I'm not sure what I expected, flying into Puerto Vallarata, on the Pacific coast of Mexico, last week. All I can say is that I wasn't expecting emerald green mountains, butted up against a gorgeous coastline. Looking out the window of our plane, as we were getting ready to land, the landscape below me took me by surprise. I was already excited to be meeting my fellow Macaroni Kid sisters for our annual Silver Daisy Boondoggle trip, in a foreign country, but now I couldn't wait to get my feet on the ground!
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For two days, we experienced the Rivieria Nayarit region with Vallarta Adventures, a local tour company with every kind of adventure imaginable, from SCUBA diving to sailing to ziplining to swimming with dolphins. Whatever's on your bucket list, they've got it!
On day one, we experienced The Offroad Adventure, a full day tour aboard the company's signature yellow Mercedes trucks. An amazing race style photo scavenger hunt was created just for our group and one of the stops involved stopping at a gas station and doing a maintenance check on the next vehicle to show up. For our group, that vehicle happened to be a large truck, and I ended up climbing up on the tires and washing the windshield! I'm sure the surprised occupants of the truck have posted a video of the crazy gringa somewhere on YouTube or Instagram! Don't worry... you won't have to do that! It was just some extra fun for Macaroni Kid and it was too funny not to share!
 Why yes... that IS me washing the windshield of some random truck at a gas station in Mexico! |
We visited local villages, shopping in a corner market for ingredients to make authentic corn tortillas at a working, Mexican farm later on in the day. We even learned how to grind the masa on a stone to make the corn flour. The tacos with prickly pear cactus salad were delicious!
But my favorite part was a forty-five minute hike through the rainforest, where we experienced the local flora and fauna close-up. I was so amazed by how many butterflies were flitting through the air throughout the hike. I was especially mesmerized by some extremely large, white butterflies, that floated lazily through the forest like fairy angels. They were impossibly huge and looked like they should be too big to fly! Our guide, Marcial, pointed out all kinds of other interesting things throughout the hike. When we arrived hot and sweaty back at the truck, ice cold BEER and WASHCLOTHS were waiting for us. That was a luxurious end to a hike in the hot and humid climate. Vallarta Adventures sure knows how to take care of the gringas!
 Some scenes from our adventures |
Comparing notes after our first day with Vallarta Adventures, a common theme became apparent. Each group of publishers was raving about the tour guides! Everyone was insisting they had the best guide, and feeling lucky they ended up with their particular guy. Clearly, Vallarta Adventures has done an amazing job of tracking down the most fun, knowledgeable and passionate group of guys they could find.
 Can you tell these guys have a lot of personality? |
Day two was an immersion in the local culture, visiting two small towns, San Pancho and Sayulita.
Our itinerary listed a stop at a local candy shop, so I imagined something like you might see in the United States. But instead, we discovered the true Mexican version... an open air market with piles of local fruits and vegetables, where an entire family of chickens (rooster, hen and chicks) made themselves useful keeping things clean and free of bugs. Homemade candies and treats made from peanuts, tamarinds and other local goodies filled the shelves. I'm still enjoying the stack of peanut brittle I purchased!
 I love chickens! Seeing an entire family roaming around the "candy shop" was too funny! |
 The piles of fruits and veggies at the open air market was a feast for the eyes! |
Our day ended in Sayulita, a town known for its hippie-surfer population. This was certain to make it a colorful, artsy experience! But before we headed out for some shopping in town, we made homemade Mole sauce and guacamole for another delicious taco lunch. Our guides showed us how to use a mortar and pestle to crush cocoa beans and other ingredients for the mole sauce (which traditionally has between twenty and thirty ingredients!). It was SO good! After lunch, we cooled off in the surf, relaxed for a bit, then headed out to explore town and do some treasure hunting for souvenirs.
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If you are looking for a place to take your family for an authentic Mexican experience, consider the Riviera Nayarit region of Mexico! I've traveled to several areas of Mexico and nowhere did I see more local, vacationing families. Worldly travelers often look for the places frequented by locals in order to experience the true culture of a country, rather than a touristy version. The Riviera Nayarit region is definitely one of those places! And with great resorts and adventure travel companies like Vallarta Adventures, it is definitely a great addition to your family travel bucket list! I wouldn't hesitate to bring my family back to experience this fabulous place, and I certainly hope I will have the opportunity some day soon!
So when is the best time to go? Our guides recommended visiting either in winter, during the whale watching season, or in November during the festival season of Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)!
Disclosure: The Macaroni Kid Silver Daisy Boondoggle was hosted by Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau. All opinions are my own.
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