Jalisco

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta lies right in the middle of Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Flags), the largest natural bay in Mexico, with 100 miles of coastline. Despite the inevitable transformation into a modern-day city, no effort has been spared to preserve the town's unique character. Strolling along the narrow cobblestone streets and the traditional plazas, or standing in front of the impressive church and white houses with red tile roofs, you will feel part of both Mexico's present and past. Along the Malecón, you can admire the sculptures that have become symbols of the city and treasured landmarks, as well as restaurants, shops and a small museum. With twenty-five miles of beautiful beaches and soft waves, average temperatures around of 27 ºC, and 345 sunny days a year, Puerto Vallarta is the place to visit.

Amongst the main attractions we strongly advise to visit Mismaloya Beach, a favourite celebrity spot, which was internationally known thanks to John Huston who filmed the famous "Night of the Iguana" staring Ava Gardner and Richard Burton. For scuba divers the hot sport is Los Arcos with its impressive rock formations that emerge from the crystal clear waters of the bay. Other attractions include the Municipal Palace with murals of Manuel Lepe and the promenade, which has been revamped with romantic bronze sculptures. The city's centre streets are packed with independent shops and galleries with work by local artists. Marina Vallarta offers top quality service for yachts and sailing boats; it also features one of the region's best golf courses as well as designer's shops and boutiques.

Puerto Vallarta is famous for its golf courts. The Marina Vallarta Golf Club is an 18-hole course designed by Joe Finger with numerous challenges such as waterfalls, palm trees and natural lagoons. The Vista Vallarta Golf Club, encompasses two 18-hole, 72-par championship golf courses: the first is a Signature Design by Jack Nicklaus, and the neighbouring course is a Signature Design by Tom Weiskopf; both offer breathtaking views of Puerto Vallarta. The Punta de Mita Golf Club, also designed by Jack Nicklaus, landscaped with 1,800 palm trees and framed by dunes and vast sand bunkers. Puerto Vallarta is also quite interesting for horse riding, mountain biking, tennis, biking, swimming with dolphins, whale watching and other activities. Like Canopy - that is a truly thrilling ecological experience that offers you the unique opportunity to glide through the treetops on a network of cables suspended high above the jungle trails in Puerto Vallarta's tropical forest.

Puerto Vallarta is the perfect place for water sports activities. The waters off Vallarta rank among the best in the world for deep-sea and small game fishing. Sailfish and blue marlin are abundant inside the Bay, but the best season for fishing is November through May. You can catch plenty of red snapper, roosterfish, sea bass, dorado, tuna, bonito, and a few other species year round. The best spots for diving are "Los Arcos" and Majahuita, with its wonderful coves where you can easily dive to the shallow reefs. The vast coral reefs and well-defined tunnels in the Marietas and in the Morro Islands are also among the best places to dive. Punta Mita instead is the place to ride a really wild surf. Sayulita, and Destiladeras with its long waves, are also good for surfing. You can ride a banana boat, parasail, rent a boat, motorboat or mini-speedboat, or go for the sailboard, boogie board, straight surf board, or wave runner at most hotel beaches.

Guadalajara

Guadalajara is the capital of the State of Jalisco and the second largest city of México. It is known worldwide for its folklore, the renowned Mariachi, handcrafts, tequila and the national sport, charrería. Few cities can offer such a variety of interesting things to see and do, involving the visitors in a cultural, historical and legendary atmosphere. You can begin your enchantment by visiting the Historical Centre and its magnificent buildings. The rich colonial legacy can be seen all over the city, including the Cathedral, featuring the symbol that has become emblematic of Guadalajara, its towers. Tlaquepaque and Tonalá are located out of the city limit, both towns are worldwide known for the quality and wide variety of its handcraft.

Tequila and Amatitán

Not far away from Guadalajara, in the state of Jalisco, are the neighbouring towns of Amatitán and Tequila. These are places of grand tradition where the agave plant is cultivated, from which the juice is extracted and fermented and results in the beverage known internationally as tequila. In the small village Tequila you will have the opportunity to get to know the fittings of the six oldest tequila factories in the country. Do not miss visiting the Museo Nacional del Tequila (National Tequila Museum) where, through its collections, you will gain understanding regarding the cultural values of the tequila region - recently declared a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO.