March 15 - 21, 2018 www.vallartatribune.com
Cuisine of the Sun Announces 3rd Festival Ballenarte Celebrates 3rd Conservation Festival The Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit region is an important whale-watching destination raising awareness for their conservation and protection
T
he 3rd Ballenarte Conservation Festival will be held from March 20-23, 2018, with activities in the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta to raise awareness regarding the importance of protecting the humpback whale and the natural riches of Bahía de Banderas. The Ballenarte Conservation Festival, the only one of its kind in the region, offers a series of ecological, cultural, and recreational activities to engage the local community, domestic and foreign tourists, and, of course, the children from both tourism destinations so as to inform them of the importance of learning more about these marine giants and their safeguarding. According to biologist Astrid Frisch Jordán, Director at ECOBAC, every winter some 500 humpback whales arrive in Bahía de Banderas in order to mate, and
about 40 calves are born in these waters every year. The cetaceans remain in the area for four months from December through March. Activities: Tuesday 20 | Sonic Sea Documentary| Jardín de la Luna in Puerto Vallarta | 8:00 p.m. Wednesday 21 | Yuba and the ball| Marina Riviera Nayarit 4:00 p.m. and Punta de Mita Community Center 6:00 p.m.
Thursday 22 | Storytelling | Los Mangos Puerto Vallarta Library | 4:00 p.m. Friday 23 | Whales and Friends Environmental Fair | Bucerías Plaza | 4:00 p.m. The event is led by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP by its acronym in Spanish) via the Islas Marietas National Park administration, in coordination with Whale Ecology and Conservation (ECOBAC by its acronym in English). Environmental Fair - March 23 Meanwhile, the administration of the Islas Marietas National Park is extending an invitation to all to participate in the “Whales and their friends” environmental fair, which takes place on Friday, March 23, in the main plaza at Bucerías. For more information about the Environmental Fair: biol.espinoza@ gmail.com or call (322) 22 13549.
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uisine of the Sun International Food and Wine Festival 2018, a culinary event that combines the exquisite talents of various celebrity chefs with the sublime ambiance of world-class resorts and destinations celebrates its third year this April 24-27. The Cuisine of the Sun Festival promises to be an exciting endeavor as The Villa Group’s collection of luxury resorts in Riviera Nayarit and Los Cabos will host not one, but two spectacular renditions in two of the most popular destinations in Mexico. Celebrity chef and Sysco Foods Culinary Sales Consultant, Penny Davidi has taken the lead once again as the Cuisine of the Sun Curator, ensuring that both locations are a complete success. For the third year in a row, Villa La Estancia Riviera Nayarit will be the venue for yet another fantastic Cuisine of the Sun celebration. The AAA Four-Diamond resort, which sits on the
shores of Banderas Bay in the exclusive residential neighborhood of Nuevo Vallarta, will host the talents and personalities of celebrity chefs from April 25-28, 2018 during a four-day festival that will include talk shows, chef dinners, Chopped Challenges and a grandiose opening and closing ceremony. Participating chefs include the talents of Riviera Nayarit›s Gastronomic Ambassador Betty Vazquez, Chef Eddie Jackson, Benjamin Udave, Nick Liberato, Katsuji Tanabe, and Michele Ragussis. Without a doubt, visitors and guests to Riviera Nayarit and Cabo San Lucas can relish in a divine culinary experience, alongside celebrity chefs and other VIPs, in a series of events that will span four spectacular days and nights. Those in attendance will have more than a few culinary secrets and great memories to take back with them from their Mexico vacation at The Villa Group Resorts.