Historic El Centro ~ Self-Guided Audio Tour

This walk covers the oldest and most historic part of Vallarta on the north side of the Rio Cuale. From the Los Arcos amphitheater, walk the surrounding cobblestone streets with their old colonial architecture and new urban art. Hear about Vallarta’s history, Talavera pottery, origins of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, Huichol beadwork, ancient milagros, and more. Then, past the Old Cigar and Chocolate Factory and Restaurant, head for Gringo Gulch, famous for Elizabeths Taylor’s house and villas built by Guillermo Wulff, who also built the sets for the movie “Night of the Iguana.” Next to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, then, to the Malecon to view the many bronze sculptures.

If you like to explore a place on your own, take this walk any time of day, although shops typically open at 10 am. Stop to shop or eat, then start again at your leisure. Once you have downloaded the VoiceMap app on your phone or computer, you can purchase my walking tour and hundreds of others worldwide for under $10 USD per tour and watch virtually if you are not in the actual tour location. Once you purchase my tour, you can use it as many times as you wish.

See the Historic El Centro photo gallery

Emiliano Zapata Colonia ~ Self-Guided Audio Tour

From the Restaurant and Bar at the foot of the Insurgentes Bridge, formally the Cigar and Chocolate Factory, head over the Cuale River for a stroll through the island. A quick stop at the John Houston statue, director of the film “Night of the Iguana,” then over the footbridge for mouth-watering chocolates and an explanation of Zapotec naturally dyed tapestries. The local cobblestone neighborhoods are a mixture of old family homes and new rentals. Visit Vallarta’s largest central produce/fish market, meet the chicken lady, taste tortillas hot off the cooker, see a renovated eclectic historic hotel, then Banderas Bay’s largest ceramics factory where artists paint hundreds of colorful tiles daily. Passing a paper shop, frame shop, and small eateries, end at Banderas Bay Trading Company Antiques.

If you like to explore a place on your own, take this walk any time of day, although shops typically open at 10 am. Stop to shop or eat, then start again at your leisure. Once you have downloaded the VoiceMap app on your phone or computer, you can purchase my walking tour and hundreds of others worldwide for under $10 USD per tour and watch virtually if you are not in the actual tour location. Once you purchase my tour, you can use it as many times as you wish.

See the Emiliano Zapata Colonia photo gallery

Rural El Tuito

El Tuito is a 500-year-old rural pre-Hispanic mountain town one hour south of Vallarta, nestled in beautiful agricultural and ranch country. This tour includes the famous family-run panaderia, where we sample complimentary empañadas baked in a wood-fired brick oven. Then, to Mi Pretexto, a small family raicilla farm started 20 years ago, to observe how raicilla is made. Other stops to view the outdoor family brickyard where hundreds of hand-made bricks are made and fired daily, the plaza, the 200-year-old church, an inside look at a tortillaria, a pottery studio where replicas of pre-hisipanic sculptures are created, a walk along the Tuito River past cows, horses, and goats grazing. Then we head to the co-op art gallery in the former summer home of famous Mexican artist Manual Lepe and then a local cheese factory. Hear the history of this town since the days of the Spanish conquistadors. We end with an optional lunch at a local family restaurant.

Included: local transportation, wood-fired empanadas, and coffee; tour guide.

NOTE: you must find your own transportation from Puerto Vallarta to the Panaderia on Highway 200 South in Columpio, 10 minutes before El Tuito, where we meet. Options include bus, taxi, or rental car.

**This walk is not suitable for those with mobility or balance issues.

See the Rural El Tuito photo gallery