| Puerto Vallarta, Mexico has become one of the | | | | cruising to Vallarta, let's explore just what |
| most popular tourist resort destinations in the | | | | happens to these tourists as they arrive in |
| world. Because Vallarta is located along the | | | | Paradise. |
| Mexican Riviera on the Pacific Ocean, a substantial | | | | As the tourists disembark from the commercial |
| portion of these tourists arrive by boat; the | | | | cruise liners or their private yachts, they are first |
| majority in large cruise ships, however many | | | | greeted by the friendly faces of English speaking |
| come in their private yachts. | | | | Mexicans. Because the local economy is based |
| Ten years ago, a cruise ship would arrive in | | | | solely on tourism, almost everyone is now |
| Vallarta every other day. At certain times during | | | | speaking some degree of English and therefore |
| the "high season" of November through May | | | | communication is never an obstacle in Vallarta. |
| when the average temperature is 73°F with | | | | Friendly faces as revealed in the Conde Nast |
| virtually no chance of rain, cruise ships would | | | | survey of its readers, where Vallarta was voted |
| arrive two days in a row. | | | | the friendliest resort destination in the world. |
| Five years ago, the popularity of cruising and | | | | Of all things, those arriving by cruise ships first |
| specifically cruising to the Mexican Riviera, reached | | | | see a Sam's Club, a Mega Wal-Mart, and a huge |
| a point where you could find a cruise liner at the | | | | new modern shopping center; probably not what |
| Puerto Vallarta Marine Terminal almost every day, | | | | they would expect to see in a sleepy little |
| and sometimes, a second cruise liner anchored in | | | | Mexican fishing village! They soon discover that |
| Banderas Bay. Passengers from the anchored ship | | | | Vallarta is no longer sleepy or little, in that its |
| were then shuttled to shore by small tenders. | | | | population has exploded to 350,000 inhabitants and |
| Two years ago, you could count on at least one | | | | is projected to reach 600,000 by the year 2015. |
| cruise ship every day in Vallarta and often find | | | | Unfortunately, those arriving by cruise ships are |
| another one or two ships anchored in the bay. | | | | generally allowed only about eight hours in town |
| The traffic was so heavy at the Marine Terminal | | | | before the ship cruises out on its journey to the |
| that the authorities in Vallarta started construction | | | | next Mexican Riviera port. While in town, they are |
| on the new Maritime Terminal. | | | | given many options in the way of city activities |
| Construction of the new Maritime Terminal in | | | | and tours. Some opt to play golf on any of the |
| Puerto Vallarta was completed in early 2007, thus | | | | seven magnificent courses; others might want to |
| tripling the cruise passenger capacity. Today, you'll | | | | take a four hour deep sea fishing trip or play |
| usually see at least two cruise ships docked at | | | | tennis on any of the hundreds of tennis courts. |
| the Maritime Terminal and frequently three. | | | | Some take jungle safaris, ATV trips through the |
| Cruising to Vallarta has become so popular that | | | | Sierra Madre Mountains, or go whale watching, |
| there are times during the "high season" when a | | | | snorkeling, or swimming with the dolphins Those |
| fourth ship has to anchor in the bay! With an | | | | less ambitious tourists take sight seeing bus tours |
| average of close to 2,000 passengers per ship, | | | | through the city and then into the fine |
| this results in anywhere from 4,000 to 8,000 | | | | neighborhoods where the multi-million dollar |
| tourists arriving daily by cruise ship. | | | | haciendas and villas are nestled among the hillsides |
| (As a side note of interest, the Puerto Vallarta | | | | overlooking Banderas Bay. |
| International Airport was recently quadrupled in | | | | The majority of these cruisers merely catch one |
| size in order to accommodate the flights that are | | | | of the thousands of taxis and head into town for |
| arriving and departing all day, everyday.) | | | | a day of strolling along the Malecon by the beach, |
| Now that we have a feel for the volume of | | | | shopping the many boutique stores, or dining in |
| cruising tourists arriving daily in Vallarta by | | | | any of the hundreds of fine restaurants. |
| commercial cruise liners, let's consider those | | | | Regardless of what the cruisers do during their |
| arriving by private yachts. | | | | short stay in Vallarta, they are all treated with |
| Ten years ago, Puerto Vallarta was the home to | | | | dignity, respect, and friendliness and therefore are |
| a beautiful 400 slip Marina for private yachts | | | | eager to return for a longer visit the next time. |
| ranging in size from 30ft to well over 100ft. There | | | | The taste of Vallarta is so addictive, that in all |
| was also a marina in Nuevo Vallarta with 380 slips | | | | probability, their next visit will be by air and will last |
| for smaller boats up to 30ft long. | | | | for a week or longer. |
| Due to the recent demand for additional slips, | | | | Those that come in their private yachts generally |
| larger slips, and yachting related services, a | | | | stay for longer periods of time. In fact, the quality |
| number of significant new marina construction | | | | of life is so great in Vallarta, that many of those |
| projects have been undertaken; some of which | | | | fortunate individuals, who could afford to live |
| have been completed, some currently under | | | | anywhere in the world, have just docked their |
| construction, and some still in the planning stages. | | | | yachts in Vallarta and made this their winter |
| For example, the beautiful Nuevo Vallarta Marina | | | | residence. After all, Mexico was recently ranked |
| now has nearly 250 slips for yachts ranging from | | | | the top retirement destination in the world by |
| 30ft to 120ft long. The modern $50 million Marina | | | | International Living Magazine and Puerto Vallarta is |
| Riviera Nayarit, located in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, | | | | considered by many to be the most desirable city |
| is approximately 40% complete with nearly 400 | | | | in Mexico for retirement. |
| berths for yachts ranging from 30ft to 400ft. | | | | To sum it up; what happens when tourists cruise |
| Fonatur, Mexico's National Tourism Development | | | | to Vallarta is that they often become so |
| Trust, has planned a 150 slip marina in their Phase | | | | infatuated by the climate, the scenery of |
| 1 development program just north of Punta de | | | | mountains and ocean, the people, the cleanliness, |
| Mita. These marinas will increase the moorage | | | | the safety, the available activities, and the overall |
| capacity from 400 to well over 1,200 private | | | | quality of life, that they either return as soon as |
| yachts, thereby tripling the total volume of | | | | possible or they just stay, joining the other |
| tourists privately cruising to Vallarta. | | | | 50,000 North Americans that have made Puerto |
| Okay, now that we have a feel for the growth | | | | Vallarta their retirement home in Paradise. |
| of the Vallarta area and the volume of tourists | | | | |