Puerto Vallarta Vacation Villa Rental
Water can work magic on the human spirit. Sit beside a stream that tumbles gently over rocks, and you'll discover something completely soothing in the sound of running water. Settle in for a soak, and you're forced to admit the therapeutic effects of relaxing in a tub of hot, bubbling water. And these watery benefits are available to folks who stay in Puerto Vallarta villas.
A visit to Puerto Vallarta almost guarantees some pleasant times spent in and around water, and a day spent at one of the beaches that line Banderas Bay is only part of the story. One advantage of staying in Puerto Vallarta villas, for instance, is the private pool and hot tub. Get a cool beverage, turn on the bubble machine, and sink into the water's welcoming embrace - it's a great place to watch the sunset, or the sun rise, for that matter. Best of all, you won't have to share your little slice of heaven with strangers.
Frothing fountains . . .
Of course, it's possible to enjoy the sound of falling water without actually getting wet: spend some time contemplating one of the city's sparkling fountains. There are two in particular that lure visitors. The first is the Friendship Fountain created by James "Bud" Bottoms, called "Dancing Dolphins", set on the Malecon. This bronze sculpture is one of a series of artistic water features that welcome people to beach cities along the Pacific coast in California and Mexico.
As you explore the city beyond El Centro, be sure to visit the small shopping area near the cruise ship boat dock, the Marina Vallarta Maritime Terminal. Here, you'll find a lovely fountain welcoming you (Bienvenidos) to Puerto Vallarta. A mosaic figure of a seahorse, the city's iconic symbol, sits on the bottom of the clear pool, while spouts of water add action and music to the scene.
. . . and falling water
There is plenty of falling water in the surrounding hills to keep water lovers happy for days on end. Any number of tour companies guide guests along trails (on foot or horseback or ATV) that end up at the foot of a waterfall. Puerto Vallarta Tours operates an ecology trip through the jungle on horseback; they start at Rancho Campomo and stop along the way to give riders a chance to enjoy a refreshing encounter in the falls. And Vallarta Discovery leads hikers along a jungle trail from El Nogalito, south of town, to a lovely waterfall, introducing plant and animal species along the way.