My first visit to the country of Mexico was nothing short of memorable. I kayaked in the ocean for the first time, ate my heart out in guacamole, watched a mesmerizing lightning storm, and sipped coconuts while beach clubbing. I was lucky enough to be invited by my boyfriend on this trip, who is a Software Engineer at a startup. His team spent some time in Puerto Vallarta, hacking and coding away building their stealth product. For the last few days of the trip, the plus ones arrived to the tropical destination!
Mode of Transportation
I traveled on the morning of Thursday, 9/1 and stayed through Monday, 9/5. The non-stop flight from the Bay Area to Puerto Vallarta was about 3.5 hours long. Make sure to fill out the paperwork given to you by the flight attendants on your way to Mexico - you will have to provide that with your passport once you get to customs. A private driver picked us up from the airport, ensuring a smooth arrival. There was a frenzy of drivers trying to sell transportation to travelers towards the exit. Keep walking through the crowd until you make your way outside of the airport. Your driver should have your name on a sign so you can locate them. Getting around Puerto Vallarta, we had taxis, private drivers, and used Uber. Keep cash on hand (USD or Pesos) so you can pay upfront!
The Villas
We stayed at Villa Mandarinas, a picturesque property with 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. The private estate has a chef, kitchen assistants, a bartender, housekeeping, and night security. The villas are all oceanside, providing astounding views from every room. For more information, check out their website or Instagram.
The Itinerary
Villa Mandarinas
Our stay at Villa Mandarinas was a five star experience. The property grounds serve as a private and relaxing oasis. Each villa is a different colored room, with a balcony that provides a bird’s eye view of the infinity pools and Pacific Ocean. We regularly gathered under the shade of the outside hut for lunch. The daily menu included tacos, ceviche, and drinks.
Our bartender Javier was very accommodating. Every wish for a piña colada, margarita, or Aperol Spritz was granted. We spent many of our days poolside, enjoying a refreshing drink in hand while snacking on chips and guacamole.
Villa Mandarinas has a lot of wildlife to spot, including iguanas and birds. We even saw the adorable house-lizard, Tooki, who is sadly missing an arm. That doesn’t stop him from living his best life in paradise! One thing I didn’t think about going into the trip was how many bug bites I would leave with. Since Puerto Vallarta is in the jungle, the mosquitos are well and alive. Luckily, our hosts had Off spray available for us to use.
The Infinity Pools
Villa Mandarinas has not one, but two oceanside infinity pools. There are lounge chairs, towels, umbrellas, and sunscreen for guests. The first infinity pool is in the common outdoor area, where we gathered for lunch and relaxing. I enjoyed swimming, socializing, and reading my book with this heavenly view. I brought the book The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which I couldn’t put down it was so good!
The second infinity pool was on the lower level of the villa estate. While taking a swim here, we witnessed two iguanas calling to one another! The cactus, lanterns and incredible ocean views here made for stunning photos.
From every angle of Villa Mandarinas, you can see the iconic Los Arcos that showcase across the ocean’s horizon. We ordered quesadillas, chips, and drinks to enjoy with the view.
Los Arcos National Marine Park
The three iconic granite rocks are located in the Banderas Bay. Los Arcos translates to ‘arches.’ Some of the large rocks have arch like openings, giving it the name los arcos. To get to this site, you will need to kayak or get there by boat. There is rich marine life at this location, including coral reefs, exotic fish, rays, and pelicans flying overhead. If you plan on jumping in, make sure you are snorkel ready!
Restaurante Campomar
On my first night of the trip, we enjoyed dinner at this boho styled restaurant. The interior design made for a fun dining experience.
They served fresh seafood, including giant lobsters, fish, and shrimp. Although we did not order the lobster, we couldn’t help but stop and stare.
Strana
Following dinner, we ordered Ubers to the night club Strana, which was 5 minutes down the road from the restaurant. One of Trevor’s best friends from high school, Brodin, was coincidentally vacationing in Puerto Vallarta. He joined us for this night outing, where we danced the night away. We sat in a private area right behind the DJs. The nightclub is full of performers, musicians, and light shows. The staff was super friendly, even dancing with us!
Kayaking the Pacific Ocean
Villa Mandarinas offers its guests kayaks and other sea activity gear. Trevor and I adventured on the ocean by kayak. We crossed the bridge on the estate property and made our way down the ladder, where a staff member helped us board into our kayaks. Be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen for this excursion.
We stayed out on the water for an hour, enjoying the surroundings. This was my first time kayaking in the ocean, and it was definitely harder than my experience on a lake. The currents are stronger and the waves a little more choppy - especially after a speed boat passed by. I recommend taking a dramamine if you are prone to motion sickness. However, we really enjoyed the adventure!
La Leche Almacen Gourmet
This restaurant was whimsical, as the entire interior is white. Be sure to dress in a pop of color to stand out! Make your reservation for this special dinner experience in advance to ensure you get to visit. Between the unique ambiance, incredible food, drinks, and dessert, I highly recommend dining at La Leche. Do not miss out on the chocolate tres leches cake - it was the best dessert I had while in Puerto Vallarta 🤩
Playa Majahuitas
We dressed in trendy beach wear and boarded our van from our villas, which took us to Playa Mismaloya. From here, we jumped onto a boat taxi for a 20 minute ride, taking us to our destination.
We were given wristbands at check-in, then were escorted to our reserved table. We sipped on wine and fresh coconuts while snacking on shrimp and quesadillas. I know this may come as an odd recommendation, but make sure to use the bathroom at the beach club. The walk there is an enchanting jungle experience that will make for plenty of good photo opportunities. They even had face paint set up that we all participated in.
We greatly enjoyed our time at Playa Majahuitas! From swinging, dancing, swimming, and laughing, it was a day that I’ll never forget. We made our way back to the taxi boat, where we caught a beautiful orange sunset.
Meals at the Villa
The private chef at Villa Mandarinas deserves high praise. Everyday, we were lucky to be served fresh breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We would gather all together in the dining hall of the estate to enjoy our plates. Dinners were served as a three course meal, with a beautiful presentation. This particular night, we had an amazing mole dish. The chef is accommodating to all dietary needs with advanced notice.
Yacht Day
On the final day of the trip, we enjoyed a mini yacht excursion. We boarded the boat from The Marina and made our way out to sea. We spotted a sea turtle from the upper deck 🐢
Our boat passed by Los Arcos, where I was able to see the arched rocks up close. Unfortunately, several us started feeling unwell. At the halfway point of the excursion, a few of us boarded off the boat to Playa Mismaloya, where we took a cab back to the villas to relax and rest on land.
The Final Sunset
Our last night included a final meal at the villa. Feeling a bit somber that our time was coming to an end, we sat outside to watch one more sunset together. Following the sunset was a heavy tropical storm. Lightning struck the horizon, as well as loud thunder and thick rain. It was a memorable way to end such a fantastic trip.
My first visit to Mexico was full of oceanside views, exquisite cuisine, and colorful sunsets. I got to experience the jungles of Puerto Vallarta with an incredibly kind and generous group of people. I made new friends and a lot of memories that I will cherish forever. I can’t recommend visiting this vibrant place enough and hope to be back again!