipped with latest technology can help you get an entirely new look, ranging from highlights to lowlights, hair extensions to therapeutic, energizing massages and facials. The numerous facilities available make this salon more popular in Puerto Vallarta. As the ladies pamper themselves and eagerly try out new features and facilities available, the men don’t leave disappointed either. Blu offers “Man- scaping”, a new program sure to keep the men pleased as well.

Explore the beautiful gay resort Puerto Vallarta and enjoy luxurious massages together with the beautiful view. Visit “The Spa at Las Caletas,” which can be accessed by sea. This secluded cove resides on the Banderas Bay, away from the population of the city ideal for purifying aromatherapy treatments and natural spa treatments. The spa treatments include Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, holistic facials and salt scrubs all equally helpful for good, calm mental and physical state. This Oasis is a combination of indulgence and pampering that should not be missed.

Tropical tan is an absolute must during vacation to the beaches. Vacationers can visit “Salon Diva’s,” open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm located at Plaza Marina G-17. Established almost ten years ago, it has established itself as a distinguished salon and continues to offer new facilities. Discover the fabulous and awesome results of tan and quantum phoenix massage from Salon Diva’s, and you will not be disappointed by this experienced gay staff. If you need assistance in renting a condo or villa near or on the beach, please contact our renowned company Puerto Vallarta Rentals for best services.

For a more magnificent vacation, visit “Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort,” in Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, located on the North of Puerto Vallarta. This resort runs one of the most renowned Spas of the world and has even been awarded as a Luxury (Five- Star) Hotel. Grand Velas not only offers invigorating Spas and massages, but is also renowned for very spacious Spas and Imperial suites. For couples, this place offers diamond bath therapy in a grand Jacuzzi. This indulgence is further complimented with wine and strawberries dipped in chocolate to make your visit more memorable.

Discover the magic in Puerto Vallarta forests and see for yourself the healing properties in honey, volcanic ash, chocolate and vanilla. Experience a spa at “Rancho La Puerta.” This fitness resort is a delight for the men as well and they have an entirely separate health center. This Spa excels in making body wraps out of native Mexican ingredients such as aromatic oils, herbs and seaweed. This treatment helps muscles to release energy and relives the body from pain as well.

Puerto Vallarta has been officially chosen as the co-host to the 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games.

For Mexico’s largest major sporting event to be held outside of Mexico City, Guadalajara (Mexic0’s second largest city) has been selected as the organizing city. Being located in one of the world’s largest natural bays, our home city of Puerto Vallarta will proudly co-host the Games with a number of outdoor sporting events.
The Pan American games are a multi-sport event that take place every 4 years, usually the year before the Olympic Games. Competitors from all nations of the Americas compete. The 2011 edition of the event, 1 year before the London 2012 Olympics, will take place during the month of October.

With our city being turned towards the Pacific Ocean, Puerto Vallarta is ideally located to host the Games’ beach and aquatic sporting events. These will be :

1. Sailing
2. Triathlon
3. Open-water swimming
4. Beach volleyball

With the international coverage that the Games will bring, Puerto Vallarta will be able to show-off it’s already world-renown attributes; it’s ocean, it’s water-sports, it’s beaches, it’s climate and it’s culture.

Infrastructure preparations are already underway at the “Augustin Flores” sports complex where a new 5,000 capacity beach volleyball stadium will be built. An oceanfront spectator route will be prepared for the open-swimming competition and the triathlon event will take place in the Puerto Vallarta Marina. The sailing competition will take place on the open-water further out into the bay.

This will be a great event for Puerto Vallarta and the locals are looking forward to being able to once again showcase their Paradise city.

In 28 months time, the city of Guadalajara will be sizzling with the feast of sporting events brought by the Pan-American Games.

The capital of the state of Jalisco is currently undergoing a huge renovation project in order to bring the city into the 21st century and stage what they believe will be the greatest Pan-American Games ever.

More than 5,000 athletes from approximately 42 countries across America and the Caribbean will be competing at Guadalajara 2011. Sports will range from aquatics, to football, to racquetball with a confirmed total of 30 and another six being considered.

The first Pan-American Games were celebrated in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 25 February 1951 with over 2,500 athletes competing from 22 different countries.

The games were proposed as an extension to the Central America regional games involving Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba, and were due to begin in 1942 but were postponed due to World War II.

New Infrastructure

With a total budget of $250 million, COPAG (the Organizing Committee for the Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011) has a vision of drastically updating both the sporting and non-sporting infrastructure of the city.

The Re-engineering of the downtown area of the city will include new streets and roads and a number of new hotels, with Guadalajara predicted to have 22,000 hotel rooms by 2011.

The new bus rapid transit (BRT) system, Macrobús, was launched in March 2009 due to the city’s capture of the games. The Macrobús is designed to give cheap, quick transit around the city for its citizens and the predicted mass influx of tourists during the games in 2011.

Further infrastructure planned ahead for 2011 includes a second terminal in the city’s International Airport, a highway to Puerto Vallarta, and a bypass for southern Guadalajara.

Pan-American Village

The Pan-American Games will also mean the creation of its very own Pan-American Village in Guadalajara.

A number of buildings around the Morelos Park area of Guadalajara are currently being knocked down in order to create space for the 12 brand-new buildings of the village that will accommodate people involved with the games. Plans of the village can be seen at VillaPanAmericanaGdl.com.mx.

After the games the 12 buildings of the Pan-American Village will be used as housing for the residents of Guadalajara.

Sporting Venues

There are already 13 existing venues in Guadalajara that the games will use, including the Jalisco Stadium, UAG 3 de Marzo Stadium, and the UAG Gymnasium.

But the city is planning to introduce a number of new buildings for the sporting games to take place in.

Currently, there are four new sporting venues in the planning stage, seven under construction, and four finished. The brand new Aquatics Centre, Hockey Field and Weightlifting Arena are included in these.

There are also new operative buildings for the games, including the Pan-American Building in Morelos Park, and the currently under construction Centre for Sports Medicine.

The Pan-American Games will have its opening ceremony in the Jalisco Stadium, Guadalajara on 13 October 2011. Organizers are currently looking for volunteers to help out with the games and anyone interested should visit Guadalajara2011.org.mx.

To prepare for the Pan American Games to be held in Guadalajara in 2011, Puerto Vallarta is hosting and promoting sporting events of an international status, such as the First Sports Series Puerto Vallarta 2008, to be held from September 25 – October 5. The series will comprise of three events in one: open water swimming, triathlon and beach volleyball held at national and international levels. These events will attract many visitors to our area, thanks to the participation of over a hundred athletes.

“The Pan American Games are a very powerful reason to become a host for major events, and to obtain the international recognition that our tourist destination needs,” said the Secretary of State for Tourism, Aurelio Lopez Rocha. He also hopes that the games will place Jalisco and in particular the city of Guadalajara, on the map of major events held at an international caliber.

The event will start with the beach volleyball competition on Thursday September 25 at the Agustin Flores Contreras Municipal Sports Stadium, with the participation of the twelve best women’s teams in the Pan American region. This will include teams from the countries of Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Mexico. The event continues on October 4, with an open national swimming competition in the ocean. Two hundred participants will swim over ten kilometers from our beautiful local beaches. The Pan American Youth Triathlon will close the series on October 5. In this grueling competition, 700 triathletes will attempt to complete 1.5 miles swimming, 40 km of cycling and 10 kilometers of running.

The town is referred to as “gay Puerto Vallarta” for a reason: it’s one of the most gay-friendly cities in Mexico. There are a couple of gay beaches, as well as plenty of gay-friendly hotels and an area of town almost exclusively dedicated to gay nightlife. In peak tourist season (the winter months), there are plenty of gay-oriented activities, including horseback riding, drag shows and even gay bingo. What keeps gay travelers coming back is the laid-back nature of the gay scene; it’s all very low-key and relaxed.

Visitors to gay Puerto Vallarta often talk about “the gay beach”. However, more than one beach fits this description. At the south end of Los Muertos Beach is the Blue Chairs Resort. You’ll recognise it by the rainbow flags. In front of the hotel is the Blue Chairs Beach, so called because (you guessed it) it’s full of blue chairs. In keeping with the general atmosphere of gay Puerto Vallarta, the beach is a chilled-out place to snooze in the sun. Take a chair and sunbathe, or eat some of the beach snacks on offer from vendors (grilled fish on a stick is a specialty). This is a good place to meet new people, both Mexican and American. The other gay beach is known as Paco’s Gay Beach. This is a secluded 20-acre area on the south coast of the bay, where you can enjoy snorkeling, beach volleyball and swimming. There’s also a restaurant and bar. Entry to the beach is about $5, and the privacy and beauty of the area makes it well worth the money. Paco’s Beach is inaccessible by road, so take a water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan. Sometimes there are cruises to the beach too.

As for nightlife, most gay clubs and bars are in the part of town known as the South Side, or the zona romantica . The kind of music on offer varies, but all clubs tend to be more down-to-earth and less high-energy than their straight counterparts elsewhere in Puerto Vallarta.

When you hear about gay Puerto Vallarta, you usually hear about the male scene, but it’s a very woman-friendly destination too. Diana DeCoste runs “Diana’s Tours”, and organizes many activities for lesbian visitors. For example, you can go on a five-hour ecological tour of the surrounding countryside, including horseback riding and swimming, for about $40.

Puerto Vallarta is known for its world class lifestyle and amenities. No wonder rich and famous from all over Americas come to Puerto Vallarta when they want to experience the best a vacation destination has to offer. Puerto Vallarta Real Estate region offers old world charm, exotic culture blending harmoniously with hi-end real estate developments and infrastructure.

Infrastructure development in Puerto Vallarta real estate region has seen continuous funds inflow and attention from political establishment and businesses alike. All facets of infrastructure like amenities, transportation, roads, malls and real estate in Puerto Vallarta can compete with the best not only in Mexico but also internationally.

A major factor in to this growth has been foresight of the city planners and support given to Puerto Vallarta region by the government at all levels. In view of the state’s importance in tourism and economy, the state of Jalisco was allotted 10 billion pesos from the federal budget. A major portion of these funds has been earmarked for Jalisco’s roadwork development. Any real estate development in any part of the world depends on how easily accessible is the location. Hence, Puerto Vallarta Real Estate will be a major beneficiary due to road and highway development. In addition, 48 million pesos will be allocated o public works projects in regions of Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta. Since, this areas are two of the most prominent destinations in Mexico, the real estate sector and tourism region will get even more fillip in the years to come.

On the cultural front also, the region received funds which will go a long way in development of University Culture Center and a Bicentennial Museum in Guadalajara.

This shows the level of commitment and faith shown by the government to this key region. This has enabled Puerto Vallarta to upgrade itself as a world class destination. For foreign investors willing to put their money in Mexico, specifically Puerto Vallarta, this is especially important. When a region like Puerto Vallarta receives attention from government then it also increase shareholders and investors confidence. This in turn spurs large scale investment and growth. As a home buyer also, you can derive a sense of security that the dream second home or retirement condo you are buying will be safe and will provide good ROI for years to come.

Your beachfront condo in Puerto Vallarta is within your reach. Check out the listings of Puerto Vallarta Beachfront Condos, plan correctly to Finance Puerto Vallarta Condo Homes, and plan for a beautiful future today. Contact Tom Budniak for insight into this booming market.

Its always difficult when a timezone splits a region in two that should naturally function at the same time and this week Mexico’s senate approved Bahia De Banderas and Puerto Vallarta to have the same time zone. Here is the artilce from VirtualVallarta:

Mexico’s Senate approved the amendments to the Mexican Schedule System that will allow Bahía de Banderas and Puerto Vallarta to share the same time zone, such that both will soon be governed by Central time.This initiative was prompted by Nayarit Senator Raul Mejia who filed it on December 13, 2007, for analysis.

According to Senator Raul Mejia, residents of our neighboring municipality are affected on their daily life and economic activity by the time difference between them and our city. The time change will become effective once it is published in the Mexican Official Gazette.

Condo rentals in Puerto Vallarta

Safety and security of any city determines its reputation. A city with strong, friendly and committed police sends positive signal not only to the tourists and residents but also the investors who infuse capital into a city. Hence, it can be safely said that a city’s economic prosperity depends on its ability to provide security to its citizens and business community.

In real estate world, a locality’s crime rate is a major factor in its evaluation. Puerto Vallarta Real Estate is not an exception. Any US, Canadian or European citizen looking to invest or live in Puerto Vallarta first needs to be assured if the choice of investing in Puerto Vallarta property is sound or not. Puerto Vallarta real estate has an enviable record for safety and security of its residents and their property. Many expats reckon that Puerto Vallarta is in fact safer then their native countries. Moreover, Puerto Vallarta is much friendlier.

Puerto Vallarta’s security is handled by its competent police force currently headed by its new Chief of police, Javier Lopez Ruelas. The new chief is committed not only to maintain the current atmosphere of peace and tranquility but also to improving the professionalism and training in the force.

To make the of municipal police force of Puerto Vallarta Properties much more professional, Lopez has embarked on a new policy in which anybody aspiring to be a police officer, traffic officer, fireman, lifeguard or a member of Civil protection force will have to face stricter requirements and pass all courses with an average of at least 80. Lopez stated “we can count on the professionalism of our forces and the use of technology to provide better service to prevent and combat crime.”

It’s important to note that Lopez during his earlier stint as Director of the Regional Academy had followed the guidelines of the campus, applying National Public Security Plan. This means that the first generation of firefighters, lifeguards and civil defence received training which ensures that Puerto Vallarta real estate security is of highest standards.

Puerto Vallarta will be the hosting Pan American Games in 2011.With an eye on this big event, the first generation of traffic police and bike police is been currently trained for two and half months as police on duty and another two and a half months as certified sports paramedics.

Bike police and sports paramedics will have the crucial responsibility of monitoring and protecting the sport venues. Till date, 10 graduates of the academy occupy positions as firefighters, 23 as traffic patrols, six as Civil Protection, 10 as lifeguards and 23 as bike police officers.

Additionally, 171 new policemen are now been trained in various aspects like English skills, computers, general knowledge, first and human rights. This is especially important because Puerto Vallarta has become more cosmopolitan with increase in tourism and expats buying Puerto Vallarta real estate.

Your beachfront condo in Puerto Vallarta is within your reach. Check out the listings of Puerto Vallarta Beachfront Condos, plan correctly to Finance Puerto Vallarta Condo Homes, and plan for a beautiful future today.

I often stumble upon festivals through sheer serendipity while traveling around Mexico. The first encounter occurred during a solo week in Oaxaca in the 1980s. While sipping a beer at a sidewalk café one evening, I heard an astonishing clamor that brought me to my tiptoes. Devil faces were popping up over the hedges on the other side of the plaza. Drums, flutes and guitars played dueling harmonies.

Leaving beer and backpack behind (an act I wouldn’t recommend now), I rushed across the plaza and began photographing farmers bearing shrines on their shoulders and wizened ladies in black shawls carrying flowers and burning candles. The parade was a simple affair honoring a local patron saint, but its masked dancers and ear-rattling rockets fueled a desire to see every traditional religious celebration in Mexico.

I’ve come nowhere near fulfilling that dream, of course. But I have seen farcical puppets and gorgeously costumed dancers honor Saint Michael the Archangel in San Miguel de Allende. I’ve been jolted awake by midnight explosions in Mexico City only to find the neighbors beginning feast day celebrations. I’ve learned to steady my nerves and keep an eye out for angels, devils and saints.

Some religious festivals are national holidays and advance hotel reservations are essential at the festival’s home turf. Check Mexico’s official website for a comprehensive list of events. Here’s a sampling of significant religious festivals to whet your curiosity.

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is Mexico’s most sacred site, said to be the second most visited Catholic site in the world (after Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican). Millions make their way to the Basilica on the Lady’s feast day — a crowd scene I’ve yet to brave. Instead, I visited the Basilica off-season and was able to leisurely tour the original 17th century church devoted to the Lady and the “new” Basilica constructed between 1974 and 1976. Abundant vendors sold holy cards, rosaries and other memorabilia as several pilgrims made their way up steep stairways to the old church on their knees. Despite the tacky souvenirs and Mexico City’s pervasive smog, the shrine felt special and sacred.

The UFO-shaped “new” basilica contains the cloak of Juan Diego, the peasant believed to have seen the manifestation of the Virgin Mary on a hillside in 1531. According to legend, the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego and told him to tell the Spanish bishop to build a church in her honor. To prove her existence, she had the peasant gather roses in his cloak for the bishop. When Juan Diego opened his cloak, the roses fell away and the image of the Virgin appeared in the garment, which now hangs in the Basilica.

Millions swarm the Basilica on December 12, while smaller commemorations take place all around the country. One year I followed boys wearing shirts with the virgin’s image to a procession at Puerto Vallarta’s Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Another time, while on Cozumel, I happened upon a parade passing a neighborhood church devoted to the Virgin. It’s nearly impossible to visit Mexico on December 12 without witnessing a celebration devoted to Mexico’s patron saint.

Semana Santa, March 31 to April 4, 2010

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday brings out a fondness for drama and suffering among Catholics all over Mexico. Elaborate Passion Plays are held in cities and small towns, with residents vying for the roles of Jesus and Mary and entire communities laboring over costumes and floats. The performances, which normally start on Holy Thursday and last through Easter Sunday, depict the Last Supper, Stations of the Cross, Crucifixion and Resurrection. The re-enactments tend to be solemn and intense, with the actors vividly depicting pain and cruelty.

The Tarahumara in the Copper Canyon are especially devoted to Semana Santa. Elaborately painted dancers from far-flung canyon villages gather to drum and whirl day and night from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday. The Passion Plays are particularly intense, with believers slaying Judas and actors faithfully copying Christ’s suffering. In Chiapas, residents build elaborate wooden structures depicting Judas and other hated figures and objects (politicians are especially reviled). After a lurid re-enactment of the Crucifixion, the figures are set afire as fireworks and sparks fill the air.

San Cristobal de las Casas is the epicenter of all religious and political festivals in Chiapas. Indigenous customs are vividly interspersed with Catholic ceremonies in nearby San Juan Chamula. Equally dramatic ceremonies take place in San Luis Potosí, while the performances are toned down in Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán.

Semana Santa coincides with Spring Break and is a popular weeklong vacation time for Mexican families. Hotels are sold out months in advance at beach resorts and colonial cities. Book your rooms long before your trip.

The Romeria, October 12

Also known as the feast of Our Lady of Zapopan, the Romeria hasn’t yet become a tourist attraction. Instead, it draws nearly one million pilgrims from throughout the state of Jalisco to the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan near Guadalajara. They come to thank the Lady for miraculously preventing droughts, floods and other disasters and to ask for her continued beneficence.

As the story goes, the Lady first appeared in Zapopan as a straw medallion worn by a Franciscan missionary. During a fierce battle between Spanish conquistadors and native peoples in 1525, the friar held his charm over the battlefield and fighting ceased. Countless miracles have since been attributed to Our Lady of Zapopan, dubbed “the Pacifier.”

Barely a foot high, the Lady’s statue travels around Jalisco during the year as difficulties arise. She returns to the Basilica on her feast day, accompanied by fervent believers who crawl on their knees and sleep on sidewalks as the Lady’s statue travels through Guadalajara and on to the Basilica. On October 12, the people amass in Zapopan’s main plaza and cheer as the statue rides high on the shoulders of a chosen few faithful. Dozens of priests, nuns, bishops and novitiates greet the Lady and accompany her to her rightful place inside the Basilica. The dancing, feasting and fireworks continue over several days and nights. It’s nearly impossible to get to the plaza on October 12 and local hotels are packed and noisy. Your best bet is to stay in Guadalajara and hire a tour company to help you understand and appreciate the festivities.

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