mom22tinks Posted February 23, 2010 #1 Share Posted February 23, 2010 After reading many posts while trying to decide on an all inclusive resort for the day it seems that people are always complaining about the yucky beaches and brown water. Having never been on the west coast of Mexico I am wondering if this is truly the case and if it isn't... where would you recommend we go? I'd rather have beach than pool, but a pool would be a plus in a resort. We are a family of 4 with two children 10 and 7. Help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lintman Posted February 24, 2010 #2 Share Posted February 24, 2010 I haven't been to any of the all inclusive resorts but we did visit the beach in PV and I was not impressed. The water was did look dirty. This trip we are booking a canopy tour so we don't go to the beach. If we didn't do that we would have gone to an all inclusive so we could have the pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomexico Posted February 24, 2010 #3 Share Posted February 24, 2010 After reading many posts while trying to decide on an all inclusive resort for the day it seems that people are always complaining about the yucky beaches and brown water. Having never been on the west coast of Mexico I am wondering if this is truly the case and if it isn't... where would you recommend we go? I'd rather have beach than pool, but a pool would be a plus in a resort. We are a family of 4 with two children 10 and 7. Help! "yucky beaches and brown water" aren't commonplace along the Pacific Coast of Mexico, but you will find contaminated water in some bay areas and at points along bays and the Ocean where rivers feed into those bodies of water. The Puerto Vallarta area suffers, many times, from bay waters that carry higher than desirable levels of fecal and other contamination - probably more so than any other port you will stop at. Bacteria and contamination problems become most serious during the days following heavy rainfall, when run-off is at a greater volume. Beaches at or near Puerto Vallarta (sharing the large Bahia de Banderas) which frequently report high contamination levels have been: Los Muertos, Cuale, Tomatlan, Yelapa, Quimixto and Mismaloya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabreezer Posted February 25, 2010 #4 Share Posted February 25, 2010 The water is not great in PV or even further up the coast in Bucerias. Beware of stingrays and very tiny almost invisible jelly fish. Also, in the winter, the water is fairly cold especially if you go out to Marietas for snorkeling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmac Posted February 25, 2010 #5 Share Posted February 25, 2010 We snorkeled at the Marietas islands in early November when the water was still very warm. Even if the water is cooler during the winter the water at the Marietas is very clear and clean as it is outside of the bay water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted February 26, 2010 #6 Share Posted February 26, 2010 The water is not great in PV or even further up the coast in Bucerias. Beware of stingrays and very tiny almost invisible jelly fish. Also, in the winter, the water is fairly cold especially if you go out to Marietas for snorkeling. Yes, I got horrible jellyfish stings in PV and still have the scars; made me quite sick. Agree, the water is often contaminated and I would not view this as an ideal "beach" stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ine Posted February 26, 2010 #7 Share Posted February 26, 2010 In summertime (rainyseason) indeed the water isnot that nice in Puerto Vallarta. Rivers can bring down all kind of stuff. However in wintertime (hardly or no rain) the bay and the water are nice. Swimming and beaches may not be that great in the city but certainly nicer around Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias etc which is more north on the bay. I swim in the ocean often (we are in PV during wintertime) and never have problems. I know from other travels (and living along the Northsea in The Netherlands) that it is certainly isnot just the bay of Puerto vallarta having some bad days from time to time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzy1 Posted February 26, 2010 #8 Share Posted February 26, 2010 I do not think gomexico has ever been to Vallarta but I can tell you that the water clarity will always be brownish at the mouth of the river in the rainy season. On a side note, I have compared the water sample levels here are we are even better than most samples collected from Long Beach, California! (They often have to close beaches in California in the rainy season so DO NOT think this is a Mexico thing) So, if you want to see some beaches, here are some recent photos: This is Plya Conchas Chinas just south of the Romantic Zone, right by the Lindo Mar hotel: http://i.rentalo.com/images/Puerto-Vallarta-Villa-p7_232367_7205476l.jpg This is also Conchas Chinas by Villa Celeste: http://www.gayguidevallarta.com/Lodging/Images/483_20071003161611_l_copy4.jpg This is from the pier at Los Muertos: http://z.about.com/d/gaytravel/1/0/0/6/-/-/Gay_Beach_Puerto_Vallarta.jpg Las Caletas beach: http://www.louisfuqua.net/caletasnoone.jpg Dreams Vallarta: http://z.about.com/d/studenttravel/1/0/G/L/puerto-vallarta-beach-south.jpg The coast along Garza Blanca: http://virtualvallarta.com/puertovallarta/bm.pix/a298~s600x600.jpg Beach/cove at Yelapa: http://casagraceland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/yelapa-beach2.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quincytoo Posted February 27, 2010 #9 Share Posted February 27, 2010 I do not think gomexico has ever been to Vallarta but I can tell you that the water clarity will always be brownish at the mouth of the river in the rainy season.On a side note, I have compared the water sample levels here are we are even better than most samples collected from Long Beach, California! (They often have to close beaches in California in the rainy season so DO NOT think this is a Mexico thing) So, if you want to see some beaches, here are some recent photos: This is Plya Conchas Chinas just south of the Romantic Zone, right by the Lindo Mar hotel: http://i.rentalo.com/images/Puerto-Vallarta-Villa-p7_232367_7205476l.jpg This is also Conchas Chinas by Villa Celeste: http://www.gayguidevallarta.com/Lodging/Images/483_20071003161611_l_copy4.jpg This is from the pier at Los Muertos: http://z.about.com/d/gaytravel/1/0/0/6/-/-/Gay_Beach_Puerto_Vallarta.jpg Las Caletas beach: http://www.louisfuqua.net/caletasnoone.jpg Dreams Vallarta: http://z.about.com/d/studenttravel/1/0/G/L/puerto-vallarta-beach-south.jpg The coast along Garza Blanca: http://virtualvallarta.com/puertovallarta/bm.pix/a298~s600x600.jpg Beach/cove at Yelapa: http://casagraceland.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/yelapa-beach2.jpg gomexico needs to chnage their name to don'tgomexico......:cool: I would rather swim in the Banderas Bay then any part of California. Nices Pics Bzy :) When we were at Dreams I fell in love with the little white house on the cliff nearest the old tower......Loved that house :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portcbob Posted February 27, 2010 #10 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Good Morning from Australia... I noticed you are a resident of Puerto Vallarta so you will be the best qualified to answer my question if you don't mind. We are a group of 6 aussies arriving on the Mariner in early April of this year. We love lounging around nice beaches and pools and having a few drinks here and there. I noticed you photos and they all looks great... We are seriously considering going to dreams resort & spa for a 6 hour half day all inclusive. Would you recommend this place more than any of the other beaches you have in the photos or do you think we should consider one of the other places you have shown.Thanks very much for your help in advance. Regards Bob & Chris ( Downunder );) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cozzette2 Posted February 27, 2010 #11 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Thank you for the beautiful pictures of Vallarta. I have seen the water look like that more often than not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LitchfieldParkCruisers Posted February 28, 2010 #12 Share Posted February 28, 2010 We are cruising in 2 weeks to PV and planning on going to the Dreams resort. Has anyone ever experienced jelly fish or stingrays there? How is the water there in March? Is there any areas around there to snorkel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quincytoo Posted February 28, 2010 #13 Share Posted February 28, 2010 We are cruising in 2 weeks to PV and planning on going to the Dreams resort. Has anyone ever experienced jelly fish or stingrays there? How is the water there in March? Is there any areas around there to snorkel? Jelly fish are uppredictable about when they come into the bay and we saw several manta rays at Dreams both of Dreams they ride the waves......They are more afraid of you then you them My husband stepped on a sting ray in Nuevo last OCT and got a barb full of venom pumped into his foot..three anti venom shots later....remember to always shuffle your feet in the water. ..it was my husband's fault as he was running through the water to rescue me from whatver slimy thing had swam past my leg....I am such a sissy. We have been t Dreams PV in late Feb last year and the water was wonderful :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomexico Posted March 1, 2010 #14 Share Posted March 1, 2010 For people here looking for truthful answers, and who aren't employed by the tourism industry in Vallarta trying to cover-up the water quality situatiion there - you may be interested in viewing a beach-area water quality reporting website the Mexican federal government maintains and to which it posts the results of it's periodic testing: http://www.semarnat.gob.mx/queessemarnat/politica_ambiental/certificaciondeplayas/Pages/playas_limpias.aspx The testing standards were changed (reduced) after initially implemented because some serious problems were revealed which port city mayors thought would harm tourism in their communities. What you'll see in the results, though, will give you a reasonably good idea of conditions at various Pacific Coast destinations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzy1 Posted March 2, 2010 #15 Share Posted March 2, 2010 To the Aussies :) You will love Dreams in PV, a great beach, nice food for an A/I and great drinks. An awesome way to spend the day! You could also check out the beach in front of Lindo Mar Hotel and La Playita restaurant there if you want to order Al a Carta but I would go to Dreams.....vacation are meant for splurging a little! To gomexico- I watch the Semernat website often- no different readings than California or Galveston, Texas, if anything, better. Did you know there is like 20 sewer rats in Chicago for every person that lives there? Do you have that on your Chitown tourism website? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portcbob Posted March 2, 2010 #16 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Thanking you very much for your imput. We are definately going to Dreams Resort & Spa now. Once again, Many thanks. Regards Bob & Chris.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quincytoo Posted March 2, 2010 #17 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Dreams is so nice :) We were there this time last year and just loved it. Lindo Mar resort is a little cautionous walk up the busy highway, we walked up there one day to look around, I would LOVE to stay here for a week or month but for the day Dreams can't be beat. I would taxi into the Malecon walk around to explore abit then cab it to Dreams and spend the rest of the day being spoiled by the Dreams staff :) Wouldn't be a CC thread if gomexico didn't show up spewing his ...ummm....two cents......er...1/2 cent :rolleyes: Water off of Victoria is disgusting compared to Puerto Vallarta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portcbob Posted March 2, 2010 #18 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Our group has decided to go to Dreams Resort & Spa for a 6 hour half day pass. We are really excited about doing this as we have only been to Puerto Vallarta once about 2 years ago and all we did was walk around the Malecon looking at shops ect and visiting the beautiful old church. Just wondering if we decide to change from Dreams ( which we probably won't do ) is there a tour you can advise us on that does about 6 hours and takes you to the best beaches for a swim and also shows you some of the local culture and places of interest?????? Thanks in anticipation. Bob & Chris:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom22tinks Posted March 3, 2010 Author #19 Share Posted March 3, 2010 We are cruising in 2 weeks to PV and planning on going to the Dreams resort. Has anyone ever experienced jelly fish or stingrays there? How is the water there in March? Is there any areas around there to snorkel? I had also hoped to go to the dreams resort but them have not replied to my emails. I don't know how much it is or if we have to purchase ahead or time or just show up. Do you happen to know ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portcbob Posted March 3, 2010 #20 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Yes, My wife and I are doing a 6 hour day pass which costs $58.00 U.S. per person, children half price. You just turn up at the Concierge's Office on the day and pay. Looks really great. This includes drinks, food & other activities around the resort. Enjoy. Bob & Chris.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbarashimer414 Posted June 1, 2017 #21 Share Posted June 1, 2017 We were thinking about going to PV, but heard a few things about safety. Does anyone have personal experience they can share about this. How are the beaches in PV? We normally cruise to the Caribbean and love the beaches there. How do they compare? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted June 1, 2017 #22 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Have visited PV quite often and never have had an issue. I'm usually with Mom and Sis. A few times late at night. PV has a huge ExPat population. Just keep your wits about you, like in any city. We usually walk around port though the first time their we did one of the overview tours. Can take a taxi or city bus to the city center and walk around. Visit the church, Rio Cuale and walking along Malecon. Other times we just go to the Mercado bhehind the Sam's Club across from the port. The Pacific Ocean and the waters off of the coast are nothing like the Caribbean. Can be rough and cold, not tranquil and warm. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ine Posted June 1, 2017 #23 Share Posted June 1, 2017 We were thinking about going to PV, but heard a few things about safety. Does anyone have personal experience they can share about this. How are the beaches in PV? We normally cruise to the Caribbean and love the beaches there. How do they compare? Safety is no issue in Puerto Vallarta as long as you donot drink too much, donot carry valubales etc. More or less like you would do in any other place. Some beaches are nicer then others, not as white as in the caribean. In summer the water might not be as clear as in winter due due the rain and rivers ending in the ocean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic The Parrot Posted July 16, 2017 #24 Share Posted July 16, 2017 Some beaches are nicer then others, not as white as in the caribean. In summer the water might not be as clear as in winter due due the rain and rivers ending in the ocean. So the dirty water in Banderas Bay isn't "dirty" . It's safe to assume that murkiness is runoff from the river, and wave action? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OceansOfTravels Posted July 30, 2017 #25 Share Posted July 30, 2017 It is important to remember that Puerto Vallarta sits inside of Banderas Bay, and bays tend to be a little bit dirtier since the trash and runoff water is more contained. However, with that being said, I was in Puerto Vallarta in June at a beach resort and we really enjoyed Playa Animas. The waves can be a little rough, but not any rougher than the beaches spanning the East Coast of the US. We got there using a tour company in Vallarta called "Vallarta Adventures". Puerto Vallarta ended up becoming one of my favorite sunny destinations, you will likely enjoy it if you go with a good attitude :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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