| Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has become one of the most | | | | Vallarta area and the volume of tourists cruising to |
| popular tourist resort destinations in the world. Because | | | | Vallarta, let's explore just what happens to these |
| Vallarta is located along the Mexican Riviera on the | | | | tourists as they arrive in Paradise. |
| Pacific Ocean, a substantial portion of these tourists | | | | As the tourists disembark from the commercial cruise |
| arrive by boat; the majority in large cruise ships, | | | | liners or their private yachts, they are first greeted by |
| however many come in their private yachts. | | | | the friendly faces of English speaking Mexicans. |
| Ten years ago, a cruise ship would arrive in Vallarta | | | | Because the local economy is based solely on tourism, |
| every other day. At certain times during the "high | | | | almost everyone is now speaking some degree of |
| season" of November through May when the average | | | | English and therefore communication is never an |
| temperature is 73°F with virtually no chance of | | | | obstacle in Vallarta. Friendly faces as revealed in the |
| rain, cruise ships would arrive two days in a row. | | | | Conde Nast survey of its readers, where Vallarta was |
| Five years ago, the popularity of cruising and | | | | voted the friendliest resort destination in the world. |
| specifically cruising to the Mexican Riviera, reached a | | | | Of all things, those arriving by cruise ships first see a |
| point where you could find a cruise liner at the Puerto | | | | Sam's Club, a Mega Wal-Mart, and a huge new |
| Vallarta Marine Terminal almost every day, and | | | | modern shopping center; probably not what they would |
| sometimes, a second cruise liner anchored in Banderas | | | | expect to see in a sleepy little Mexican fishing village! |
| Bay. Passengers from the anchored ship were then | | | | They soon discover that Vallarta is no longer sleepy or |
| shuttled to shore by small tenders. | | | | little, in that its population has exploded to 350,000 |
| Two years ago, you could count on at least one cruise | | | | inhabitants and is projected to reach 600,000 by the |
| ship every day in Vallarta and often find another one | | | | year 2015. |
| or two ships anchored in the bay. The traffic was so | | | | Unfortunately, those arriving by cruise ships are |
| heavy at the Marine Terminal that the authorities in | | | | generally allowed only about eight hours in town before |
| Vallarta started construction on the new Maritime | | | | the ship cruises out on its journey to the next Mexican |
| Terminal. | | | | Riviera port. While in town, they are given many |
| Construction of the new Maritime Terminal in Puerto | | | | options in the way of city activities and tours. Some |
| Vallarta was completed in early 2007, thus tripling the | | | | opt to play golf on any of the seven magnificent |
| cruise passenger capacity. Today, you'll usually see at | | | | courses; others might want to take a four hour deep |
| least two cruise ships docked at the Maritime Terminal | | | | sea fishing trip or play tennis on any of the hundreds |
| and frequently three. Cruising to Vallarta has become | | | | of tennis courts. Some take jungle safaris, ATV trips |
| so popular that there are times during the "high | | | | through the Sierra Madre Mountains, or go whale |
| season" when a fourth ship has to anchor in the bay! | | | | watching, snorkeling, or swimming with the dolphins |
| With an average of close to 2,000 passengers per | | | | Those less ambitious tourists take sight seeing bus |
| ship, this results in anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 | | | | tours through the city and then into the fine |
| tourists arriving daily by cruise ship. | | | | neighborhoods where the multi-million dollar haciendas |
| (As a side note of interest, the Puerto Vallarta | | | | and villas are nestled among the hillsides overlooking |
| International Airport was recently quadrupled in size in | | | | Banderas Bay. |
| order to accommodate the flights that are arriving and | | | | The majority of these cruisers merely catch one of |
| departing all day, everyday.) | | | | the thousands of taxis and head into town for a day |
| Now that we have a feel for the volume of cruising | | | | of strolling along the Malecon by the beach, shopping |
| tourists arriving daily in Vallarta by commercial cruise | | | | the many boutique stores, or dining in any of the |
| liners, let's consider those arriving by private yachts. | | | | hundreds of fine restaurants. |
| Ten years ago, Puerto Vallarta was the home to a | | | | Regardless of what the cruisers do during their short |
| beautiful 400 slip Marina for private yachts ranging in | | | | stay in Vallarta, they are all treated with dignity, |
| size from 30ft to well over 100ft. There was also a | | | | respect, and friendliness and therefore are eager to |
| marina in Nuevo Vallarta with 380 slips for smaller | | | | return for a longer visit the next time. The taste of |
| boats up to 30ft long. | | | | Vallarta is so addictive, that in all probability, their next |
| Due to the recent demand for additional slips, larger | | | | visit will be by air and will last for a week or longer. |
| slips, and yachting related services, a number of | | | | Those that come in their private yachts generally stay |
| significant new marina construction projects have been | | | | for longer periods of time. In fact, the quality of life is so |
| undertaken; some of which have been completed, | | | | great in Vallarta, that many of those fortunate |
| some currently under construction, and some still in the | | | | individuals, who could afford to live anywhere in the |
| planning stages. | | | | world, have just docked their yachts in Vallarta and |
| For example, the beautiful Nuevo Vallarta Marina now | | | | made this their winter residence. After all, Mexico was |
| has nearly 250 slips for yachts ranging from 30ft to | | | | recently ranked the top retirement destination in the |
| 120ft long. The modern $50 million Marina Riviera | | | | world by International Living Magazine and Puerto |
| Nayarit, located in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, is | | | | Vallarta is considered by many to be the most |
| approximately 40% complete with nearly 400 berths | | | | desirable city in Mexico for retirement. |
| for yachts ranging from 30ft to 400ft. Fonatur, | | | | To sum it up; what happens when tourists cruise to |
| Mexico's National Tourism Development Trust, has | | | | Vallarta is that they often become so infatuated by |
| planned a 150 slip marina in their Phase 1 development | | | | the climate, the scenery of mountains and ocean, the |
| program just north of Punta de Mita. These marinas | | | | people, the cleanliness, the safety, the available |
| will increase the moorage capacity from 400 to well | | | | activities, and the overall quality of life, that they either |
| over 1,200 private yachts, thereby tripling the total | | | | return as soon as possible or they just stay, joining the |
| volume of tourists privately cruising to Vallarta. | | | | other 50,000 North Americans that have made Puerto |
| Okay, now that we have a feel for the growth of the | | | | Vallarta their retirement home in Paradise. |