Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: From Regatta to Beach Fiesta

Getting to your travel destination is part of the fun. You can drive, fly, take a train, or go by boat.

But how about getting there by participating in a world-class regatta race?

Last Thursday I had the chance to attend the Kick-Off Party for one of the most popular regatta races in the western hemisphere: the Vallarta 2010 race. This event took place at the San Diego Yacht Club and it was sponsored in part by the Mexico Tourism Board.

The Vallarta Race is an annual competition that started back in 1953. It begins in San Diego, California and ends in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, covering a distance of 1,000 NMs down the coast of Baja California.

This year 12 boats will be competing; eleven of them representing USA and one team representing Mexico on boat Peligroso.

The boats are expected to cross the finish line and arrive in Puerto Vallarta between February 24 and 26, where there will be many celebrations and events. But you can actually follow the competition and track the race boats on real-time by clicking here.

Many people take advantage of this race event to travel to beautiful Puerto Vallarta and enjoy the many attractions of this beach paradise.

What to do in Puerto Vallarta

If you love the outdoors, Vallarta Adventures offers different tours and packages for everyone. From thrilling zip lines at their private canopy reserve to scuba diving, and from swimming with dolphins to exploring colonial villages, Vallarta Adventures is a great place to start exploring Puerto Vallarta and its surroundings.

As a bonus, Vallarta Adventures participates in many programs aimed at preserving the local wildlife and vegetation.

If you love shopping, you can find traditional Mexican arts & crafts, pottery, silver jewelry, beautiful indigenous masks, ceramics & hand-blown glassware, and even contemporary art where you can meet the artists in person at the many different art galleries in town.

When it comes to Mexican gastronomy, Puerto Vallarta has many top restaurants that offer the best in Mexican dishes with the excellent customer service that distinguishes Mexico.

Dance all night to the rhythm of the night or enjoy live music at the heart of town, El Centro. Also known as the Malecón, here you will find all types of bars and restaurants with something for everyone.

Vallarta Wine Fest

For the wine lovers, the 4^th Vallarta Wine Fest will be held on February 22 and last a week.

At the event you can expect all types of cultural and artistic expressions, wine tastings and wine pairings. The event not only promotes wine culture in a fun way, but also promotes Vallarta as a great travel destination.

For more information on Vallarta and other Mexican destinations, please go to www.VisitMexico.com

* Regatta photo courtesy of the San Diego Yacht Club