Zona PVR No. 002

The Most Instagramable Little Chapel in Mexico No. 002

Nestled inside Vallarta's Beautiful Botanical Gardens

March 2022

PVR

ZONA

BEACH WORKOUT TRAIN WITH PUERTO VALLARTA'S PREMIER TRAINER

DISCOVER CINCO

IT'S PEOPLE, RESTAURANTS & STREETS

COMING SOON 2022

Note from the editor I'd like to start off by thanking all of our readers and everyone who has shared kind words about our first issue. Seeing pictures of our magazine in some of your living room tables was an incredible feeling. Many new friends have reached out to help or be a part of our team, just an endless outpour of support and a true sense of community. All this will make every issue better than the last.

With Spring fast approaching we wanted our cover to reflect just that. Puerto Vallarta’s Botanical Gardens are an oasis at hand’s reach and a labor of love by their founder, Bob. Amongst its abundance of exotic orchids, perfectly manicured gardens and winding hiking trails you’ll find it’s beautiful chapel.

Inside it’s walls lies a true treasure. A modern day fresco (Fallen Fruit) by artists David Burns and Austin Young that depicts the garden’s natural beauty and spirit covers the entirety of it’s inner walls. Truly a picture perfect setting for the avid instagramer. I invite you to not only visit this beautiful work of art but to become a patron of the botanical gardens, a true jewel of our community.

After shooting the cover a group of friends and I headed back into town to have a celebratory drink. At a local brewery we sat at the bar and met some young local marine biology students. One of which is Cesar Chavez who shared his love of photography

with us and we were wowed by his ability to capture a moment or feeling with his lens. That is how Photographic Lens, a new section in our pages, was born. The first edition of which is based on what else but, marine life. has one of the highest value growth and return on investment in the city.

A new addition to our team is Mihajlo Paras (Michael), an expert in fitness and training.

Michael takes us through a fun beach workout, perfect for those visiting for a few days or if you just want to break out of your usual gym routine.

Also joining our team is Randy Earnhart, his recent move to Puerto Vallarta’s 5 de Diciembre neighborhood and his love for it moved him to write about the area, not that anyone needs much convincing, Cinco has one of the highest value growth and return on investment in the city.

Lastly, I'd like to thank our advertisers, all of which have become friends and advisors.

Their businesses and love for Puerto Vallarta are a part of what makes this beach paradise what it is. I hope you enjoy this issue and keep reaching out.

Memo Huerta

Contact Us info@zonapvr.com www.zonapvr.com ZONA PVR Emiliano Zapata Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

OUR TEAM Noah Juliano - Resident Yogi Daniel Dawson - Writer Randy Earnhart- Writer Mitchell Todd - Digital Sasha Gerner - Contributor Cesar Chavez - Contributor Devin Rawana - Contributor Michael Paras - Contributor

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PLAYLIST Curated by @devindexplorer for ZONA PVR

CONTENTS DAILY ZEN

8 Photographic eye

20 PRO TRAINER

26 ART - PANÓPTICO

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6 Unspoiled Tropical Eden

16 ENTERTAINER SPOTLIGHT

24 A NEW WAVE IN FASHION

30 Cinco de Diciembre

DAILY ZEN

By Noah Juliano

10 Minute Meditation Techniques

A

simple

meditation

10

minute

can

truly

daily

change

your mental clarity. As motion cannot be perceived without stillness, it is quite helpful to learn the art of simply doing nothing.

It

is

a

joy

to

fall

in

love with your breath and to find

the

willingness

to

oxygenate that hurt place.

To

begin,

come

comfortable

sitting

possibly

a

your

legs

hands upright spine,

on

crossed

and

your

knees.

on

with firm

an

yet

a

position,

cushion

with your Sit

elongated

comfortable,

strong yet relaxed.

6

to

Let the whole body melt. Inhale from

Place your awareness in the center

your belly and allow the breath to

of your chest… and just breathe.

dance

Come back to the sensation of your

upward

towards

your

lungs

and clavicle. Imagine a golden glow

inhalations

slink up your spine as it softens any

counting your breaths if your mind

tension or muscle engagement.

drifts or you lose sense of the subtle

The feet give into the legs, the legs

energies

give

the

into

the

totality

of

the

body.

and

of

stillness.

posture..

Become

Observe stillness.

the arms give into the spaciousness

throughout your morning, your week,

of

and your life.

Surrender

the

neck

silence

try

Carry

torso.

soft

the

or

The hands surrender into the arms,

the

this

the

exhalations

and the head.

Con Amor y Luz, Noah

🧡

internally

UNSPOILED TROPICAL EDEN EXPERIENCE THE MAJESTY OF THE VALLARTA BOTANICAL GARDEN

Text by Daniel Dawson

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TAKE A BITE OF FALLEN FRUIT, VALLARTA BOTANICAL GARDEN’S NEW ART EXHIBIT Rambutan, mango, vanilla vines and banana fruit trees were among some of the edible spoils I saw in the Vallarta Botanical Gardens—there even is a dedicated Tropical Fruit Orchard.

One of the newest editions to Vallarta’s Garden of Eden is a permanent immersive art installation inside the Nuestra Señora del Jardín chapel called Los Angelitos de Nuestra Señora del Jardín as part of the Fallen Fruit art exhibit. The Vallarta Botanical Garden’s Fallen Fruit exhibit debuted November 2nd, 2021 by American contemporary artists David Allen Burns and Austin Young. From their website, www.fallenfruit.org, the exhibit “creates beautiful and sumptuous spaces where audiences can enjoy museum collections in new, unexpected ways,” and that’s exactly what you’ll see upon entering the chapel.

Fallen Fruit is a luscious, iridescent experience. Dyed, multicolored fabrics with overlaid images of exotic flora and fauna sourced from artist photographs taken over the years in the botanical gardens as well as historical lithographs from ornithology and botany literature embellish the chapel’s walls with a palatial wallcovering fit for a tropical Versailles. Visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens and the Fallen Fruit exhibit for a day of sensory stimulation in paradise.

IMAGE CREDIT: Detail from the artwork installation, Los Angelitos de Nuestra Señora del Jardín . Custom made wallcovering, archival watercolor inks printed onto natural fabrics. Dimensions variable. David Allen Burns and Austin Young / Fallen Fruit, 2021.

ARTISTS’ NOTES FOR GUESTS: We created an immersive artwork specifically designed for the chapel -- the frame for the art becomes the building itself. The wall behind the altar, represents the daytime, and the opposite wall represents the night.

All of the plants and flowers were photographed by the artists at different times of the year at Vallarta Botanical Gardens and it is very likely that you will discover some of the same plants in bloom around the gardens if you look carefully.

The hummingbirds and pollinators are photographed from historical drawings from the area.

The title “Los Angelitos…” is in honor of the hummingbirds and pollinators - the little angels.

The artwork is a wallcovering that is like a modern day fresco. It is made from archival watercolor inks on a natural cotton fabric that is 100% bio-degradable, but also could last for centuries in the right conditions.

When we thought about making this artwork we thought about it being a form of portrait of the VBG gardens and when inside the chapel we wanted you to be inside all of the colors in the world.

For its boundless natural beauty and relative proximity to downtown Puerto Vallarta, I’m often surprised when I find out visitors to the city haven’t been to–or don’t know about–the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. It’s easily one of my favorite day trips out of the city. Nestled in the jade-green mountain ranges of the Sierra Madre about an hour south of the buzzy Zona Romántica, the Vallarta Botanical Gardens are a tropical Shangri La. Get there by taking the public buses to El Tuito from the Zona Romántica at the corner of Venustiano Carranza and Aguacate streets, by taxi or by a rideshare app like Uber or InDriver.

Upon arrival, as languorous palm fronds wave you into the cobblestoned entrance to the grounds, it’s hard not to feel like part of a royal procession walking amongst the rich gardenscape splendor. Jewel-colored orchids cling to carved pillars holding up glass greenhouse roofs, ones that diffuse the sun and protect the delicate, dripping succulents beneath them. The diversity of plants is remarkable and there are bountiful treasure trails waiting to be explored. One of the most beautiful aspects is the garden’s controlled abundance of flora, a sort of laissez-faire opulence that doesn’t look the slightest bit unkempt.

If you follow the cobblestone road you’ll soon arrive at the Hacienda de Oro, the botanical garden’s understated mountain palace. Gardeners and workers move to and from the hacienda, tending the plants and servicing the building that houses the visitor’s center, restaurant and gift shop inside. Follow the bougainvilleas cascading from the open air balustrades to the upper level and enjoy breakfast or lunch with a view of the mountains and Río Horcones below. Glass bauble hearts and hummingbird feeders hang whimsically off the wooden window rafters, attracting whirring colibris that will dine by your side.

The "Orchid Lab" located in one of the garden's pavillions is actually a conservation project for Mexican Orchids.

Every time they breed species thousands are made so the jars pictured can contain hundreds of orchids. Most of these are given to other botanical gardens around the world.

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After your meal, enjoy sauntering among the 64 acres of pure serenity of the gardens. Curated alcoves and nooks along the trails showcasing a native plant or sculpture make for excellent photo opportunities. Allot your time wisely because here you will want to stop and smell every rose. The river running through the property gently pools into wonderfully chilly ponds to dip in if you choose to hike the more rugged, forested jungle trails.

Do not miss the Orchid Conservatory with 300 species of Mexican orchids or the picturesque chapel of Nuestra Señora del Jardín and its permanent, immersive art exhibit Fallen Fruit.

In the lush of the Vallarta Botanical Garden's greenery stands the statue of Alexander von Humboldt, the famed Prussian (modern day Germany) naturalist and explorer, as if waiting to be discovered himself by the garden's visitors. At the begining of the 19th century Humboldt together with his colleage, the French botanist Aime Bonpland, were undertaking a voyage across Pacific to study Polinesia and South Asia. They first headed to Acapulco hoping to board a ship heading to the Philippines, at that time both being a part of the vast Spanish Empire. What meant to be just a short connection turned into a year long adventure in New Spain, resulting in a variety of explorations and discoveries.

Humboldt applied his knowledge of geology revolutionizing the mining methods on New Spain's rich silver deposits.

He excavated and measured ancient Aztec ruins and artifacts in the preHispanic archeological sites, recorded geographical coordinates, explored country's volcanos, and studied and documented plants and animals of the region.

In 1811 he published "Political Essay on the Kingdom of New Spain", which became the first systematic scientific description of the New World.

When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, the first Mexican president, Guadalupe Victoria, granted Humboldt citizenship for his contributions.

-Sasha Gerner

Founded in 2004 and opened to the public just a year later by Bob Price, the Vallarta Botanical Gardens have been an indispensable gift to the region. As a nonprofit organization, the gardens thrive on your generous donations. Admission is $200 MXN pesos at the time of writing this. For more information or options on how to give, please visit the Vallarta Botanical Gardens online at: www.vbgardens.org

Your night starts here...

La Noche

CC Slaughters

Diego Chávez Photographer

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Diego Chávez is a native of Puerto Vallarta, 21 years of age and studies marine biology in La Cruz De Huanacaxtle.

"Ever since I can remember, it has been magical for me to be able to capture moments and teleport people to that place.

"Glasses for the blind" For a long time I have wanted that for a minute people could see life as I see it, to this day there are no glasses that help me with that but I found a very interesting way and it is through the Light.

Every time I press the shutter I feel that I can also capture all that energy and vibrations that existed at that moment.

There are many times in life that we get so involved in our world, we forget that there are small magical and incomparable moments and due to distraction we forget to contemplate them."

The Palm TUE 8 FRI 9:30

Roy Gomez Cruz

I WANT IT ALL The Freddie Mercury Story

Roy was born and raised in Guadalajara in a family of musicians. His father is a musician who has always been passionate about classic rock: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Queen and this music marked Roy forever. Since he was little he’d dreamed of playing live music on big stages. He learned to play bass and keyboard as a teenager. Friends invited him out to sing one Friday night at a bar in the city and he never stopped singing in public after that..

However, he did not study music professionally. Everything he knows he learned from his father or was self-taught, perfecting his skill with mor than 20 years of singing on stage. He earned a bachelor's degree in graphic design, a master's degree in communication and a doctorate in performance arts. He tells us this training has helped him have a broad and informed vision of the fields of art and culture. Now his goal is to put this knowledge into practice and contribute to the strengthening and consolidation of artistic work in Mexico. However, he insists he could never stop singing. “I leave my heart and soul on stage and treasure the sea of sensations that come from singing and feeling my voice, which inspires and motivates me to follow this path.”

"I came to PV about 2 years ago, thanks to Mark Rome and The Palm Cabaret family. I am and will always be infinitely grateful for the opportunity to create art with them and the great support I have always received from them. Today I live here in Vallarta loving every minute of this experience."

"The show is a heartfelt and respectful tribute to the life, work and iconography of Freddie Mercury where I sing completely live accompanied by Mery Zambrano and Mateo Erdocia as dancers and dramatic actors. The show is a rollercoaster of emotions that goes through the different stages that made Freddie one of the most legendary rock personalities. The show is for all people, of all ages. It's for Queen lovers and Freddie Mercury fans."

Fun Fact "I don't lip-sync on the show! (Laughter). It's been funny to me that some people ask me if I lip sync. In a sense, I take that as a compliment."

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PRO TRAINER

Beach Workouts

by Mihajlo Paras

So you are finally on vacation and you don’t exactly feel like stepping into a gym… no problem, I’ve got you covered! There’s a lot of options for you to get a workout while away from home and out of a gym. The beach is your best option if you want to feel like you’re in paradise but still being productive. Working out on the beach is a great place to train because the sand can make it more challenging to stabilize your legs and feet while you are running or doing strength exercises. The breeze will keep you cool and you're working on that tan while you’re at it! Also it makes for a picture perfect background. (Hey! Some believe that if you didn’t post the workout, it didn’t happen).

Cardio To start, set up a marker on the beach that is about 70-100 yards away. Begin with a light jog, rotating between butt kicks and high knees, out to the marker and back.

Next, take some time to stretch your calves, hamstrings, quads, and glutes.

Now that you are warmed up, sprint back and forth between your markers. Rest for 20-30 seconds between sets. Repeat according to your fitness level.

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We are pleased to introduce a new contributor to our magazine. Mihajlo ( Michael ) Paras, Professor of Physical Education and Sport.

Michael works as a personal trainer at The Fit Club. He brings over 10 years of experience in physical training, sports medicine, nutrition and anatomy.

Full Body Workout Another great aspect of outdoor training is that you are also able to complete a full body workout on the beach using only your body weight.

Start by doing these in the following order: 10-15 push ups 10 burpees 30 mountain climbers For your lower body do 15-20 squats, 10 lunges on each leg, 10 plyometric jumping squats.

Repeat this routine 3-4 times.

Don’t worry, feel free to take a dip in the ocean in between sets. Have fun!

Robert (pictured in previous page) and his business partner Francisco started this project five years ago. Armed with a bachelor’s in fashion design and a love for fashion and clothes making he inherited from his parents, Robert decided to start Wave.

Wave is a local ecological clothing brand so it is very important to them to not be one more fast fashion brand, on the contrary they consider themselves a sustainable “slow fashion” brand. Their tags are made of cardboard, the string used is made of coconut, their fabrics are natural such as bambu, linen and cotton and their packaging is made of paper.

Every piece is made individually by hand in their atelier. Their brand has clothing for both women and men and also includes swimsuits and hats. Robert and Francisco find inspiration in the city of Puerto Vallarta, it’s climate tendency for comfortable clothing which they embellish with vibrant colors and patterns that demand attention.

You can find them at the Farmer’s Market in Zona Romantica on Saturdays and at the Farmer’s Market in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle on Sundays.

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PANÓPTICO

Caminar en círculos Joao Rodríguez 30

Exhibit at The Barlow Gallery at OPC (Oficina de Proyectos Culturales) on Juarez and Aldama in Downtown.

Walking in Circles situates the viewer on a central point from where concentric movements are presented, the result derived from the original movements that generated the pieces. This project was influenced by philosopher Jeremy Bentham's panoptic concept, the idea of a tower as a focal point from where the observer has a complete view of what is happening in the surrounding area.

Discovering Cinco

the neighborhood everybody's talking about

Randell Earnhart

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I first encountered Cinco de Diciembre many years ago. Flashing by in a VW taxi, just arriving from frigid Ohio en route to my favored destination of Zona Romantica, a short distance away. The zone passing before my eyes instantly captured my imagination. Without even an awareness of its name, I was intrigued. It looked unique and I could feel a special charm even through that most brief sun filled lens of time.

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Many years later, after a two year hiatus in travel to this magical land, I returned to Mexico in March of 2021. To paraphrase The Great Gatsby, attempting to forget something very sad that happened to me. With this in mind, I rediscovered the enchanting zone known officially as Colonia Cinco de Diciembre where I am now living. The name simply means neighborhood 5 of December. What is not well known is why this charming locale is named after a date in December? To answer this salient question, I spoke with a local historian, Lambert “Alberto” Villareal. He informed me the neighborhood was founded on the 5th of December in 1929, thanks to an endowment of land by Ejido Puerto Vallarta, an association of farmers.

One of the first, and perhaps the most important quality the casual observer will sense here, is a palpable feel of family. People exchange pleasantries and the friendly greeting of Buenos Dias is heard on many a morning, directed at acquaintances and strangers alike, passing along, starting their day.

Located within Cinco, as the neighborhood is affectionately known, are many varieties of businesses. Found in abundance are; souvenir shops, ATV rentals, a major grocery store, Teatro Vallarta, many fine hotels, exciting dining options and a wide range of other concerns. However, all that being said, the overall feeling is less touristy, quieter, and with an authentically Mexican pace allowing all the simple pleasures that entails. All of these factors, and many more have helped put this charming district on the radar as a wonderful location to explore.

Located between the Malecon to the south, Colonia Lazaro Cardenas to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Sierra Madre Mountains to the east, you will discover Cinco de Diciembre proper. Walking north from the Malecon, the iconic landmark of Hotel Rosita is on your left. The lovely property has been welcoming discerning guests since 1948, long before the 1964 film The Night of the Iguana put Puerto Vallarta on the map as a world renowned tourist destination. A short distance away, Parque Hidalgo is on your right and looking down upon it is a beautiful Catholic Church, La Virgen del Refugio, a bedrock of the community. On any given Sunday morning you can hear the ringing of its church bells, providing a soothing sense of permanence in a rapidly changing world.

Two one way cobblestone thoroughfares traverse the district in each direction. Northbound is Calle Columbia, and southbound is Avenida Mexico. Interspersed throughout the grid are other cobblestone streets, aptly named as a salute to Latin American countries throughout the world. Far away sounding names such as Bolivia, Ecuador, and Brasil, just to name a few, predominate. Lining these peaceful streets are many types of trees that I have not seen in such numbers in other zones. On the southern end of Calle Venezuela are Almendro (Almond) Trees, large green oval shaped leaves mixed with the large red oval shaped leaves of winter. Taking a right, you will find yourself on one of my most favored streets, Calle Paraguay.

Running parallel to the beach of Playa Camarones, Calle Paraguay is a pleasant street that is very walkable and well-lit from one end to the other after dark. Calle Paraguay has the distinction of being home to two fine beach clubs, El Solar and El Barracuda. A third, the ever popular Mango's Beach Club is adjacent, on Calle Uruguay.

Walking along the well-manicured, palm lined section of Calle Paraguay, closing in on El Solar nearby, I have visions of Siesta Key, Florida long ago. For a brief moment, I’m transported to another place and time, full of memories from an earlier chapter of my life.

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At the corner of Calle Chile and Calle Paraguay, a musical fiesta takes place close to sunset nearly every evening. Just as the day is breathing its dying breath, the trees become alive with song. Large flocks of birds sing happily until darkness falls, then are silent, having contributed their gift to the day. Leaving Calle Paraguay and walking due east up Calle Honduras the street feels wider and brighter, like the noonday sun is always shining. Continuing the trek up the hill, I feel the ghost of San Francisco, California circa early 2000´s. I can't really place the notion, but others familiar with the hills and homes of that beautiful city may for a pinch of time feel likewise.

One of the most delightful aspects of Cinco is the strong sense of community, a feeling of the old Vallarta. The ever expanding restaurant scene captures this well, and each brings their own special qualities to the mix. The first person in the neighborhood I became acquainted with was Isabel Madero, co-owner of Layla's Restaurant. Chatting over coffee recently, she shared her story. Layla was Isabel´s beautiful daughter, who was living a full life when she was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2004 and despite a valiant battle she passed away in 2010. Isabel lost. After much contemplation she made the decision to find a way to honor her special child. With this love, Layla's Restaurant was born. Isabel once again lives on the same street where she was raised. Carrying on the family tradition of service, Layla´s now thrives right next to the location where Isabel´s Grandmother Maria Flores once ran her own restaurant aptly named Maria.

Outside the entrance a very special Almendro tree provides a picturesque setting for al fresco dining for lucky guests.

Isabel´s Mother Amelia planted the tree especially for her when she was a young girl saying “now, you will always have shade.” It stands today, healthy and strong, a beautiful tribute to her beloved Mamá.

Crossing Avenida México, centered between Calle Venezuela and Calle Argentina sits a Baptist Church, beautifully named Primera Iglesia Cristiana Bautista El Divino Salvador. Standing next to the church is a stunning Primavera tree in full bloom. Soft pink and flowering in preparation for the coming seasonal change to spring, or in Español, primavera on Sunday March 20th 2022.

Sitting cheerily nearby on the corner of Calle Venezuela and Avenida Mexico is Mabel's Cocina. The culmination of a life long dream of owner Mae McDonald aka Mabel, and her husband Adam. Originally hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Canada the couple moved to Puerto Vallarta in 2018 after vacationing here for many years. “We always entertained and loved to serve people” Mabel shared,

“we fell in love with the vibe here and just thought, f*ck it, this is the place, this is the moment.”

I doubt there are many expats who will not understand those very sentiments. Mabel described their creation as “a Puerto Vallarta Cheers”, that place when you walk in the door everyone knows your name. Thanks to that inviting atmosphere, the restaurant attracts a large variety of followers, something which Mabel thoroughly enjoys. Inside the decor is modern European, a bright airiness gives the room a hopeful, positive feel. It is a great place to begin any morning, or with appreciation to the well-stocked bar, end any evening. Tables and comfortable chairs are placed on the bustling sidewalk outside. I love sitting along Avenida Mexico, gazing at the parade of life passing by. Especially awesome is the sense of being at the center of the southern Cinco universe. Looking south, on the left is Parque Hidalgo, at the corner across the street stands the balconied Las Pena Building constructed in 1954, bright white in the Mexican sun.

Step out of Mabel´s door onto Calle Venezuela and veer left. You will walk briefly up a hill to find Mama Caguama´s Takos and Beer, perched atop the corner of Calle Venezuela and Calle Peru. Known as a cantina with authentic Mexican pub food, the welcoming bar is the apex of a vision owner Sean O´Brien had since moving to Vallarta in 2019 from San Diego, California. January 6, 2020 was the grand opening of Sean´s restaurant. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter the Covid 19 pandemic hit, upending the whole world. Using the downtime that followed, Sean further enhanced his space which now has a zealous local following. He explained to me on a recent evening the meaning of the name Caguama. It is slang in Mexico for the big 40 ounce bottles of beer widely seen and enjoyed here in Vallarta and throughout the Republic.

Speaking of cerveza, the menu is ripe with a great diversity of Mexican and imported beer brewed in various regions on the continent. Stepping into the bar, the walls are bathed in a warm and inviting Irish hue of gold, pendants from various sports teams hang close to the ceiling. You have a sense of being somewhere else, lost in the safe 90´s, yet simultaneously transplanted to warm and sunny Mexico. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, live music is featured. I spoke with Norma, an artist and self-described regular on a quiet Super Bowl Sunday night after the crowd had departed. “I feel happy when I come here, I don’t feel sad” she said with a smile. The cozy front patio is surrounded by ferns rustling in the breeze that travels up from the Mexican Pacific, a short distance below. The side patio incorporates bar type seating allowing patrons to enjoy the view of Calle Venezuela directly alongside. Sitting alone on a windy night, music drifting out through the open windows. I gaze inside, the little bar is bathed in light and laughter, happy voices and the lost feeling of home.

A short walk away, back once again on Calle Paraguay, we visit the aforementioned El Barracuda Restaurant. Conversing recently with Manager Jose Romo, I learned of the history and vision that makes Barracuda, as it is popularly known, so sought after. The restaurant was established in 2007 by two brothers, Carlos and Juan Jorge Morales Monroy. The guiding vision is to provide a laid back local Mercado style featuring great dining options in a come as you are atmosphere. A place for family and friends to gather alongside the crashing waves of Playa Camarones. On many an evening, you will see a whole table sharing dishes, great conversation and warm camaraderie with one another. El Barracuda after dark is a delight, I love the vibe and feel of being taken back in time to Puerto Vallarta of the early 1990 ´s. There is no television, cash is the only acceptable form of payment, and diners seated throughout the restaurant and on the beach below enjoy the company of those around them with nary a mobile phone in sight. White lights from the ceiling in the main open air dining room are covered by orange latticed lamp shades providing a soft, subdued glow of warmth throughout. As music tumbles out from the big 80´s, a happy nostalgia envelops me.

I hope this walk through Colonia Cinco de Diciembre has been enjoyable. In trying to get a sense of what it's all about, of one phrase that can sum up this special place, I harken back to a young musician named Adolfo Medrano. I spoke with him after finishing his last set, late on a January night. When I asked Adolfo what makes Cinco so special, so uniquely different, he paused for a moment, contemplating the question. He then simply and softly responded “the most representative part of the city is here, Cinco de Diciembre is the heart of Vallarta.” I think if you come here you will share those sentiments, maybe find a new place to love, and maybe even someday, call it home.

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Il Pesce C. Constitución 285B, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jal. Mon-Sat 5-10 pm Sun 5-9 pm