Jeri's Guidebook
Beach Scene
These are fun beaches to hang out at for an afternoon!
There are several important things about this beach. It is where you catch a water taxi to go to other beaches to the south, such as Las Animas and Quimoxto, You can also hire a panga boat to go fishing or sightseeing along the shore. It is also the beginning of the hiking trail to Los Colomitos/Las Animas. There are several restaurants on the beach as well, this is a true Mexican experience type of place!
90 locals recommend
Boca de Tomatlan
There are several important things about this beach. It is where you catch a water taxi to go to other beaches to the south, such as Las Animas and Quimoxto, You can also hire a panga boat to go fishing or sightseeing along the shore. It is also the beginning of the hiking trail to Los Colomitos/Las Animas. There are several restaurants on the beach as well, this is a true Mexican experience type of place!
This is a great beach only about 10 minutes south of the condo. There are 4 or 5 rustic restaurants...be selective, the restauranteers can be aggressive, and make sure to look at the menu before you decided where to stop as some do not have prices and will charge you whatever! But it’s a great spot! There are several massage places, and a place you can rent kayaks and paddle boards. This is a great place to spend a day.
48 locals recommend
Mismaloya Beach
This is a great beach only about 10 minutes south of the condo. There are 4 or 5 rustic restaurants...be selective, the restauranteers can be aggressive, and make sure to look at the menu before you decided where to stop as some do not have prices and will charge you whatever! But it’s a great spot! There are several massage places, and a place you can rent kayaks and paddle boards. This is a great place to spend a day.
If you are the adventurous type, this is a fun day. Catch a water taxi at Boca de Tomatlán and go to Las Animas. The restaurant El Coral is a great spot to find a chair and spend the day playing in the water, walking the beach, and eating the delicious food and drinks of the restaurant. Or you can hike there from Boca...it takes around 2 hours and is a gorgeous hike in the jungle and along the ocean.
61 locals recommend
Las Animas Beach
If you are the adventurous type, this is a fun day. Catch a water taxi at Boca de Tomatlán and go to Las Animas. The restaurant El Coral is a great spot to find a chair and spend the day playing in the water, walking the beach, and eating the delicious food and drinks of the restaurant. Or you can hike there from Boca...it takes around 2 hours and is a gorgeous hike in the jungle and along the ocean.
Food scene
We love this little restaurant, it has great seafood at phenomenal prices. I love the bacon wrapped shrimp and my husband has the special fish filet smothered in seafood sauce.
6 locals recommend
El Jacalito
5002 Carr. a Barra de NavidadWe love this little restaurant, it has great seafood at phenomenal prices. I love the bacon wrapped shrimp and my husband has the special fish filet smothered in seafood sauce.
There is a beach side restaurant in this condo complex. You can walk here, it is maybe a 7 minute walk to the south. There is live music on Monday and Friday evenings. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and the food is OK, but the setting is lovely and it is close by.
Condominio Girasoles Sur
2354 Carr. Costera a Barra de NavidadThere is a beach side restaurant in this condo complex. You can walk here, it is maybe a 7 minute walk to the south. There is live music on Monday and Friday evenings. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and the food is OK, but the setting is lovely and it is close by.
Our favorite restaurant. They serve amazing steak and seafood. I LOVE the shrimp crepes!
12 locals recommend
Chenan2
520b Lázaro CárdenasOur favorite restaurant. They serve amazing steak and seafood. I LOVE the shrimp crepes!
Great beach restaurant to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner or stop by and have a drink. Dinner on the beach is romantic.
16 locals recommend
Langostinos Restaurant & Bar
109 Manuel M. DieguezGreat beach restaurant to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner or stop by and have a drink. Dinner on the beach is romantic.
Nacho Daddy
287 Basilio BadilloFun sports bar with great Tex-Mex food.
Los Muertos Brewing
302 Lázaro CárdenasExcellent brewery with great food and pizza.
We love this restaurant, the food is good and the atmosphere is fun! There are 3 men that play guitar and sing, they are fantastic.
72 locals recommend
Margarita Grill
321 Pino SuárezWe love this restaurant, the food is good and the atmosphere is fun! There are 3 men that play guitar and sing, they are fantastic.
Love this little gem along the river on the Isla Cuale. They have delicious food and every afternoon from 1-3 there is fabulous live music. There is music on some evenings as well. You will love it here!
BabelBar
31 Isla Río CualeLove this little gem along the river on the Isla Cuale. They have delicious food and every afternoon from 1-3 there is fabulous live music. There is music on some evenings as well. You will love it here!
There is a reason the line to get in is so long....they have the best tacos in town. If you can catch a time where the line isn’t too long, take advantage!
158 locals recommend
Pancho's Takos
162 Basilio BadilloThere is a reason the line to get in is so long....they have the best tacos in town. If you can catch a time where the line isn’t too long, take advantage!
Groceries
These are the places closest to get groceries.
There is a small store at the entrance to the complex, to the left of the entrance. They carry small selections of chips, candy, canned goods, rice, some fruits and veggies, wine and liquor and soda, sun tan lotion and a few sundries. If you need one or two things in a hurry, this is a good spot.
Condominio Girasoles Sur
2354 Carr. Costera a Barra de NavidadThere is a small store at the entrance to the complex, to the left of the entrance. They carry small selections of chips, candy, canned goods, rice, some fruits and veggies, wine and liquor and soda, sun tan lotion and a few sundries. If you need one or two things in a hurry, this is a good spot.
This is an awesome outdoor Mexican market where you can get fresh fruits and veggies, cheeses, milk, rice, beans, fresh tortillas, meat, seafood. Fun experience shopping here, a real Mexican experience!
61 locals recommend
Emiliano Zapata Market
This is an awesome outdoor Mexican market where you can get fresh fruits and veggies, cheeses, milk, rice, beans, fresh tortillas, meat, seafood. Fun experience shopping here, a real Mexican experience!
Costco Wholesale
134 Av Fluvial VallartaIn case you love Costco, there is one.
This is a beautiful grocery store located next door to Costco. If the outdoor rustic market is not for you, then this is as close to an American/Canadian grocery store as you can get.
65 locals recommend
La Comer Fluvial
63 Av Fluvial VallartaThis is a beautiful grocery store located next door to Costco. If the outdoor rustic market is not for you, then this is as close to an American/Canadian grocery store as you can get.
Mega Super
1800 Av. Francisco Medina AscencioSightseeing
This is a beautiful park that is currently being transformed with beautiful tile mosaics. You will pass this park if you are walking along the Malecón in Old Town
10 locals recommend
Lazaro Cardenas Park
146 Venustiano CarranzaThis is a beautiful park that is currently being transformed with beautiful tile mosaics. You will pass this park if you are walking along the Malecón in Old Town
Day or night, it is always fun to walk the Malecón. There are shops, restaurants, street stands in the evening, and entertainment.
770 locals recommend
Malecon Puerto Vallarta
S/N Paseo Díaz OrdazDay or night, it is always fun to walk the Malecón. There are shops, restaurants, street stands in the evening, and entertainment.
Shopping
Places I love to shop!
Ucho Bali
159 20 de NoviembreBest place for beach cover-ups! Huge variety and super prices.
Cassandra Shaw Jewelry
276 Basilio BadilloUnique handmade jewelry.
Carol's Boutique
250 Basilio BadilloGreat cotton clothes at great prices.
No Name Boutique
931 Paseo Díaz OrdazOn the Malecón....great shoes and beautiful clothes.