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Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide for Foodies

    Your ultimate foodie travel guide to Puerto Vallarta, I’ll show you where to stay, what to do and what to eat!

    Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide for Foodies

    Last month I checked another tropical destination off my travel bucket list: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! A long time fan of other Mexico destinations such as Cancun and Tulum, I couldn’t wait to experience the western coast for a change. 

    Pool at Puerto Vallarta Marriott

    After having such a great experience at the JW Marriott Cancun, I knew I would be well taken care of at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa.

    Puerto Vallarta Marriott Guest Rooms
    Puerto Vallarta Marriott Guest Room Views

    Their newly renovated guest rooms feature luxurious bedding, 24-hour room service and breathtaking views of the pool and beachfront.

    Puerto Vallarta Marriott Balcony

    Each room has a balcony with a gorgeous view so you don’t have to worry about requesting (or paying extra!) for a good view.

    Sunset Puerto Vallarta1

    Pro Tip: Do yourself a favor and catch the sunset from your balcony. It was one of the most breathtaking sunsets I’ve ever witnessed.

    Puerto Vallarta Marriott Lobby
    Liz Sitting Marriott Lobby

    In addition to newly renovated guest rooms, the lobby had an extensive makeover as well.

    Liz Lobby Swing Puerto Vallarta Marriott

    Pretty sure I could have chilled on these swinging chairs in the lobby all day.

    Puerto Vallarta Marriott Pool

    Of course, it didn’t take long for me to head out to the beautiful pool at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta.

    Pool Food at Puerto Vallarta Marriott
    Modelo at Pool

    The perfect spot for a casual lunch, a frozen cocktail or happy hour bites, be sure to carve out time to grab a bite by the pool.

    Liz Pool Cabana

    Want a little privacy? You can rent your own private cabana – ideal for one or two – overlooking the beautiful beach.

    Liz at Pool Bar

    Want to get social? Head to the swim-up bar to mix and mingle with other hotel guests.

    Liz Coconut Bar

    Of course, you can’t have a tropical getaway without having at least one drink straight out of a coconut. Don’t worry, there’s a bar for that too. (They have non-alcoholic options for littles too!)

    Puerto Vallarta Marriott Kids Club

    Speaking of littles, while I wasn’t with my kids for this visit they have a very extensive list of activities for the whole family including separate play spaces and kiddie pools.

    Liz at Pool Puerto Vallarta Marriott

    After a day relaxing by the pool, you will have worked up quite the appetite. Be sure to explore the many dining options available on property.

    Ceviche Making Class Puerto Vallarta Marriott

    One of my favorite foodie experiences during my visit was the hands-on ceviche making class.

    Ceviche Class Cocktails

    Together with the culinary team we whipped up the most delicious Caribbean inspired ceviche. They even made a spicy cocktail to go along with it.

    Ceviche Class Short Rib Tacos

    Not a fan of seafood? Don’t miss the short rib tacos. They were out of this world.

    Tequila Tasting Dinner Marriott Puerto Vallarta

    Another fun foodie experience at the hotel was the tequila tasting dinner. Similar to a wine pairing meal, the hotel’s tequila master walked us through each course and the ideal type of tequila to pair with each bite. It was truly incredible what I learned about tequila!

    La Estancia Puerto Vallarta Marriott

    The next day I decided to venture off property to explore other foodie hotspots throughout Puerto Vallarta but not without having a quick bite to eat off the beautiful breakfast buffet at the Marriott’s La Estancia restaurant.

    Marriott Puerto Vallarta Breakfast Buffet

    If you’re looking to maintain your healthy lifestyle while traveling, the Marriott makes it easy. Their breakfast buffet offered endless healthy options – both sweet and savory. From juice bars to salads to whole grains and more, I was blown away by the variety of Mexican food and traditional American breakfast dishes offered.

    Puerto Vallarta Arches

    Now that I was fueled up to start my day, I headed about 25 minutes away to downtown Puerto Vallarta starting at the infamous arches (Los Arcos.)

    Puerto Vallarta Flags Cathedral

    From there, you can explore the city easily by foot. Be sure to check out Puerto Vallarta’s official tourism guide for endless suggestions on attractions, shopping, art galleries, adventures and more.

    Liz Walking Downtown Puerto Vallarta

    Be sure to walk along the famous Malecon Boardwalk. It is lined with shops, galleries, restaurants, night clubs and more.

    La Bodeguita del Medio Cuban Restaurant

    When you’re ready for lunch, look no further than La Bodeguita del Medio located right along the Malecon boardwalk.

    Cuban Restaurant Puerto Vallarta

    This Cuban restaurant offers live music daily and serves some of the most delicious, authentic Cuban food I’ve ever tasted. Don’t miss it during your visit to Puerto Vallarta!

    The Fliers of Paplanta Puerto Vallarta

    While you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for Los Voladores de Paplanta (The Fliers of Paplanta.) These men are performing a cultural tradition of the Totanac people. You can read more about this beautiful, ancient tradition here.

    Mirador Cerro de La Cruz

    Want to get some steps in and burn off lunch? Head to Mirador Cerro de La Cruz, a scenic lookout offering panoramic views of Puerto Vallarta and the coast.

    View from Mirador Cerro de la Cruz

    Don’t make the same mistake I did and wear silly sandals – you’ll want proper walking shoes for this steep climb of stairs but it’s worth it when you get to the top!

    Spicy Drink Bar La Playa

    After walking all those steps, you’ll be getting close to the happiest of hours: happy hour. Head to Bar La Playa, a casual, fun, open-air bar serving fresh made fruity cocktails.

    Bar La Playa Jello Shots

    They even make fruit-filled Jell-O shots directly in the fruit itself! The strawberry one were tasty and super refreshing in the hot sun.

    Cafe des Artists

    If you’re looking for an elegant, special occasion dinner in Puerto Vallarta I highly recommend Cafe des Artistes located right downtown. Offering haute cuisine in a lush, romantic setting for the last 27 years, you can’t beat the hands-on service and beautifully crafted food.

    Cafe Des Artistes Puerto vallarta

    Love wine? Be sure to try their wine pairing meal. It’s a great way to sample a little bit of everything. Vegetarian pairings are also available.

    Evening Street Taco Tour Liz

    Prefer to keep it casual at dinner time? Probably my favorite experience of the entire trip, I highly a street taco tour with Puerto Vallarta Food Tours.

    Puerto Vallarta Taco Tour Street Stands

    The three hour tour is led by a knowledgable, local foodie who will walk you all over town so that you can sample tacos and other goodies at eight different stops.

    Evening Street Taco Tour Puerto Vallarta

    It’s hard to pick my favorite but the smoked marlin fish taco and the tacos pastor with pineapple were high on the list. I would do anything to click my heels and be back in Puerto Vallarta eating these tacos!

    Liz Sleeping Hammock Las Caletas

    Last but not least, a Puerto Vallarta vacation is not complete without a little R&R at the beach, am I right?

    Las Caletas Beach Hideaway Ferry

    Vallarta Adventures offers endless options for day trips but I highly recommend Las Caletas Beach Hideaway.

    Las Caletas Beach Hideaway Water Sports

    Once you arrive to the secluded beach, you can choose between water spots, kayak rentals, hammock lounging, hiking, nature trails and much more.

    Liz Bikini at Las Caletas Beach

    Personally, I was ready to relax and soak up as much sun as possible before heading back to cold and snowy Michigan.

    Liz Relaxing Las Caletas Beach

    The experience includes an open bar which was super convenient because I didn’t have to worry about carrying cash with me around the beach.

    Las Caletas Beach Puerto Vallarta

    The turquoise waters were unbelievable, the perfect end to a wonderful first visit to Puerto Vallarta.

    Liz Sipping Margarita at Pool

    What are your favorite foodie spots in Puerto Vallarta? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below!

    Liz Palm Trees Puerto Vallarta Marriott

    Your passport is waiting.

    Marriott Puerto Vallarta Exterior Panoramic

    Disclosure: Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa hosted me during my visit. Some meals and activities were arranged by Visit Puerto Vallarta. All thoughts are my own. Photography by Alejandro Photography. 

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    Liz DellaCroce

    Liz Della Croce is the creator and author of The Lemon Bowl, a healthy food blog. Since 2010, Liz has been sharing delicious recipes that just so happen to be healthy. By using real ingredients with an emphasis on seasonality, Liz has built a growing audience of loyal readers who crave good food for their families. Click Here To Subscribe to my newsletter:

    12 Comments

    1. Great ad for the Marriott.
      However you overlooked going to some of the finest restaurants in Mexico that happen to be located in PV.
      Next time forget the Marriott and visit PV.

      Heriberto

    2. I came across this article looking for info on the Puerto Vallarta food scene and was pretty surprised to find so much of it was a review for a Marriott. Nothing against sponsored content (or Marriott- they’re my top choice when we stay at big chain hotels), but maybe a different title would be more correct?

      I don’t mean to be unkind and debated if I should say anything- I just felt like this was a perspective I would want to hear if I were a blogger.

      Your recipes look great btw!

      1. Hi Jules – You make a valid point and I apologize! That said, the food at this resort is some of the best we experienced BUT we also recommend other items like the street taco tour! Regardless I hope you make a visit soon – it was incredible.

    3. Victors!!! Good for any meal but breakfast is where it’s at. Located in the marina right down the road from the Marriott. Which we’ve stayed at a few times and loved it!

    4. Thank you for posting the beautiful pictures! Having been to PV eight years in a row usually staying in a condo in a Mexican neighborhood it sure brought back the memories, sights and smells. From a street taco to a expensive entree all is a foodie adventure. Love bar la playa!

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