Puerto Vallarta, in Mexico, is an ideal spot to set up camp for a week or two, or more. The beautiful weather, the sunny beaches, and Banderas Bay on the horizon all come together in just the right proportions to create an idyllic backdrop for a splendid seaside adventure. And when you have a lovely private Puerto Vallarta vacation rental as your home, you have it made in the shade, as they say.

Home Away from Home
Plenty of folks from other places have made the city their home, whether they’re in for an extended stay or for a lifetime, and they have developed an extensive community of extranjeros within the native Puerto Vallarta community. They organize special dinners and fundraisers; they share favorite recipes and advice; they keep up on the rest of the world as they make their own place in this lovely corner of it. And they have developed a few different vehicles to help each other and the rest of us know what’s happening around town from a local’s perspective.

The point here is this: if you make a small effort to find out what they’re doing while you’re enjoying the good life in your Puerto Vallarta vacation rental, you too can take part in the life of the local community. These are more than travel guides and tour operators’ information sites; they’ll bring you the real scoop when you want to know what’s going on out there.

Get the Scoop, Puerto Vallarta Style
BanderasNews.com puts all kinds of information at your fingertips about Puerto Vallarta and the other towns along the shores of Banderas Bay (hence, the name). You can check the calendar to learn what events are taking place in which venues on particular dates (a Christmas or Chanukah celebration, a tennis or fishing tournament, a special art show). And if you’re in town post-event, you can read the “good time was had by all” recap.

Plenty of folks are happy to put a record of their experiences in print, and if you want to know what they think, first-hand and uncensored, you can visit the forum at Vallarta Scene (and others like it). It’s always a good idea to do additional research when you use this kind of information, since you can’t know how many adult beverages the writer enjoyed before sitting down at the computer (sometimes known as “Who gave this bimbo a crayon?” syndrome). On the other hand, PVScene.com offers an extensive calendar for local entertainment and Mexican festivals, or fiestas.