Bucerias is Beautiful, Puerto Vallarta may be better for us
- Dani Hill
- Jul 9
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Establishing a nanny, a work schedule and how to 'life' while here was our main focus of week one. And of course exploring and eating! It's seaside Mexico after all!
Date night in PV changed our trajectory about 12 miles south.
Originally we had booked a little place close to the Zona Romantica, Puerto Vallarta. It didn't have a washer and dryer, which Regina deemed a necessity. She also believed that Bucerias would be better for the family, less urban, slower and more clean and beautiful. And it is, cleaner, and more beautiful. But the city! I was born a country girl, became a city girl and love the sea, but Puerto Vallarta, and the Zona Romantica is where my heart sings.
On date night we called an uber and headed into Zona Romantica, about 45 minutes drive from our condo in Bucerias. We ate at Joe Jacks Fish Shack - Regina ate here on the 5 day scouting trip she took back in February. And let me tell you, I still dream of the food there! The steak was like butter, the fish and chips were devine and the ambience was so pretty. The night we went it was drizzling, a pretty, gentle, downpour of relieving rain. Dampening the heat of the day and providing a beautiful backdrop to our meal. The first one without little 'L' in over a week.
We relaxed and enjoyed our time, walking to the Puerto Vallarta sign on the malecon (a stone-built embankment or esplanade along the waterfront), past statues and street vendors, the ocean gently lapping to the west. It was lively and active and we were offered heroin or weed several times by nice people who weren't pushy at all. We politely declined.
It was a lovely evening. We took lots of pictures and headed into the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe) during a service. Heading home later in the uber, we starting looking at rentals in PV to take a vacation from our vacation. Well, working vacation. It's not that Bucerias was not wonderful and beautiful, it was just quite slow and empty. It is off season (June/July), and some restaurants were closed, the ones we did eat in we were sometimes the only dinners. And the town is quite small, there was a lot of construction, not much to do as a family and we feel like its a great short time visit. 12 days was plenty.
We booked an apartment in Zona Romantica, through Air B N B. It was beautiful, a little larger than Bucerias, and a lot nicer, better amenities too. There is a work space, two living rooms, and a library in the communal areas - all with WiFi. The infinity pool on the roof, although no longer 'private' was spectacular. Amazing views. 'L' officially learnt to swim up here, underwater like a seal, no floaties. Still working on coming up to breath but he is comfortable and so happy in the water. Just steps away from independent swimmer.
Walkable to several fruteria's, mercados (markets), and carniceria's. 10 minute walk to the malecon, 8 minute walk to starbucks (!), 5 minutes to a kids playground. The building, Avida, was alive with residents but not packed at all. Still off season. There is a concierge at the front desk at all hours of the day and key card entry. The street outside safe and vibrant until late at night with a florist that opened before we rose and closed long after we retired each day. I bought a small posy of flowers there, for $50 pesos ($2.50) and they lasted almost a week on our dining room table.
Work is a lot more comfortable here, and our nanny lives just a 5 minute walk away, so its easier for her too. Our weekends, just like at home, are day trips and running errands. One weekend we went to Mismaloya Beach, ate and drank on the sand. The water literally lapping at our feet, countless margaritas, chips and guac, chicken quesadilla, scrimp and so much more. 5 hours, amazing photos, lifetime memories = $135 US. We visited the Puerto Vallarta Zoo one day too - that was an experience. I am glad we did it, I would not go again. If you are planning a trip, lower your expectations, wear your hiking shoes, take bug spray and toilet paper. Another day we went grocery shopping - called an Uber, strapped in Lenny, $160 US later, we had supplies for the week, a new light suitcase (so we could check another bag and not incur the fees), snacks and toys and drinks, all we needed. Plus a fun day out at a cool supermarket that you literally go up an escalator with your cart and it kind of locks into place while you travel, I think it was magnetic?
We spoke to a lovely expat at the supermercado while waiting for our Uber. We run into ex pat's everywhere. One afternoon in the elevator at Avida, Regina asked a fellow passenger where they were from and they answered, San Francisco, but I live here now. How jealous I was and still am of that reply.
Long story short, we extended our stay to take us to our departure date in Zona Romantica, Puerto Vallarta, and packed up Bucerias early (got a small refund on our months rental).
A note on transport - we tried some taxi's and found them to be a little more expensive than Uber, we tried the bus, but not knowing where it's going or when it will be back was a little nerve wracking, especially when traveling all three of us. Ubers were the most cost effective, most reliable and trackable transportation for us. Our 45 minute commute from Bucerias to Puerto Vallarta for example (we did this 3 - 4 times) was $25. Including tip. They came when we requested, and were mostly pleasant. We also tried Didi, its an app where you name your price to locations, but it can take a few minutes to haggle with drivers. So if you have the time and tight budget, highly recommend it.
Honestly, we walk. If its 20 minutes or less, we walk. And if you knew my wife you would be smiling right now in disbelief. She not only has said the words 'I'm going for a walk' but she then 'goes for a walk' for upwards of an hour! Now some of these walks take her past the churro guy or over to the ice cream place - but these words have never crossed her lips in our 12 years together. I am so happy and proud of her. We are both moving more and feeling better.
And that's it, the middle of our stay, work / life balance achieved. We walk, we work, we swim and shop almost every day. We love and care and clean for each other. We eat and sleep well every day. We feel good, we feel healthy, we feel close. Life is good.
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