Puerto Vallarta News Roundup

A group has been formed by expats for expats in Puerto Vallarta named too Expats in Vallarta. It is a social group who has come together to advice each other on their life as an expat in Vallarta. These sorts of group activities aim to help those who are planning to shift to Vallarta after retiring. There is no membership fee or requirement; everyone pays for only what they use or consume.

The group will meet every month and will be an awesome place to make new friends too. Be together as a one big family. A big day is set to begin on 16 December for ExPats in Vallarta. The gathering will happen at Langostino’s from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.  Langostinos is located on Los Muertos Beach just north of the new pier. You can also attend the wine and appetizer evening on 12 December in the Marina area and also on 27 December in the Hotel Zone. If you are mood for some coffee then don’t forget to be at Starbucks in the Marina on 16 December.

To make reservations for any of the above mentioned events go to their website - http://www.expatsinvallarta.com/

The Guadalaja Reporter, published the news of Barbara McKinley Morrison’s her first novel in which she has penned down her experiences of over two decades of living in the beach town of Bucerias in Jalisco.
 
“Dangerous Beginnings” is a journey of Susan O’Brien Shaw, a widow in search for a change in life. She has been living in Canada for the past 3 years but now in order to rekindle some happy memories she comes down to the beach town. But things have changed in Bucerias, much to her dismay. When she landed at Bucerias, a man attempted to snatch her briefcase and even her apartment in Bucerias gets ransacked and her purse is stolen. She has the least idea why she is been targeted.

Morrison and her husband Rex had opened Old English Fish & Chips in Puerto Vallarta way back in 1990. They shifted to Bucerias and ran Orcas on the Beach till 2002. Morrison’s husband passed away in 2009 and she moved to Canada. But she used to visit Bucerias in every winter.

In her own journey to find herself, she meets a young orphan boy named Rat who lives in a dump and befriends him. But soon both come under the radar of attacks and life gets threatened at every point. They take the matter into their own hands along with some trusted friends as they can’t trust the Mexican police.

The new book ‘Dangerous Beginnings’ was launched in a wine and cheese event and is available across in hard or soft cover and e-reader download format.

Riviera farmers market has opened its door this year at the Centro Empresarial in Nuevo Vallarta. Though Riviera had two other markets, one at the Plaza del Sol in San Poncho on every Tuesday and another is at Mercado del Sol, which is in its second year opened in November. According to the organizers, this year they are expecting around 70 booths. They are this time prepared to make it a more committed and significant affair.

The new winter season has been started by both San Poncho and Nuevo Vallarta, whereas, another is set to be opened in Bucerias as announced in Sayulita, La Cruz De Huanacaxtle and Lo de Marcos. You can find a wide variety of organic and homemade products, items for traditional Mexican cooking, live music, art etc. The market will be opened every Tuesday morning from 9:00 am till little after noon from November till May.

Since November, Nuevo Vallarta debuted in the Riviera Farmers Market in the hotel zone of Centro Empresarial. These sorts of markets help the local producers to get their share of tourism influx that Riviera Nayarit is famous for worldwide.

Nuevo Vallarta is a planned residential-resort community located in the Mexican state of Nayarit. Nuevo Vallarta receives many tourists from both the United States and Canada and has many malls and stores that accept payment in Mexican pesos or U.S. dollars.

According to Resort developer Grupo Vidanta, has planned to build the Cirque du Soleil theme park in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The partners are targeting a 2018 opening. An outdoor evening show will accommodate 3,000 to 5,000 spectators and each park experience will be “animated by Cirque du Soleil artists”.

As per Guy Laliberte, the Cirque du Soleil founder, Grupo Vidanta is offering an amazing sandbox in which we can unleash creativity. Earlier also the duo have collaborated on “Joya,” a Cirque du Soleil show making its debut on Nov. 21 at the new 600-seat Vidanta Theater near the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya resort.

The same level of enthusiasm was seen from Grupo Vidanta founder Daniel Chavez Moran. He is confident that future projects will all be successful as was in the case of the show ‘Joya’.

 

Come let’s celebrate the XX International Gourmet Festival with St. Regis Punta Mita. On the occasion of their 6th Anniversary, the II St. Regis Punta Mita Golf Cup will team up with Guest Chef Pato Persico, Head Chef of Latitud N in Mallorca Spain and create a wonderful event scheduled from November 23 - 25.

Punta Mita is known for its luxurious real estate which has caught fancy of the rich and the famous. On Sunday, Nov. 23rd, there will be the opening cocktail & gourmet market “Flavors of Punta Mita” paring with selected wineries, breweries and mezcalerias. Next day on Monday, Nov. 24th, the event is set to begin with a morning beachfront yoga class to revive your senses. Next you can indulge in Marine Safari to Las Marietas Islands, a protected biosphere by UNESCO. Or even laze around and have a massage. Later on at night, treat yourself with the introductory Sea Breeze Beach Club new menu inspired in Latin Cuisine by Chef “Pato” Persico including beverages.

The last day of the event, participate in the II St. Regis Golf Cup. The 18 holes 2 ball scramble in Pacifico Golf Course was design by Jack Nicklaus. Prize giving Luncheon will be hosted by Sea Breeze Restaurant. The closing dinner will be in Carolina Restaurant by Chef Nahoki featuring his inaugural Signature Menu along with the beverages.

You can book a package and be a part of this wonderful event...

The package will include:
•    3 Night stay in one of their Deluxe Rooms. The Package of 3 nights is starting at $725usd per person, double occupancy (Special Rate is limited to 15 rooms only. Subject to taxes and valid for event.)
•    Daily Breakfast for 2 at their Restaurant
•    2 Rounds of golf or 2 60 Min. massages in their acclaimed Remede Spa
•    St. Regis Golf Cup Prize giving Luncheon
•    1 Special Gourmet Dinner with Guest Chef Pato Persico

 

The International Xtreme Riders event is scheduled to take place on November 16th at the Explanada Armando Villaseñor motocross track in Puerto Vallarta. At the event you will get chance to meet famous national and international freestyle riders. The event will also exhibit various Freestyle motocross and BMX bike exhibitions. Now, if you are a fan of extreme sports, you won’t miss this one!

At a recently held press conference to unveil the event, participation details of famous riders came to light. Famous riders from Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, France and Argentina was confirmed, including Johnny Palafox, who is famous for his 16 meter high aerial stunts and flying 23 meters through the air while executing various tricks like the Superman, Rock Solid, Can Can, Whips, Heel Hanger, etc.

In addition to the exhilarating motocross action, there will be a multi-brand tuning expo, snack stands, a climbing wall, and other family-friendly activities at the Explanada Armando Villaseñor, where security personnel will ensure the safety of the 10,000 attendees that are expected. The evening will end with a spectacular fireworks display.

At the press conference, "Baikas Guero" was also recognized, as in addition to organizing an event of international level and quality, they are providing an opportunity for people of all ages to enjoy a day of wholesome fun, while motivating young people to take an interest in sports and healthy outdoor activities.

Baikas Guero is also contributing to society, as proceeds from this event will support various local non-profit associations such as project Pitillal A.C., which helps deaf children and adults in Puerto Vallarta; and Ángeles en Libertad a new Youth Association that works hard to raise ecological awareness in children, teaching them to separate, collect and donate trash for recycling) instead of littering. Every year they hold a bottle cap collection campaign, and sell the plastic bottle caps to a recycler to generate funds to support poor people with life threatening illnesses.

For the excited audience, the doors open at 12 pm but the show starts at 3 pm. Ticket prices range from $100-$200 pesos for children, and $150-$290 for adults, depending on seating location. With the purchase of your tickets - which are on sale now at Suzuki Bahia de Bandera, Racing Wings, Yamaha Igatua, El Dogo Norteño, Mist & More, Ristorante Italiano Marconi Pizza, and at the Baikas Guero office, located at Calle Cuba 689A near La Glorieta de La Cruz Roja in Colonia Lazaro Cardenas - you are automatically entered in a raffle for your chance to win a brand-new Yamaha motor scooter donated by Yamaha Igartúa Puerto Vallarta.

Get set vroom...

Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit and Guadalajara have been looking to open new markets in South America, particularly in Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. Increase in tourism means direct increase in real estate activity in Puerto Vallarta. Real sector in turn boosts all other sectors of the economy. Puerto Vallarta has emerged as the go to destination for real estate investment and tourism in the Latin America.

Enrique Romas Flores, Jalisco’s Ministry of Tourism (SECTURJAL), will be visiting Argentina to attend the International Tourism Fair (FIT). The fair is considered to be the most important yearly event for businesses in Latin America. The event in Argentina will host over 7,000 exhibitors from 45 countries.

Argentina is the sixth largest market for Mexico’s tourism and the main target for this year’s presence at FIT 2014. The destinations that will be promoted in Argentina are Vallarta-Nayarit, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Mexico City, and Tequila and the agave region of Jalisco.

The Tourism Board of Mexico has prepared a comprehensive program of activities to promote the national campaign as Mexico is the guest of honour for FIT 2014,“Live It to Believe it” that has already been widely marketed in the United States and Europe with excellent results. The numbers are reflected in the increase of tourism through the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit markets.

Flores will moreover meet with airline executives to discuss tourism and opening more international routes into Mexico, along with meeting tourism professionals, tour operators, and journalists from around the world.

The 20th International Gourmet Festival will begin from November 13 till November 23, is characterized by highlighting Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit on the map to the passion for culinary arts and diners of the highest standards of culinary environment.

Chef Roland Menetrey, Chef Thierry Blouet and Chef Heinz Reize, anfitriones will host the festival in the bay. The event will be attended by more than 58 chefs and 29 restaurants and hotels in the region where they will showcase their best inventions. This time, the event will have 7 night special themes like acclimated with jazz, wine pairing workshops, cooking show, polo tournament and paella party.

According to Chef Heinz Reize, human beings are constantly changing and developing, so the festival too needs to jazz up by adding new enriching experiences every year.

Puerto Vallarta is foodie's paradise and is the food capital of Mexico. Every year, many food festivals, wine events and festivals keep food lovers wait in anticipation. 

The annual Puerto Vallarta market is back. The market prides itself on their "make it, bake it, grow it" motto, ensuring everything offered by over 80 vendors are made, baked, or grown within 75 kilometres of the area.



According to the regular market goer, it’s not just the shopping that brings them out almost every weekend, it’s the social experience of seeing their friends and neighbours, music, food, and it’s more like a neighborhood street party than a simple market. The market is open every Saturday between 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM starting November 1, 2014 until April 25, 2015. On the inaugural day, there will be a special ribbon cutting to begin the new season at 9:30 AM.

Parking is available for $10 pesos an hour in the parking garage under Lazaro Cárdenas Park in the Romantic Zone, steps away from the beach, Olas Altas, and just a few blocks south of the Río Cuale and the Malecón. The Old Town Farms Market in Puerto Vallarta began in 2010 in the Paradise Community Center on Pulpito, but grew out of the space available within just a couple of seasons and moved to Lazaro Cárdenas Park where it spans an entire city block, with some overflow. These are the things which make Puerto Vallarta real estate such a great place to live.

This year the shoppers can buy farm-fresh produce, apparel for the family, homemade dips and salsas, fresh cut flowers, organic coffee, bread, flavourful cheeses, chocolates, handcrafted jewellery, baked goods, deli meats, body products, refreshing beverages, take home and freshly prepared foods.

There are with many food vendors serving international cuisine, such as; Thai, Taiwanese, Indian and Mexican (tacos, empanadas, burritos, traditional foods served in clay pots, green pozole and agua frescas). They even have a selection of vegan dishes – hamburgers, al pastor, falafels and sticky buns from where you can settle up for lunch right at the market itself.

The location of Malecón makes it a convenient spot for locals and tourists alike to visit and experience a traditional street market, here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta puts a high premium on its ecology. From time to time special campaigns, drives and projects are initiated to clean and maintain its assets such as beaches, forests and rivers. One such effort is the new project to clean Ameca river flowing through Puerto Vallarta. Earlier Vallarta Real Estate Group also reported about the beach up campaign by authorities in the neighboring Riviera Nayarit.  

Prevent contamination of the Ameca River with the help of the city water, sewerage, and sanitation department of Puerto Vallarta. They have begun construction of a collector that will help prevent contamination of the Ameca River.

This effort to clean up the river is the team work of CONAGUA, State, and City officials and was flagged off with the investment of 14.5 million pesos. The Ameca River is 230 km in length, it rises in the Bosque de la Primavera in Jalisco, 23 km to the west of state capital Guadalajara; flows through the city of Ameca; and then forms the boundary between Jalisco and Nayarit on its way to the Pacific Ocean, where it drains into the Bahía de Banderas near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. Its main tributaries are the Ahuacatlán and Amatlán de Cañas.

According to the director of sanitation, Juan Gabriel Avalos Lemus, the new construction will address an old problem with the pollution of the Ameca River.

 

The "59th International Fishing Tournament Marlin & Sailfish" is all set to take place in Puerto Vallarta from November 12-15, 2014.

Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta is famous for its abundant marine life. The waters of the Bay are also known by fishing experts to offer some of the best deep sea sports fishing in the world. The annual event of International Marlin & Sailfish Fishing Tournament is held every November for almost sixty years. The event successfully brings together some of the most avid sports fishermen from Mexico, the U.S. and abroad.

The registration process will commence from 5:00 until 10:00 pm on Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at the Opequimar Yacht Club "Azul Marino", located at 214 Paseo de la Marina South, across from the Westin Regina Hotel.

Pier No. 8 Administracion Portuaria Integral (API), located by H. Escuela Naval Militar Street will be the venue for the opening ceremony along with the departure which will begin from 7:00 am on Thursday, November 13.

Each day the boats are required to return with their catches from 1:00 until 6:00 pm to the Malecon of Marina Vallarta, next to Marina del Rey Condominiums. But on Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15, anglers can depart any time after 12:00 am. There can be a maximum of 4 angler per team or boat and only 10 catches per day per fisherman.
 
The Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 15, 7:00 pm at the Malecon of Marina Vallarta.

For further insight on the rules and regulations you can visit their website.

Vallarta Nayarit is a popular destination for fishing and  fishing tournaments. In October also 3rd season of La Cruz International Fishing Tournament was held in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

Bedsonline is the wholesaler tour-operator for travel agents, and is considered the largest retail platform in Mexico with four thousand agencies to its name. Bedsonline has brought its ninth consecutive annual FAM trip once again. For this year’s trip they have planned to include agencies from around the country, a first of this kind.

A group of 100 domestic travel agents have participated from October 2nd till 5th in several site inspections in the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta as part of a FAM trip brought to the destinations by Bedsonline, the host for nine consecutive years.

This was the first time the travel agent FAM trip includes agents from other states, having been previously the restricted to agents from the Bajío area. This time, the top-selling retailers from Puebla, Mexico City, Guadalajara, San Luis Potosí, Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Monterrey, Tijuana and Querétaro were invited. The inspections took place in Paradise Village, Rancho Banderas, Grupo Buenaventura and Grupo Velas Resorts; the group stayed at the Grupo Marival, Riu Jalisco and Paradise Village.

The VP of Velas Resorts, Juan Vela, observed that it’s always a good thing to keep agents updated about their region. It’s a great way to gain a new outlook on the region. What is most important point to consider is to have a commercial partner such as Bedsonline, as it promotes on an international level. Tourism just flew out of the doors to new harbours.

Bedsonline being the wholesale operator holds the event which includes all of Latin America, where it exhibits its product before more than 500 travel agents. Both the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta have South America in high spirits, so hosting the event will truly be right on target. Like a cherry on a perfectly iced cake ready for the bite.

Tourism is an integral part of a country’s economy. According to Vela, everyone should have a keen interest in the tourism business.

Vela have witnessed keen interest in this territory, which has remarkably shown a striking but gradual response as the area awaits the connectivity needed to spark the arrival of tourism from the southern part of the country or from any other part of the world.

It’s very highly of importance of all the FAM trips that have taken place in recent times. The synergy of all different sectors has helped to give this whole activity a good concrete phase. Bedsonline is one of such great synergy partners working together and also individually to set the ball rolling.

The Congress of Mexico passed legislation in December 2009 which allowed the ten border cities to adopt a Daylight Saving Time pattern consistent with the United States. Don’t forget to arrive at the right time for your Sunday activities. In most parts of Mexico, you will have to remember to turn your clocks back one hour.

Both Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit is all set to gain an hour at 2:00 am on Sunday, October 26, 2014, by turning back clocks to Central Standard Time. The majority of the remainder of the world that observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) will turn their clocks back on Sunday, November 2, at 2:00 am.

According to TimeTemperature.com: In 2010, ten Mexico municipalities which share a border with the United States began Daylight Saving Time three weeks earlier on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.

Previously all of Mexico, with the exception of the state of Sonora which does not observe Daylight Saving Time, began and ended DST at the same time. The ten municipalities which are now permitted by law to observe DST consistent with the United States are:

• Acuna, Coahuila
• Anahuac, Nuevo Leon
• Juarez, Chihuahua
• Matamoros, Tamaulipas
• Mexicali, Baja California
• Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
• Ojinaga, Chihuahua
• Piedras Negras, Coahuila
• Reynosa, Tamaulipas
• Tijuana, Baja California

Keep these time differences in mind when making your Mexico travel plans. Adjust your watch and enjoy Mexican pleasures uninterrupted

Most of us are passionate fans of perfect beach destinations and Puerto Vallarta is one of them. Most of us choose Puerto Vallarta condo as a vacation home mostly because it is a such a fabulous beach destination. But Puerto Vallarta is much more than that. In our informal survey many homeowners and expats in Puerto Vallarta listed the below three reasons as their prime motivators to buy a home in Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta, a delightful coastal city sitting on lukewarm waters of the Bay of Banderas, does tick all of the above mentioned boxes, with an interesting mix of beaches, restaurants and clubs. Even exciting side trips that will make your holiday an unforgettable one for sure.

The following three activities and attractions are just a clue of what Puerto Vallarta and vicinity has in store from its magical surroundings...

1) Beaches: Be spoilt for choice
200 miles stretch of coastline  to explore within the Bay of Banderas, Puerto Vallarta and vicinity with abundance of the most stunning beaches in the world. One of the best urban beaches within the city is Playa Los Muertos, which is a place where sandy beach, beach-side bars and restaurants, and cultural performers all come together to provide a treat for the vacation which you’ll remember for a long time to come.

Those who prefer a quieter spot should head for Playa Gemelas, a short but secluded beach ten minutes south of town which has some of the clearest, most pristine water in the region. Finally, be sure to check out the cliff-backed Playa Mismaloya, which is a gorgeous spot yet rugged in its own way.

2) Nightlife: Wild & Fun
After a long day soaking in the sun and enjoying the surf on the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, tap into the energy that runs through you by checking out its vibrant nightlife. What about a foam party? Yes, that’s right. Check out Senor Frog’s, as its foam parties are legendary and their zest for life remains unparallel.

Another locale may be the Malecon. It has a variety of bars, clubs, and restaurants, and one of which is bound to perk up your interests. There one for everyone according to your own choice.

3) Surf: Tame the waves
It’s never too late for learning and don’t even think to leave this region without at least trying to pick up a new hobby or skill. Surfing is a popular sport throughout the Bay of Banderas as in many other beaches. It is the waves which makes it worth it. The waves are bigger and more consistent in Sayulita, a small town located an hour north of Puerto Vallarta, which makes it easy to visit on a day trip. There are plenty of surf camps that can be found on the beachfront there. It would not be a problem to find a quality instructor that will get you on a board riding high on those huge waves. What a thrill!

image:http://www.pinterest.com/pin/355854808028669646/

 

According to a leading property portal that was conducting a survey on the buying trend of property in emerging countries; the fairer sex led the real estate hunt. The portal said women in countries like Philippines, Bangladesh and Mexico are dispelling the notion that men drive the house-hunting process.

They have researched and created a data base which indicates shows the majority of homebuyers in these countries are women. The figures are based on an analysis of search behaviour on the portal which is active in 28 countries in the emerging markets.

The research showed that more than 60% of homebuyers in Mexico are female, while the majority of house-hunters in the Philippines are women. In Bangladesh couples search for property together, but the final decision is most often made by the female. The fairer sex thus leads this aspect of home front too.

The research also shed light on the average age of homebuyers in countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. In Mexico the average age is in the 25-34 range. While the average buyer is aged up to 50 years in Sri Lanka and up to 60 in Colombia, those purchasing property elsewhere can be much younger. In Jordan, for example, the typical buyer is aged 28-38 years. But in Indonesia, the average buyer is a 27-year-old male. Thus it can be said that, Mexico’s average age for homebuyers are quite a young lot.

Home is where you come to after a day’s hard work in office. Home should be the actual reflection of who you are in reality. The findings prove some of the stereotypes that we earlier believed are wrong. They shed a new light on who the typical buyer is in emerging markets. Earlier men were often seen as dominating the house-hunting process. Women in these countries are becoming more active in choosing where their family settles down. Like any other family issues, where women have actively taken part in finding the right option, finalising the house too has become an integral part of the decision making. In Mexico, where the average age is on the younger side its truly an eye opener for rest of the nations.