Sunsets, Seafood, and Slow Days: Our Puerto Vallarta Staycation
Winters are already in full swing in Alberta and you know how crazy cold can get! So we decided to take a much needed motivational break from this and head to beautiful city of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta. Its a 5 hour flight from Calgary so pretty manageable given I hate to sit for longer hours. We didnt have much planned unlike other vacations and hence I am calling this a staycation where all we did is enjoyed the local setting and roamed markets, ate good food, cooked some yummy seafood at our airbnb and slept under the sea breeze.
Following is all we did in Puerto Vallarta.
Eat Elotes from local bakeries:
We stayed at an Airbnb in Zona Romántica, and right next door was Eulo Bakery. I became a regular there. Every night, I’d stop by to see what they were baking so I could grab it the next morning as my mid-day snack. My favorite was their simple bread with just a hint of sweetness—nothing fancy, just perfect.
Roam Flea Markets at Day:
To get our steps in, we spent our days roaming markets—starting from Mercado Municipal Río Cuale and walking all the way to the markets near the Malecón Boardwalk. We also shopped at grocery stores like Walmart, Casa Ley, and Soriana. We did visit Galerías Vallarta, but aside from food, most things felt a bit pricey for me.
Watch Sunset at Playas:
This was my absolute favorite part of the trip. Playa Los Muertos was just a short walk from our Airbnb, and we went there often to watch the sunset. Many locals suggested heading to Mismaloya Beach or Sayulita, but my heart was set on Los Muertos. Honestly, I didn’t want to see everything around Puerto Vallarta—leaving some things unexplored gives me a reason to come back.
Sunset at Playa Los Muertos.
Roam Food Markets at Night:
Evenings were the best. Around 8 PM, we’d walk to Plaza de Armas, where street vendors would already have delicious food ready for the crowd. With the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe right behind the plaza, there was always a lively atmosphere filled with music, culture, and local folklore.
Hike Along Southern Beaches :
One of our bigger adventures was an Airbnb experience where we hiked six beaches south of Puerto Vallarta, starting from Boca de Tomatlán. Our guide led us through the trails while teaching us about the local flora and fauna. My favorite stop was Las Ánimas Beach—beautiful, calm, and well worth the walk.
Playa Iguana
Las Animas Beach
Shop for Fresh Produce & Cook at Home
The produce in Vallarta was incredibly fresh—not picture-perfect like in North American grocery stores, but real food that truly brings dishes to life. We bought most of our produce from Municipal Market Emiliano Zapata, where you can purchase exactly the quantity you need. Everything was local and seasonal, which made it even better.
We also picked up seafood from Pescados y Mariscos El Güero and cooked simple, delicious meals at home—some of my favorite food moments from the trip.
Everything I ate outside!
Puerto Vallarta turned out to be exactly what we needed: slow mornings, long walks, good food, and warm sunsets. A perfect winter pause before heading back to the cold.