Livin' it Up

A progression of shots from outer space of the Grand Mayan

For the past week I have had the opposite experience of last. My parents flew into Puerto Vallerta for reprieve from Minnesota winter- and to see us of course. Puerto Vallerta is roughly 4 hours from Guadalajara and Josh and I bused over the Sierra mountains and down to the bit greener coast. Our final destination was the Grand Mayan Resort in Nuevo Vallerta, and grand it is. The entry to the hotel is dark, with an incredibly high ceiling with six enormous Mayan figures made out of metal, which tower over a "sacrificial pool." There are candles throughout and there is low music playing with a heavy bass drum beat. All of the doors at the entry level are made of glass and slide open very futuristic-like as you approach them. There is water everywhere, beginning with little streams that surround the hotel, along with pool after pool, linked to one another by "riverways."

Mayan water slide

Surrounding all of the pools is the "lazy river," a swimming pool river which wraps around all of the interior swimming pools. One can grab a tube and pop in this river and let its currents do the work.


At times the waves turn on in this river, which really makes for a fun ride. And then of course, there is the ocean. Beyond the sea of pools is the actual sea where there are good sized-waves for body-surfing.

Our suite seems more like someone's ultra-hip apartment than a hotel.

We have spent our days enjoying the space and exploring Puerto Vallerta, as well as up the coast to Punta Mita and San Francisco. In another day we will be heading back to Guadalajara so my folks can spend a bit of time in the city.

The day after we arrived it was my dad's 60th birthday. Below follow photos from the evening.