Expat Living

Quacks Abound

It is all about fun, food and friendship at the Sixth Annual Duckaton Fundraiser for SETAC (Solidaridad Ed Thomas). You’ll enjoy live music and entertainment, free food, open bar and great prizes, all for a good cause.

Expat Parties

Get in touch with other expats living in Puerto Vallarta. There are about 50,000 of them so there are plenty of people to meet. The ExPats in Vallarta events give everyone a venue to ask questions because many others have already done what you need to do and are willing to help. This is a great time to get involved, whether you recently moved to PV or if you are just visiting.

Expats In Vallarta is open to all expat residents, visitors and investors from other countries. The purpose of the group is informal fellowship and assistance. There is no membership fee or requirement. Everyone pays only for what they use or consume.

For more information, to join the group or for insight on what others have experienced during their move to Vallarta, visit ExpatsInVallarta.com.

ExPats in Vallarta Events

To make reservations for all the Expat events listed below exept the coffee break email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Two Happy Hour Gatherings at Langostinos Restaurant run from 5 to 7 p.m. The first will be on Tuesday, February 10, and the second is on Tuesday, February 24. Langostinos is located on the beach just north of the Los Muertos Pier. If you are a first timer, let them know when you come in the door and they will introduce you to everyone. Reservations are required.

Neighborhood Coffee on Tuesday, February 17, 10 a.m. at the Starbuck’s in Nuevo Vallarta’s Paradise Plaza, Paseo de los Cocoteros 85 Sur. Grab a cup of coffee and sit outside on the patio and meet other expats. No reservations necessary.

A Wine and Appetizer Evening will be held Friday, February 20, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Amapas area. Bring a bottle of wine or your favorite beverage and an appetizer to share with approximately 40 people. This event is held in a private home and is an enjoyable, relaxing evening with fellow expats. Seating is limited and advance reservations are necessary,.

Special Event Dinners will be held on Thursday, February 12, at Mama Rosa’s Restaurant. This is their original location just a short walk up the hill on Leona Vicario 297 in downtown Puerto Vallarta behind Cafe del Artists. For a special ExPats price of 199 pesos per person, they’ll be serving a delicious three-course meal. Tax and meal tips are included. Drinks and drink tips are extra. You must reserve for this event.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 join the ExPats in Vallarta at Encanto Restaurant, located downtown on Aquiles Serdan 518. Each visit is truly a memorable and wonderful evening. Dinner Choices are: Chili Rellenos $160 pesos per person; Chicken and Leeks $145 pesos per person; Spicy Orange Shrimp $220 pesos per person; and Filet of Fish $130 pesos per person. All dinners include Encanto’s famous Garbage Salad. Tax and Tip are included. Drinks and drink tips are extra. Reservations are necessary.

Batter Up

The ladies will hit the fields for the inaugural Triple Crown Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, scheduled to be held at the Nancy Almaraz Stadium in Puerto Vallarta, from February 26 to 28. with a kick-off event on February 25.

Participating schools include Brigham Young University, University of Nevada, University of Northern Colorado and Southern Illinois University. They will compete in this first-year Division-I event. The stadium and practice fields are located across the street from the Sheraton Resort, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 999.

There is a four or five game schedule over three days on a beautiful stadium field built by event-producer Triple Crown Sports (TCS). Almaraz Stadium seats approximately 500 spectators and local vendors will be on hand selling food and drinks.

“Puerto Vallarta is one of the friendliest, community-based towns in Mexico. Locals love the game of softball and are excited to come out and support this great event,” said Tournament Director and President of Triple Crown Sports, David King. “We look forward to making this an annual tournament with the goal to give schools an opportunity to play competitive softball in a beautiful, tropical climate while experiencing Mexican culture and giving back to the local community.”

This is Triple Crown’s 21st year producing tournaments in Mexico and the ninth year specifically for college events. TCS has funded the design and contruction of the Almaraz Stadium. Each year more than 80 local teams use the facility for various leagues and community gatherings. The event will kick off Wednesday, February 25, with practice times scheduled for each school and clinics with local children run by coaches and players. 

For the complete schedule, visit triplecrownsportsmedia.com.

Songs for Your Sweetheart

The Puerto Vallarta Men’s Choir will perform their Magical Love Concert February 8, 10 and 14 at ACT II Stages under the skilled leadership of Alfonso Lopez, the new Artistic Director of PVMC. Tickets are available at the box office on Basilio Badillo at the corner of Ignacio Vallarta in the Romantic Zone, Tel. (322)222-1512 and online at VallartaTickets.com for these 8 p.m. performances. Tickets are 100, 200 and 250 pesos.

The repertoire of tunes includes songs of puppy love, new love, and magical love. The variety of selections are in tune for everyone such as dance, choral poetry, show tunes, 70’s retro, and a Tuscan folk song plus many more.

The PVMC family of singers and members look forward to spending time with their greater family, their audience and supporters each evening. Please join them for an enchanted evening.

Fat Tuesday

The 7th Annual Puerto Vallarta Carnaval Parade will be held on Tuesday, February 17, starting 8 p.m. The parade route starts at the Nancy Almaraz Stadium, which is located across the street from the Sheraton Resort, Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio 999 and ends at the Los Muertos Pier in the Zona Romantica.

There are around 50 groups or businesses with entries. Home style floats, decorated vehicles and wild and colorful costumed walkers entertain thousands along the route. It is best to find a well lit area so you can see the participants ride and walk by. Many restaurants along the route will be offering specials, too.

TV Triumph

The beautiful beaches of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit will host the entire next season of ABC’s reality show “The Bachelor,” according to Marc Murphy, CEO of the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau of Riviera Nayarit.

Murphy says that the Tourism Board of Mexico has invested $US6 million to lure the reality show to the area.

It is anticipated that shooting will start in May or June and will last approximately six weeks. Filming locations will be chosen to highlight the natural beauty of the area and will likely include the Marietas Islands and Los Arcos. Various hotels and restaurants will also be featured.

To ensure the production runs smoothly, both Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit will assist with logistics, filming locations and rooms for cast and crew.

An entire season of “The Bachelor United States” being filmed in the area will hopefully translate into tourist dollars by showcasing all there is to offer.

“The Bachelor” is the most watched reality television program in the U.S. with close to 11 million viewers. Debuting in September 2002, the program brings 25 women together to try and win the heart of one bachelor during a series of dates. The winner is the girl the leading man chooses as his partner at the end of the series.

The Winner

FITUR (Feria International de Turismo) recently announced that Puerto Vallarta was the winner of the 2014 Tourism Excellence Award at the annual conference in Madrid. The choice was prompted by action from the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Puerto Vallarta in conjunction with the Tourism Trust and the Ministry of Tourism of Jalisco, which jointly developed a strategic plan to re-engineer the destination’s Tourism Action Plan. 

This re-engineering plan involves all of the city’s tourism shareholders: government departments, associations, chambers and private initiatives. It involves improvements in infrastructure and tourist services as well as a formal program of training and awareness aimed at local people who work in the tourist industry. This plan reinforces the moniker that Puerto Vallarta has been named one of the world´s most friendly destinations.

There is never a dull moment in Puerto Vallarta. Here’s a look at what’s going on.

Skin Deep

A one-evening-only seminar will give you the information to get your skin in shape. You will be amazed by both the simplicity and the results you will see and feel by using natural ingredients right from your kitchen. 

Native Nativity

A manger, various barnyard animals, three kings, Joseph, Mary and Jesus typically make up the nativity scene placed under Christmas trees and in other places of prominence during the holiday season. 

A Whale of a Time

Enjoy nature at its largest. Officially whale watching season runs December 8  through March 23, 2015. The waters of Banderas Bay offer some of the most spectacular whale watching opportunities in the world. This is a great time to see humpback whales, dolphins, and other marine animals in their natural habitat. It is an extraordinary experience.