Villaencantada Blog

Grab a towel and some sun block because we’re going back to the beach, and you’re going to love this one.  Plan to spend the day away from your villa rental Puerto Vallarta at Las Gemelas Beach; it’s not like anything else. Along the southern shore of Banderas Bay, the mountains seem to come right down to the water’s edge in many places, so the beaches here aren’t big and wide-open like Los Muertos. That probably explains why Las Gemelas tends to be less crowded than the beaches close to town. That, and the fact that it’s too far to walk.

You have a couple of options. You can call for a cab to collect you from your villa Puerto Vallarta, or you can walk into town and catch the bus.  For a few pesos, the bus will take you away from the city, away from the cruise ships and taxis, so you can spend some quiet time playing and paddling and enjoying the soft white sand.

There are actually two pretty little coves and two Gemelas beaches, north and south. They’re not identical twins (gemelas) – the north beach is more shaded, which is really nice if you need a break from the sun. The water is gentle here, so it’s perfect for swimming, even for kids - no one will get beat up in the surf. Not the greatest surfing, though, for that very reason.

Las Gemelas is south of Puerto Vallarta, a couple of miles before you reach Mismaloya. The bus to Mismaloya will let you off at Playa Gemelas, just by the El Presidente Hotel. In fact, the easiest way to get to Gemelas South is to walk through the hotel.

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No matter what time of year you book your villa rental Puerto Vallarta, you’re going to wind up on the beach at some time during your stay. You may not spread out on a beach towel and soak up rays all day – heck, you may not even wear your swimming suit – but there is something about the beach and the water that are nearly irresistible for most folks.

Plenty of people spend the majority of their beach time at Los Muertos beach. After all, it’s right there, practically next door to the villa rental Puerto Vallarta. It’s the place to see and be seen, to meet and greet – the message here: this is a popular place to spend the day.

If you’re not into competitive tanning or  beach volleyball or comparative hard bodies, get out of town and visit a beach that offers a bit more individuality.  There are a number of good choices around the bay that are tons of fun. One of them is Las Caletas. It’s a private beach, and you’ll need to go through the concessionaire (Vallarta Adventures) to use it. You can only get there by boat, but the snorkeling and water sports at

Posted by synapse at 05:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Isn’t life great? You woke up this morning to find yourself in a grown-up’s vacation theme park. Everything seems made for your kind of fun, from the Puerto Vallarta vacation villa rental you’re staying in, to the spectacular beaches, to the list of day-time activities as long as your arm. And you’ll learn pretty quickly that you can have just as much fun when the sun goes down.

Puerto Vallarta’s downtown area, El Centro, is Party Central at night. The watering holes and party places range from mildly wild to well beyond what your mother would approve. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t get out there and have fun; you just need to pace yourself. And take cab fare for the trip back to your Puerto Vallarta vacation villa rental.

Just about any tourist can direct you to Carlos O’Briens, which should tell you that it’s a gathering place for tourists. Still, if you like to dance until the wee small hours, this might be a good choice for a long night. Are you thinking of something more quiet and romantic? You can always take a stroll along the Malecón after dark or find a bench and watch the sun set behind Banderas Bay.

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