Winter (Sun) Wonderland
Now that summer is done and the leaves are on the turn, the UK is already starting to feel the cold bite of winter. But for those who aren’t quite ready to pack away the shorts just yet, we know the ideal haven for a spot of winter sun.
The neighbouring regions of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and Riviera Nayarit, Nayarit have everything you could hope for in a winter sun destination. Situated on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, they enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine every year and an average annual temperature of 28 ºC.
With more than 200 miles of combined coastline, there is ample opportunity to soak up the sun this winter. Whether it’s on the blue-flag awarded Playa Nuevo Vallarta Norte and Marina Riviera Nayarit La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, or in the privacy of the uninhabited Marietas Islands and Hidden Beach, you can be sure to enjoy paradise.
Even without a white Christmas, you can still get festive in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. There are plenty of posadas, (that’s Christmas parties to you and me), as well as the traditional Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the beginning of the month, where masses of “Vallartenses” parade through the town. Traditions like this are rife in Mexico, making for one of the most heart-warming Christmas seasons you will ever experience.
With a holiday to Mexico booked, you may have also forgotten to finish your Christmas shopping in your excitement – fear not, as it is the perfect region for everything you need. In Puerto Vallarta head to the Malecon, a half-mile promenade on the water’s edge, for unique gifts for your loved ones from local merchants and families; alternatively, if you need a gift for your travel companion, why not book one of the many food and drink tours that offer an authentic taste of Mexico? Head down to Puerto Vallarta and experience a festive Mexican feast with Vallarta Food Tours, who run some of the most popular, including the boozy ‘Mex-ology’ tour in Centro and ‘The Street’ – an evening taco adventure.
While in Riviera Nayarit, you can head to the boho-chic town of Sayulita, or celeb hotspot Punta Mita, but the must-see town would be Bucerias. Situated toward the southern end of Riviera Nayarit’s 200 miles of coastline, guests will be entranced by their incredible food culture, thriving beach scene and charming art walks. It really does have it all. We would highly recommend grabbing a Mexican pastry from Panino’s before a dreamy wander along the flower-lined streets for the perfect day in Mexico.
If you want to get really tropical with your Christmas, then Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit are also home to some of the world’s most stunning and amazing wildlife on the planet. Head out into the waters with dolphins and whales, or visit one of many nature reserves and leafy greens to discover birds, bugs and butterflies, the likes of which you won’t see elsewhere. You may even get to see an ocelot or a jaguar on your adventures! But for a memory to last a lifetime, go to Riviera Nayarit for their baby sea turtle release programs on the coast and amazing crocodile adventures in the marshy El Quelele.
There’s no denying that Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit is the perfect place to spend your winter, whether it’s for a few more days of sun, or for a tradition-fuelled Christmas in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. What are you waiting for?
Getting There
Direct flights to Puerto Vallarta International Airport are available via Thomson Airlines from London Gatwick and Manchester or AeroMexico via Mexico City from London Heathrow. British Airways runs direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, offering code share on its One World partner, American Airlines.
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