Velas Vallarta Resort Infuses Puerto Vallarta's Essence Into Your Stay Steve Mirsky - AFAR
go to original March 19, 2017

While the Mexican Riviera boasts many stellar lodging options, Velas Vallarta Resort has the distinct advantage of offering you an intriguing balance of sybaritic retreat conveniences with plenty of opportunities for genuine cultural immersion.

With Playa El Salado right out front, downtown only a 10 minute ride away, 18-hole Marina Vallarta Golf Course within walking distance, and the airport literally 5 minutes away, Velas Vallarta is in quite the enviable location for travelers visiting Puerto Vallarta Mexico.

Three 8-story hacienda-style guest residences stand on 10 oceanfront acres surrounding a lushly planted courtyard featuring a boulder waterfall cascading into one of 2 pools interconnected by a lazy river. Each one of Velas Vallarta's 345 suites have private terraces decorated with flower plantings and Bougainvillea vines overlooking this scene with the emerald waters of Banderas Bay as a backdrop.

Spacious suites begin at 386 square feet stocked with L'Occitane bath products, fully-equipped kitchens with snacks, drinks, and mini-bar essentials all restocked daily or more frequently if you wish as part of their all inclusive rate.

A defining characteristic throughout your stay is the genuine hospitality by all staff from maintenance up to Guest Experience Manager Donald Willis who frequently walks the property addressing many guests on a first name basis. It's this and touches like 100% inclusive 24-hour room service, a community of roving peacocks, and a deep commitment to the environment that are made possible by being locally owned and operated by Eduardo Vela.

Sustainability

It just so happens that the upper reaches of beach fronting Velas Vallarta are prime sea turtle nesting territory. Like many similar areas across the globe, these turtle eggs and hatchlings are under continuous threat of being destroyed and eaten. Since they are also an endangered species, they need all the help they can get for survival. Each year scientists collaborate with volunteers and hotel guests to find and protect turtle eggs. An on site nursery keeps eggs safe until they hatch and you're able to release them at night into the surf. If your passion to preserve runs deeper, you can also participate in conservation training and nesting patrol.

Joining an onsite Eco Tour gives you a behind the scenes look at how Velas Vallarta has earned its EarthCheck Gold certification and membership in TripAdvisor’s Green Leaders program. You'll see how the General Manager's private pool serves as a refuge for orphaned wildlife and where 750 lbs of organic food waste per day is collected and sent to a local hog farmer. Explore their recycling facility, solar panels that heat the property's showers & pool water, and learn how their composting initiative has cut their landscaping pesticide use in half.

Dining

Whether you crave fresh seafood and ceviche, prime steak or an authentic gourmet Mexican buffet, local flavors as well as exotic fusions from around the globe are served in all 3 onsite restaurants. La Ribera Steakhouse represents the pinnacle with oceanfront terrace dining while mid day swimsuit and flip flops call for the ease of swim up Aqua Bar for craft margaritas and made-to-order burgers. All dishes are scratch made utilizing the region's seasonal bounty...

Read the rest at AFAR.