Boca de Tomatlan, Puerto Vallarta Centro

It is nice to travel to a place like Casa la Ventana that meets one’s expectations for lodging and location while providing a couple of nice surprises that were not anticipated. I was staying at Casa la Ventana during November and December because I was going to start writing a screenplay. I wanted a modern and quite place that provided good Internet access. I was not disappointed with theses demands. The owners and the local staff provided great service and support. The property is gorgeous with all of its plants and vegetation. The room had a comfortable bed with great lighting, climate control, storage and fantastic bathrooms with a very nice shower. The top floor of Casa la Ventana is unique because one can view the whole village, the steep Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. I had a couple meals that were cooked by one of the owners, which were outstanding because she gets the fish, tamales, cheese and other food from local vendors. Casa la Ventana is located in Boca de Tomatlan, which provides an authentic atmosphere of a small working community with its commerce, schools, churches and people. The town has some grocery stores that provide fresh fruit and vegetables and other items at reasonable prices. Wanting more variety is a twenty- minute public bus ride for sixty-five cents into Puerto Vallarta; affording an opportunity to practice one’s Spanish with local riders. There are numerous restaurants that cater to local residents and people from Puerto Vallarta spending a day on the beach for the weekend. Ramon’s beach restaurant is excellent example of place that a person brags about after the vacation to others, with great seafood dishes, friendly and funny staff and a great jukebox with Mexican songs. It is also the local hangout for the non-Mexican residents that live in Boca de Tomatlan.. Both non-locals and locals provide good conversation and stories. The weekday ritual of the school children in their uniforms going to school and playing conjures nice images of one’s earlier schooling years. While the ritual of firing the cannon to announce the commencement of Sunday services is something most people may have not had while growing-up, it is an event that will always be remembered. The people of Boca de Tomatlan – Mexican and non-Mexican are a delight that enhances the emotions of traveling. These are people truly love living in this community, which, without sounding trite, makes a person appreciate the communal aspect of life. The surprises of the trip were the following: 1. The local soccer field provided a great area to do my daily jogging – it was almost like a college track for softness of ground.. 2. There is a private beach that is a thirty-minute walk through the mountains, which is good for swimming and snorkeling. 3. The zoo at Mismaloya provided the necessary animal accommodation while maintaining a great environment to observe the animals, which the majority is indigenous to Mexico, according to the zoo brochure. 4. The Botanical Gardens, couple miles south of Boca, with its orchids and other flowers and plants, especially the vanilla plants were something that I didn’t think that I would like; I was wrong. The zoon and gardens offer some unusual settings for photographs. Especially nice was that I didn’t get sick for two months, always felt safe, and the accommodations, food, drink, attractions were well within my budget.

It is nice to travel to a place like Casa la Ventana that meets one’s expectations for lodging and location while providing a couple of nice surprises that were not anticipated. I was staying at Casa la Ventana during November and December because I was going to start writing a screenplay. I wanted a modern and quite place that provided good Internet access. I was not disappointed with theses demands. The owners and the local staff provided great service and support. The property is gorgeous with all of its plants and vegetation. The room had a comfortable bed with great lighting, climate control, storage and fantastic bathrooms with a very nice shower. The top floor of Casa la Ventana is unique because one can view the whole village, the steep Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. I had a couple meals that were cooked by one of the owners, which were outstanding because she gets the fish, tamales, cheese and other food from local vendors. Casa la Ventana is located in Boca de Tomatlan, which provides an authentic atmosphere of a small working community with its commerce, schools, churches and people. The town has some grocery stores that provide fresh fruit and vegetables and other items at reasonable prices. Wanting more variety is a twenty- minute public bus ride for sixty-five cents into Puerto Vallarta; affording an opportunity to practice one’s Spanish with local riders. There are numerous restaurants that cater to local residents and people from Puerto Vallarta spending a day on the beach for the weekend. Ramon’s beach restaurant is excellent example of place that a person brags about after the vacation to others, with great seafood dishes, friendly and funny staff and a great jukebox with Mexican songs. It is also the local hangout for the non-Mexican residents that live in Boca de Tomatlan.. Both non-locals and locals provide good conversation and stories. The weekday ritual of the school children in their uniforms going to school and playing conjures nice images of one’s earlier schooling years. While the ritual of firing the cannon to announce the commencement of Sunday services is something most people may have not had while growing-up, it is an event that will always be remembered. The people of Boca de Tomatlan – Mexican and non-Mexican are a delight that enhances the emotions of traveling. These are people truly love living in this community, which, without sounding trite, makes a person appreciate the communal aspect of life. The surprises of the trip were the following: 1. The local soccer field provided a great area to do my daily jogging – it was almost like a college track for softness of ground.. 2. There is a private beach that is a thirty-minute walk through the mountains, which is good for swimming and snorkeling. 3. The zoo at Mismaloya provided the necessary animal accommodation while maintaining a great environment to observe the animals, which the majority is indigenous to Mexico, according to the zoo brochure. 4. The Botanical Gardens, couple miles south of Boca, with its orchids and other flowers and plants, especially the vanilla plants were something that I didn’t think that I would like; I was wrong. The zoon and gardens offer some unusual settings for photographs. Especially nice was that I didn’t get sick for two months, always felt safe, and the accommodations, food, drink, attractions were well within my budget.

Real Romantic Mexico with beach, lagoon, river, mountains, jungle, and pueblo. Great day hikes, close to Vallarta Botanical Gardens, kayaking, fishing, wonderful plance to relax, exercise, enjoy the food, and wonderful bed and breakfast at Casa La Ventana. Very laid back.

we went to puerta vallarta, mx., we took our four children on an excursion "outdoor adventures with vallarta adventures", we actually ran across boca de tomatlan by accident. it was beautiful and absolutley the most breathe taken scenes ive ever seen. we will be going back. the people are very friendly. it is totally old school. it has not be ran down by tourist. very quiant. we fell in love with it.

Boca consists of a large cluster of homes and shops at the mouth of a small river dumping into a smallish bay. The river defines the place, it is very silty and as such colors the water of Boca. The beach is not appetizing. We were there on a Monday when only a local mother and her two children were swimming there. A large number of people were hanging out including two security guard types with rifles in their laps. Boca is more significant because it is the last point from which you can get to Jelapa and the other beaches that are served by water shuttle. The charge RT is $12 pp. The walk to the waterfalls in Jelapa is definitely worth it. If you have a very adventurous 18-25 year old male along, there is a fright-filled climb up the right-side of the waterfall. It is scary since you have to hold onto a vine for support - and sometimes these vines give way - as you scale a small cliff. You are rewarded at the top by a jump off a 30-foot rock (only the top of which is visible from the bottom of the waterfall). The jump is into a pool at the top of the waterfall. The 30-foot jump is trivial compared to the climb up or down the cliff. (Warning: This is dangerous stuff. Do not let under-18s do this. Though they may have the physical ability, they do not have the mental presence to handle it (unless they are trained rock climbers). Do not go alone, if you should fall off the cliff, you definitely will need someone to organize an evac for you. My son went up the cliff and startled some loacls with his presence - non-Mexicans are rare there. Small cafe at the bottom of the waterfall serves beverages. Though there is a full menu there, most patrons stuck to drinks and tostados in order to capture a nice viewing spot of the waterfall. The help is nice, they will not rush you even if you order just a couple of Cokes.

Boca de Tomatlan, was like my home away from home while I lived in PV. With friendly locals, and stunning views the atmosphere never grew old. On days when you feel like getting away from the usual path of the tourist, a senic twenty minute drive south of PV takes you into a world of jungle, isolated beaches, and a touch of peace that allows you to experience the true beauty of Mexican living. When I think back to the times of "Yo Vivo aqui, en Puerto Vallerta." Most of my memories are in Boca. With wonderful mom and pop restaurants, and local children playing in the tomato river. Best way to describe Boca de tomatlan: Walking into the real life version of Mexico at Epcot Center, Disney World Florida.

I think it would be very pretty in the slower seasons. We went dec. 29th. The sun leaves Boca around 4pm so go earlier. It was very crowded and the sea was murky and there was only one spot to lie down. People were friendly and the fish looked good. Cabs were IMPOSSIBLE to find. We took the bus and although it was crowded it cost only 9 pesos for 2 and was quite efficient. It dropped us off in Playa los Muertos vicinity. I'd go back in the off season and hike to the remote beaches nearby.