No doubt you have noticed the sparkling clear waters of Banderas Bay from the patio of your Puerto Vallarta luxury vacation rental. And you have said to yourself, “Sure, it’s pretty, but I’m just not that into water.” Ironic, isn’t it? So let’s move on to some better news – all that water laps up against mile upon mile of beach.

In this resort city, the beaches that surround Banderas Bay offer something to satisfy every particular taste: some are nothing less than “Party Central” – the place where large groups of scantily clad sun worshippers gather to meet and greet and consume large quantities of adult beverages – while others offer a bit more solitude, more suited to a person’s quiet, romantic side.

Before you bound out of your Puerto Vallarta luxury vacation rental to hit the beaches, take a moment or two to think about how you might celebrate your “Beach for a Day” experience. You have tons of options to choose from, so when it’s all said and done, you’ll probably go back for more.

• If love sports and want to get your heart pumping, enjoy a pick-up game of beach volleyball. (Don’t confuse this activity with the Puerto Vallarta 2009 International Beach Volleyball competition, which actually took place not on the beach but in the Augustín Flores Contreras Sports Stadium).


• If you have the soul of an artist, build something fantastic out of sand. True, you’re probably going to have to make contact with the water, but it probably won’t hurt all that much, and you’ll have a splendid original work to show off. (This activity works especially well when you use the right tools, including small pails of various sizes, small shovels and other children’s sandbox toys.)


• Make your day at the beach an opportunity to read that book you’ve been hauling around for the past few weeks. While friends and family frolic in the surf, you can set your beach chair under a large umbrella, get a supply of cold beverages by your side, and start turning pages. Be careful, though – they’ll probably attempt to lure you into their fun and games, so stay strong.


• There is absolutely nothing wrong with people-watching, a largely unpublicized but very engaging outdoor activity. Spread a blanket or towel, hang an umbrella for shade, and wear very dark glasses to help mask your activities.

However you choose to spend your day at the beach, wear sun block and reapply frequently. And drink plenty of water to stay healthy in the heat.