SETTING - Puerto Vallarta

If you plan to arrive in Puerto Vallarta on the day of the retreat, you will be met at the airport and transported to the pier where we catch the water taxi to Yelapa. Depending upon the time your arrive, you will probably have a little time to shop and explore this wonderful town before catching the water taxi.

If you decide to come a few days early you will need to catch a taxi to a hotel, and then arrange to meet us at the Pier on Saturday at 4 p.m.

If you have sufficient time to look around there are wonderful art galleries, parks, promenades, shopping, and much more.

Puerto Vallarta is divided into 3 geographic areas. Not shown in the map on the right is the newest area, north of down town. This is where the airport is located, and is a developers haven - large hotels and condos stretch out along the beach, most gated and fenced. Guests in these facilities see little of Mexico or Puerto Vallarta other than sand and water, very similar to the sand and water on most beaches around the world.

We recommend that you skip this area of town, and catch the first taxi to old downtown seen in the map above.

The old part of town is divided into north and south by the Cuale River. The island in the middle of the river is a wonderful park with a museum, restaurants, shops, old trees, beautiful flowers, park benches and swinging foot bridges.

North of the river you will find the cathedral, the light house, the boardwalk, and the nicest art galleries, jewelers, leather shops, and most of the nightlife. South of the river you find Playa de Los Muertos - a wonderful stretch of beach for swimming or just relaxing. This part of town is full of great coffee houses, restaurants, and lots of hotels. It is easy to find a room for as little as $18/night, or if you prefer a little more luxury, there is plenty to choose from.

The more time you spend in Puerto Vallarta, the more you find to do, see and enjoy. There are health food stores, yoga classes, every kind of restaurant, cyber cafe's alongside more traditional glass factories.

As with most seaside resort towns, the closer you move to the ocean the more built up and touristy it becomes. Moving away from the ocean you quickly step into old Mexico, back alleys, cobbled streets, tortilla factories, markets that cater to the locals rather that the tourists, and there are plenty of small hotels, and bed & breakfast places to choose from.