It was so much fun interviewing one of the newest members of the BoardingArea family of travel bloggers. Mike LaRosa of CoWorkaholic is location independent and lives part-time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico after growing up in Washington, D.C. Mike’s tips for the best things to do in Puerto Vallarta include a taco tour of the city and where to find the famous Blue Chairs so you can lounge on the beach and enjoy ice-cold cervezas.
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Mike’s coworking setup in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is known for its beaches, water sports, and nightlife. It has long been a destination for the LGBTQ community and snowbirds in the winter. However, the city continues to grow and has been adding family-friendly attractions and amenities to attract a broader audience of travelers.
The city is located on the West Coast of Mexico about 11 hours west of Mexico City by car. It is a 4-hour flight from most of the continental United States. The average daily temperatures range from 70* to 86* and the climate is tropical. Because of its location, it is rare for a hurricane to hit Puerto Vallarta.
We share a lot of resources and local suggestions in today’s podcast, but you should also check out Visit Puerto Vallarta, the local convention and visitor’s bureau. They are a wealth of information and can help you plan an itinerary based on your time, budget, and interests.
Time to relax
Best things to do in Puerto Vallarta
- Vallarta Botanical Gardens (reviews) – The botanical gardens are amazing – you could spend more than one day there.
Best places to eat in Puerto Vallarta
- 116 Pulpito (reviews) – The Pulpito Gastro Bar is great for every day eating
- Coco’s Kitchen (reviews) – For traditional thanksgiving dinners (and all other holidays), go to Coco’s Kitchen!
- Fredy’s Tucan (reviews) – This is a great place for breakfast
- Le Kliff (reviews) – This is a great place if you’re looking for fancy food and a view.
- Mantamar Beach Club Bar & Grill (reviews) – Great place to eat on the beach
- Tacos Memo’s Grill (reviews) – This is my favorite taco stand.
- Vallarta Eats Taco Tour (reviews) – This is my top recommendation.
Best places to stay in Puerto Vallarta
Here are the best places to stay in Puerto Vallarta.
- Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta (reviews)
- Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita (reviews) – If you are looking for luxury and all-inclusive properties, this is a great place.
- The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort (reviews) – This is another great place if you are looking for luxury and all-inclusive properties.
- Westin Resort (reviews) – This is my favorite hotel in the city.
Getting around Puerto Vallarta
The local airport is Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), which is about 13 minutes from the city center.
Mike says that there’s no need for most tourists to rent a car. Cabs, private transportation, and hotel shuttles will get you to your destination. Once you’re at the beach, you can walk from bar to bar and enjoy the warm sunshine and friendly locals.
If you must rent a car, click here for the best offers from Avis, Budget, or Hertz.
Places we talked about on the podcast
Here is a map of all of the places we talked about on the podcast episode with Mike LaRosa about Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. You can zoom into the map and click on each dot to explore the city.
- Red dots = best places to eat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Green dots = best things to do in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- Yellow dots = best places to stay in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Who is Mike LaRosa?
Mike LaRosa is a location independent professional that has clients across the globe. He is the founder of CoWorkaholic, a website resource for people interested in working anywhere but a corporate office. Articles on his site are directed at people who travel for work and digital nomads, but there’s plenty of good content that is worth reading even if you don’t fit those profiles.
Mike is podcast editor for some excellent podcasts, including NowBoarding and Miles To Go, both starring Ed Pizza of Pizza in Motion. He also recently started his own CoWorkaholic podcast.
Here are a couple of articles that he’s written:
- Review: Nest Coworking – Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
- 5 ways to stay close to home while traveling
- The CoWorkaholic’s Guide to Finding Cheap Flights
As you can tell, his writing is a valuable resource for digital nomads, road warriors, and people who want a good deal on travel.
You can connect with Mike LaRosa at his website and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Big thanks to today’s affiliate partner – ZipCar
I avoid renting cars as much as possible when I travel, but sometimes you just need a car for a few hours. That’s where ZipCar comes in. You can rent their cars by the hour, or by the day… and both gas and insurance are included in one flat rate.
Use our link to join at WeTravelThere.com/zipcar to start out with $25 worth of credits in your bank.
Stay tuned for our next episode
Michael with his son at Peter Luger.
Listen to the next episode when Michael Wasserman of Michael W Travels takes us on a pizza tour of Brooklyn, New York. We hope you’ll join us when We Travel There.
What’s your favorite part of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? Let us know in the comment section below or continue the discussion in our Facebook group!
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To see which cities we’ve interviewed and scheduled, please visit WeTravelThere.com/map. If you’d like to be a guest on the show, please submit an application at WeTravelThere.com/guest.
Related episodes
While you’re visiting this part of Mexico, spend a couple of days visiting other intriguing cities that are nearby:
- Mummy Museum, Boca del Infierno & Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico
- Bernal Monolith, Ancient Pyramids & Hacienda Tours in Querétaro, Mexico
- Sandy Beaches, Tasty Shrimp & Pulmonia Rides in Mazatlan, Mexico
- Atotonilco Springs, Arcangel Spires & Fabrica Aurora in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
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