Puerto Vallarta Mexico has it all for family vacation fun
Puerto Vallarta Mexico is jam packed with sun and fun for the whole family. Being a beach destination, just about every water sport you can imagine is available. Choose from romping in the surf, swimming, snorkeling, wind surfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, riding the waves on a surf board, jet skiing, parasailing and a variety of other water-based adventure sports. There are also excursions aboard a small boat called a panga, which is similar to a dugout canoe. This is a fun and unique way to check out the private beaches and small jungle towns south of Puerto Vallarta.
When it’s time to take a break from all the coastal water fun, there are plenty of family-friendly activities that don’t involve getting wet in the ocean, including:
• Horseback riding on the beach
• Whale watching in Banderas Bay where humpback whales come to mate and have their young each year
• Seeing crocodiles up close at the reptilarium
• Taking in some non-beach water fun at a water park with wild and crazy slides that will entertain even the most skeptical teen
• Enjoying a bit of Mexican culture at an evening Fiesta that gives everyone a chance to experience native food, customs, music and dancing
And, of course there are also plenty of excursions that are well worth the time and ticket costs—a couple of which deserve special mention. First is the canopy tour in the lush jungle where the kids can swing from trees as if they were Tarzan. Second is the opportunity to swim with Pacific Bottlenose dolphins. Not only is this an experience the kids will remember for a long time, it’s also educational as guides share their knowledge of dolphin physiology and how they communicate with these highly intelligent mammals.
The family-friendly atmosphere doesn’t stop with the wide variety of things to do. Hotels, resorts and other options for accommodations cater to families with programs for children and other family-friendly features. The peak season for travel is November through April when the weather is most foul in the northern regions of the Western Hemisphere.
