November 20th is a Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). The Mexican Revolution’s impact on Mexico is enormous. The images of Emiliano Zapata (Vallarta Food Tour’s personal favorite revolutionary) and Pancho Villa are inextricably linked to their birth country and the Mexican Revolution they helped take shape. The Mexican Revolution was hard fought, bloody and long. That much exertion surely …
Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is cause for celebration, a time when families pay tribute to beloved members of their families that have passed away. Taking place over two days – November 1st and 2nd – families congregate, create altars in homage and make ofrendas, or offerings to their deceased. It is not spooky or …
1. You’re pretty certain the drug lords are just waiting in the bushes to rob/rape/kidnap/kill you. Get over yourself. They aren’t. Yes, that sort of horrific violence still exists in very few, very particular parts of Mexico, none of which your tourist ass is probably going within hundreds of miles of. After visiting Mexico, you realize that it is an …
September 16th, Mexican Independence Day, is a day of celebration, cultural pride and overall revelry. The celebration officially kicks off a bit before midnight on September 15th with the grito, or cry, ushering in the festivities. Meant to symbolize the moment in 1810 that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, declared independence from Spain in Dolores, Guanajuato (now Dolores de Hidalgo), the grito is now reenacted by …
The summer in Puerto Vallarta has us moving slower, trying to duck rain showers and running into the OXXO just for their free AC. Anticipating what is traditionally the slowest month of the year, some business shutter their doors for the month of “Septi-hambre”. However, the savviest of locals understand that braving the summer has its benefits, namely crazy, great …
Salud! It’s National Tequila Day (July 24th)! Our favorite spirit, tequila, is only grown in certain parts of Mexico. The majority of tequila is grown and distilled in its namesake, the city of Tequila, in our very own state, Jalisco. This region’s red volcanic soil is particularly ideal for growing agave, the majestic plant which tequila is derived from. Premium …
Don’t get us wrong, we here at Vallarta Food Tours are absolutely head over heels with Mexico and her exquisite cuisine (none better, if you ask us!), but when American Independence Day rolls around our taste buds start hankering for something a bit more “red, white and blue”. In the United States, July 4th marks not only the country’s hard-fought …
Celebrating 10 years, Vallarta Lifestyle’s Restaurant Week is back featuring more of the Bay of Banderas’ incredible restaurants. From May 15th through May 31st, thirty-six of the region’s most acclaimed restaurants offer three-course menus (with three options each) at a discount. The fixed price menus are two-tiered – $199 pesos or $299 pesos per person and the menus showcase the …
In the minds of many non-Mexicans, Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) signals a day to bust out the sombreros, head out to your local Mexican joint and enjoy some “adult beverages”, namely tequila and cerveza. Why not? Celebrating Mexican Independence is important and signals to this warm country that they respect and honor their sovereignty. One small problem… Cinco …
With St. Patrick’s Day approaching and the inevitable hankering for Guinness and corned beef and cabbage, we got to thinking of our plans, things to do in Puerto Vallarta on St. Patty’s Day. Living in Puerto Vallarta, it may not seem like the obvious place to celebrate but then again, how fun is obvious? My father is of Irish descent and …
