Marina Vallarta Lighthouse Early Morning

I took this picture of the Marina Vallarta lighthouse at about 8:30 am. Early morning, just as the sun comes over the mountains, is the perfect time to be in the Marina. In a matter of minutes, the Marina explodes in color as the sun chases away the night’s darkness.

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

Friday, November 23rd, Art by Design and Glass Galeria EM in Marina Vallarta are having their season opening reception. On the first weekend after Thanksgiving, the two galleries host a great cocktail reception attended by a couple of hundred people. We have gone every year for the past four years and I expect this year will be enjoyable as always.

Art by Design Gallery is presenting an homage to their main artist, David Garcia Villasenor, who recently passed away.
Tel. 221-1985 artbydesigngallery@yahoo.com

Glass Galeria EM is presenting works in glass by three artists: Estela Herrera, Carlos de Anda, Mariano Perez, Vivanco
Tel. 221-2228 galeriaem@yahoo.com.mx

Both galleries are located in the Marina Las Palmas building in Marina Vallarta. The setting is beautiful. The reception overlooks the Marina boardwalk and the yachts.

The Coffee Cup Cafe

The Coffee Cup is #1 and I have the framed certificate to prove it.

In the Virtual Vallarta Readers’ Choice Poll, The Coffee Cup was chosen as the best coffee shop in Puerto Vallarta for 2007.  I have to say that I am really proud that The Coffee Cup was chosen.

We ran the The Coffee Cup  from summer 2002 to October 2007 when we stepped out of day-to-day operations. We were fortunate to have a great staff and wonderful customers that made it a truly enriching experience.

Running a coffee shop that is open from 5:00am to 10:00pm every day of the year puts a strain on the family and that is the main reason we turned the shop over to Scott Hall and Chris Benson.  They have been running The Coffee Cup in Olas Altas since 2003 so they were the perfect candidates to replace us.

I didn’t have the opportunity to thank all of our customers when we left so I am taking the opportunity to say it here. Thank you for five great years.

This a a commercial plug that is dear to my heart. Visit The Coffee Cup at the following locations:

Coffee Cup Marina Vallarta – located in the Puesta del Sol Condominiums, space #14 overlooking the Marina. 221-2517.

The Coffee Cup Olas Altas – located at 146 Rodolfo Gomez in front of La Piazzetta restaurant. 222-8584

The Coffee Cup Bucerias – Located on Lazaro Cardenas Street on the South side of the pedestrain bridge over the creek.

More on The Coffee Cup
Fodor’s Review of The Coffee Cup
Cafe Opened by Former Coffee Cup Employee in Sayulita