Puerto Vallarta
By Debert Cook, CMP
PUERTO VALLARTA–WHERE MEXICO COMES TO LIFE
This beachfront destination is magical and every cape and cove awaits your discovery. A superb mix of pre-Columbian history and tradition unite with its Spanish mores, Catholicism and mosaic blend of contemporary cultures to provide a wonderful vacation experience.
The climate is perfect for golf year-round. Interesting enough, consider that it sits on the Costa Dorada of Mexico and is actually located on the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands (20 degrees north). In the summer, temperatures can reach 90 degrees and the humidity factor makes it seem even warmer. When planning your trip, keep this in mind, and know that the rainy season is June to September–with lots of rain in September!
Aeroméxico (AM) (www.aeromexico.com) is Mexico’s main airline and services Puerto Vallarta via JFK with a connection through Mexico City, in just under 5 hours. Your in-flight experience will be both enjoyable and memorable, as comfortable seats, tasty (and well-balanced) meals help you to totally relax–AeroMéxico has smartly engaged a team of prestigious international chefs to prepare menus that will delight just about any traveler on its international routes, as well as for Tourist Class and Premier Class.
Such pampering makes it easy for you to sit back and enjoy the complimentary in-flight bar service, available 11 a.m., offering great wines, beers, and terrific nonalcoholic drink options. Premier passengers are able to access the Air France lounge.
Aeromexico offers two flights leaving JFK daily and more than 400 daily flights alone, or 750 together with Aerolitoral, to 64 destinations in Mexico, North America, South America, Asia (Japan and Shanghai)and Europe. It has been ranked the most punctual airline worldwide for 11 consecutive years.
Vista Vallarta Club de Golf
This location encompasses two 18-hole, Par-72 championship golf courses:
Jack Nicklaus Course
The Jack Nicklaus course opened in 2001 (yardage: 7073) and is in pristine condition and challenging.
Jack Nicklaus Course
There are five sets of tees, and absolutely great for family play. However, it’s best to concentrate on your irons here and try to keep clear of the bunkers.
Jack Nicklaus Course
You’re likely to get truly excited when playing the par-5, third hole. It’s a challenging 550-yards and you need three accurately placed shots to get your ball onto the elevated green. Don’t get frustrated and tear up your score card, just take a deep breath, exhale and ‘believe’ in yourself.
The signature hole at the finish is a dogleg left and beautifully placed at 445-yards. The clubhouse view from here is phenomenal and you’ll marvel at he architecture and stunning scenery.
Weiskopf Course
Opened in 2001, following the Jalisco Governors Cup in November, the yardage is 6976. There are five sets of tees here and balls are easily lost in this rugged terrain saturated with the thick, tall, Tifdwarf grass, fast-running creeks and deep ravines.
Mexican Lizard
Mexican Lizards can be seen scrambling around in the bushes and out on the greens during play. And, with views of the foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, it’s a reminder of the beauty and nature that can be found in this lush destination.
Weiskopf Course Clubhouse
The Weiskopf course has in its history the 2002 EMC World Cup Golf Tournament and is regularly visited by locals and tourists who seek to reclaim strokes. The golf experience that you will find here is very playable, so long as long as you remember that others (average and pros) have faced these same challenges and lived to talk, laugh (and cry) about them.
It’s a challenging layout and each hole is beautifully placed. Rates $194 with twilight deals.
Debert Cook, CMP, playing hole #6
More good reasons to visit Puerto Vallarta is for the multitude of colorful celebrations, processions and parades which are held throughout the year. At these events, the streets are filled with music, dancing, and theater performances and Tequila flows in abundance.
After your round, consider taking the Las Caletas by day tour. Once the private home of the famous film director John Huston, today it’s an exclusive “Garden of Eden” tropical beach hideaway on Bandera’s Bay. The jungle-clad site is full of a variety of birds and flora and set in a backdrop where you can enjoy an extraordinary day of sun, fun, and adventure.
While there you can choose between pure relaxation or gentle exploration in the unspoiled natural setting: kick-back on the beach, relax in the shade on a comfortable hammock, or indulge in a therapeutic body massage or facial at our hilltop Spa Center.
On land, hone your culinary skills by taking a Paella cooking lesson; enjoy a free guided nature walk through the jungle, orchid gardens and interactive parrot center, or explore the natural amphitheater and the Mayan Pyramid that serves as center stage for the contemporary dance performance Rhythms of the Night tour.
San Sebastian del Oeste is known for its strong-hold between the 1600’s and 1930’s, when gold and silver were mined there intermittently. Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Madre Mountains, its remote location and historic appeal have made it one of Mexico’s last great getaways.
It’s a 90-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta to this 17th century mining town [elevation 4500 ft.], which can only be reached through a narrow, winding mountain road. Along the way, you’ll enjoy fantastic scenery and typical scenes of rural Mexican life, making the journey both breathtaking and relaxing.
Today, although the “gold fever” has long gone, locals still cultivate corn, cattle, coffee and agave on the mountainside.
The Westin Resort Hotel & SPA (beachfront)
For accommodations, I recommend The Westin Resort Hotel & SPA. It lives up to great standards here. Sitting on 21 acres with 879 feet of private Pacific Ocean beach, its splendor is reachable just minutes from the international airport and downtown Puerto Vallarta.
You can start your day early, rising from The Heavenly Bed® and head over for the WestinWORKOUT® Gym, outdoor tennis courts, and follow with a round of golf. Not to worry, the Westin Spa will wrap you in tranquility and your Heavenly Bed® will be waiting when you return.
