A Little Rain Won't Stop the Party in Puerto Vallarta Gwendolyn Zepeda - Houstonia Mag
go to original December 4, 2016

The closer we got to Puerto Vallarta, the more our phones’ weather apps became certain it would rain one—no, two—no, all four days of our trip. Mid-June was only the very beginning of the rainy season, which runs through mid-October, and my husband and I had booked rooms with another couple at Garza Blanca Resort and Spa, tucked between the beach and the lush jungles of the Sierra Madre, at an incredibly low rate.

Friday

Rain ruled out our plans for snorkeling, hiking and club-hopping through the Romantic Zone in high heels. We had a cheap seafood dinner downtown and an hour at the beach. As we situated ourselves at the infinity pool to watch the sunset, a cool drizzle fell and diluted our margaritas.

I searched Google for advice. Pseudonymous natives assured us it would only rain at night and a little each morning. We fervently hoped they were right.

Saturday

We fortified ourselves at the hotel breakfast buffet as the skies dialed faucet settings from storm to sprinkle. Around 11, we crammed into a taxi for a day trip to the town of Sayulita. After 90 minutes of quaint towns and shrine-filled jungle, Sayulita emerged, a jumble of colorful shops and cafes. We joined young, beautiful Mexican tourists and older, thicker Americans ambling the narrow streets. A beachside café served locally brewed beer and delicious food with vegetarian options. We ladies shopped the trendy/swank boutiques while our husbands had a convenience store beer, cheaper than water. Then the ocean called.

We donned swimwear and rented an umbrella on a beach banded with glittery gold volcanic sand. We swam way longer than planned and even rented surfboards to mimic the novices around us. My friends sighed, wishing they’d brought their kids. Around 5, we reluctantly trudged through mansions and bungalows-for-rent to the town plaza and a taxi back to Puerto Vallarta.

We considered dinner and dancing. But the drizzle began at dusk, so we settled for ceviche and cocktails at our preferred infinity pool.

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