There are few Mexican dishes as tempting and delicious as a lovingly-prepared taco on a handmade corn tortilla, topped with fresh guacamole, salsa and your choice of perfectly-spiced meats. If you happen to be traveling to Puerto Vallarta, you can eat your fill of authentic tacos asada, chorizo and pastor along with freshly caught shrimp, lobster and fish at the town’s much anticipated Taco Fair.

On September 16, Puerto Vallarta proudly hosted its 2nd annual Taco Festival, which showcased the delectable offerings of local taquerias. This family-friendly event not only provided ample opportunities to sample true Mexican cuisine at its finest and cheapest (tacos for 50 cents!), festival-goers were treated to presentations about the history of the taco and the musical stylings of Puerto Vallarta’s Huichol group. Plus, admission was free!

Taco Fair supports local producers

On why he chose September 16, Taco Fair organizer Edgar Cisneros told the Puerto Vallarta Daily News that the long holiday weekend would attract not only tourists in the area, but local denizens as well. “It’s a way to celebrate Independence Day, the festival is dedicated to the taco, which is a very Mexican product,” he explained.

If you happened to miss this year’s Taco Festival, don’t despair! Plans are already in the works for the Puerto Vallarta Taco Fair 2017. Here are just some of the activities and attractions offered at this year’s bash:

• Taco tastings with escamoles (a kind of ant larvae) and even grilled crickets!
• Tamer restaurant offerings of tacos with marinated and grilled pork, beef, shrimp and fish
• Tacos featuring elements of molecular cuisine
• Presentations from local chefs
• Other traditional culinary treats from local restaurants
• More than 20 vendors in attendance
• A variety of microbrews
• Live music & family fun

Whether you prefer your tacos with a spicy kick of jalapeño or a savory yet mild pico de gallo, Puerto Vallarta invites you to discover the exquisite flavors of this humble street food that nourishes the body and soul.

If you’re planning a vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico soon and want to experience the world’s most heavenly tacos al pastor– head to El Carboncito, a small but popular taco stand – especially among the late night crowd. Just follow the scent of slow-grilled meats in El Centro’s Calle Honduras; you won’t be disappointed.

U.S. News and World Report recently released its list of the eight best beaches in Mexico. The list features sites with beautiful scenery and plenty of nearby restaurants.

As wonderful as a lounging on the beach for days is, most travelers like to venture out and try some other activities as well. To help make the choice in beach vacation destination easier, we have narrowed down the U.S. News and World Report list further to the top five Mexico beaches with unique not-to-be-missed attractions nearby.

Playa del carmen

Take a break from the beach, shopping, and nightlife to check out Rio Secreto – the secret river – located in the heart of Playa del Carmen. The underground tour through a network of caves features thousands of stalactites and stalagmites amid the many other geological wonders. Many of its visitors count the experience as spiritual or life-changing.

Tulum

Located about an hour away from Playa del Carmen, Tulum is practically a Mayan time capsule. After relaxing on its beach at the foot of 39-foot cliffs, explore the ruins of an ancient Mayan city.

Puerto Vallarta

Meander through a 20-acre collection of native tropical plants at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. The garden is home to rare species of plants that are on display in only a handful of botanical gardens in the world. If you are visiting Puerto Vallarta at the right time of year, you may even be able to take part in the March beer festival or any one of the local celebrations.

Cabo San Lucas

Visit the nearby Baja Outback for a hands-on look at the local ecosystem. A favorite attraction is the turtle release conservation adventure – guests can adopt a turtle and personally participate in its release. Other activity options include a tour of Cabo highlights that includes a ride on a glass-bottomed boat and time to explore.

Cancun

About an hour away  from the heart of Cancun, you can taste Mayan culture and environment at the Xcaret ecological theme park. The attraction mixes natural wonders like cenotes leading down to marvelous underground caves with cultural attractions like a Mayan Ball Game. The more than 50 attractions are sure to please the entire family.

If you plan to step off the beach for some local adventure, plan your trip around one or more of these unique destinations.

Need a break from Los Cabos? Take an excursion to the Hexagon Caves, just an hour from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico near the historic village of Todos Santos. This quaint section of Baja is considered a “hidden gem” that has not exploded in popularity yet, but features dozens of art galleries, miles of papaya and avocado groves, sugar cane fields and abandoned mills, untainted surf beaches, and fun cultural festivals.

Discover the Hamlet of Coroscos

Some people consider Coroscos a “semi-ghost town” because there are just 350 people living here – mostly ranchers, winemakers, and farmers whose families have been living here for five or six generations. The earliest settlers were attracted to the region by the natural underground springs that fed the fertile land. They built small irrigation canals called “acequias” and raised beef cattle, as well as goats to produce milk and cheese products. Some residents excel in furniture crafting, sandal-makng, and ceramics that are taken to the Todos Santos markets.

Tour operators in Todos Santos offer visitors unique opportunities to meet with local families and dine on authentic homemade cuisines in their adobe homes. Learn how to make cheese and tortillas from scratch with the locals and get a glimpse into what everyday life is like for rural Mexicans before spending the night in this private oasis.

A hiker’s delight

Jesuit missionaries built a mountain chapel in the 1700s, surrounded by fruits, vegetables, wine and sugar cane. It was considered an important mission settlement until the 1840s, when sugar production overtook the area. Today, you can see the remnants of these structures on a hike through Baja’s most solitary mountain range, the Sierra de la Laguna.

The Mexican government has protected the area since 1994, when they designated it a biosphere reserve and described it as an “ecological treasure-house.” Animals may be spotted along the way, including doves, herons, snakes, scorpions, mountain lion, coyote, fox, kangaroo rats, desert mule deer, gophers, badgers, butterflies and skinks. The lower elevations are home to a dry forest canyon of cacti, palms, oaks, wild figs, ironwood, and thorny trees.

The hexagonal caves is the most spectacular feature in the area. These rocks were formed 60 million years ago by extremely rare geographic conditions. Similar to the famous “Giant’s Causeway” of Ireland, the columnar joint near Coroscos and Todos Santos was formed when volcanic activity forced tectonic plates to shift and break, forcing 700-1,200 degree lava to the surface of the earth. At such high temperatures, the minerals coalesce into their natural crystal structure, which is then cooled rapidly into the hexagonally shaped Basalt pillars you see today.

In honor of summer’s most sumptuous fruit, Todos Santos celebrates in true Baja style with a chivalrous horse parade, live music, dancing, artisan products and, of course, heaps of mouthwatering mango dishes. The Todos Santos Mango Festival attracts locals and tourists alike who flock to this iconic cultural event, now in its ninth year.

Todos Santos is a picturesque coastal village, about an hour’s drive north of Los Cabos. Like its quiet neighbor Santiago, the town has escaped tourist crowds except for three days each summer when resident vendors and artists pay homage to the sweet and succulent mango. Festival dates vary each year, but usually fall around the end of July, when the mango harvest is ready.

Mango Festival events & activities in Baja

The annual Mango Festival promises lots of family fun, delicious eats and opportunities to see local chefs churn out a smorgasbord of tempting confections that feature this marvelous fruit. Festival goers can even watch a demonstration on preparing “mangate,” a delectable mango dessert that is popular around the Baja Peninsula.

Celebrations are centered around Barrio San Ignacio, an area famous for its juicy, oversized mangoes. The three-day festivities include dancing in the town square, foot races, games, folkloric ballet performances and other displays of traditional life in Todos Santos. The cabalgata (horse parade) is one of the festival’s most anticipated events, showcasing the region’s beautiful steeds and riders adorned in their finest attire.  If that weren’t spectacle enough, a new Mango Fest Queen is crowned each year!

Visitors to the festival can enjoy dozens of ways to sample the “King of Tropical Fruit” with an amazing selection of mango-themed snacks, desserts and gourmet dishes. This juicy gastronomic event makes for a wonderful day trip from Los Cabos, while providing a glimpse into the culture and traditions of its people.

 

Bring your kids and your appetite to this three-day fiesta of blissful mango worship in Todos Santos!

CEDO is the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. Located on the Sea of Cortez in Las Conchas, scientists and interns work to find ways to preserve the nature around them, while being a source for education as well. Working with

CEDO is the Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans. Located on the Sea of Cortez in Las Conchas, scientists and interns work to find ways to preserve the nature around them, while being a source for education as well. Working with local fishermen, CEDO helps to maintain a healthy balance of resource use in this part of the ocean.

An event on Saturday, November 8th will showcase some of those who are working with local resources. Weather through crafts, seafood, or ecotourism, all of the vendors use what they find locally in a sustainable way. This makes sure that what Mexico’s oceans have to offer is here for future genrations.

The CEDO facility is in a rambling old building on a hill of sand that rolls down to the sea. The building hosts camps for children to learn about the worlds oceans, exhibits about the local sealife, as well as serving as a base for projects involving local fisherman. A distinctive part of the CEDO building is the complete Humpback Whale skeleton that sits at the very top of the hill.

CEDO is easy to reach on the main road into Las Conchas. The CEDO Naturarte Market Place Sustaonable Local Prodcts Event will be in the parking lot on Saturday, November 8th, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The event is designed to “encourage responsoble people doing doing efforts towards sustainability and a space to sell their products.”

fishermen, CEDO helps to maintain a healthy balance of resource use in this part of the ocean.

An event on Saturday, November 8th will showcase some of those who are working with local resources. Weather through crafts, seafood, or ecotourism, all of the vendors use what they find locally in a sustainable way. This makes sure that what Mexico’s oceans have to offer is here for future genrations.

The CEDO facility is in a rambling old building on a hill of sand that rolls down to the sea. The building hosts camps for children to learn about the worlds oceans, exhibits about the local sealife, as well as serving as a base for projects involving local fisherman. A distinctive part of the CEDO building is the complete Humpback Whale skeleton that sits at the very top of the hill.

CEDO is easy to reach on the main road into Las Conchas. The CEDO Naturarte Market Place Sustaonable Local Prodcts Event will be in the parking lot on Saturday, November 8th, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The event is designed to “encourage responsoble people doing doing efforts towards sustainability and a space to sell their products.”

The sun fades as young people walk the path under the trees. Candles are being lit here and there. Each new light brightens the space around it, which shines with a different color. Orange chrysanthemums, turquois and purple skulls. A cross of white sea salt rests on the ground, next to a jet black dog. As the sky darkens, more candles are lit, reflecting colors onto the under-side of the branches.

November begins in Mexico with the Dia de Los Muertos. The ceremonies of ‘the Day of the Dead’ are meant to coax the spirits of loved ones to return, and spend time with those who remember them. Altares (Alters) offer a chance for the spirits to be guided back to us, and give those in this world a way to express their love through the many details involved in making the Altares.

Students from Puerto Penascos’ Cobach (similar to a junior college in the states), take part in the annual Altares building workshop and contest. Dozens of students and their families learn in great detail this very special part of Mexican culture, then present their labors of love to the publlic.

As judges take notes, family members demonstrate the depth of their knowledge of the traditions of Dia de Los Muertos, some dressed as Calaveras or Catrinas. Common elements include the smoke of insense, a black dog who will be there to guide the spirit from the other world, and water for spirits thirsty from their long journey.

Mixed with the ceremonial neccesities are many personal touches. The guitar Grandmother played. A baseball jersey. Tequila pored and waiting. Every real thing is attached to a story. The hat pulled from it’s resting place in the back of the closet begins to emit memories. From the memory, comes stories. Sharing them is how the ones we remember come back.

“Hey c’mon Tony, we wannna dance!” Sun setting on the back patio of Colin’s Cantina, someone calls out from one of the tables. Tony Jimenez is just finishing setting up the equipment and lights for his regular Thursday evening set. “O.K., ready” he says, and strums the first chord on his guitar.

Definitely ´un-plugged’, the mood is just right for hanging out with friends, watching the stars come out, maybe dancing with your honey. More people arrive as a waiter brings guacamole, chips, and mugs of beer frosted over with ice.

¨We are owners here. We love that we can just walk over to Colin´s.¨ the lady tells me. She takes a seat as the song ends, even though her grand kids try to pull her back up for more dancing. Colin´s Cantina is by the entrance to the Princesa Resort, and is open to the public. ¨Wanna dance?¨ she says, and nods her head towards the kids, ¨with them!¨

A slow country song from Tony saves me. Tony plays Thursdays at Colin´s, from 6pm until 8pm. On weekends you can find him playing and singing at Boobar on the Malecon with his group, The BooBoys.

Colin´s Cantina really is the local corner bar-restaurant. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Colin´s is also the place to show up to watch the game, have a burger, and something cold on tap. They are open seven days a week, with Happy Hour from 4pm till 6pm.

Taking a bite of my shrimp taco, I look up to see the two grand daughters staring at me, arms crossed. At that very moment, Tony hits the first notes of ¨Brown Eyed Girl¨. Ah, who could say no.

Tony Jimenez sings and plays guitar Thursday nights from 6pm until 8pm at Colin´s Cantina, located at the entrance to the Princesa de Penasco Resort. Colin´s hours are Monday and Tuesday, 12pm til 8pm, and Wednesday through Sunday 8am til 10pm. You can contact them at 638 382 8020 or on Facebook.                                                                                                                                                 by Richard Scott

 

Stand up paddle boarding is cool. It is not hard to get the hang of, and then it kind of feels like your’re out taking a walk. On the water! With some experience, you can play in the surf. But hey, this is a vacation, so take it easy.

Sitting out on the water as the sun sets is one of the greatest experiences you can have while in Rocky Point. Morning and just before sunset are the two best times to catch a glimpse of dolphins as they pass by in a pod. Curious and intelliegent, many times they will come close to check YOU out.

First timers or even experienced boarders can have everything they need delivered to your resort, if you are renting your condo through Seaside Reservations. If you have never done it, it is a painless way to check out a new sport.

Or how about kayaking. Sit-on-top kayaks are available as well. Whatever your preference, Seaside Reservations new rental program gives you, your family, and friends, a couple more ways to make memories on your Rocky

Stand up paddle boarding is cool. It is not hard to get the hang of, and then it kind of feels like your’re out taking a walk. On the water! With some experience, you can play in the surf. But hey, this is a vacation, so take it easy.

Sitting out on the water as the sun sets is one of the greatest experiences you can have while in Rocky Point. Morning and just before sunset are the two best times to catch a glimpse of dolphins as they pass by in a pod. Curious and intelliegent, many times they will come close to check YOU out.

First timers or even experienced boarders can have everything they need delivered to your resort, if you are renting your condo through Seaside Reservations. If you have never done it, it is a painless way to check out a new sport.

Or how about kayaking. Sit-on-top kayaks are available as well. Whatever your preference, Seaside Reservations new rental program gives you, your family, and friends, a couple more ways to make memories on your Rocky Point vacation.

by Richard Scott

September 16th is Mexico’s biggest and most important holiday. As we get closer to the date, you will see more and more vendors setting up shop on street corners, selling flags and banners, all in the red, white and green of the nations flag. Mexican Independance Day marks the moment that began the countrys break from Spain.

The call to arms from Padre Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 become known as the Grito de Dolores, and is re-enacted every year. Lead by Mexico’s President, mayors throughout the country address the crowds with a speech that leads to calls of “Viva Mexico”. Followed by fireworks at midnight, the 16th is an all out fiesta.

An extra day off means Rocky Point and other resort towns are busy, with hotels full and celebrations happening in public places and at home between family members. Always about food, sometimes cooks will take the extra step and prepare a dish that has become associated with this holiday.

The red, white and green of the flag are reflected in Chiles en Nogado. A variation on stuffed chiles rellenos, this dish was invented to celebrate Mexican Independence, which was finally realized in 1821. Green Poblano chiles are stuffed with picadillo (a chopped meat and vegetable mix), covered in a white sauce made from walnuts, and the garnished wth pomegranete seeds.

Around town, restaurants will be serving Chiles en Nogado. Not many, because it s not easy to make. If you find it, rder it. You will be tasting a part of Mexicos’ history.

Sunday night saw the rise of the ‘Super Moon’. Brighter and larger because it passes closer to the earth than at any time in the past 20 years,  the moon made a great show for those spending time here in Rocky Point. Tides are high too, as the natural world responds to the moons magnetic pull.

Our beach is currently the home for a nest of Pacific Olive Ridley sea turtle eggs. Laid last month, the eggs are due to hatch between now and the end of August. Environmental specialists here to over see the nest are speculating that the unusual moon may work it’s magic and cause the little guys to break out of their shells and head for the waves. While no longer full, the next two nights will still have lots of  lunar ‘pull’.

A Lunada is a traditional Mexican beach party to accompany full moons. Maybe tonights the night to celebrate the beauty of nature, gaze at the stars, and maybe witness one of natures most awesome events.

 

By Richard Scott