Puerto Vallarta is a popular destination, especially for those of us living on the West Coast. From California, it’s a quick 3.5 hr. flight if we go nonstop. Now that we have the Coronvirus blazing through the states, travel options for Americans have become more than bleak. Usually, my go to tropical experience is Hawaii. I have my choice of island & several direct flights. In a quick 5 hrs. time, I can find myself basking in the rays of the sun with a drink in hand. Each island offers a little something different than the other & I love every one of them. I choose based on my current mood along with the flight times that work best into our schedule & off we go! Sadly, the island hasn’t wanted visitors for the last several months. Now, the island says they’re ready for us, but you have to jump through several hoops just to step foot on Hawaiian soil. Fortunately, Mexico is not only open, but the country is begging to see our masked & smiling faces walk off those planes & they’re happy to do so without a test in hand. So, the question is, is it safe? Having been a few times in the last few months, I’d like to say it is; however, as with everything these days, we all have to make the healthiest & safest choice for ourselves & our families.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Travel to Mexico is much like travel within the United States. At the airport, you turn in a Health Form detailing your recent travels & answer questions regarding potential Covid exposure. The forms are reviewed with some pulled to the side for additional screening. You also walk by an infrared camera checking for heat & high temperatures. Masks are required everywhere you go unless you are eating and/or drinking, exercising, or at the pool. Every worker we encountered from the airport to the hotel, restaurants and even the boat excursion we took, wore a mask at all times. At the hotel, we noticed the waiters & bartenders also wearing a shield in addition to their masks. Upon entering hotels & restaurants, you’re required to step into disinfectant & then on to a mat. They say this disinfects the bottoms of your shoes, killing the virus & helping to prevent spread. In my personal opinion, I think this is more about giving the appearance of safety than anything, but I’m not an epidemiologist nor virologist, so for all I know, maybe it does work. More importantly, I definitely believe it sends a message to the brain that you’re taking precautions &, therefore, safe. Your temperature is taken upon arrival just about everywhere you go; however, I did find it rather amusing that at many outside bars, they actually point the thermometer at the inside of your elbow or wrist & half the time they don’t look at it. A few times I asked what my temperature was & they laughed, but that could also be the language barrier. I did notice that the few bars and/or restaurants we walked into for a minute to use a restroom or grab a soda only had 3-4 other patrons, so the odd temperature checks didn’t phase me much, but again, I’m not a medical expert. I mean, maybe you can get a proper temperature reading from the inside of my elbow?
EXPLORING PUERTO VALLARTA SAFELY
Los Arcos. A great place for snorkeling!
When you’re a true globetrotter, you find that, at some point, you travel differently from other tourists. Most tourists request time off from work, requiring they plan their dates ahead of time, which usually leads to planning a vacation itinerary. Our travels are usually the exact opposite. The destination tends to be spontaneous & chosen at the last minute. We overpack, traveling with lots of electronics & photography equipment. Many times, the hotel is booked the night before or even on the way to the airport. We’re big on exploring our surroundings & usually find ourselves asking the concierge what we need to see, checking Instagram hashtags & asking about tour guides a day or two into our trip. It works well for us & we always have a blast. About 5 years ago, we met the best tour guide in Puerto Vallarta & we’ve been loyal to him ever since. As an added safety precaution, we called our guide & friend Adrian. We asked if he was available to greet us at the airport. Knowing we’re safe & in good hands with Adrian, we decided we could venture out a bit as he always makes sure we’re safe. As usual, it was the best decision as he showed us an amazing time. I’ll be sure to add Adrien’s info. At the end in the event you’re looking for a certified & trustworthy tour guide during your visit.
Our adventures with Adrian included Tequila tasting, a visit to an incredible local seafood restaurant called Chico’s Paradise where we watched a popular local cliff diver named Marco as we ate. & a private snorkeling trip aboard an award winning fishing boat! Needless to say, we can’t wait to return!
Locals go to Chico’s Paradise. The seafood restaurant at the top is incredible.
HOTELS
When it comes to traveling during Covid, I believe for some, it’s a traveler’s dream. On the other hand, you can still remain aware & use care in how you choose to travel. You can do your part & play it safe. That’s how we like to do it. While traveling anywhere, whether it be a trip down the street to get groceries or to Mexico, we tend to sit poolside, staying to ourselves & don’t venture far off the property if at all. In my opinion, one of the best things about traveling during the pandemic is the lack of travelers along with the government’s guidelines for social distancing. In Mexico, the government is only allowing 30% occupancy at hotels, resorts, restaurants & excursions. At 30% capacity, everywhere you go is virtually empty. At the pool, I counted 7 other people throughout the day. Not all at once, but throughout the day! Only a couple of the restaurants on the property were open. Open restaurants either had outdoor seating where they skipped a table between groups or inside where the tables were 6 feet apart &, again, skipping a table before seating the next group. They take temperatures upon entry, you have to disinfect your shoes & step into the virus killing chemicals along with using hand sanitizer prior to entry. They will also hand you a mask if you aren’t wearing one.
The occupancy rules are city wide, so you can be sure that, no matter your choice of accommodations, you’ll find yourself in a well-sanitized room with additional precautions in place. We have a couple of “go-to” places we highly recommend. If you’re running on a tighter budget or just want a quick in & out trip, I recommend the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. They have fantastic rooms & usually offer great deals. The drinks & food are always perfect with several different on-site restaurants to choose from. The resort’s close to the airport, the customer service is always top notch & it has a great pool. During normal times, they have an incredible buffet every morning. If you’re a fan of teppanyaki prepared right at your table like I am, you definitely need to check out Mikado. The chef’s are super talented & the food is always fantastic. We’ve never had a bad time at the Marriott in Puerto Vallarta.
If you have a few more days & want to venture out about 35-40 mins. to Nuevo Vallarta, The Grand Mayan at Vidanta is a little more pricey, but worth every penny. The resort is huge & offers all kinds of delicious food options from extravagant to simple. The resort boasts it’s own waterpark that includes a wave pool, waterslide & lazy river. The rooms are fantastic. The grounds are impeccable. The customer service first class. You really don’t have to leave the resort to have a great vacation. I can stay at any of The Grand Mayans several times a year, they’re that great. My one recommendation is, if you have the opportunity to visit the resort, be aware of their timeshare presentation. The goodies might sound tempting, but the high-pressure sales tactics are exhausting just keep going. They will continue pushing you through to the “next person” at least three times over, if not four. I can’t praise the resort enough, but the group’s timeshare sales tactics are relentless.
Both properties are family oriented & both offer all-inclusive packages, but they’re optional. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of all-inclusive packages. Sometimes, I just want tacos & a ten dollar dinner. I also find the menu tends to be created with the mindset of cooking in bulk rather than quality, so I always search for the rare & optional all-inclusive resorts.
If you’re anxious to get out of town & looking for a safe place to go, definitely research Puerto Vallarta. It’s beautiful, safe & affordable. You won’t be disappointed!
Life is a journey & it throws us curveballs. Covid is a curveball. We can’t control Covid, but we can control our reaction to it. We can adapt. We can be safe. We can make good choices for ourselves & our families. We can live.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, would like a sounding board or would like feedback on your blueprint, drop us a line or leave a comment. If you have any additional suggestions, we’d love to hear them. Together, we can help each other be great! Together, we are strong.
If you are looking for a reliable & trustworthy tour guide for your visit to Puerto Vallarta, we recommend Adrian Ibarra. You can contact via email at: adrianibarra7@gmail.com.
One of Banderas Bay’s popular destinations are the waters at Los Arcos Marine Park. It’s also one of the best places for snorkeling in Puerto Vallarta.