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Mexico - Puerto Vallarta
"Set between forested hills and beaches of Banderas Bay, entertainment-packed Puerto Vallarta will sweep you right off your flip flops."
Thomson Destinations
Lying on Mexico's Pacific shore beneath jungle-clad hills, the Puerto Vallarta region is so beautiful, it looks like a Hollywood film set. Centred around its original village, Old Vallarta - a web of orange-roofed houses linked by quaint backstreets - it now spreads both ways along a stunning shoreline. If you're here for the beach, give yourself a pat on the back. The velvety sands glide effortlessly into unbelievably clear, blue-green waters shimmering in the Mexican sun. Getting restless? There's a zillion other beachy kind of things to do. Ride a jet ski. Experience a heart-in-mouth parasailing session. Or jump in the deep end and go diving. Take a boat to Islas Marietas and enter the magical underwater world of manta rays, dolphins and turtles. Land-lubbers won't be let down either. As well as exploring the shops and galleries of picturesque Old Vallarta, there's everything from ultra-modern shopping malls to colourful markets. And if you want a change from your hotel's nighttime entertainments, Puerto Vallarta comes up trumps every time. With restaurants and bars spanning Fly from hacienda-style eateries, · London Gatwick · Manchester mariachi bars and wild
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Destilladeras
Punta de Mita Punta del Burro
Las Marietas
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
Bucerias Mezcales Ixtapa
Nuevo Vallarta
Bahia de Banderas Puerto Vallarta
discos, there's something for every type of night owl.
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Mismaloya
Puerto Vallarta
Quimixto
PUERTO VALLARTA
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© TUI 2007
Beaches When it's time to beach it, you're really in for something special here. The cashmere soft shores seem to go on forever. Curving their way around a croissant-shaped coastline for 40 kilometres, many are lined with nodding palm trees and jungle-draped hills. It's a scene that could have easily fallen from the pages of a Robinson Crusoe storybook. If you want to stay closer to the action though, you'll find plenty of stretches laced with hotels and beach eateries. And if sitting still drives you to distraction, there are oodles of watersports to try from waterskiing to surfing. Or why not discover the underwater world snorkelling or scuba diving? Eating out Eating out is a serious business in Puerto Vallarta. In fact, the locals are so passionate about their food here, that they have an annual Gourmet Dining Festival every November. It's no wonder this lively city has gained a reputation as the culinary capital of Mexico. So it's pretty safe to say you're in for a real foodie treat. Your only difficulty will be deciding which of the 250 restaurants to eat in. Decisions, decisions. Shopping If you were born to shop, Puerto Vallarta was made for you. You probably won't find any familiar shop faces here, but where would the fun in that be? Head for the Malecon strip in the Downtown district and you'll come across oodles of designer shops rubbing shoulders with one-off boutiques. Make sure you pop into the traditional Mexican stores sprinkled along here, too where you can pick up authentic goodies such as silver, pottery and handmade handicrafts. Nightlife The locals in Puerto Vallarta have the evenings here down to a T. If serene, starry nights are high on your list of priorities, clink your margarita glasses together at a tranquil beach bar or jump on board a twilight cruise and watch the twinkling city lights with a cocktail to hand. See how the Mexicans really party at a traditional folk evening, where dancing, eating and maybe even some fireworks will make the celebrations go with a bang. But if you really want to unleash the party animal inside, there's no end of buzzing bars and clubs.
Explore and Enjoy
Caletas by Day Sit back and relax as you cruise along the spectacular Vallarta coastline onboard a stylish catamaran. It's an hour's ride that'll bring you to Caletas. Here, you can choose between sunbeds and relaxation or walking shoes and exploration. Whichever you choose, you'll agree this place is Mexico's very own Garden of Eden. Dolphin Adventure Swimming with dolphins - it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience that tops most people's wish lists. And here's your chance to do just that. At Dolphin Adventure, you'll spend the day learning about dolphins and the underwater world they call home. And, of course, you'll have plenty of time to get to know these fascinating creatures. Unforgettable.
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7 7 7 7 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 Average daily hours of sunshine - Puerto Vallarta 1 1 1 1 5 10 20 20 28 10 1 1 Average monthly rainfall in cms - Puerto Vallarta 53 48 46 41 45 58 56 58 62 62 55 53 Average monthly humidity % - Puerto Vallarta
www.thomson.co.uk/excursions
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