Playing Softball in Puerto Vallarta

One of my favorite things about living in Puerto Vallarta is playing in the softball league. More than 700 players participate. The games are played at the municipal sports complex. Teams play once a week in tournaments that last nearly six months.

The men’s division is divided into three skill levels. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I play in the third level which is the lowest level of play – a little slower and perhaps a little safer. Although, we all seem to get bashed up fairly regularly.

The top level players are outstanding and would be able to hold their own against any team from anywhere. I aspire to play as well as they do but it will never happen.

Going for a beer after the game is an important part of the softball experience. We like to go to the Botanero San Miguel on Nicaragua street a block up from the beach. They have great snacks, lots of sports on TV, and a really friendly staff.

Check out a few pictures from one of the league games.

All three softball levels are slow pitch.

Safe at third!

Many games attract a large, raucous crowd although attendance at this game was sparse.

Games are played Monday through Saturday evenings from 7:00pm to 11:00pm. If you want get a feel for the town and the people, make the effort to spend some time one evening watching a game. The stadium is easy to get to. It’s on the north end of downtown. You can see a map here.

If you like to participate in sports, Puerto Vallarta’s municipal stadium is for you. Thousands of people – locals and tourists – use the facilities every day. All is open to the public at no cost.

The stadium’s facilities include:

• A running track
• Soccer fields
• A basketball gymnasium
• Basketball courts
• A softball field
• A baseball field
• Fron Tennis courts
• A skatepark
• A boxing ring

There really is something for everyone. Activities continue throughout the day starting at 7:00am to 11;00pm.

Puerto Vallarta residents can sign up to play in any of the active sports leagues which include soccer, softball, baseball, and basketball. I play in the softball league which is really well run and has more than 700 participants.

View Larger Map

Offbeat Puerto Vallarta Activities

Puerto Vallarta has so many great, well known activities for visitors. I have made a short list of some offbeat activities, that you might not have thought of, that you can do for free or for a minimal cost. Here’s the list. Have fun.

1. Ride a Full Bus Route – If you really want to see Puerto Vallarta, hop on a bus and take it to the end of the route to see where you end up. Be adventurous and take the first bus that passes by. You will go through neighborhoods you would never see otherwise. If you get lost, just grab a taxi to get back to where you want to go.

2. Take a Taxi Tour - The taxi tour is related to the bus tour. Hop in a taxi and tell the driving to take you someplace interesting that tourists don’t normally go. If you are worried about being taken to someplace too far away, pick a neighborhood you are interested in and have him give you a tour there.

3. Eat at a Taco Stand – If you want to try real Mexican food, go to a taco stand. The tacos they serve probably won’t have much in common with the tacos you are used to eating back home. Look for a taco stand that is really busy, which indicates good food and lower chances of intestinal distress. Read about a real Mexican taco stand.

4. Eat Roasted Corn – Eat an elote (roasted corn on the cob) or elote desgranado (corn kernels served in a cup). You smother your corn, in cream, mayonnaise, chile and lime juice. Good stuff. You will find many vendors on the malecon, Puerto Vallarta’s boardwalk. Every neighborhood will also have a place that sells elotes. Usually, from the front room of someone’s home. Elotes are one of my most favorite things about living in Mexico.

5. Shop at a Mercado – Visit a mercado (market) that caters to locals for an authentic experience. A good market is as much a social experience as it is a shopping experience. You will be able to buy, all kinds of produce, meats, fish, and seafood. Have a meal at one of the loncherias (lunch stands) for some really good, and really inexpensive food. One of my favorite Mercados.

6. Watch a Softball Game – Almost every day of the week starting at 7:00pm and ending at 11:00pm, softball games are being played at the municipal stadium. Map. Puerto Vallarta has a very active softball league for both men and women. In total there are more than 700 players in the league.

7. Take a Water Taxi - From the pier at Olas Altas, you can take a water taxi to the secluded beaches of Yelapa and Quimixto. The water taxis leave about once an hour in the morning and return every hour in the afternoon. Skimming along the water in a Panga boat is a lot of fun.

While reviewing some photos that I had taken on a walking tour in Gringo Gulch, something caught my eye that I hadn’t noticed before. One of my photos shows the crown at the top of Our Lady of Guadalupe church was being restored.

I don’t remember hearing or reading anything about renovations. I would expect to because Puerto Vallarta is a fairly small town and the crown on Our Lady of Guadalupe is Vallarta’s most famous landmark.

Curious about what was being done to the church, I did a quick Google search to see what I could find out. I didn’t come up with much. The best information came from an undated article about Our Lady of Guadalupe on VirtualVallarta.com.

Presently at the helm of a major fundraising effort is the Patronato de Amigos Vallartenses, a non-profit organization created to look after the conservation and restoration of the church, as well as many other important monuments around Puerto Vallarta. It was originally set in place during the restoration effort after the earthquake. Composed of Puerto Vallarta citizens and businessmen, the Patronato estimates that the budget required to restore the crown to its glory is $800,000 USD. This past December, a gala dinner and silent auction took place in which a sizeable portion of this amount was raised. Much more help is needed, however. To learn more about how you can donate to this worthy cause, contact the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe at (322) 222-1326.

If you happen to have any information on the work being done, please let us know by posting a comment or shooting me an email.

Puerto Vallarta’s Public Library

One of the best cultural resources in Puerto Vallarta is the Biblioteca Los Mangos (Los Mangos Library) located on Francisco Villa Avenue not far from the new Costco.

The library is open to the public and has a large selection of books in Spanish and in English. If you are in Puerto Vallarta for a longer stay you can get a library card to check out books. You just need to fill out a form, show your passport and a receipt such as the phone bill or electric bill to verify your address.

The library offers an extensive list of courses including ballet, piano, and painting at very reasonable prices. The best way to find out what is being offered is to visit the library. At the main entrance is a bulletin board with postings for all of the courses and activities. Also, many of the library’s events, classes, and cultural activities are listed on the library’s informational blog.

Other things that the library offers are Internet access at no cost and the Cinema Club which is very popular and shows little known art movies as well as more mainstream features. On Saturday mornings the Puerto Vallarta SPCA offers dogs and cats for adoption.

The library really offers something for everyone and is worth a visit.

Donate Your Old Books

If you bring books with you on your visit to Puerto Vallarta and you don’t want to take them back with you, consider donating them to the library. They accept books in English and Spanish.

Library hours are:
Monday – Friday 9:00am to 9:00pm
Saturdays 10:00am to 6:00pm

The library address is:
Ave. Francisco Villa #1001

Telephone:
322-224-9966

email:
blm@prodigy.net.mx
View Larger Map

My Favorite Bookstore in Puerto Vallarta
The Book Store at Plaza Caracol

Getting out on foot is the way to see a city because you never know what surprises you might find. Wandering around Gringo Gulch, I discovered Puerto Vallarta’s original lighthouse in what is now a residential neighborhood.

The lighthouse was put into service on August 15, 1932 and decommissioned in June of 1978. The lighthouse was restored as landmark by the 2004-2006 city administration.

Public Beach Access in Nuevo Vallarta

Nuevo Vallarta has three main beach access points. The northernmost is at the Etc. Beach Club. Alongside the beach club is a footpath that leads to the beach.

The Etc. Beach Club is a great place to spend a Sunday afternoon which are usually really busy. Order up some cold beers and a plate of nachos while lounging under a palapa. When it gets too hot, go for a swim.

This is the footpath that leads to the beach. Showers are available to rinse off before you head home.

The beach in front of Etc. The picture does not do it justice. I took it in the early morning just after a massive rainstorm which dumped a lot of debris on the beach. This is one of my Favorite beaches in the city.

Map to Beach Access in Nuevo Vallarta

View Larger Map

Other Beach Access Points in Puerto Vallarta

Public Beach Access in Marina Vallarta
Playa de Oro Beach Access

Save Money on Travel to Puerto Vallarta! Learn Airfare Secrets Now!

Waterslide at Sea Life Park – Puerto Vallarta Waterpark

I got shot down the tube, swirled around the bowl, and flushed out the bottom of an amazingly cool waterslide at Sea Life Park in Nuevo Vallarta. As you can see in the photo, it’s like riding a giant toilet bowl. You get shot out of the tube fast enough to do three or four revolutions before being expelled out the bottom.

I rode rode the bowl so many times the park staff would look at me and say “again?,” when I was at the takeoff point. I would repeat, “again!” and go for another flush.

Cool Waterslides

I was more enthusiastic about the waterslides than the kids although at the end of the day I’m sure they weren’t as achy as I was.

The serious waterslides all radiate from a central tower. Walk up the spiral ramp and pick a slide and speed towards the bottom.

Kid’s Play Area

If you have young kids there is a fun, safe play area for them.

Dolphin and Sea Lion Shows

Dolphin and sea-lion shows are part of your admission fee. We didn’t watch a show this time which is why I haven’t posted any pictures. But, the shows are really good. The other time we went to Sea Life Park we watched the shows but didn’t go on the waterslides.

Location and Admission Fee

Sea Life Park is Located in Nuevo Vallarta just as you cross the bridge from Puerto Vallarta. You can see it from the main highway. Any taxi driver will know how to get there. Sea Life Park Map and Contact Info

Admission fee for adults is $189 pesos ($19 USD) and for children it’s $149 pesos ($15 USD). If you happen to be a Puerto Vallarta resident and have ID to prove it, they will give you a 40% discount.

Final Thoughts

Sea Life park is a great way to spend a day if you are looking for some action. If you have kids they will surely love it.

Schedule time to go on the waterslides and see the shows.

Do bring lots of sunblock. The sun is fierce in Puerto Vallarta and sunblock rubs off very quickly when you are on the waterslides.

Another great waterpark adventure – Swimming with the Dolphins

Swimming With the Dolphins in Puerto Vallarta

Consider swimming with the dolphins when you are in Puerto Vallarta. It’s an amazing experience, much better than I could have imagined. Vallarta Adventures and Sea Life Park are the two companies which offer programs to swim with the dolphins. We chose the Signature Dolphin Swim with Vallarta Adventures.

When family came to visit and told me that they wanted to swim with the dolphins, I wasn’t that enthusiastic. I tried to talk them into doing other activities, but they insisted, explaining that this would probably be their only chance in their lives to swim with dolphins.

Swimming with the dolphins never seemed like a big deal to us. We could go anytime, and besides, it always seemed very pricey. It’s the same situation for people who live near Disneyland. They could go anytime but don’t except when they have out of town visitors.

I’m glad the the family forced me to go. Yes it was very pricey, $149 US. And, I would have never paid for it if they hadn’t been so excited about going. But, it was worth it.

Until you get into a pool with dolphins you have no idea how fast, powerful, and majestic they are. They are smart, friendly and playful. For a few moments, I had fantasies of starting a new life as a dolphin trainer.

What To Do After Swimming With The Dolphins

The Dolphin Center is located right on the Marina in Nuevo Vallarta. After you finish swimming with the dolphins you can take a stroll around the marina.

It’s a nice place for a walk but there are very few restaurants or shops. The best place to eat is the 8 Tostadas Restaurant right at the entrance to the dolphin center.

You can also hit the beach at Nuevo Vallarta after swimming with the dolphins. The beach is only a block from the Dolphin Center. Just head west on the Marina boardwalk, cross the street and you will find the public access point.
View Larger Map

Marina Vallarta Public Beach Access

Marina Vallarta has only one public beach access point at the end of Paseo Bocanegra street which parallels the golf course. You access the beach just north of the Bay View Grand Condominiums and the Marina Vallarta golf course. There is on-street parking and public restrooms.

The view looking down Paseo Bocanegra street as you are headed towards the beach.

The view across the Marina Vallarta golf course just before you reach the beach. You can see all the way to the south-side of town.

The main beach south of the access point. This picture was taken at a very high tide. Usually, there is about fifteen yards of beach. The beach widens in front of the Bay View Grand Condominiums where there is plenty of room to spread out a towel.

The beach north of the access point. The green fence on the right is the end of the airport runway. It’s very cool to sit on the beach and watch the planes fly directly overhead.

Walk five minutes to the north and you come to Boca de Tomates, the rivermouth where the Rio Ameca meets the ocean. You will find a half dozen funky seafood stands right on the beach. You are so close to civilization but you feel hundreds of miles away.
View Larger Map

Another Beach Access Point – Playa de Oro