Visiting Puerto Vallarta - Part 31

MARINA VALLARTA continued:-

Marina Vallarta should not be confused with the Maritime Terminal where the cruise ships dock. The Puerto Vallarta Maritime Terminal is located several minutes south of the Marina Vallarta neighbourhood across from the Galerias Vallarta Mall and the Walmart/Sams Club complex. Public access to the beach areas of Marina Vallarta is limited to one access point near the airport. Those having best access to the beach areas of Marina Vallarta are residents and guests of the beachfront condo complexes and resorts. Parking in the area is also limited, especially around the marina’s restaurants and shops.

Additional amenities within Marina Vallarta include Plaza Neptuno shopping mall, many large condominium complexes, private homes, and several 5-star hotels. Resorts include the Mayan Palace Puerto Vallarta, Melia Puerto Vallarta, Flamingo Vallarta Hotel, Westin Resort & Spa, Marriott Casa Magna Puerto Vallarta, Vamar Vallarta, Velas Vallarta Suites Resort and Casa Velas Boutique Hotel. Along its boardwalk, there are cafes, a Starbucks, top-notch restaurants, bars, gift shops, two OXXO convenience stores, a bakery, a bike shop, and several art galleries. Vallarta Adventures, as mentioned earlier, has an office in Marina Vallarta.

A great new addition to Marina Vallarta is an important work of art that has just been installed along the length of a long stretch of wall on Paseo de Bocanegra. This colourful masterpiece is a unique mosaic art creation by Natasha Moraga and her team of volunteers. This is the second instalment of her artwork in the city of Puerto Vallarta. The first instalment is located in the Romantic Zone on Pino Suarez and Basilio Badillo. While the wall was still in development donations could be made to fund the project by purchasing a wall tile. Donors can also choose to help fund a future mosaic wall by Natasha in another section of Puerto Vallarta.

During the high season, which is November to April, every Thursday evening there is a farmer’s market along the Marina Vallarta Promenade from 5 p. m. to 9 p. m. The farmers market is a recent addition to the activities available in Marina Vallarta. It normally consists of a number of vendor booths selling organic homemade foods, colourful artisan crafts, jewellery, purses, pottery, decorative items for the home, jams, nuts and other wonderful items. While all this is happening in the background there is often great live music and sometimes dancing.

A short distance, about a 5-minute taxi ride, from the neighbourhood of Marina Vallarta, is the Galerias Vallarta Shopping Mall which is anchored by the large department store Liverpool, it also has one of Puerto Vallarta’s movie theatres. Galerias Vallarta Shopping Mall is right next to the Walmart/Sam’s Club complex. If your time allows, or if it’s hot outside and you’d like to escape to an air-conditioned environment, then it’s worth taking the time to visit this Mall.

Visiting Puerto Vallarta continued in Part 32