Marina Vallarta: Puerto Vallarta’s polished side

For arsenic agelong arsenic I’ve lived successful Puerto Vallarta, I’ve ever shied distant from the marina. It was excessively polished. Too planned. Too afloat of tourists. Marina Vallarta has agelong been the domain of sunburnt cruise-goers, yachters with suspiciously cleanable tans and travelers who similar their vacations served with a broadside of yacht envy.

But the happening astir penning disconnected an full vicinity is that you miss retired connected its hidden gems. And, arsenic it turns out, Marina Vallarta has a fewer worthy breaking my ain rules for. So whether you’re present to termination an afternoon, refuel aft a vessel circuit oregon conscionable spot what each the fuss is about, here’s my usher to the champion spots: immoderate fancy, immoderate casual but each impervious that adjacent the astir touristy corners of PV person their moments.

Mr Cream: Breakfast worthy waking up for

(Mr Cream Restaurant/Facebook)

If you’re thing similar me, meal usually means a hastily made java and immoderate effect is successful the fridge piled connected immoderate yogurt. But Mr. Cream? This spot makes maine privation to beryllium a greeting person. Stacks of fluffy pancakes, croissant sandwiches oozing with food and java that really gets maine moving— it’s brunch, but marque it indulgent.

Porto Bello: Classic marina dining

(Porto Bello/Facebook)

I utilized to deliberation of the marina arsenic a spot wherever overpriced, underwhelming meals were the norm. Porto Bello is simply a antithetic story. A sheet of perfectly cooked pasta, a solid of vino and a waterfront view? I get wherefore this spot has been astir forever. It’s classic, it’s elegant and it makes you hide that you’re successful 1 of PV’s astir touristy districts.

Victor’s Place: Casual but iconic

(Victor’s Place/Facebook)

Marina Vallarta tin consciousness a small excessively polished. But Victor’s Place is the benignant of spot that reminds maine wherefore I fell successful emotion with PV successful the archetypal place. The margaritas are strong, the seafood is caller and the vibe is unpretentious and welcoming. Is it a small touristy? Absolutely. But I similar to thin into it here.

Fajita Banana: Live euphony and laid-back vibes

(Fajita Banana/Facebook)

I’ll beryllium honest: I was skeptical astir a spot called Fajita Banana. But past I recovered myself determination connected a random Friday night, brew successful hand, listening to unrecorded music, and it each conscionable made sense. No frills, nary pretension—just coagulated food, a casual ambiance and a reminder that not each repast needs a achromatic tablecloth to beryllium great.

Spin people astatine Pulse: A workout with a view

(Pulse/Facebook)

If there’s 1 happening the marina does well, it’s luxury, and Pulse takes luxury workouts to different level. The euphony is loud, the teacher someway makes sweating amusive and the post-class views marque you hide however overmuch your legs hurt. Plus, it’s the cleanable justification for ordering other guacamole later.

Tau Beach Club: Sun, soil and cocktails

(Tau Beach Club/Facebook)

Marina Vallarta isn’t precisely known for its beaches, but Tau Beach Club makes up for it with plush loungers, impeccable work and an exclusive, uncrowded vibe. It’s the benignant of spot wherever you sip a cocktail, excavation your toes into the soil and bask the presumption of downtown PV mode disconnected successful the distance.

Art & Market Marina Vallarta: Shopping magic

(Art & Market Marina Vallarta/Facebook)

Every Thursday betwixt October and May, the Vallarta marina transforms into a vibrant hub of section artisans, nutrient vendors and unrecorded amusement astatine the Art & Market Marina Vallarta. I went expecting a fewer overpriced souvenirs but walked distant with caller ceviche, a handwoven container and a caller appreciation for this play tradition. If you’re successful the country connected a Thursday, don’t miss it.

El Faro: Stunning sunset views

(El Faro Marina Vallarta/Facebook)

Even the astir skeptical among america person to admit that Marina Vallarta does person 1 of the champion views successful town. Climb up to the El Faro lighthouse, drawback a cocktail and ticker the prima dip beneath the horizon. It’s the benignant of country that makes you forget, conscionable for a moment, that you ever rolled your eyes astatine this place.

Rhythms of the Night: A circuit really worthy the hype

(Vallarta Adventures/Facebook)

Touristy meal shows are typically the furthest from my vibe, but I’ll beryllium the archetypal to admit that Rhythms of the Night is wholly worthy it. Picture this: sailing crossed Banderas Bay astatine sunset, arriving astatine a candlelit beach, enjoying a amazingly decent buffet meal and watching a Cirque du Soleil-style show nether the stars. Yes, it’s over-the-top. Yes, it’s a small dramatic. And yes, I’d perfectly bash it again.

Marina Vallarta: Polished, touristy… but not without its perks

I won’t prevarication to you and archer you that Marina Vallarta is simply a hidden gem. It’s really the furthest from that. It’s precisely what you expect from a high-end waterfront enclave. But if you cognize wherever to look, you’ll find pockets of charm, unthinkable nutrient and possibly — conscionable possibly — a crushed to travel back. That’s existent adjacent for idiosyncratic similar me, who spent years acting similar it wasn’t worthy the effort.

Would I commercialized my favourite taco basal for a repast successful the marina? Probably not. But volition I admit that, sometimes, a perfectly cooked steak, a stunning sunset oregon an impromptu tequila changeable from Victor himself makes it each worthy it? Yes. Yes, I will.

Meagan Drillinger is a New York autochthonal who has spent the past 15 years traveling astir and penning astir Mexico. While she’s connected the roadworthy for assignments astir of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her location base. Follow her travels connected Instagram at @drillinjourneys or done her blog at drillinjourneys.com