Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is known for its stunning beaches, amazing nightlife, and rich culture, and is a perfect place for a group trip. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Puerto Vallarta with 67 of my colleagues to celebrate the hard work we have accomplished over the past year. We stayed at the Westin Resort near the marina.
Upon arrival I immediately headed to the beach bar to sit back, relax and enjoy tacos, a shrimp burrito, chips and salsa and of course a margarita. It was delicious.
For dinner a few of us decided to take a walk along the famous Malecón, a picturesque promenade that runs along the oceanfront. The walk was enjoyable with the warm sea breeze, the sound of the waves, and the beautiful sunset. After the walk, we had dinner at La Palapa, a popular restaurant known for its traditional Mexican cuisine and our table was right on the edge of the boardwalk overlooking the beach. I ordered a pear salad and mole enchiladas, and I have to say, it was one of the best Mexican dishes I have ever had.
The following day, I treated myself to a 90-minute massage at the Millenium Spa in the marina, and it was the best spa experience. I didn’t want to leave. On our way back to the hotel we grabbed a quick bite at El Callejon. The tacos and sopas were so good.
Later that night, we met at the hotel bar prior to dinner and I asked the bartender to make my new favorite margarita. I call it an Italian margarita he called it a Gold Margarita. It’s simple:
- 2.5 oz freshly squeezed orange juice about 1 large orange
- 1 oz fresh lime juice about 1 lime
- 1 oz Blanco tequila
- 1 oz Amaretto
We had a small group dinner at Almacen Cocktails, it was energetic, lots of fun and the food was delicious. I tried grilled octopus and salmon, and it was amazing. The live entertainment didn’t disappoint. The singer wore sparkle pants and she could sing any song and sound incredible. We danced in our chairs and sang the night away, it was a great way to bond with my colleagues. We walked the market along the marina on our way back to the hotel.
The next day, was all about the sun and the beach. We spent part of the day lounging in the cabanas. We later had a team building activity that involved quite the scavenger hunt that took us to every corner of the Westin as well as the marina. I found myself on the most competitive team, hence winning 1st place. It didn’t go without making memories. All I remember was a very crazy and unforgetable Uber ride.
For dinner, we enjoyed the Alma, By Rhythms of The Night show. It started with an hour boat ride to the southern tip of the city and on our way we saw a pod of humpback whales. It was amazing. Rebecca and I made sure that the captain knew we had a special b-day on board and they pulled no stops in making sure we all celebrated. Happy 50th to Julie! We arrived at the dock and were escorted to a buffet dinner. I felt I had stepped into the living room of the Swiss Family Robinson.
After dinner we watched a stunning performance filled with music, dance, and acrobatics. The ride back on the boat was epic. And by epic I mean epic. We took over the first floor and we danced and sang to our hearts content. Somehow I even convinced people to start a dancing train. Whoever was on point for the music, they nailed it because song after song people kept getting up to dance.
Every morning the breakfast buffet was quite overwhelming with every option you can imagine. I had my eye on the french toast all week and decided to take the plunge and try it. It was hands down the best french toast I have ever had. After they grilled the bread they covered it in cinnamon sugar. I literally died and went to heaven. Why did I wait on the last day to try this!?!
The weather didn’t quite cooperate as it mostly rained so I found myself sneaking away to try the sushi rolls I had been dreaming about from 2 nights prior only to find the kitchen didn’t open until 4pm. So I did what any normal person would do, I waited…and it was worth it.
Before dinner we wanted to capture a group shot at sunset on the beach. We headed to the marina for our final evening to enjoy an assortment of dishes shared between Viña & Salvatore´s Wine Bar and Los Mariachiles.
The next morning Emily showed me where the crabs like to hang out on the rocks they were crawling all over the place and as we were leaving we saw iguanas all over the pool. YIKES!
My trip to Puerto Vallarta was a trip to remember. It was nice to connect with colleagues and enjoy the sun, sips and seafood. I would highly recommend Puerto Vallarta to anyone looking for a fun, relaxing, and culturally rich getaway.
