Consistently regarded as one of Mexico’s premier destinations, Puerto Vallarta delivers everything you’d expect it to--palm-lined beaches, savory regional cuisine, thriving marketplaces, wild nightlife, and plenty of opportunities to douse yourself with SPF 45. But beyond the obvious attractions, Vallarta (as the locals call it) also has a few tricks up its sleeve that can transform a good vacation into an extraordinary one. On a recent visit I tried everything from a zipline tour of the rainforest to a private boat excursion exploring Vallarta’s hidden beaches. Along the way I discovered a few small adventures that were unique, memorable, and not too far of the beaten path--just right for when you find yourself with some free time between visits to the beach.
Swimming With Dolphins
They’re big, they’re slippery, and they just might become your new best friends. All you need to do is put on your swim suit and drive 20 minutes north of the hotel zone to Dolphin Adventure, Puerto Vallarta’s world-renowned dolphin-encounter facility.
Here’s how it works: You show up, sit through a 10-minute audio tour, don a life vest, and jump into a giant salt-water tank. Then the fun begins as you are chaperoned around the tank by a pair of Pacific bottlenose dolphins.
I admit that I was skeptical about swimming with dolphins. After all, they can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh as much as 800 pounds--intimidating statistics, considering there’s nothing separating you from them once you’re in the water. But after a few minutes with Flipper and friends my skepticism dissolved. These were the gentlest, most docile creatures I’ve ever encountered--and they seemed to be having as much fun as I was, encouraging me to pet them, chatting with me in their distinctive clicking sounds, and even giving me a ride across the water. I was totally convinced by their subdued behavior--that is, until they performed a series of jaw-dropping jumps and tricks at the end of the encounter. These creatures are strong, fast, and agile; they just also happen to like playing nice when people are in the water with them.
Dolphin Adventure offers programs for swimmers and non-swimmers, with prices ranging from about $60 to $130. You’ll receive a 10 percent discount by making your reservation online at www.dolphin-adventure.com.
Terra Noble: Vallarta’s Higher Plateau
Want to wind down with a massage or body treatment? Feel like tapping into your creativity with a painting or sculpture class? All this and more awaits you at Terra Noble Spa Art & Healing Center.
The creation of owner, proprietor, and fulltime resident Jorge Rubio, Terra Noble is a unique center devoted to spiritual healing and the creative arts. Step through the gate and you’re greeted by Villa Kenna, a house that’s part adobe, part palapa…and curiously reminiscent of the Flintstones. Walk down a beautiful hillside path and discover a traditional pre-Hispanic sweat lodge and a spa area with state-of-the-art massage facilities. Continue up a hillside stairway made of recycled tires and you’ll find yourself in a spacious open-air art studio.
Terra Noble is the perfect place to spend a half day when you need a break from the fast pace of downtown Vallarta. It’s well worth the short 10-minute drive into the jungle above the city (and the views of the city are spectacular from up there, too). To learn more about the services and programs offered at Terra Noble, or to contact the center before you go, visit www.terranoble.com.
Dinner at Café des Artistes
The traditional Mexican food in Vallarta is as good as ever these days, but it’s now facing serious competition from a host of cutting-edge restaurants featuring European haute cuisine with a local flair. Among the most appealing of these restaurants is Café des Artistes, which offers a distinctly theatrical dining experience that’s just the thing for that special night out. The whole restaurant feels like a dream, from the glass tear drops hanging from the ceiling of the main dining room to the Sergio Bustamante sculpture guarding the candlelit stairs of the outdoor terrace.
And the food is artful, too. Owner-chef Thierry Blouet does wonders with fish, duck, vegetables, and pastries. Samples from the menu include a chilled gazpacho au achiote with avocado cream (starter); roasted duck glazed with agave honey, soy, and ginger served with canelone gratin and pumpkin (entrée); and mango souflée with seasonal fruits minestrone au champagne (dessert, of course).
To make your reservation at Café des Artistes before you arrive in Puerto Vallarta, visit the restaurant’s Web site at www.cafedesartistes.com. In the “Comments” section, you may want to request a table on the outdoor terrace--although the indoor dining rooms are also very nice.•
