Mexico - Pacific Coast holidays

There are beaches left, right and centre on the Pacific Coast. You get 25 miles of sand in Puerto Vallarta and its surrounding areas, alone. As a rule of thumb, the beaches in the north, near Nuevo Vallarta, tend to be longer and have larger waves than the smaller, calmer coves in the south.

Playa de los Muertos is the biggest beach in the Puerto Vallarta area of Mexico’s Pacific Coast, and it attracts a mix of locals and tourists. There are plenty of parasols and sunloungers, and you don’t need to look far to find a place to eat – there are plenty of cafés and bars on the sand where you can get everything from burritos to shrimp.

There’s a beach on the Marieta Islands that likes to play hide and seek with tourists. The aptly-named Hidden Beach is located inside a hollow in one of the islands. You have to swim to get to it, but you can go on a guided trip that’ll get you there safely.

For souvenirs that won’t break the bank, head to the indoor market on Augustin Rodriguez in Puerto Vallarta. Here, shopping bags can be filled with everything from ceramics to necklaces. Alternatively, take your spending money to the artisan market in the community centre on Calle Pulpito on a Wednesday night to buy jewellery, soap and pottery direct from the makers.

To shop in the style you’re probably accustomed to at home, visit Paradise Mall in Nuevo Vallarta. Here, air-conditioned jewellery shops and clothing stores are accompanied by a food court and cafés. Alternatively, browse around Calles Libertad. The shops here range from beachwear stores to jewellery boutiques.

Bright Huichol art can be bought in a variety of galleries in Puerto Vallarta. There’s everything from masks to Faberge-style decorated eggs and vases, and every piece is ornamented with delicate beads set in beeswax. Some of the best galleries can be found around Juarez and Coronoa. Bucerias, 15 minutes north of Nuevo Vallarta, is another pulse point for art. Lazardo Cardenas is lined with contemporary galleries.

A lot of tourists in Nuevo Vallarta like to batten down the hatches in their hotels and enjoy the cocktail bars and entertainment there. Those that don’t, usually end up on the Pirate Ship sunset cruise at some point. Departing from the marina, this galleon serves up dinner, cocktails, dancing and fireworks. In Bucerias, meanwhile, Thursday nights are ‘art walk’ night and the galleries on Lazardo Cardenas open late and serve cocktails.

The Malecon rules the nightlife roost in Puerto Vallarta. Things start heating up as the city is cooling down, around sunset. Street performers and singers ease visitors into the night ahead. The bars and clubs are at their densest around Plaza Aquiles Serdan. There’s a big gay scene in Puerto Vallarta, too, and you’ll find the most established gay clubs on Juarez.

Mexicans know how to do a picnic. They don’t take sandwiches to the beach with them – instead, they tend to buy fish kebabs from the sand-side shacks. The vendors on Playa de los Muertos usually use mahi mahi and grill the fish over red-hot coals.

This is the staple item of any Pacific Coast barbecue. It’s made by marinating red snapper in birra paste, which is made from roast peppers, garlic and chillies. The fish and its new coat are then smoked over searing coals until the sauce turns into a glaze.

This traditional Mexican fast food looks like a cross between a pizza and an open sandwich. It’s made by layering a disc of fried maize with refried beans, cheese and salsa, and pinching the sides so nothing spills over the edges.

Agua Fresca is a grown-up Robinsons cordial. It’s made by adding fruit juice or flower extracts to water. The drink comes in a long list of flavours, including a bright red version that’s flavoured with hibiscus, and rice, cinnamon and vanilla varieties.

It’s almost as easy to get your hands on tequila as it is water on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. The alcohol is made by distilling the blue agave plant, which grows locally. The spirit is often aged to give it more distinct taste, plus you can get your hands on flavoured versions you won’t find back home.