A holiday is always a cause for celebration, and a holiday to Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco and Riviera Nayarit in Nayarit on Mexico’s Pacific Coast provides ample opportunity to celebrate in traditional, cultural experiences that are not to be missed.
Around this time of year, guests may already be aware of the Dia de los Muertos festival, or ‘Day of the Dead’, a holiday that honours deceased loved ones. At its core, it’s a macabre, somber event, but to experience it is something else entirely. Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit put on a full week of events, including youth choirs and traditional street decorations, while locals prepare vibrant sugar skulls and dress in stunning costumes for the street parades. Taking many iterations, especially across the United States, the Mexican celebrations are an authentic, traditional event not to be missed
Just a month later, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit’s Christmas celebrations are in full swing. Even with an average temperature of 23°C, visitors can still expect an abundance of Christmas Spirit, including decorated streets and classic Nativity scenes, and restaurants serving traditional fare such as tamales and ponche con piquet. 1st – 12th December is marked by the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which sets off a marathon of nightly parades and festivities across the region. From 16th – 24th December, the streets of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit are filled with the sights and sounds of ‘pastorelas’, or ‘shepherd’s plays’ and ‘posadas’, which sees families and children marching together in processions with lit candles to commemorate the story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
The start of the calendar year is also packed with local customs and traditional festivities to ensure you have a Mexican adventure with a difference. From the classics such as Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, guests will also find the Festival of San José del Cabo, an 11-day event that culminates in evening parties and music, and the Feast Day of San Antonio de Abad, wherein animals are allowed into Catholic churches to be blessed by priests.
For something a little different, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit have you covered; National Margarita Day is celebrated every February 22nd and there could be no better place to find yourself. The Malecon in Puerto Vallarta is home to some of the best bars in the country and the popular Nuevo Vallarta region of Riviera Nayarit, which is located just 10 minutes from Bucerias, has outstanding nightlife, so you can rest assured you will be enjoying the best margaritas on this designated day.
When you are planning your next holiday, just remember that there is no bad time to visit Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. With a year-round tropical climate and so many incredible festivals and traditions to take part in, this Mexican paradise is sure to be the venue of the holiday of your dreams.
For a full calendar of events, visit http://visitpuertovallarta.com/events and http://www.rivieranayarit.com/calendar_events
Getting There
Direct flights to Puerto Vallarta International Airport are available via Thomson Airlines (http://flights.thomson.co.uk) from London Gatwick and Manchester, AeroMexico via Mexico City from London Heathrow (www.aeromexico.uk.com/), and British Airways has direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, offering code share on its One World partner American Airlines (http://www.britishairways.com/).
About Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta, located in the state of Jalisco, is well-known for the preservation of its authentic Mexican traditions. The Pacific Coast port features 40 miles of coastline and a diverse topography, including tropical jungles, river beds, steep mountain sides and arid flatlands. Puerto Vallarta encompasses all of Banderas Bay on the Pacific coast of Mexico and is comprised of the following regions: Marina Vallarta, Hotel Zone, Downtown (El Centro) and the South Shore, with each region offering a distinctive charm that adds to the entire appeal of Puerto Vallarta.
For more information, visit www.visitpuertovallarta.com
