MTB in Mexico

[Tri Girl]

Wow, Sheesh!! Those pics are simply breathtaking! How neat that you got to go to the top of the bell tower and see Mass. Mexico is such a beautiful country. Sounds like you had a fantastic ride, and got to see some incredible things. The mountains look gorgeous! If we ever head that way, we'll be sure to look Alex up. Thanks for the tips!
Glad you had fun. I can never get enough Mexico pics- do you have any more?

[Sheesh]

TriGirl - I'm trying to upload all of our pics to photobucket, but it's taking a while. As soon as they're uploaded, I'll post the link. We have a lot of great sunset pictures!

I wanted to make sure and come back and post positive reviews of Alex and Outdoor Vallarta because I found very few forum posts on any of the cycling forums about biking in Puerto Vallarta...a few folks have asked for recommendations but they don't seem to come back to give feedback for anyone who may be looking later.

Edit: OK, pictures are posted.

[xeney]

Oh, you are making me so jealous. I love Puerto Vallarta but we have never done any biking there. We were supposed to go there in January for a long horseback riding trip, but instead we are headed to the Yucatan. We've been to PV three times in three years and feel like maybe we should branch out, but it is one of my favorite places and your pictures made me wish we were going there instead.

[Tri Girl]

Sheesh,
your pictures are so beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing them! I'm sitting here all bundled up, and looking at your pictures make me feel so happy. I just love Mexico. We're hooked on the Mayan Riviera and Cancun, but I would like to try the Pacific Coast sometime in the future. What resort did you stay at? It looks beautiful? Is that a liquor dispenser on the wall in your room? Gotta love Mexico!

Thanks again for posting your pics! Looks like you had a wonderful vacation!!!! It's also nice to put a face with a name.

[Sheesh]

Tri Girl - YES! The liquor dispenser was pretty cool! As were the beers that were restocked every other day. We stayed at the Riu Jalisco, which is in Nuevo Vallarta (about 20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta). The resort was amazing and we loved every minute of it. Here's a link to a quick entry on my blog about our trip (includes links to the resort).

However, I would not recommend staying in Nuevo Vallarta on your first trip to Puerto Vallarta because it's too far from the downtown area which is really where you have to go on your first visit.

Xeney - This was our third time going to Puerto Vallarta and we had considered going somewhere else this time, but the deal was just too good to pass up (airfare, 7 nights, all inclusive for $599 pp). I, too, am in love with Mexico and would love to retire there someday (I'm definitely dreaming on that one...).

Tri Girl - I hope you make it to Puerto Vallarta some day!

[xeney]

Yes, retirement in Jalisco is definitely a thing we have looked into. I love that part of Mexico so much.

We have never stayed in a resort there. We always stay downtown.

[Sheesh]

We just got back from another week in Puerto Vallarta and had a fantastic time! We hooked up with Alex again from Outdoor Vallarta and this time we went for a more challenging ride. We started in San Pancho, on the ocean, and headed up some twisty-windy, steep dirt roads to the top of one of the mountain/hills. The ride wasn't really technical exactly, but the hills were steep enough and rocky enough that I ended up pushing the bike up several of them. But, it was still a great time. We finished the ride back in San Pancho with lunch (chilaquiles con pollo, yum!) and then headed back to the resort.

This is my shameless plug for Alex: Alex and Outdoor Vallarta (and the bike shop, Vallarta Bikes) are the few biking tour companies left in Puerto Vallarta. Most people go to PV for food, liquor, and sun, not thinking of the fact that the Sierra Madres are right there. GREAT mountain biking! If you're looking for a new vacation destination where you can relax in the sun and get in some great MTB rides, please do consider Alex. You won't regret it!

Pictures below!