When thinking about where Tom and I were going to take our honeymoon, we were both kind of clueless. One thing/requirement we did want to have was that it needed to be warm. And when I say warm, I mean above 68 degrees (I blame San Francisco for making me feel cold on a balmy 63 degree day).
Our friends Alex and Christine kept talking about their “special place” where they keep going time and time. The special place happened to be Puerto Vallarta and when they mentioned they’d be our pseudo tour guides, we were all in!
Because this was the first time traveling out of the country in two years, I was a little rusty on the specifics of International travel, however, I shouldn’t have worried whatsoever – it was very easy (as long as you’re prepared!).
A few favorites I’ll share along the way and some tips and tricks!
Where to Stay:
We stayed in the beautiful Zona Romántica neighborhood where the surrounding area is filled with restaurants, cafes, and bars. It’s perfect for walking around and extremely close to the beach. We booked this Airbnb that was literally a DREAM! It almost felt like a hotel with a beautiful rooftop pool, bar, and fitness room. It was also a 5 minute walk from everything.
What to Eat:
In terms of food, your options are seriously limitless. There is such a bounty of incredible Mexican food at every turn! Some of my favorites included:
116 Pulpito: Like the name, the octopus here is SO good! Also, the cocktails are not to be missed at this delicious joint. Mojitos! Margaritas! So many others.
Joe Jack’s: I loved this place so much because of the variety! Whatever you’re in the mood for, they have it. Some of the most memorable include the trio of ceviches with shrimp and tuna poke, the entire red snapper, guacamole and chips and the baja style tacos! So good!
Dee’s Coffee Co: No frills coffee company with the best chocolate chip banana muffins! And of course, extra large Iced Americanos.
Barcelona Tapas: The ultimate Spanish-style small plates with city & sea views. We ordered SO MANY DISHES that were seriously delicious, but don’t skip out on the epic paella. SO GOOD.
V101 Food Tour: This was truly the highlight. You can book directly on this website, but this is a must if you’re in Puerto Vallarta. Our host Memo took us on an incredible two and a half hour seafood tour all over town. We only stopped in authentic PV places and dined on ceviche and aguachile, fish fillets, tacos and quesadillas, oysters on the beach, marlin on a stick, shrimp, octopus and more! Plus, aguas frescas, beer and dessert. It was so memorable and so nice.
What to Do/See:
Admittedly, we did a lot of lounging by the pool, walking along the shops, etc. however, I have to say these are some spots just scratching the surface:
The Malecón: While it’s a bit touristy, I was a tourist and it’s popular for a reason! It’s beautiful! The Malecón, a 12-block boardwalk along the ocean lined with shops, bars, and restaurants. It also is great to just walk along and people watch. You can also see epic views of the ocean (and check out the sunset if you make it!)
Walking Tour: I’m a huge fan of experiences (specifically on Airbnb) and I highly recommend you finding a few to do while you’re there! I LOVED our V101 Food Tour, but there are also tequila tasting parties, jungle hikes, snorkel photoshoots and so much more.
