Experience Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

by Manuel Calderón de la Barca

The 19th Annual Banderas Bay Regatta, held from the 8th to 12th of March in the Riviera Nayarit, brought together more than 58 vessels, making this year one of the liveliest in almost 20 years of the Regatta’s history.

The agreeable temperate climate and seasonal winds of this protected bay contributed to the success of this colorful spectacle of sails, where the spirit of camaraderie was felt by all.

The grand finale of this event organized by the Vallarta Yacht Club was the awards ceremony, a beach gala that drew over 400 guests, in which the 21 winners in 7 categories danced to the rhythms of The Mexican Shuffle Band and Philo Hayward.

by Manuel Calderon de la Barca

US News’ travel site, www.travel.usnews.com, highlights the quality, security and service of both tourist destinations, both of which are home to Velas Resorts. Casa Velas holds second place in the category of best hotels in Puerto Vallarta.

Published in the Travel section of their website the long-awaited Us News ranking (according to tourists and their reviews), of the best tourist destinations, most-visited beaches, top hotels and most exclusive locations for different events such as weddings, honeymoons, Spring Break, family vacations and more.

Puerto Vallarta, home to our resorts Velas Vallarta and Casa Velas, and Playa del Carmen- where Grand Velas Riviera Maya is found- are mentioned in various categories, listed here in order of importance:

Puerto Vallarta

• First Place in Best Vacations in Mexico

• First Place in Spring Break destinations worldwide

• Sixth Place in Best Beaches in Mexico

• Twelfth Place worldwide in Best Place to Visit

• Seventeenth Place worldwide in Best Honeymoon Destination

• Casa Velas, Second Place in Best Hotels in Puerto Vallarta

Playa del Carmen (Riviera Maya)

• Third Place in Best Vacations in Mexico

• Third Place in Best Beaches in Mexico

• Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Third Place in Best Hotels in Playa del Carmen

Appearing on prestigious lists such as these, viewed by thousands of people who plan to visit Mexico affirms that Mexico remains, in the opinions of travelers, a place of luxury and safety with an impressive range of tourist services for all tastes. It features magical, exclusive and colorful sites, and rivals destinations such Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and more.

by Manuel Calderon de la Barca

The anticipation of a child is without a doubt an unforgettable time of life. At Casa Velas Boutique Hotel and Ocean Club, member of The Leading Hotels of the World, we have prepared the perfect celebration of this special moment. Imagine a vacation in an ambience full of tranquility, where the future mother and father can rest and relax at our world-class Spa with a soothing massage or foot and hand treatment. Take advantage of this precious time to enjoy each other’s company and prepare for new parenthood.

So that mom can look and feel radiant and healthy throughout the day she will receive various surprises: a gift set of luxurious lotions, a 50-minute facial treatment, and a special menu of gourmet delights that feature all of the nutrients that she requires during this time. You will also receive a book of baby names to help decide what name to bestow on the special little person who is about to grace your lives with his or her presence, and much more.

Casa Velas offers an unforgettable experience to the family awaiting new life. Enjoy your spacious and exclusive Grand Class Suite, as you are served a wonderful a la carte breakfast. Have an incredible photo session as a couple, and treasure your 20-photo album of the best portraits for years to come.

Delight in the delicate atmosphere of Casa Velas, the perfect blend of luxury and tranquility, where each detail makes a difference.

Enjoy an ideal vacation with our Babymoon Package, designed for future parents; relaxation and comfort as a couple as you anticipate the arrival of the newest member of the family.

By Julieta Del Toro

Every year from December to March, the waters of the Mexican Pacific are graced with the presence of one of the most enchanting marine mammals, the humpback whale.

Since the 16th and 17th centuries the area from San Blas to what is now Nuevo Vallarta was known as The Bay of the Humpback, due to its grand sighting of these beautiful creatures.

The whale season for this year officially starts on the 8th of December, according to the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). The Secretary’s office grants 200 special permits per year to recreational boats in the area, whose crews have been specially trained in responsible whale watching and to provide the best possible experience to those who go on whale-watching tours.

Groups of male whales can be found near Rincón de Guayabitos, showing themselves off and attempting to conquer a female by performing impressive leaps into the air to impress them. In the Bay of Banderas, mother whales teach their young to dive slowly and gracefully.

It is important to mention that in addition to the humpback whales, the area is visited by other species such as gray whales and orcas; with a little luck, one can see these marvelous animals as well.

Come to Velas Vallarta and take advantage of the perfect Whale Watching Package to enjoy this incredible natural show. Don’t miss the opportunity to see these wonderful creatures!

watch this amazing video:

by Gonzalo Santos

With the goal of proactively contributing to the conservation of our environment constantly in mind, we have developed new projects and protocol that have allowed us to earn the Green Globe certification since 2008 and maintain it up to the present.

Continuing along this line, we recently installed 192 solar panels in two areas of the hotel: behind the botanical garden and on the roof. This project allows us to take advantage of the strong tropical sun rays to heat the main pool as well as the private plunge pools in our suites. For this reason, it may take a few minutes for the water to reach the desired temperature in your suite.

We appreciate your support as we continue our commitment to the environment, always striving to implement the latest technology that will directly benefit our clients and employees.

Descending upon the Bay of Banderas to play golf in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit is a truly unforgettable experience. Bordered by the blue waters of the Mexican Pacific and the lush jungle of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, the area is easily accessible by plane at its centrally located international airport.

The 7 total golf courses in the Bay of Banderas are of international championship quality, and the challenging and breathtakingly beautiful Vista Vallarta courses have been designed by professional golf champions Tom Weiskopf and Jack Nicklaus. The tropical and convenient Marina Vallarta Golf Course was designed by famous American architect Joe Finger.

Various tournaments have been held on the courses in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, such as PGA tournaments, Senior and Juvenile tournaments, the EMC2 Golf World Cup and the annual Vallarta Golf Cup. Lorena Ochoa, the leading female golf champion, also frequents the area, having recently attended the 9th Annual Vallarta Golf Cup in November 2010.

The climate in this paradise makes playing golf possible throughout the year, a supreme plus for the daily life of those fortunate enough to call Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit their home as well as those who are planning to visit. The golf courses also allow players to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, offering stunning ocean and jungle views, deep ravines, rushing streams, stands of exotic trees and fragrant tropical flowers.

To make the most of a golf vacation, Velas Resorts guests enjoy the services of professional golf manager Antonio Palacios, who provides discounts at the best courses, finds partners for players and enrolls them in golf clinics and weekly tournaments. Off the greens, visitors delight in calm, wide sandy beaches, sparkling pools and Jacuzzis, gourmet dining at ocean view restaurants, luxurious spa treatments and superb suites.

Whether planning for a weekend or a week-long getaway, golf vacations are a dream in these internationally-recognized destinations.

Package Hotel Casa Velas | Package Velas Vallarta | Package Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit

Courtesy of Convention Visitors Bureau, Riviera Nayarit

Some of the best Mexican and International Surfers will fight for first place during the first edition of the San Pancho Pro. The tournament will be held on the San Francisco (San Pancho) beach from the 14th-16th of January and will include slots for amateur short-boarders, female surfers and surfers under 18, as well as long boarding and boogie boarding.

The event will be attended by surfers such as Diego Cadena, Felipe “Bodoque” Hernandez and brothers Travis and Dylan Southworth. Over 100 contenders are expected, along with approximately 2000 spectators, all organized by Christianos Surf Team and directed by Artemio Rosas.

Great news for our West Coast friends! Alaska Airlines is now offering service between San Diego and Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit, from November 12^th, 2010 to April 11^th, 2011. This is in addition to the airline’s existing service from Los Angeles and San Francisco.  Alaska Airlines introduced service to Mexico in 1988 and flies an average of 1 million passengers annually between the U.S. West Coast and Mexico.

Booking a ticket with Alaska Airlines and reserving a luxury all-inclusive package at one of the three award-winning Velas Resorts in the area takes the guesswork out of vacation spending. Our all-inclusive packages at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, Casa Velas Hotel Boutique and Velas Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta sumptuous suites, gourmet meals and premium beverages, 24 hour suite service, activities for guests of all ages,  tips and taxes and so much more.

Alaska Airlines ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Traditional Network Carriers” in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009 and 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies(SM). 

For airline reservations and information about the best all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, visit www.alaskaair.com and www.grandvelas.com.

According Tripadvisor’s most recent publications, Casa Velas is the No. 1 hotel in Puerto Vallarta, based on points awarded by guest reviews.
Tripadvisor is an important online network with over 9 million registered users around the world, in which travelers can publish their reviews and recommendations of experiences in different hotels, sharing positive and negative aspects found in service, attention, facilities and more. Each hotel is then positioned based on the ratings obtained by user reviews.

Recognizing the quality staff, intimate environment and beautiful facilities, travelers awarded Casa Velas with very high point ratings and excellent comments.

Congratulations to Pierre Bonin, General Director of the hotel, and to each and everyone who make Casa Velas a marvelously unforgettable experience.

by Julieta Del Toro
This year La Copa de Naciones de Vela will take place in Riviera Nayarit. This exciting competition will be held between the 20^th to 24^th of October 2010 and is the preliminary event for the October 2011 Panamerican Games, for which it will serve as the elimination challenge for many classes.

The competitions will take place in different areas depending on the sailing category: Paradise Village Marina, Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit Marina and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle. Ralph Nelles, president of the Mexican Sailing Federation is proud to be part of this event, emphasizing that all that has been achieved is due to a concerted effort between the invited countries and the authorities in each country.

Mr. Nelles goes on to say, “La Copa de Naciones is a preparatory event for next year and will be a great test to detect competitor’s faults. Although we have already proven that we have the capacity and experience to host such an event, on this occasion we have the support of the government of Nayarit, through the Instituto de la Cultura Fisica y el Deporte”.

This year the Regata Copa Mexico Edicion Nextel Bicentenario also took place in the local area, drawing more than 2400 competitors from 27 countries.

Events such as these highlight the ideal conditions found in the region for practicing nautical sports and capture the attention of world-wide experts. Riviera Nayarit is now one of the most important tourist destinations for sailing, having attracted the attention of important athletes such as Tania Elías Calles and Pablo Rábago who have settled in the area to train for their high-performance sports. 

Resorts nearby:

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Casa Velas Hotel Boutique   |  Velas Vallarta Suite Resort  |  Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort

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