Nuevo Vallarta and Villa del Palmar Flamingos

In 2014 we were able to experience Mexican beaches at two popular vacation spots. Both spots Nuevo Vallarta and Playa del Carmen are new developments compared to the familiar names such as Puerta Vallarta and Cancun, but both are located on beaches near the familiar haunts we have always read about or visited before.

This page is about Nuevo Vallarta which began as a vacation development over 10 years ago. New Vallarta is about a 25 minute taxi ride from Puerto Vallarta airport. It is located on the expansive Banderas Bay. A natural bay that exclusively harbored fishing and farming villages till the mid 20th century when a famous movie, "Night of the Iguana" was filmed there.

One of the first impressions you get of the area is the iguana, bright green and beautiful when small, dusty looking and very large when full grown.

We stayed at the Villa del Palmar Flamingos, a very comfortable resort, with iguanas poolside, and enjoyed our stay to the max.

The new area developed for vacationing is also called Riviera Nayarit because it is in the Mexico state call Nayarit. Puerto Vallarta is located on the border of the two states of Jalisco and Nayarit. On a map looking from the coast you see the bay, and as you go inland there are fields of farming in a broad plain surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains.

The view from the jet was mesmerizing, and once we landed I knew we were in a vacation mecca. Lines were long at the airport and a gauntlet of day trip sellers have to be ignored, and last, finding your ride included with our hotel was very problematic, even if you speak Spanish.

This is the lobby of the Villa del Palmar on Flamingo Beach between Nuevo Vallarta and the very quaint town of Bucerias in Nayarit state about 25 minutes from the airport.

Currency exchange and experts for all your day trip needs.

This is the view directly from the lobby to the Pacific Ocean. Drops are falling from a water fountain. Canopy on the left is the restaurant with breakfast buffet in the morning and fine dining on the terrace or inside for the evening.

Also a grill eatery on the right side. The offerings rotate between three menus, so there is a variety of choices throughout your stay. Both eateries have full bars.

The food was excellent and always presented with chef style artistry. All the servers are male of all ages, and many speak English.

Why did I not take a ride on these friendly looking horses?

During our seven day vacation on the beach we enjoyed Puerto Vallarta old town and the new boardwalk along the beach with all old architecture shops and restaurants. We visited one of the new casinos the government is trying, We had fabulous food everywhere and rooms were refreshed everyday.

Almost everyday at the resort artisans set up jewelry and art of Mexico offered for browsing and buying. Two nights of stage shows.

Choice of rooms at the Palmar was suite with living room, full kitchen and balcony, or room with microwave and refrigerator with smaller balcony. Open arched hallways for viewing each time you leave your room. We did have to sit through a timeshare sale session.

This resort is very reminiscent of the Marriott Vacation Clubs. It has the lock off villas arrangement Identical to Ko Olinda in Oahu, the market, two eateries, towel check out, exercise room and spa, all with excellent service at every front.

It was convenient to go to the towns north and south of the resort, the one north being in walking distance with easy taxi service for a ride back to the resort after dark. I would go back to Villa del Palmar again and I admit that I would go to any of their other resorts in Mexico. I feel I would get all of the same amenities as it is a member of Interval International.

While I was thinking about and working on this photo essay I heard a favorite 80's song on the car radio while out and about. The 80's was the last decade we visited both Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. Is this song about Wolfman Jack, the radio personality?

We were not offered iguana in Mexico, but the restaurants are generous with tequila.

Have you gone to Mexico lately?