We are so lucky to have visitors with us in Puerto Vallarta - Lisa's sister and her husband. They are visiting us for the week, and it is wonderful to have people here with us so we can show off our Puerto Vallarta experience.
We have enjoyed some fun exploring of the city, relaxing walks along the shore, hanging out at the beach, visiting some of our favorite local restaurants, and relaxing on our balcony watching breathtaking sunsets.
Today we decided on a different kind of adventure. We rented a car so we could explore areas north of PV. Our first stop was the very busy and wildly popular surf town of Sayulita. It is a cute town with a very nice beach and bay, but it is crowded. TONS of tourists. We parked the car just outside of town, and walked some of the center streets before visiting the beautiful beach area. There are lots of surfers in the waters (almost all of them beginners), and the beach is full of umbrellas, loungers, tables and chairs.
We had heard there is a cool cemetery just north of the beach, so we walked there, which allowed us to get away from the crowds. We found a somewhat quiet restaurant with a deck overlooking the beach, so we stopped for a drink and some guacamole. A nice place to sit back and take in the views.
Our next stop was the charming village of San Francisco. Lisa and I had visited here about 30 years ago on our first ever visit to Puerto Vallarta. Boy, has it changed. Instead of one restaurant near the village square, there are loads of restaurants and shops. Lots of umbrellas and loungers on the beach, but not the massive crowds of Sayulita. One thing that hasn't changed is the incredible beach. It is long and deep, with cliffs on either end. The waves hitting the shore are mesmerizing. We walked almost the entire length of the beach.
We decided to take the long way back, so we drove the coastal road down towards Punta Mita. There are a lot of luxury resorts in this area so it was hard to see what the beaches are like, but we assume they are beautiful. We stopped by the busy town of Bucerias and had a look at the main square and beach area. It was packed with vendors selling cheap souvenirs, and tourists filled the beaches. But the sand and water are nice, and the views back to Puerto Vallarta are really great.
We returned to our condo in plenty of time to enjoy an epic sunset. One of the best yet!
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