Come December the sounds of Humpback whale song can be heard once again in the protected waters of Banderas Bay.
These behemoths of the deep return to the breeding and calving grounds off Puerto Vallarta in December, and stay until their newborns are strong enough to begin their migration northwards to the rich feeding grounds off Alaska in March. Their presence in the bay provides locals and tourists alike the opportunity to go whale watching.
There are several companies which offer whale watching tours in Puerto Vallarta but before we make our recommendation let’s have a look at some typical whale behavior you may to see on the incredible adventure.
Breaching - The most spectacular of all whale behavior, the whale launches itself out of the water and lands on its side sending a massive spray of water into the air. This behavior may be a warning, a way of attracting a mate, or simply having fun.
Spy Hopping - When the whale raises its head out of the water, normally vertically to have a look at what is going on around them. Whales on the move will turn on their side with one eye out of the water to have a look.
Fin Slapping - The whale lies on its side and smacks its huge pectoral fin on the surface of the water repeatedly.
Lob Tailing - The whale raises its fluke or tail out of the water and slams it down onto the surface of the water. It is usually a repetitive movement considered to be a sign of aggression or perhaps a way of foraging.
Hopefully on a whale watching tour in Puerto Vallarta you get to see all of this typical whale behavior but be warned - seeing a whale is not always guaranteed and if you do see one they might not be in the mood to perform.
By: Friendlyrentals
Thinking of moving or retiring to somewhere warm? Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is an exceptional place to live. Those who regret the move are few and far between - the rest of us are loving life! Here are just a few reasons why:
1. The Climate
This is a no brainer. With an average temperature of 79° F /26° C and 300 sunny days a year, we have it made. Of course, June through October is just a smidge humid, giving everyone something to talk about, otherwise what excuse would we have to be loitering in the produce refrigerator at Costco?
2. The Views
Beaches, mountains, jungle, charming red tile-roofed homes meandering up the hillsides from the sea, from Mismaloya to Punta de Mita, there is a feast for the eyes waiting around every turn. Take in the sunset from a hillside restaurant or stay on the beach all day until the sky is aflame with color. A grand spectacle of nature is on display every evening, and it doesn't cost a thing.
A home of your own with a view of the ocean need not be a fantasy. All those hillsides make for great views in wide variety of price ranges. Properties with ocean views can be found as low as under $100,000 USD, and the $200-300,000 range is teeming with ocean view inventory. Start your search HERE.
3. The Whales
People sometimes overuse adjectives. For example:
"How was Zumba class this morning?"
"Amazing!!"
If you are fortunate enough to witness an adult whale breaching, it will leave you amazed. An adult humpback whale is over 40 feet long and weighs up to 75,000 pounds, one of the largest animals on the planet. See this magnificent animal launch it's entire body out of the sea, pivot mid-air, and crash back into the sea with thunderous splash, and know what it is to be amazed. Contact Superior Tours Vallarta to book your Puerto Vallarta whale watching tour.
4. Medical Services
"#4" circa 1992 would likely have been a list of bars that offer free drinks on ladies night. Times have changed. Now I appreciate how fortunate we are to have excellent doctors, dentists, state of the art hospitals and medical facilities here when we need them. As well, there is a wide array of all types of medical services from alternative treatments like acupuncture and reiki to elective procedures like face lifts and botox, all at a fraction of the cost.
5. The Restaurants
Puerto Vallarta is home to the best restaurants of ANY tourist destination in Mexico. Anyone who wishes to challenge that statement feel free to send an email to betty(at)tropicasa.com. and I am up for the challenge. I will gladly supply you with an extensive list of restaurants in all price ranges, including cuisine from just about any region. Within a ten-block radius in downtown you can find Trio, Joe Jack's, Archie's Wok, Daiquiri Dick's, Salud, La Palapa, Vitea, and Kaiser Maximilian just to name a few, and the list goes on.
6. The Lifestyle
You like to indulge in a massage? How about $30 USD for an hour-long full body massage? You like to golf? 6 world-class golf courses are available. Tired of doing housework? Hire a housekeeper, as an added bonus - you'll likely be speaking Spanish with her in no time. Even a day at the beach is better in Mexico. Arrive to cozy chairs under a palapa and a friendly waiter brings you margaritas.
Want more from life than just margaritas and massages? Nurture your altruistic spirit. There are a number of charitable organizations in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay that welcome volunteers. Get started HERE.
What's not to like? Even the frustrating moments could be considered lessons in patience. And someday, through a kind of cultural osmosis, you may be blessed with the gift of not minding very much if the Telmex guy didn't show up for a week, or the Wi-fi service on your smart phone is spotty. The day may come when "mañana" for you is a loose term used to refer to any number of days to come and when "al rato" (loosely translated "in a bit") is as specific a time frame as you require. We should all be so lucky.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - If ever a movie transformed a town, Night of the Iguana was the one that turned Puerto Vallarta from an anonymous fishing hamlet into a magnet for tourists and a regular stop for luxury liners sailing the Mexican Riviera.
Fifty years ago, when John Huston filmed Night of the Iguana with Richard Burton and Ava Gardner in a picturesque cove just south of town called Mismaloya, Puerto Vallarta was just a sleepy little fishing village on Mexico's Pacific Coast.
But Liz Taylor came to keep an eye on her lover Richard Burton while he was filming with the voluptuous Ava Gardner. The publicity buzz about Burton and Liz’s torrid affair and the movie put Puerto Vallarta on the tourist - and the paparazzi's - map.
When the director arrived (legend claims his plane skimmed the runway several times, before managing to shoo cows off the landing strip,) the rustic fishing village had just 12,500 inhabitants. Today, (according to the 2010 census,) Puerto Vallarta is a world-class vacation destination with a population of 255,725, (making it the 2nd largest city in the state of Jalisco,) and tourism accounts for 50% of the city's economic activity.
To celebrate the impact that the making of this film has made on our city, the Centro Universitario de la Costa in Puerto Vallarta (CUC), in conjunction with private citizens and governmental authorities, will present a series of conferences, lectures, and film screenings, as well as photo, audio, and video exhibitions relating to the 1963 filming of the movie from November 25 through 29, 2013.
Some of the Night of the Iguana Tribute events scheduled to take place include:
• A variety of movies starring the main protagonists of the film (John Huston, Richard Burton, Liz Tylor, Deborah Kerr, Gabriel Figueroa, Ava Gardner, Sue Lyon, and Emolio "El Indio" Fernández) will be shown at mini-auditoriums set up on the CUCosta campus, as well as at Los Arcos Amphitheater, and the Cuale Cultural Center.
• William Vaidovits, Jorge Sánchez, Ernesto Rodriguez, Ivan Trujillo, David Martin del Campo and Pavel Cortés will hold roundtable discussions on the film and its cultural and historical significance at Biblioteca Los Mangos.
• A Talk / Coffee with Nelly Wulff, Jan Lavender, Laura Quiroz, Luis Reyes Brambila, Marcella Lepe, and Sergio Toledano - Vallartenses who witnessed the filming of the movie and its aftermath will be held at Biblioteca Los Mangos.
• Since John Huston is a legend and Puerto Vallarta is honored to be part of his past, a 'John Huston International Film and Literature Chair' will be created at the CUC.
Regardless of its artistic and entertainment value, one of the most remarkable features of "Night of the Iguana" is its journalism. The movie does an extraordinary job of capturing sense of place. The jungle, beaches, tropical heat and humidity, and the blend of outsiders and locals are all very accurately represented. Shot 50 years ago, the film is an invaluable peek back in time at Puerto Vallarta and its surrounding areas.
By: Marie Callan
