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Puerto Vallarta was unique to me out of the three ports due to the fact that the land beyond the beach was green and lush. We chose to book one of the excursions through our ship, taking us on an early morning catamaran ride to Mahajuitas for snorkeling, then to a little fishing village called Yelapa. The village is only accessible by boat so it is free of crowds. More on Yelapa later.
We got up really early for the boat ride out of port. It was a beautiful morning, and it felt good to have the fresh sea air whipping across my body. We stopped along the way to view two islands covered in birds. Pelicans & blue-footed boobies were in abundance. These islands were also very stinky.
Our next stop was Mahajuitas where we went snorkeling. Despite seeing jellyfish everywhere, I took the plunge, and boy was I rewarded. Our guide dove down to the bottom and picked up a blow fish. Of course it inflated itself instantly. It was almost the size of a basketball! He also found a spiny puffer fish. They were both very stunning creatures. Not too long after that we saw a school of at least 50 manta rays cruising along the ocean floor. It was definitely a tremendous sight! David and I took photos that I'll post as soon as I get my hands on them. It was definitely one of the best snorkeling experiences that I've had.
Our last stop of the tour was Yelapa, the fishing village that I mentioned earlier. The plan was to hike up through the village to a waterfall in the rainforest. There were some beautiful sights along the way.
Harbor in Yelapa.
A Kafferboom tree.
David captured this cute little puppy along the way.
More blankets for sale.
An incredible tree.
The way of life in Yelapa.
Yelapa Waterfall.
Coconut palm.
David, exploring Yelapa.
We spent a little bit of time at Yelapa Waterfall and then continued on our journey to the beach. I got a sneak preview along the way...
When we got to the beach, I walked around for a while, finding plenty of stuff to shoot. It wasn't crowded, and turquoise waters crashed against the coarse sand on the shore. Plenty of beach chairs were spread out, just waiting to be occupied.
David and I took a seat to enjoy two of our favorite Mexican beverages, relaxed, and played in the water until it was time to leave.
On the ride back, the catamaran turned into a party boat. The bar was open, the music was rockin', and the sun was shining. It was definitely an amazing way to end our exploration of the Mexican Riviera. So until my next adventure...
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