All posts filed under: Destinations

Taking in the sight of hundreds of baby turtles as they feel the instinctive pull towards the ocean after hatching is a remarkable moment you will remember for a lifetime.  Watching the newly hatched sea turtles embark on their grueling journey towards maturity across the gorgeous white sand on Garza Blanca’s beach is truly a sight to behold. As Puerto Vallarta readies itself for the new high season of turtle eggs, the team at Garza Blanca Preserve is preparing to keep watch for new turtle nests and visiting turtles to ensure this natural phenomenon will continue as nature always intended. With a disheartening survival rate of a mere 1% and numbers decreasing, sea turtles in Mexico are, thankfully, a protected species.  You will create unforgettable memories during your time in Puerto Vallarta when you experience the incredible laying of eggs or release of baby turtles on Garza Blanca Beach and other beaches on Banderas Bay. Driven by pure natural instinct to reach the same beach they always visit to create a nest for their eggs, …

Below we share some important resort and event updates and showcase just a few of the new and exciting things that you can look forward to in 2021. Read along for more details!  Cancun  Good Times & Good Will  The Island Time Music and Fishing Fest is an annual music festival and fishing tournament held on the beautiful Isla Mujeres island. The event has been running for the past ten years. This year, the event will be held from February 24 – 27.  During this four-day festival, music lovers will enjoy daily performances in several venues across the island and have the opportunity to meet talented songwriters and performers and fishing enthusiasts will compete for top honors in pursuit of migrating sailfish in an organized fishing tournament.  The event will finish with an awards banquet and a feast for all attendees including fresh-caught fish.  The best part about this tournament is that all proceeds  are donated to the “Little Yellow Schoolhouse” which supports local special needs children and children with disabilities, so that they can receive free schooling in an environment where they can thrive.  Thanks to the Island Time Music and Fishing Festivals’ previous success, the school now …

Cancun is a beautiful destination renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters. You will love snorkeling in and around Isla Mujeres, which is teeming with colorful tropical fish. During your snorkel tour you will not be disappointed by the variety of reef fish that will calmly swim around you as you float. You will have the opportunity to see blue striped grunts, angelfish, Trumpetfish and many more species. Sea turtles are also a wonderful sight to come across while snorkeling in Cancun.   The water temperature in Cancun is pleasant all year round. When the water is calm and the skies are blue, the water is so clear that it provides good visibility to glimpse the lively underwater world.  If you have never snorkeled before, it is very easy to learn. Actually, if you can swim, you will find snorkeling an easy and enjoyable activity.  The water activities hut located on the beach at Villa del Palmar Cancun provides complimentary snorkeling equipment, just make sure you bring a form of ID with you to rent it. While you will spot some fish snorkeling at the resort´s beach, we recommend taking a snorkel …

Embrace the Spirit of Baja on the San Jose del Cabo Art Walk  Since the pandemic hit, we have all been following new rules: stay at home, practice social distancing, wash your hands – the list goes on. In Los Cabos, they still have those same rules, but they implement them a little differently. To see the #LosCabosRules, click on the link below to watch the video.   The video is to remind us that good times are unstoppable. The next time you plan to visit Los Cabos, make sure you visit the San José del Cabo Art Walk in the Gallery District held every Thursday evening from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm during the months of November through to June. The Art Walk is a gateway to a wonderful world of creativity and lively, color-filled streets, that is sure to be a highlight of your trip and leave you with many happy memories. You may also find some amazing souvenirs to take home with you.   San José del Cabo’s historic downtown is approximately a 20-minute drive from Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Los Cabos. Guided tours are available, but you really don’t need a guide. You can simply take a taxi to Calle Álvaro Obregón and tour the area at your own pace. This is a free event …

How is your pirate lingo? Ahoy has been used since the early sailing days as a way to get someone’s attention on a ship. Matey is a familiar form of the word mate, which means friend. ‘Ahoy, Matey!’ essentially means ‘Greetings, friend.” But it is more than a hello; it is a call to be acknowledged.  If you want to live your own swashbuckling pirate adventure, take a tour on the Marigalante Pirate Ship in Puerto Vallarta! All tours meet at the Pirate Boutique across from the A.P.I marina, where you will be assigned your personal pirate and have the chance to buy pirate souvenirs before getting on board a 700-ton authentic Spanish Galleon. The only difficulty you will have is deciding whether to take the Majahuitas Island day tour for nature and beach fun or the Dinner Under the Sea night tour full of entertainment, live music, and a delicious feast fit for kings (or pirates). The night tour is recommended just for adults, but children are permitted. It is just more of a party atmosphere, so if you are traveling with young kids, the day tour is the better option.    The day tour runs from Monday to Saturday. The excursion …

If you are an adventure seeker heading to Puerto Vallarta over the summer months, don’t miss your opportunity to experience the breathtaking canopy zip line tours where you will soar above the lush tropical jungle and really experience what it is like to fly!  If you are a guest staying at Garza Blanca Preserve Resort & Spa or Hotel Mousai, you will have easy access to the best Puerto Vallarta canopy tours available in Puerto Vallarta. Gather your friends and family members and prepare to face your fears as you enjoy the thrill of an action-packed zip line tour. The heart pumping adrenaline you will feel as you race down a zip line up to 1,200 meters flying at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, will make you stop and think, this is what it is to be alive!  Ever since the pandemic hit, the tour operators have adopted the necessary international safety guidelines and protocols including: temperature checks, placing hand sanitizing gel at all the entrances, the use of mandatory face masks, reducing capacity and maintaining social distancing.   There are several reputable tour operators in the area with excellent canopy tours to choose from:  Outdoor Zip Line Adventure: Vallarta Adventures  …

On June 15th, Los Cabos, Mexico started its phased reopening based on the plan of the Los Cabos Tourism Board after making a great effort to exercise quarantining and social distancing. After several months of being closed, this incredible destination is finally ready for a gradual reopening.    The government of the state of Baja California Sur, which includes San José del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, gave the green light for local businesses to reopen. The municipality of Los Cabos went from a level 6 Health Alert to Level 5, which allows the reopening of non-essential businesses. Restaurants, hotels, tour operators and beaches were permitted to reopen and will operate with reduced capacity restrictions of 30 per cent.    Los Cabos Health Director, Adán Monroy, said: “People should continue complying with sanitary measures like facemasks, using hand sanitizing gel, keeping a safe distance and taking temperatures outside businesses.”  Civil Protection authorities together with the Federal Commission for Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) will carry out inspections to determine whether companies are in compliance with recommended health measures. Companies that are not in compliance with the standards, will be subject to closure or a fine.  Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Los Cabos received the COFEPRIS certification and reopened on June 20th. Additionally, it was mandatory for each worker at Garza …

Now is the ideal time to plan your summer vacation. Use your Preferred Points, which allow you additional vacation time in the summer, and bank your Club Points to take an extra-long winter vacation.   Each year, members receive the equivalent of their annual Club Points for use between weeks 18 to 43 (May through October) for a maximum of 14 nights. Preferred Points are privilege that you can enjoy in addition to your annual allocated Member Time. The best thing about Preferred points is that they won’t cost you anything, unless you use them. If you decide to use your Preferred Points, you just have to pay the prorated maintenance fees on the points you use to make your reservation. If you can’t use them this year, while you cannot bank or borrow your Preferred Points, you will receive a new allotment of points each year.  Another benefit of using Preferred Points is that you can combine them with your Club Points to book a larger and more luxurious suite so you can vacation with a group of friends or family. Reservations must be made 60 days in advance.  Here are some additional guidelines to follow when booking with Preferred Points:  At least one member must be present …

Puerto Vallarta is a magical place with its lush jungle and mountains that wrap protectively around the city, the azure ocean, the blue sky that is the backdrop for its spectacular sunsets. Puerto Vallarta’s breathtaking beauty can be found in every direction you look. It is no wonder that it has evolved into the bustling tourist destination it is today. But it wasn’t always like that.    In the 1500s, when the Spanish arrived, indigenous people called the Aztatlan were living in the Ameca River Valley region (now known as Nuevo Vallarta). Spaniards named the area Bahía de Banderas, which means Bay of Flags, as a reference to the indigenous population who carried colorful flags into battle.  While sailors, explorers, and pirates stopped in Banderas Bay to rest during long sea voyages between the 1500s and 1800s, the area wasn’t officially founded until the mid-1800s.    In the early 1800s, the Puerto Vallarta we know today looked a lot different and was only a small fishing village without paved roads or electricity. At that time, in the state of Jalisco, Mascota was the second largest city with several mines extracting silver. The Vallarta area, known back then as Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe, became a small port and …

With COVID-19 and government stay-at-home orders, we are all experiencing a different rhythm of life. For many of us, our regular social activities have stopped and if we do interact, we are advised to stay two meters (six feet) away from others. This is something we are not used to and it is important that we find ways to manage our well-being as we temporarily adapt to this change in our lives.   We have put together a list of useful tips to help manage any stress or anxiety you may be feeling.  Even if you don’t feel like you are stressed or anxious, the Coronavirus outbreak and quarantine is a stressful time for all of us, worldwide.   Signs of stress include:   Fear and worry about the future  Difficulty sleeping  Loss of appetite  Feeling overwhelmed  Racing thoughts  Loss of patience  Inability to concentrate  Irritability  Increase in alcohol consumption  Here are some ways that you can help yourself and others reduce stress and take care of their mental health:    Stay Connected   Staying at home and not interacting the way we are used to can make us feel more isolated and lonelier. Make …