Puerto Vallarta: Tequila, Traditions & a Travel Hack Worth Sharing

 We woke up early in Puerto Vallarta to a perfectly warm, sun-soaked morning—one of those days that instantly puts you in vacation mode. Today’s plan was the Princess shore excursion to a tequila tasting factory, an experience we’d done once before and were excited to repeat.

Why go back? Because this is rumored to be the only place you can buy their specialty flavored tequilas—Coffee, Almond, and Peach—and trust me, they’re worth the hype. The excursion costs $49.95 and is listed as a 4-hour tour. We skipped the version that includes lunch and a show since we already knew we could grab food and drinks à la carte afterward for much less.

Before heading out, we spent some time strolling along the Malecón, Puerto Vallarta’s iconic oceanfront walkway. Since it was the first week of November, the city was beautifully decorated with Día de los Muertos displays—colorful, meaningful, and absolutely stunning. We popped into a jewelry store (just browsing this time), stopped by City Hall, and visited the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. We’ve been inside before, so we admired it from the outside and continued soaking in the atmosphere.

Then it was time for the tequila adventure. The drive to the factory took about 30 minutes, followed by a quick and informative lesson on tequila-making before the fun part—the tasting. We sampled a variety of tequilas, from smooth blancos to rich añejos, and yes…they were just as good as we remembered.

Naturally, after the tasting we made a beeline for the counter to stock up on our favorites, including a few añejos and a gift pack. Since we bought five bottles and a gift pack the staff surprised us with an extra bottle for free—bonus! So we picked the  new mango-flavored tequila, which was dangerously delicious.

Lunch came next, and before we knew it, our “4-hour” tour had turned into nearly 6 hours—not a bad problem to have when you’re having fun.

Here’s where things got interesting: on the walk back through the terminal, we passed several shops and noticed one selling the exact same tequilas. We stopped in and learned it was the same owner, same products, and same prices. The store was called Magic Beer, and they also offer tequila tastings right there.

💡 Travel hack unlocked.
Now I know that next time, I can book a different excursion, enjoy more of Puerto Vallarta, and simply stop at the shop on the way back to the ship to pick up our favorite tequilas.

Puerto Vallarta truly has so much to offer—and sometimes, repeat visits teach you the best insider tips of all. Cheers to learning, sipping, and always finding a smarter way to travel! 🍹✨

Cabo San Lucas & Snorkeling at Chileno Bay 🌊☀️🐠

After one relaxing sea day, we arrived in beautiful Cabo San Lucas, ready for some sunshine and adventure. I had a snorkeling excursion booked at Chileno Bay, a new experience and spot for me. 

We tendered into Cabo and boarded a catamaran for the hour-long ride out to the bay. The weather was perfect — blue skies, calm seas, and that signature Cabo sparkle on the water. When we arrived, the water was unbelievably warm, and we spent a full hour snorkeling among schools of tropical fish. 🐟💦 We always bring our own snorkeling masks (thank you, Amazon!) since it’s become a cruise tradition to explore the underwater world wherever we go.

After the snorkel, the crew turned up the fun with mariachi music, tequila shots, and a dance party on deck — yes, even the Macarena! 💃🌵 The whole boat was laughing and dancing as we cruised back toward the marina.

Once back on land, we made a pit stop at the iconic Cabo Wabo Cantina. My husband wanted a souvenir t-shirt, so naturally, we stepped inside for a couple of beers and some chips and guac. Sure, it’s a bit overpriced and touristy, but it’s one of those “you have to do it once” experiences — fun, loud, and full of Cabo energy. 🍻🎸

By the time we caught the tender back to the ship, the sun was setting over the water, painting the sky in pinks and golds. Watching the sunset from the tender was pure magic — the perfect end to an unforgettable day in Cabo San Lucas. 

4th Time’s a Charm — Mexico Riviera Cruise 🌴⚓️

 

Back at it again — my fourth time cruising the Mexican Riviera, and I still never get tired of it! This time, it’s extra special because I’m sailing with my husband, friends, and family. Our itinerary includes the classics: Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta — three ports that always deliver sunshine, good vibes, and great memories.

Got my Medallion in the mail ahead of time, so I was Green Lane ready and set to sail. One of the best things about this cruise? The port is just about an hour’s drive from home, and the parking lot is right next to the ship. We left around 9:00 a.m. and arrived by 10:00 — talk about easy travel!

Embarkation was a bit slow since there were a lot of wheelchair passengers and no dedicated lane for them, but once things got moving, boarding was smooth sailing. First stop onboard? The Sanctuary. Those cozy lounge beds book up fast, so we made a beeline to reserve ours. It’s the ultimate relaxation spot — peaceful, shaded, and totally worth the $20 for a half-day. The highlight? Afternoon tea at 3:30, complete with scones and a sea breeze. Bliss. ☕️🌊

After settling in, we grabbed a quick lunch at the buffet — just a light salad for me since I skipped breakfast. Then came dinner… or rather, game night! The World Series was on — Blue Jays vs. Dodgers — so we headed up to the deck for an open-air viewing on the big screen. The day’s sunshine gave way to a cool evening, but Princess had blankets ready for everyone.

Dinner turned into a snack-fest: popcorn, beer, and endless appetizers while surrounded by cheering fans. The game went into overtime, and when the Dodgers pulled off the win, the whole deck erupted like we were in the stadium! It was such a fun, electric way to kick off the cruise. ⚾️💙

Tomorrow’s a sea day, which means time to unpack, relax, and fully settle into vacation mode. Nothing beats that first night at sea — the sound of the waves, the excitement in the air, and knowing that adventure (and sunshine) are waiting in the ports ahead. 🌅🛳️

Puerta Vallarta

 I've done the Mexican Riviera a few times and I never get tired of the ports. There is always something new to do and you become more familiar with the area the more times you go. You learn the tricks, shortcuts and best places to go. So I'm going to tell you one of the best kept secrets at the end.

But first, let me show and tell you how we started our day. We chose the ....

Mahajuitas Cove, Yelapa & Lunch Shore excursion 

We board the catamaran for an hour scenic boat ride to tranquil Majahuitas Cove, an unspoiled area of natural beauty on the southern coast of Banderas Bay. Only accessible by sea, Majahuitas is the deserted island beach of everyone's dreams. Swaying palms and a sheltered cove with crystal clear waters, offer ideal conditions for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. 

On the boat ride to the Cove

They gave us the option to use the snorkeling equipment on board, or buy the sealed one for $10. Being that it is December I thought the water was cold and opted out. We drop everyone off here and then they swim to the island section. 

This is where everyone is dropped off  to snorkle. 

They motor us over to the island where we get out and wade in the water over to the island. And guess what? The water is actually pretty warm. So now I was really wishing that I did the snorkeling. The people that did said they saw all kinds of fish and leisurely swam over to the island. Lesson learned. 

Here we are on the little island where we spend about an hour. Complimentary beer and lemonade, and really cute hut style bathrooms. 

After a buffet lunch onboard the catamaran, which is actually pretty good, consists of Mexican style Potato salad, Deli sandwiches with authentic Mexican bread, fruit, and drinks, we head off to Yelapa, an old charming Mexican fishing village set in its own natural cove. Long a famous day trip from Puerto Vallarta, Yelapa has become a must on most tourists' lists, but since there are no roads in, this tropical paradise is only accessible by boat.

The tiny village is a true escape from civilization. If you love the outdoors and want to spend time exploring nature, this idyllic spot is perfect for you. Hike through the jungle to the Cola de Caballo waterfalls, swim in the cove's protected waters, or just relax on the expansive sandy beach.

We followed our guide up to the waterfalls where the water was cold, but that didn't stop everyone from getting in and doing a photo op. The walk up to it is uneven cobblestone, past houses where people are selling various items and even a tequila stop where the guy makes his own tequila. I think he was selling it for $5.00 a shot. I was thinking he should do free shots to see if people want to buy it. Rumor is, it's like moonshine and you can really get a high from it, so buyer beware. 

As we walk back down the cobblestone path and we are waiting for a guide, a nice little old man wanted to show us his church and was saying , "Follow me". So I wandered in, took a quick photo, gave him a dollar and rejoined my tour. 

When we get down to the sandy beach we stop at a restaurant and have the obligatory margarita and Guac and chips. A few vendors stop by to sell us things, but we don't find anything we want or need. One even lifted up the cover his jewelry was laying on and said, " I have marijuana".

Laughing and saying "no thank you" , that's the last thing I want to do in this remote village.

It's about an hour back to the ship after a fun, discovering adventurous kind of day and the boat let's us see a little whale watching. 

But the best part? Their crazy antics 80's show. 

And here's the BIG SECRET!!! SSSHHHHHH........

We start to head back to the ship and run into some friends who told us they just came back from WalMart where they scored on the booze. I've heard about people going over there to grab a taxi to get to town because it's cheaper. We aren't sure how much time we have left so we hot foot it over there as fast as our feet can take us. Conveniently located in the front of the store, (probably for all the cruisers stocking up)  is all the liquor and booze at prices about  half off what you pay in the states. They take US dollars or Pesos at the ckeckout. If you use US dollars there will be a small surcharge which I think was 8%. There is also a Sams next door but I don't have a Sams Club Membership. When you come back to the ship you will see the guy sitting at the desk collecting and surrounded by everyones Walmart bags full of booze that will be stored away and can be picked up on dismebarkation day. Have fun shopping!