Spring Break in Puerto Vallarta: A Stress-Free Guide for Families
Puerto Vallarta for Spring Break was an easy choice for us this year. A short flight from Denver on United and loads of points to use at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort sealed the deal. We often choose to fly on a Wednesday or Thursday (yes, missing a few days of school) in favor of saving hundreds of dollars on flights. During busy weeks like Spring Break, it’s a no brainer!
Puerto Vallarta had been on our wish list for a number of reasons. With a mix of oceanside destinations, beautiful scenery, and a culture known for international cuisine, we were eager to explore!
GETTING THERE:
The airport is conveniently close to many resort hotels and is straightforward to navigate. One thing to note is that while Uber is widely available in town, the best way to get from the airport to your hotel is via Taxi. Uber is allowed to drop passengers off at the airport, but are not allowed to be in the pick up zone. You can purchase a ticket for a taxi at the counter just before the exit doors, then stand in the taxi line just outside. Pro-tip: you’ll want to keep your head down and ignore the “shark tank” as you make your way through the terminal, which is the high-pressure timeshare hallway after customs.
WHERE TO STAY:
The Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort is in Marina Vallarta, which is a newer, developed community on the water with a boardwalk full of restaurants, art galleries and upscale boutiques. We found it to be quiet, low-key and a nice location for a family vacation. I have to say that the food at this hotel is some of the best we have ever had, especially the tostadas. They also have an incredible spa that is worth taking advantage of, if you’re in the mood to treat yourself. The pool is huge and overall, it was an extremely relaxing place to anchor down during the week.
View from our balcony
The Marina Vallarta boardwalk is full of interesting and modern restaurants. We had two amazing meals at Mesón Ibérico - an authentic Spanish restaurant that often has live music featuring Spanish music and Flamenco. And another at Rincón Buenos Aires - an Argentinian restaurant that we actually visited twice because it was so good! The Marina is also famous for its Thursday night art market which is a bustling blend of artisans, food vendors, music and entertainers.
OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS:
Puerto Vallarta is so full of culture and each district has its own character. Depending on what you’re looking for, there is a perfect place for you! Besides the Marina Vallarta here are some of the most well known neighborhoods to consider when choosing your hotel:
Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone / Old Town): The most popular and vibrant area. It is known for its high-energy nightlife, inclusive LGBTQ+ scene, colorful street murals and cobblestone streets.
Hotel Zone: A modern stretch of beachfront between the marina and downtown. Where you’ll find most of the resorts and All-Inclusive hotels.
Puerto Vallarta’s famous oceanfront Malecón boardwalk is the heart of the city. Located near Zona Romántica, it’s worth taking a stroll to view the extensive collection of sculptures
THINGS TO DO:
One of the best things about Puerto Vallarta is the whale watching season which lasts from December through March. There are tons of boat tours available and many opportunities to see whales from the beach. The best time to see the babies is January through March.
The proximity to the mountains makes Puerto Vallarta the perfect destination for ATV adventures and zip lining. We booked our excursions through Estigo Tours and chose a half day ATV tour and zipline adventure on separate days for a bundled deal. The communication was excellent and there were convenient pick up locations for each excursion. The ATV tour was a long day, but it included a tequila tasting and margaritas (limit one) in addition to a lunch stop at a restaurant along the river. The zip line excursion was courtesy of Eco Orbit Adventures, a family run business which included a total of 10 zip lines (and a bit of hiking in between), photos on a disk drive, a full restaurant, and an amazing location along the river. It was truly an experience to remember.
Family pic during ATV adventure
At the beginning of our Zipline Tour
Ben and instructor flying over the river
OTHER FUN FACTS:
Puerto Vallarta is a major hub for “medical tourism.” You can find an abundance of med spas offering botox, injections, high tech facials, etc. along with cosmetic dentistry and plastic surgery as well.
It is extremely popular with Canadian tourism. Many Canadians have vacation homes or spend many months in Puerto Vallarta, another reason for the medical tourism. If you visit, you’ll notice a lot of the local bars playing hockey on TV and a lot of Canadian flags / Mexico flags in tandem.
In a recent article, it was named “Friendliest City in the World” by Conde Nast Traveler. We definitely felt completely welcome by the locals and other tourists. It was overall an extremely relaxing and adventure-filled trip!
There are so many reasons to put Puerto Vallarta at the top of your travel wish list. The biggest being the feeling of authenticity, welcoming and hospitality all around. For visitors who aren’t as confident with their Spanish speaking skills, English is widely spoken and we had no problem communicating as we traveled around. We had a truly memorable experience and will definitely return again!
