Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Love, Cuisine, and Adventures

Picture postcard perfect, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico located in the western part of Mexico in the state of Jalisco, is the home of the mariachi, ranchera music, and tequila! Ever since the director John Huston discovered the beauty and the magic of Puerto Vallarta for his 1963 film Night of the Iguana, filmmakers, celebrities, and tourists have flocked to discover this most charming city for themselves.

Founded in 1851, Puerto Vallarta is the second largest city in the state of Jalisco (population 255,725), and has much to offer visitors whether your preference is soaking up the sun sitting on a beach or by a pool, playing golf, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing, or seeking thrills by parasailing. It is also a very popular destination wedding and honeymoon location.

Art abounds with many outdoor sculptures, museums, and galleries located throughout the city, shopping is as diverse as high-end label boutiques to street markets, and the food, that alone is reason enough to visit Puerto Vallarta.

In order to "Bring the Experience of Luxury To You" Luxury Experience visited Puerto Vallarta in late April 2014 and experienced as much of this charming and friendly city as we could in 4 nights and 5 days.

Where to Stay:

We stayed at the Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta located in the affluent Conchas Chinas section of Puerto Vallarta where we were nestled up high against the lush greenery of the tropical forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains on one side and had a stunning, panoramic, uninterrupted view of the Bay of Bandera spread in front of us.

Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta

The hotel offers several types of accommodations with 72 one-bedroom Junior Suites, 8 corner Master Suites with Jacuzzi, 18 two-bedroom Residences, 12 three-bedroom Residences, and 2 Penthouses with four-bedrooms and a private Jacuzzi.

We stayed in a luxurious Junior Suite in the new tower completed in 2013, which featured a well-equipped kitchen, marble bathroom, attractive furnishings, 2 televisions – one opposite the bed, and another opposite the sitting area, and a large terrace where we enjoyed sitting and admiring the spectacular view.

Guest Rooom – Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta

Its many amenities include a Beauty and Nail Salon, Boutique, Business Center and Library where you can borrow one of the many books to read on your balcony or terrace or out by one of the pools, there is complimentary WI-FI located throughout the hotel, and a Spa with 4 state-of-the-art attractive treatment rooms, steam rooms, showers, and men’s and women’s locker rooms.

View from Balcony

There are 3 pools and a large Jacuzzi on the lower level convenient to the Bar La Terraza where we enjoyed pool-side drinks and snacks, as well as an adults-only infinity pool and Jacuzzi located on the Sky Restaurant level.

Infinity Pool at Sky Restaurante Level

In the morning we began each day with a wonderful breakfast at the Sky Restaurante before venturing out to explore the city, and we also enjoyed 2 wonderful dinners at the restaurant. Note: Guests can select either the all-inclusive plan or the European dining plan.

Surf and Turf

Although not located on a beach, the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to their Beach Club on Los Muertos Beach, a 10-minute ride from the hotel, providing guests with the opportunity to partake of the mountains as well as the beach.

Read about our stay at the Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta in the Hotels and Resorts, about our dining experience in Restaurants section, read the interview with Executive Chef Vidal Mezela Noh who graciously provides a taste of the restaurant with his delicious recipes in the Chefs’ Recipes section in English and Spanish, and about our Spa experience in the Spas section.

Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta
Paseo de los Corales #139
Conchas Chinas
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:    +52-322-221-5120
Toll-Free US/Canada:   1-877-797-0518
Fax US/Canada:             1-800-491-2906
Mexico Reservations:  01-800-681-9536
Mexico Fax:  01-800-681-9536
Email:            info@grandmiramar.com
Website:                          www.GrandMiramar.com
Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/GrandMiramarPuertoVallarta

Things to Do – Adventures and Beaches

Adventures

We spent a very enjoyable morning at Costa Sur Resort & Spa, located in the Zona Hotelera Sur (South Hotel Zone) which has a private beach that is a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers with its natural reef. As we are known as "The Adventure Kids" when we learned that Costa Sur Resort & Spa has a Day Pass where visitors can spend the day at their facility and play with their toys we knew we had to visit. 

Debra Paddleboarding

We took a paddleboard lesson, and for those not familiar with this sport, a paddleboard is similar to a surfboard, which you stand-up on and paddle over the water using one long paddle and alternate side strokes. It challenges your "core," is fun, and is on the rise. We loved it!

Fabulous Dessert

We also went kayaking and snorkeling in water so clear and plentiful with pretty tropical fish that it was as if we were swimming in an aquarium. After our morning’s playtime, we had an excellent lunch on their Sunset Terrace; just another wonderful day in the paradise that is Puerto Vallarta.

Read about our adventures learning to paddleboard in the Adventures section, about our dining experience in the Restaurants section and get tasty recipes from the Chef Alejandro Vega in the Chefs’ Recipes section.

Costa Sur Resort & Spa
Carretera a Barra de Navidad Km 4.5
Zona Hotelera Sur
48310 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:       +52-322-226-8050
Toll Free US:    1-866-921-0126
Toll Free MX:   01-800-504-7090
Fax:                 +52-322-221-5155
Email:              reservations@costasurpuertovallarta.com
Website:          www.CostaSurPuertoVallarta.com
Facebook:        www.Facebook.com/CostaSurResort

Beach and Shopping

Edward enjoying the Beach

We took the Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta shuttle for a 10-minute ride to their Beach Club, where we spent a leisurely late afternoon in the sun and playing in the waves. Los Muertos is the main beach in Puerto Vallarta, where besides playing in the waves, we watched the jet skiers and the parasailing boats picking up thrill seekers up from the beach and lifting them into the air for an 8-10 minute "flight".

El Muelle de Los Muertos

We also explored the artistic focal point of the beach, El Muelle de Los Muertos, the new circular pier with a pedestrian walkway, designed by the architect Jesus Torres Vegas, which opened in January 2013 that we had seen from a distance from our terrace of our hotel.

Parasailing off the Beach

There are many shops around the square and the beach, and we enjoyed browsing through the interesting galleries and clothing stores. A definite highlight was visiting the gallery Huicholandia and learning about the symbolism in colorful Huichol art made by pressing tiny seed beads into beeswax onto a wooden board or shapes.

Huicholandia Gallery

A few of the symbols include the Scorpion (Escorpión): the protector of the peyote used by the Huichol people, the Iguana: the advisor of the future, eyes of spirit, Bird (Pájaro): freedom, Sun (Sol): power, Moon (Luna): fertility, Turtles (Tortuga): assistant of the rain Goddesses, Candle (Véladora): offering to their God, Corn (Maíz): health and prosperity, and the Butterfly (Mariposa): Good luck.

Huichol Art

Huicholandia is open from 10:00 am – 10:00 pm.

Huicholandia
Olas Altas 246, Zona Romantica
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:       +52-322-159-4426

Edward being Edward 

Cooking Class

Destination cooking classes are a great way to bring a delicious taste of your vacation home with you and create a lasting memory each time you make the recipes you learned in class.

Carmen E. Porras and Edward

We took a great Cooking Class at El Arrayan owned by Carmen E. Porras, and located in the downtown (Centro) section of Puerto Vallarta learning to make traditional Mexican dishes. We cannot wait to try our new recipes at home and sharing them with our family and friends.

El Arrayan Restaurant

This pretty little restaurant opened in November 2003, and is warm and inviting with its colorful chairs, open courtyard where an arrayan tree grows, and sacred Huichol artwork graces the walls. Chef Alfonso V. Corona is the talent in the kitchen.

El Arrayan Kitchen

A few of the highlights of what we made in class, and then enjoyed as our lunch, included Sopitas Villa de Alvarez, Cochinita Pibil (a typical dish from the Yucantan section of Mexico), which is slow-cooked pulled pork, Fire Roasted Salsa Verde, and Flan de Cajeta for dessert. Of course, we celebrated our "class" with the restaurant’s signature Margarita Arrayan made with the fruit of the arrayan tree.

Sopitas Villa de Alvarez

El Arrayan is open for dinner Wednesday through Monday from 5:30 pm until 11:00 pm. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.

There are two options for cooking classes which are taught in English; Option 1 begins at 9:30 am with breakfast, area tour, class, and lunch, or Option 2 which begins at 11:00 am with a cooking class and lunch.

Read about our cooking class at El Arrayan in the Gastronomy section, and sample a few of the recipes from Chef Alonso V. Corona and Carmen E. Porras in the Chefs’ Recipes section to tempt your palate.

El Arrayan – la mera mera cocina mexicana
Allende 344
Centro
48351 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:           +52-322-222-7195
Email:                     info@elarrayan.com.mx
Website:                www.ElArrayan.com.mx
Facebook:             www.Facebook.com/ElArrayan

Food Tour

If you want to expand your horizons and go off the culinary beaten path in Puerto Vallarta, take a food tour in Pitillal. We experienced an interesting tour with Vallarta Food Tours whose slogan is "Eat, Explore, Experience!"

Alex our Vallarta Food Tour Guide

Although they offer many different tours, we took their 3-hour walking and eating, Taste of Pitillal Tour, (pronounced pee-tee-yall), a suburban neighborhood located east of downtown Puerto Vallarta, where we visited local restaurants, street vendors, a variety of shops, and an open air market.

The tour began in the park opposite the Casa de Oracion San Miquel Arcangel (House of Prayer St. Michael The Archangel), located at Emiliano Zapata 199, Centro Pitillal, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

Our personable and knowledgeable Food Tour Guide Alex gave us a brief introduction of the area, as well as what we would experience on the tour before we set off to "eat our way through the neighborhood."

As we looked around Pitillal, what we noticed was its different feel from bustling Puerto Vallarta, as it is a working class residential area. Alex also told us that most of the shops and vendors only accept Mexican Pesos, whereas the more touristy areas of Puerto Vallarta will also accept United States Dollars, so if you like to shop, be sure to exchange your currency before you visit Pitillal.

The Art of Making Birria

One of the nine tastes that we sampled during our 1.5 miles walking tour was Birria, a typical dish of the state of Jalisco, which was slow cooked goat meat stew, marinated and cooked with red spices.

Seafood Tostada

We also had Seafood Tostada made with shrimp, octopus, scallops, snails, tomato, cilantro, onions, lime, and cucumber, and topped with avocado. From another restaurant, we tried Carnitas, slow cooked pork served on a tortilla accompanied by pickled onion, guacamole, and salsa.

Tamal

Other tastes on our tour included Carne Asada Taco, and Tamal, steamed massa filled with poblano peppers and cheese.

Sweet tastes included Churros Mexico’s fried, crispy, ribbed donuts rolled in cinnamon and sugar and served hot, and mixed fresh fruit with chili and lime which was lovely with its sweet and savory flavors.

Hot Churros

We also tried two distinctly Mexican tastes, Jamaica (Hibiscus) Ice Fruit Popsicles, and Elote Helado (Corn Ice Cream). Dried jamaica (hibiscus) flowers are very popular in Mexican cuisine and are used to make Agua Fresca, where the dried flowers are boiled in water, the liquid is strained into a pitcher, the flowers are discarded, and the flavored water is lightly sweetened and chilled to create a delicious and refreshing beverage, or in this case, frozen to create the ice fruit popsicles. Corn also finds its delicious way into sweets in Mexican cuisine, and we loved the corn ice cream.

Edward and Street Musician

Music is also part of the culture and we had the opportunity to stop and listen to street musicians to experience the sounds, as well as the tastes, and the sights, of the unique area of Pitillal.

At the end of the tour we browsed through the open-air market where vendors had embroidered clothing, leather goods, candies, and many other items on display, before heading back to our hotel.

Taste of Pitillal Tours are conducted on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays year round. Tours are 3 hours in length and depart at 10:30 am from Emiliano Zapata 185 Col. Pitillal. Wear comfortable shoes to traverse the cobblestone streets.

Vallarta Food Tours
Lindsay Prime
Local Foodie
Telephone:         +1-52-322-151-3326
Email:                 vallartafoodtours@gmail.com
Website:             www.VallartaFoodTours.com

Sightseeing and Art

Church

We visited El templo de la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) an important symbol of Puerto Vallarta. Construction on the church began in 1903 and its impressive tower and lacy crown were designed by the parish priest Don Rafael Parra Castillo. As a side note, the actor Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were married in this church, and they owned a house in Puerto Vallarta.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

Inside the church there are important works by the artist Daniel Lechon, the communion rail was hand carved by Martiniano Ramirez, and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was done by the artist Ignacio Ramirez.

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Inside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

In the courtyard, there is a sculpture of Saint Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asis) designed by the artist Ramirez Barquet, one of the many important sculptures of Puerto Vallarta.

Saint Francis of Assisi

There are masses Monday through Friday at 7:30 am, 12:00 noon, 7:00 pm, and 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 7:30 am, 12:00 noon, 5:00 pm (in English), 6:00 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:30 pm, and on Sundays at 6:30 am, 8:00 pm, 10:00 am (Bilingual), 12:00 noon, 6:30 pm, 7:30 pm, and 8:00 pm.

El templo de la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)
Hidalgo 370 Col. Centro
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco 48300 
Mexico
Telephone:    +52-322-222-1326
Fax:                 +52-322-222-6495
Email:             mailto:info@parroquiadeguadalupepv.com 
Website:        www.ParroquiadeQuadalupepPV.com

Art

Art is everywhere in Puerto Vallarta and walking along the mile-long El Malecón we stopped to admire and photograph one of the prominent sculptures, El cabellito de mar, an endearing sculpture of a triton wearing a sombrero and riding a seahorse, designed by the artist Rafael Zamarripa.

Edward strolling El Malecón

Tequila Tasting

The state of Jalisco is the home of tequila and we experienced a very informative tequila class at Casas Velas led by Ecker with culinary pairings from Executive Chef Juan Luis Ruelas Almazan and Sous Chef Daniel Aguilar.

Casa Velas

As an introduction, Mexican laws state that tequila can be produced only in the state of Jalisco and limited regions in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas. Tequila has a long history that dates to the 16^th century, although the Aztecs made a fermented beverage called pulque, which was a spirits forerunner. When you drink tequila, you are drinking a long tradition of Mexican’s heritage and culture.

Ecker leads Tequila Tasting

Blanco Tequila

Sitting in the pretty botanical garden at high tables under large umbrellas, we had views of agave plants which are the type used to make tequila. Ecker began our tequila tasting with us sampling blanco or white tequila, also called plata or silver, which is used in mixed cocktails or with culinary pairings. Blanco is clear, it is unaged tequila bottled directly after distillation or aged less than 2 months.

First Pairing – Fresh Ceviche and Blanco Tequila

To accompany the blanco tequila, Executive Chef Juan Luis Ruelas Almazan prepared a fresh ceviche using minced red snapper, minced red onion, minced tomato, cilantro, and beer, which he and Sous Chef Daniel Aguilar prepared for us by deftly filleting a whole red snapper as we watched them in action.

Chef Juan Luis Ruelas Almazan
Sous Chef Daniel Aguilar

Reposado Tequila

The next tequila that we tasted was reposado, which means "rested," was gold in color and aged for 11 months in American white oak barrels. Reposado tequilas may be aged from 2 months to under a year in oak barrels.

Ecker explained that chilling reposado tequila makes it smoother, brings out the flavors, and that reposado is not typically used in mixing cocktails.

Second Pairing – Red Snapper with Reposado Tequila

For this tequila, the chefs paired red snapper with soy sauce, scallions, and red onions.

Añejo Tequila

The third tequila we sampled was añejo, which means aged or vintage, aged for a minimum of 2 years to a maximum of 8 years, and kept in European white oak barrels.

Third Pairing – Zihuatenego-style Ceviche and Añejo Tequila

For the last pairing, the chefs prepared a Zihuatanejo-style ceviche. Ecker told us that añejo tequila pairs very well with chocolate, which although we did not sample that pairing during the tasting, it is something that we look forward to experiencing at home.

Selection of Tequilas for Tasting

Tequila Tips:

To ensure quality, the label should read:

Casas Velas holds tequila tastings every Thursday night at 6:00 pm. Call the hotel or visit their website for more information.

Debra and Edward in Garden with Agave Plants

Read an interview and get recipes from Executive Chef Juan Luis Ruelas Almazan in the Chefs’ Recipes.

Casas Velas
Calle Pelícanos 311
Fracc. Marina Vallarta
48354 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Reservations:  1-877-418-3011
From Mexico:   01-800-837-3982
Other Parts:     +52- 322-226-8670
Email:             reservations@velasresorts.com
Website:          www.HotelCasaVelas.com

Where to Dine:

Puerto Vallarta has a rich diversity of appealing restaurants to tempt your palate. Listed alphabetically, we bring you a delicious "taste" of the restaurants that we experienced during our stay.

Blanca Blue at Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa

We had an excellent al fresco dinner at Blanca Blue Restaurant & Lounge at Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa where we had views of the attractive glass sculptures lining the walls and sunset views over the ocean to complement Chef Fernando Pulido’s and Sous Chef Refugio Silva’s cuisine.

Blanca Blue Restaurant & Lounge

A few of the highlights of our dinner included Beet Carpaccio (slow roasted beets paired with fresh goat cheese and vanilla and grapefruit vinaigrette), Asparagus Ravioli, tender pasta filled with ricotta cheese, parmesan, and asparagus in a rich butter, fresh lemon, and diced San Danielle prosciutto sauce, Roasted Mahi-Mahi with kalamata and sesame scented veal juice, hummus, and blanched zucchini with cumin bread and Meyer lemon zest, and Boneless Short Rib, braised short rib glazed au jus, presented with ginger scented sweet potato puree, grilled onions and asparagus.

Braised Short Rib

Blanca Blue serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Read about our dining experience at Blanca Blue in the Restaurants section, and read Chefs’ Recipes where Chef Fernando Pulido graciously shares his recipe for Braised Short Rib (in English and in Spanish).

Blanca Blue at Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa
Carretera a Barra de Navidad Km. 7.5
48390 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Resort:       + 52-322-176-0700
Toll-Free:    1-855-348-9033 US and Canada 
Website:      www.GarzaBlancaResort.com
Facebook:    www.Facebook.com/BlancaBlueRestaurant

La Cascada at Costa Sur Resort & Spa

We had a delicious lunch on the Sunset Terrace featuring cuisine from La Cascada, the main restaurant at Costa Sur Resort & Spa where we had a pretty view of the ocean to pair with our lunch from Chef Alejandro Vega.  

Seafood Fantasy

A few of the highlights of our lunch included Seafood Fantasy, a trio of ceviches made with shrimp, octopus, and scallops served on split coconut shells, and accompanied by a shrimp empanada; Mandarin Sorbet paired with a touch of mint; Shrimp Mixiotes, shrimp marinated in red spices and wrapped in a banana leaf accompanied by Beef Tenderloin served with potatoes au gratin and grilled asparagus; and Passion Fruit Mousse with a trio of fruit coulis.

Passion Fruit Mousse

La Cascada at Costa Sur Resort & Spa serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is open from 8:00 am until 10:00 pm.

Read about our adventures learning to paddleboard in the Adventures section, about our dining experience in the Restaurants section, and get a tasty ceviche recipe from the Chef Alejandro Vega in the Chefs’ Recipes section.

Costa Sur Resort & Spa
Carretera a Barra de Navidad Km 4.5
Zona Hotelera Sur
48310 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:     +52-322-226-8050
Toll Free US:   1-866-921-0126
Toll Free MX:  01-800-504-7090
Fax:                +52-322-221-5155
Email:             reservations@costasurpuertovallarta.com
Website:        www.CostaSurPuertoVallarta.com
Facebook:      www.Facebook.com/CostaSurResort

River Café Cuisine & Nature

For our last evening in Puerto Vallarta, we had dinner at the River Café Cuisine and Nature, a romantic and artsy family owned restaurant for the past 18 years by Evangeline Sánchez and her husband Margarito Larios, and managed by their son Steven Larios Reynolds, in the Rio Cuale section of Puerto Vallarta, featuring live Jazz music Thursday through Saturday from 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm to accompany the inspired cuisine of Chef Roberto Chavez Oviedo.

Steven Larios Reynolds, Debra, Chef Roberto Chavez Oviedo

A few of the highlights of our dinner included an appetizer of Octopus Tradito, wafer thin octopus topped with baby arugula, black olive aioli, and pesto sauce, and main courses of Seared Tuna served with grilled papaya slices and "quimixto" vinaigrette, and Rainbow Jumbo Shrimp encrusted with roasted pecans and shaved coconut served with orange and red beet sauce accompanied with cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, haricot vert, and cherry tomatoes.

Expression of River Cafe – Beautifully made Salad

The River Café is open daily from 8:00 am until 11:30 pm. The restaurant serves breakfast from 8:00 am until 12:00 pm, followed by lunch and dinner service. There is also Brunch on Sundays. There is live Jazz music Thursday through Saturday from 8:00 pm until 10:30 pm.

Octopus Tradito

Read about our dining experience at the River Café in the Restaurants section, and read an interview and get recipes from Chef Roberto Chavez Oviedo in the Chefs’ Recipes section (in English and in Spanish).

River Café Cuisine & Nature    
Isla Rio Cuale #4
Centro
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:                    +52- 222-230-788
From US and Canada:   +011-52-322-223-0788
Email:                             info@rivercafe.com.mx
Website:                        www.RiverCafe.com.mx

Restaurante at the Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta

We also had an amazing dinner at the Sky Restaurante at the Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta on our first night. We dined on the Sky Lounge level nestled against the tropical forests of the Sierra Madre Mountains in the exclusive neighborhood of Conchas Chinas. Dining al fresco with the sky as our ceiling, we were afforded with wide-sweeping views of the Bahia de Banderas (Bay of Banderas), and a spectacular sunset followed by a canopy of stars to complement Executive Chef Vidal Mezela Noh’s culinary prowess.

Cocktails served with a Magnificent View

A few of the highlights of our dinner included Mixed Salad with Tuna and Guanabana Sauce, Surf and Turf which was a beef medallion topped with a crown of grilled shrimp with a rich pool of four pepper sauce and roasted garlic fennel sauce accompanied by potato au gratin and sautéed vegetables, and White Chocolate Mousse filled with red fruit coulis with a glorious crown of spun sugar to complete the fantasy setting.

Tuna and Guanabana Sauce

Read about our dining experience at Sky Restaurante in the Restaurants section, and read the interview and get recipes from Chef Vidal Mezela Noh in the Chefs’ Recipes section (in English and in Spanish).

Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta
Paseo de los Corales #139
Conchas Chinas
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:   +52- 322-221-5120
Toll-Free US/Canada:   1-877-797-0518
Fax US/Canada:  +1 -800-491-2906
Mexico Reservations:  01-800-681-9536
Mexico Fax:    +01-800-681-9536
Email:                info@grandmiramar.com
Website:           www.GrandMiramar.com
Facebook:   www.Facebook.com/GrandMiramarPuertoVallarta

Spa Indulgence:

Playing, sightseeing, soaking up the sun and eating and drinking well is hard work; best remedied with a therapeutic Spa experience.

Germaine de Capuccini Spa

We indulged in relaxing and nourishing massages at the attractive Germaine de Capuccini Spa at the Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta where our therapists worked restorative magic on our muscles after our long walks exploring the city.

Spa Treatment

The new spa features 4 airy and attractive state-of-the-art treatment rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean, an excellent Spa treatment menu, a tranquil relaxation room, "the best hands" in Puerto Vallarta, and well-appointed men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam rooms and showers.

Read about our Spa experience in the Spas section.

Germaine de Capuccini Spa at the Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta
Paseo de los Corales #139
Conchas Chinas
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco
Mexico
Telephone:  +52- 322-221-5120
Toll-Free US/Canada:   1-877-797-0518
Fax US/Canada:             1-800-491-2906
Mexico Reservations:  01-800-681-9536
Mexico Fax:    01-800-681-9536
Email:                            info@grandmiramar.com
Website:                       www.GrandMiramar.com
Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/GrandMiramarPuertoVallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a destination that truly has something for everyone whether you are looking for a romantic destination wedding or honeymoon location, want an adult getaway, or family vacation, this charming and friendly city is waiting to be discovered. Happy planning!                        

Important Information for Mexico:

Currency: The currency for Mexico is the peso. As of April 2014, the exchange rate was 1 US Dollar (USD) to 13 (MXN), and 1 Euro (EUR) to 18 (MXN).

There are 100 centavos to the peso, and is available in 10, 20, 50 centavo coins, and $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, and $50 peso coins. Banknotes are available in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 pesos.

Electricity: The electric current in Mexico is 110 volts, 60 Hz.

Time Zone: Puerto Vallarta is in the Central Time Zone.

Telephone: To place a phone call to Puerto Vallarta from overseas it is necessary to dial (011) 52 322, and then the seven-digit local phone number.

¿Habla Español? Basic Spanish Vocabulary

The official language of Mexico is Spanish, however as a tourist city, you will find that many people speak English. To help you learn a bit of Spanish, read the menus, and have a more complete experience, we have included some basic vocabulary to make your trip more fun.

Please read other articles on Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Spas, Chefs’ Recipes, Adventures, and Gastronomy sections.

Find a Sunset, Find Puerto Vallarta

For information on visiting Puerto Vallarta, please visit the website: www.VisitPuertoVallarta.com

Follow Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PuertoVallarta 

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