ICE
CUBES - in restaurants & bars are made from
purified water.
FRUITS & VEGETABLES - any fruits or vegetables
not being cooked or peeled should be treated with
MICRODYN (a bacteria killing treatment).
o Wash the fruit or vegetables
o Soak for 20 minutes in a non-metal container in
tap water with 1-4 drops of Microdyn for every litre
of water
o Rinse with purified water.
All staff in villas & restaurantes will follow
this procedure.
TELEPHONE
Please check with the staff for long distance options.
TRANSPORTATION
TAXIS- Local Taxis do not have meters; instead they
have set rates per each zone. Within the downtown
area the rate is usually about $ 2 USD. All taxis
carry official rate sheets, when in doubt ask to
see it. Taxi drivers are notorious for not having
change, when possible try to be prepared with exact
change or small bills.
CAR RENTAL - you must be over 21 years of age and
have acredit card to rent a car. Rate start at about
$50 USD / day.
AIRPORT TAXI - the Airport Taxi´s are a separate
system from the local Yellow Taxis and are only
allowed to pick up passengers from the airport,
which is a Federal Zone.
MAIL
The post office is located downtown on Mina Street
just off the Malecon. Hours are 9am - 7pm Monday
- Friday & 9am -12 noon on Saturdays.
Stamps to the U.S. & Canada are about 45c USD.
You can also buy stamps in many of the shops &
there are mail boxes conveniently located around
town.
SHOPPING
FOOD SHOPPING - there are many large food stores
in the Vallarta area. They are by area:
South Vallarta
GUTIERREZ RIZO´S (called Rizo´s by the
locals) is located on Constitution Street at the
River Cuale. Open 8am -11pm daily. It carries a
selection of pharmacy & liquor otems as well
as the usual food & produce. There is also an
import section if you are looking for a special
product not made in Mexico.
AGRO GOURMET - a gourmet grocery & health food
store has a great selection of fresh produce &
specialty doods (prepared appetizers & baked
goods). Open Monday -Saturday from 9:30am - 6pm.
Basilio Badillo #22
North side of town -Casa Ley, Commercial Mexicana
& Gigante.
Sam´s Club: you can get a free day pass to
shop if you are from out of town. (You need to show
ID to prove ypur address)
The Fine art of Bargaining - is only for beach &
street vendors or in the flea Markets. The recommended
system is to start at about 60% of the asking price
and go from there.
Boutiques & stores - frown on bargaining, but
will ofthen accept discreet requests for small discounts
(especially for cash purchanses).
CHURCH
The Cathedral in the center of town is a Catholic
Church "Our Lady of Guadalupe" Sevices
are:
Monday - Friday 7:30 am, 12 noon, 7pm & 8pm
Saturday : 7:30am, 12 noon, 7:30 pm & 8:30 pm
Sunday: 6:30am, 8 am, 10am, 12 noon, 6:30pm 7:30pm
& 8:30
Dress appropriately. There is also a Baptist Church,
Kingdom Hall & other denominations.
TOURS, CRUISES & SERVICES
Please contact Shannon (221-5434) for information
on tours, Cruises or Services. Be aware that the
information booths Promoting Tours are actually
Time-share promotions.
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
The airlines request that you be at the airport
2 hrs ahead of Dept. Time for international flights
& 1 hr for national flights.
o Most airlines have the departure tax prepaid
o You will need to present your tourist card when
you depart
o Customs declarations; U.S. citizens $350 USD each
time you leave the country for over 7 days, Canadian
citizen $500 Cdn each time you leave the country
for over 7 days.
o Liquor: 1.5 liters of Alcohol & 200 cigarettes
per adult
o It is illegal to take back any plants, produce
or products made from an endangered species (Iguana,
Sea turtle, boa, Python, Anaconda snakes & Armadillos)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information or assistance please contact
our office "a" 221-5434 or contact Shannon
direc "a"044-322-8-65-06.
Tours, Activities & Services
MASSAGES, PEDICURES & MANICURES - done in your
villa. Rates for Massage start at $35 USD / hour.
Pedicure & Manicures aprox. $12 USD each
BALLOON TOURS - sunriseChampagne, depart daily.
Rising from 3000 to 5000 ft.
BIKING - explore Puerto Vallarta & area by mountain
bike. There Are a variety of tours & packages
available, either around town or Into the mountains
& jungle. We recommend Bobby´s Bikes.
BOAT CRUISES - choose from whale watching (November
thru March), eco-Tours, party cruises, sunset cruises
or take the water Taxis. Most cruises include snacks
and/or a meal & open bar, Some have snorkel
equipment the party cruises often have live Music
& entretainment.
For basic water transportation try the Water Taxi
with departures at 10:30 & 11am from the Los
Muertos Pier (in front of the Marsol Hotel). The
taxi goes along the coastline passing Los Arcos
and stopping Las Animas, Quimixto, Mahajuitas &
Yelapa. The taxi is A speedboad & the trips
take about 30 minutes giving you about 3 Hours at
whichever destination you choose. Cost $ 15 USD/person.
FISHING - The nearly 2 miles depths & 25- mile
circumference of The Bay of Bandera´s makes
for some of the best deep-sea fishing in the world,
with tuna, marlin & sailfish. Or you can stay
closer to shore & catch a variety of smaller
fish.
GOLF - in the near furure 3 new Golf courses are
scheduled to open. At this time there are. VISTA
VALLARTA.
FLAMINGOS GOLF RESORT: located in Nuevo Vallarta
this Public 18-hole course offers a driving range,
putting green, snack Bar, golf lessons & tennis
courts. Located at the north end of Nuevo Vallarta
on the highway. They have a free bus service that
Runs at 7:30am & departing in front of the Sheraton
Hotel.
MARINA VALLARTA CLUB DE GOLF - located in Marina
Vallarta Thi 18-hole course offers clubhouse, golf
carts, caddies, pro shop, Driving range, putting
green, pro service, golf lessons, course Snack-cart,
dining & showers. Tel 221-0073
HORSEBACK RIDING - spend a scenic day riding thru
the jungles of Puerto Vallarta. Rancho Palma Real
offers free transportation From your Hotel or Villa
and include: a continental breakfast, Lunch beverages
& a ride to a fabulous waterfall in the jungle.
Cost about $45 USD/ person
MEXICAN FIESTAS -Traditional Mexican Fiestas are
held each Week at several locations.
SAILING -if the big cruises don´t appeal to
you, why not a small Private sailboat with only
6-14 persons. Both daytime & sunset Sails. Day
trips include meals, open bar, snorkel & fishing
equipment. Dos Niños is a 45 ft. Columbia
Sailing yacht offers day & sunset sails.
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING - although not as
well known as The Caribbean for its Scuba &
Snorkeling, when conditions are right Vallarta offers
some breathtaking underwater scenery.
SPA´S & GYMS -the Qualton Spa & Gym
offers the most extensivo services in one location
at the Qualton Hotel on Avenida de las Palmas.
TENNIS -Puerto Vallarta is becoming a major tennis
destination with several styles of courts available.
Ask about private lessons. Continental Plaza Tennis
Center 224-4360, Iguana Racquet club 221-0863 and
many of the big Hotels. The Hotel Plaza de Oro has
one of the better clay courts in Vallarta. If you
are staying on the south side of PVR the nearest
courts are at the
WALKING TOURS - walking is the best way to get to
know Puerto Vallarta, from Historical buildings
to trendy restaurants, from Sculptures to botanical
interests. Plenty of great photo Opportunities.
Must see: The Malecon- almost a mile of charming
boardwalk Along the ocean in the center of town.
The perfect place to people Watch, Sunday nigth
is still the traditional nigth for locals to stroll
and visit. See included our 3 walking Tours.
SHOPPING
Everything from Galleries to Cigar Shops, even people
who hate to shop find it interesting in Vallarta.
SHOPPING AREAS- there are several areas, which offer
a variety of shopping within a few blocks. Tey are
the following. THE MALECON- actually some of the
best shopping is on the Streets just off the Malecon.
Check out Corona, Morelos & Juarez Streets.
ISLA RIO CUALE- a Charming area of pedestrian walkways
with Lost of shade trees & beautiful restaurants
to stop for a snack.
BASILIO BADILLO - starting at the corner of Constitution
going towards the beach.
OLAS ALTAS -coming from Basilio Badillo you will
need to walk one block north when you reach Olas
Altas.
WORKSHOPS & FACTORIES - relatively new in Vallarta
is a growing number of sites where they make their
products on site. Everything from blown glass to
ceramic tiles.
HUICHOL CRAFTS- see Galeria Piramide on Basilio
Badillo & Coleccion Huichol on the Malecon.
BLOWN GLASS- at Mundo de Azulejos (world of Ceramic
Tiles)
CASA ADELA - has 4 workshops at one location, copper
work, Blown glass, Pottery & woodcarving. Located
on Juarez Street.
GALLARYS -Puerto Vallarta is becoming well known
for it´s many Galleries and public art. During
the winter/high season there are regularly scheduled
exhibitions and art walks, but often you can enjoy
the art even more on your own. These are some of
the local Galleries.
GALERIA ARTE LATINO AMERICA- located on Josefa Ortiz
abourt 2 blocks from the Malecon.
GALERIA PACIFICO - on Aldama about 1 ½ blocks
off the Malecon.
GALERIA PIRAMIDE- Huichol art, located on Basilio
Badillo
GALERIA ROSAS BLANCAS- on Juarez near Corona.
