The Guadalajara Reporter
Guadalajara's Largest English Newspaper
Destroyed by Hurricane Jova in 2011, Barra Navidad had only just got back on its feet, after millions of dollars had been invested in rehabilitating the decimated beach zone.
Patricia strengthened from a tropical storm into a major hurricane in less than 36 hours.
Tourism is on the rise everywhere in Mexico and nowhere more so than in Puerto Vallarta.
Authorities in Jalisco and Coloma had prepared for the worst case scenario as Hurricane Patricia roared its way to the Pacific coast Friday evening. With winds of up to 200 mph, Patricia had developed into a category five hurricane in less than 24 hours – the strongest ever measured by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. Some weather experts described it as a potentially “catastrophic” event – a warning that prompted authorities in Jalisco and Colima to take unprecedented prevention measures.
Puerto Vallarta may be renowned as one of the most gay friendly cities in Mexico, but discrimination still rears its head from time to time.
The vast majority of tourists visiting Puerto Vallarta have been successfully evacuated, Jalisco Tourism Secretary Enrique Ramos Flores confirmed Friday around 2:30 p.m. Others that failed to make it out are beng housed in local shelters.
A senior state police officer was shot and killed at a taco stand in Puerto Vallarta’s Palmar de la Aramera neighborhood on the evening of Friday, July 17.
“Extremely dangerous and potentially catastrophic “ Hurricane Patricia was upgraded to Category 5 late Thursday and is expected make landfall on the southern Jalisco coast Friday afternoon or evening.
Federal authorities are committed to completing the “Via Corta” (Short Route) from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta and are adamant the much anticipated toll-road will not be not be shelved like all the previous projects proposed over the past five decades.
