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Puerto Vallarta
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A fter the games kick off in Guadalajara on June 11, there will be stretches of downtime between matches to explore the Jalisco region. This is the birthplace of tequila, and less than an hour from the soccer stadium you’ll find the town bearing the spirit's namesake planted amid swaths of blue agave fields. Stop by a distillery or two for a tasting of the blanco, reposado and añejo, pick up a bottle of your fave, then hop back in the car (with your designated driver) to finish the roughly 200-mile drive to the coastal enclave of Puerto Vallarta.
Here you’ll find a vibrant town of cultural treasures and foodie finds set on a gorgeous stretch of Mexico’s Pacific Coast between the Banderas Bay and Sierra Madre Mountains. The destination works for the bougie (high-end resorts) and budget ($1 street tacos), while unpretentious (and uncrowded) beaches are also just a water taxi away. Let’s settle in for three days on Mexico’s coast with the most.
Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe
A beach day is a must. The aforementioned Playa los Muertos is popular with locals and tourists alike for its gentle surf and hillside vistas. Grab some cerveza at one of the casual beachside restaurants when the mood strikes. You can also plan a day trip to a spot accessible only by boat or water taxi. A memorable option is the boat trip to the Marietas Island and its famed hidden beach, Playa Escondida. (Plan ahead. Reservations are limited to 116 visitors per day.) If you want to wing it, a leisurely drive north back toward Guadalajara will bring you to boho beach towns like Sayulita, popular with ex-pats for its unhurried vibe.
It’s time to relax, and there are few spots better to do so. Four AAA Five Diamond resorts can be found in the oceanfront stretch north of Puerto Vallarta. Punta Mita, home to 5-star heavyweight brands like Four Seasons and St. Regis, is a peninsula that forms the far northern edge of the bay. These resorts feel more like intimate hideaways with the requisite glossy magazine cover-worthy infinity pools and private white-sand beaches, perked up with special touches such as butler service. Luxe resorts also hug the quiet beaches and leafy hillsides immediately south of Puerto Vallarta, including the all-inclusive adults-only Hotel Mousai, also a AAA Five Diamond pick.
Take a day to explore Puerto Vallarta. Get your bearings by looking for the crown atop the neoclassical Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which dominates the downtown skyline. For an amazing panoramic view, hike up the hill to the Mirador Cerro de La Cruz. Then head back toward the bay to the Malecón—a lively beach walk that doubles as an outdoor sculpture gallery. South of the pier is the aptly named Romantic Zone, where narrow cobblestone streets connect boutiques, restaurants and galleries. Grab a few carne asada, pastor and birria tacos from a street vendor along with a horchata (rice milk) or jamaica (hibiscus tea) and watch the sunset from Playa los Muertos.
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