Chapter 43 - Puerto Vallarta & Bucarias, Mexico - A Healing Vacation (1/19

One of many beautiful sunsets we saw in Bucerias.
Thanks to our friend Lorraine for capturing this photo without us knowing it.

This trip started, as most of our trips do, with a last-minute decision to go somewhere. We contacted Paulina at the Bungalows Arroyo where we have stayed in the past. We were so happy when she told us they had an opening from January 24 to February 24. We didn’t hesitate and booked it.

But this trip had a rocky start. After we booked the airfare and accommodations, Corp got bit by a brown recluse spider at Texas Roadhouse in our home town and the bite turned into an abscess with a MSER-resistant staph infection.

The week leading up to departure included two minor procedures to remove the abscess.

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta on January 19. During our first week, Corp was still taking antibiotics and tending to the wound—cleaning and packing it daily. No ocean, swimming pools, or hot tubs. Corp wasn't happy about it, but we made it work.

For the first five nights, we stayed near the Malecón, staying at Loft Malecon Vallarta.

We were surprised to discover that the road in front of our hotel was being transformed as the Malecón extension stretched another two blocks.

One day our toilet wasn't working right, so Corp took a look. When he lifted off the toilet tank cover it slipped in his hands and it broke into several pieces.

We were surprised that the hotel did not consider it an issue and we were not charged for the accident.

On January 20, we visited a cemetery—something that always feels uniquely beautiful in Mexico.

I have a macabre hobby - visiting Mexican cemeteries.

I love that the colors, care, and atmosphere in Mexican cemeteries is not somber, but full of life and remembrance.

We also discovered a new Mexican style taco - volcanes at Pellicazadas.

Volcanes are a crispy, fire-charred tortilla piled high with sizzling carne asada, melted cheese, fresh cilantro, onions, and salsa that packs just the right amount of heat. Corp could take or leave them, but I loved them.

By January 22, we came across our favorite bakery in Puerto Vallarta and left with a tray full of desserts.

All the treats were so delicious!

It seemed every evening we saw another stunning sunset.

Puerto Vallarta has the most beautiful sunsets night after night.

Nighttime in Puerto Vallarta is beautiful too.

Los Muertos Pier

Puerto Vallarta's Romantic Zone is stunning after dark.

Transportation for the month didn’t just happen—it took a little strategy. We hopped on a public bus to go to the airport to pick up our rental car from Sixt, but the real win was in the planning ahead. Before the trip, I contacted Capital One to get a full coverage letter through our Quicksilver credit card—something the rental agency required in order to waive their pricey full coverage insurance. Once we handed over that paperwork, there was a bit of a trade-off. They swapped the vehicle for an older model with a few more miles and some visible wear and tear—but honestly, that didn’t bother us one bit. What mattered was the savings. In the end, we paid just $310 for 30 days instead of nearly $800.

January 24 marked our move to Bucerías and a return to the Bungalows Arroyo—our home away from home. Walking in felt like a reunion. Familiar faces, warm greetings, and that unmistakable feeling that we were exactly where we should be.

That evening, we jumped straight into the vibrant energy of the Fiestas Patronales de Nuestra Señora de la Paz (Our Lady of Peace Festival).

Mexico has the craziest fireworks.

Another crazy fireworks video.

The festival also had some great traditional dancing in Centro.

No festival is complete without a carnival.

On January 25, our friends Keith and Joni from our home town arrived, and it was fun showing them everything we love about Bucerias.

That night, we wandered to Centro Bucerías, played a sharpshooting carnival game (Corp came out victorious), and took in the carnival atmosphere.

The sharpshooters in their BB guns contest.

The next few days we explored Guayabitos, San Pancho, and Lo de Marcos.

Joni and I enjoying pina coladas on the beach in Guayabitos.

We has to stop for a quick selfie on Guayabitos Beach.

Guayabitos Beach

Keith had an unforgettable “ice cream incident” at the McDonald’s in the Mega grocery store.

His ice cream falling off the cone was one of those slow-motion moments that had us all laughing so hard.

On January 27, we went to Sayulita. The town and surfing beach were very different than we remembered. It was much more commercial. Not sure when we will return anytime soon since the vibe was so different.

On January 28, we took Keith and Joni to Boca de Tomatlán and hopped on a boat to Los Animas for lunch and beachside drinks.

Jorge's Place still has the best shrimp ceviche.

Video of the boat ride to Los Animas.

Fun toucan sculpture outside Canto Palmares restaurant, which serves our favorite shrimp tostados.

That night, we were dancing in the street to Bruce Springsteen's “Dancing in the Street.”

Beach day on Bucerias Beach.

On January 30, we headed into Puerto Vallarta for a night on the town. We didn’t realize there was a protest going on, so what should have been a 45-minute ride turned into an hour-and-a-half trip.

The “Clarisa protest” was a series of large demonstrations and road blockades demanding justice for Clarisa Rodríguez, a young mother who died after being struck by an allegedly drunk driver. Protesters accused authorities of mishandling the investigation and protecting the suspect because of alleged political and social connections. Ultimately, the drunk driver turned himself in and the protests ended a few days later.

Sunset on the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta.

The evening ended at Andales Bar, where patrons can actually ride a donkey through the bar. We are still not sure how we felt about it, but it was definitely a unique experience. Andales also played some really interesting music that we had never heard before, and we ended up saving several songs on Spotify. The people watching after leaving the bar was unforgettable too.

We were sad to see Keith and Joni leave on February 1, but our trip continued.

On February 2, a dentist visit with Dr. Selena cost just $60 per person for a cleaning and checkup and reminded us how easy and affordable dental care is in Mexico.

Neither of us had cavities, so Dr. Selena said to keep doing what we were doing and she would see us at our next checkup.

We went for a memorable drive through the Ameca River on February 3.

It’s wild that you can drive across the Ameca River just about 30 minutes outside Bucerías. It took us a while to find it again, but it was worth it.

Video of us driving across the Ameca River.

On February 8, the Bungalows hosted a Super Bowl party that offered tacos, chili, coleslaw, and beer tasting. We both participated in the beer tasting, but neither of us won.

On February 9, we drove about 2 hours inland to Tepic via the toll road (a surprising $24 USD), where we found delicious tacos and I bought a cute leopard dress. We felt like the only non-Hispanic people in the city, but we were met with plenty of smiles and a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Most central plazas in Mexican cities feature a beautiful cathedral. This one was under restoration, but was beautiful nonetheless.

Lots of colonial style buildings in Tepic.

A beautiful corner building in Tepic.

On February 12, we took another road trip to Guayabitos with our friends Stu and Mo from the Bungalows, enjoying lunch and beach drinks.

Stu and Mo have been to the Puerto Vallarta area many times, but had never been to Guayabitos. It was fun showing them one of our favorite beaches.

This photo shows why we love visiting Guayabitos so much; stunning blue water, island in the background and wide sandy beach.

Unfortunately, Corp got 5 more red bumps on his leg and one turned into another staph infection, leading to one hospital visit, one doctor office visit, infection culture, antibiotics and parasite medications, and navigating the Mexican health care system via Google Translate since we don't speak Spanish. The hospital visit, doctor's office visit, culture, and medications cost less than $225 USD. The affordability was shocking to us.

While in urgent care at the hospital, I assisted the doctor by opening and holding supplies and delivering the infection culture test to the lab. Only in Mexico!

This new suspected staph infection ultimately led us to cut the trip short and return home earlier than planned.

Before we left, a few residents at the Bungalows hosted a small farewell gathering for us during happy hour, serving a drink we had shared with them on a previous trip — the Hop, Skip, and Go Naked.

The happy hour for us was so sweet and greatly appreciated and the drinks were delicious!

On February 20, we were happy to see the Bucerias Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival. It featured an "under the sea" theme. The artists had three days to create their works of art.

If you stood in just the right spot, it had a really neat 3D effect.

This turtle had so much detail it felt lifelike.

I can never pass up an opportunity to have a photo with a "crab" to honor our Crabby & Chipper Travels blog.

Thankfully, we flew home on February 21 because on February 22, cartel-related violence erupted across the Mexican state of Jalisco, including in Puerto Vallarta, after a major military operation that targeted the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. There were burning vehicles, roadblocks, and blocked highways around the city and airport area. Authorities issued shelter-in-place warnings, and many international flights were canceled, delayed, or diverted for safety reasons.

Looking back, this trip was definitely different, but we loved reconnecting with old friends, made new ones, and enjoyed the small stuff—poolside chats, shared meals, games under the palapa, water aerobics, and sunsets that never got old. The concern for Corp's infection shown by the owners and residents at the Bungalows was genuinely heartfelt and is one of the main reasons we continue to return to that special place every few years.

Miscellaneous random cute/funny/interesting/weird pics/videos below…

Puerto Vallarta has a lot of murals.

Corp thought this delivery driver using a concrete wall as a parking break was hilarious.

Corp won this clip on chick at one of the Bucerias carnival games.

This is a video of the largest most colorful caterpillar we have ever seen.

We stumbled on this sunset in Bucerias and it was probably the most beautiful we have ever seen. This photo doesn't give the depth of the bright red colors and the puffy clouds.

Kiko was the resident street dog at the Bungalows who would wait outside our room every morning for a treat. He was a pretty spoiled street dog and made us really want to get another dog.

The Bungalows also has resident iguanas that love drinking from the pool water. This one is the granddaddy of them all because he is huge.

You could buy late night donuts out of the back of this lady's car. They were pretty good.

Keri, from Edmonton, Canada and a fellow resident at the Bungalows, and I enjoying a glass of sangria.

This poor man was walking down the "heart attack" hill in Bucerias with these heavy clay flower pots. They call it heart attack hill because it has a very steep grade.