Tails of Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta's whale watching season begins just a short flight from Austin

Visit Puerto Vallarta for the humpback whales; stay for the tacos, beach drinks, and more.

Photo by Andy Rhodes

‘Tis the season for whale watching in Puerto Vallarta. The holidays have wrapped up, but the humpback whales are just starting to migrate to the warm waters off the west coast of Mexico, where they dazzle visitors with impressive leaps and tail-fin waves.

Whale activity peaks in Puerto Vallarta from January through the end of March, and Central Texas residents can still catch a direct flight from Austin to this charming and colorful city before season’s end.

Witnessing these majestic creatures is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Excitement begins to build when the first massive geyser of water blasts 10 feet above the Pacific’s surface.

Audible gasps fill the air as these humongous humpbacks — which can reach up to 60 feet long and weigh 40 tons — breach the water and slowly twist their massive bodies as if posing for travelers’ tightly-held cameras. The experience is complete when the whales bid a friendly farewell with their massive, 18-foot wide, picturesque tail flukes.

Visitors can see humpbacks up close via small-group educational tours offered by local guides. One of the best options is Ecotours Vallarta, which provides two daily departures led by biologists dedicated to whale conservation in Puerto Vallarta’s Banderas Bay. A bonus: Ecotours feature a hydrophone system, allowing passengers to hear the humpbacks’ haunting sounds from below the surface.

Sea to Snorkeling
Humans can also leap into Puerto Vallarta’s warm coastal waters by taking a snorkeling excursion. Marvel through your mask at countless colorful and exotic species—pufferfish, angelfish, sea turtles, and dozens of fascinating tropical varieties — as they dart among the reefs and rocks. Local guides charter boat rides, complete with snacks and drinks, to Los Arcos, two signature granite islands featuring natural arch formations.

Photo by Andy Rhodes

Botanical Bliss
Continue to explore Puerto Vallarta’s remarkable natural resources at Vallarta Botanical Garden, a lush escape into the jungle. After meandering through breathtakingly colorful tropical gardens, take a guided tour of the property’s vanilla plantation, containing 5,000 orchids painstakingly hand-pollinated to produce extraordinary beans. Sample the rich flavors at the onsite café (the vanilla cocktails and ice cream are exquisite).

Photo by Andy Rhodes

Reach the Beach
The natural stars of Puerto Vallarta have traditionally been the beaches, and for good reason. These panoramic stretches of soft sand are an ideal destination for a tropical getaway. From beachcombing to sunbathing to day-drinking, the beaches draw visitors for the ultimate vacation goals of relaxation and recreation. An added bonus: The lush Sierra Madre Mountains and spectacular sunsets offer Instagram-worthy backdrops.

Take a Taco Tour
A trip to Puerto Vallarta would be incomplete without sampling the local cuisine, and tacos are an ideal way to experience the city’s full spectrum of flavors. Vallarta Food Tours offers an informative and delectable street taco tour, featuring savory ingredients from fresh fish, to barbacoa, to al-pastor. The tour’s nightcap is a refreshingly smooth cocktail made of raicilla, a regional agave-based spirit.

Photo by Andy Rhodes

Hit the Cobblestones
After delving into Puerto Vallarta’s wild wonders, make a point to explore its charming historic downtown. Lined with delightful cobblestone streets, El Centro features adobe-whitewashed buildings with red roofs and colorful street tiles embedded around every corner. The centerpiece is the magnificent crown-topped Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, nearly a century old. Learn about the city’s distinct heritage—more Hollywood than Colonial—via a trusted local guide at Vallarta 101.

Photo by Andy Rhodes

Article by Andy Rhodes

mexico flights animals nature tacos cocktails ice cream

Movie Memorabilia News

Wicked movie costumes will be on display in a Texas museum this winter

Photo by Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures

Glinda's pink bubble dress will be one of the items on display.

Fans of the movie adaptation of the musical Wickedwill soon be able to get up close and personal with the box office smash when the Arlington Museum of Art (right between Dallas and Fort Worth) debuts a collection of costumes and more from the film in 2025.

Running January 17 to April 27, "Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz" celebrates the artistry of the costume design and the 20+ year history of the beloved Broadway musical.

Curated by the Arlington Museum of Art (AMA), the exhibition will feature original costumes, props, and images from the film, provided by NBCUniversal Archives & Collections. Highlights from the exhibition will include Glinda’s “bubble” dress and Elphaba’s “Defying Gravity” costume.

The costumes were designed by Academy Award-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell, who was no stranger to the world of Oz, having designed five productions of The Wiz.

“Costuming and filmmaking is an exciting form of visual art and storytelling," said AMA Director of Exhibitions Kendall Quirk in a statement. "The AMA is always excited to showcase the work of these artists, especially in our free community gallery spaces. We hope to see emerging designers, filmmakers, and other visual artists come to enjoy these costumes from such a universal story."

The film adaptation of Wicked, which earned over $110 million in its first weekend of release, is based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, and book by Tony nominee Winnie Holzman.

A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, it is the origin story of how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda Upland became Glinda the Good. It’s a story of an unlikely friendship between two young women — one ostracized, one adored — and how the untapped power of one will reshape their lives and Oz, forever.

"Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz" will be on display in the community art space at the Arlington Museum of Art, where all visitors can view the exhibition for free, with no tickets required for entry.

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