While Garza Blanca Preserve is named after the beautiful white herons that bless the south shore and the beach at the resort in particular, garzas are not the only birds honored at Garza Blanca Signature Residences. The beloved brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), which calls our sandy front-yard home, holds a special place in our hearts. Watching pelicans as they dive for fish or bob up and down on the water’s surface enjoying the year round sunshine becomes a daily meditation for many Garza Blanca homeowners and hotel guests, with some residents actively involved in their conservation. There are only eight pelican species in the world. The brown pelicans are native to the Americas, breeding from Anacapa Island, California to Chile and from Maryland to Venezuela and Trinidad. They can also been seen after the breeding season as far north as Columbia and Nova Scotia. Of all the species, the brown pelican is the only one whose habitat is strictly marine. They tend to prefer shallow inshore waters such as estuaries and bays, which is why …
Is it time to trade your white Christmas for the white sands of Garza Blanca? Santa is always overheated in Puerto Vallarta with more than 320 days of sunshine each year and temperatures that average around 82ºF (28ºC). Not a chance of snow or frost, unless you count the effect of your frozen margarita on your tongue. But children never fear (and that includes the big kid inside), Santa arrives bearing gifts nonetheless, alongside the Three Kings, who have their own day on January 6th in Mexico to commemorate the biblical story that tells of the Three Kings delivering gifts to the baby Jesus, which is the time when Mexican children traditionally receive their main presents. Just because the sun is shining outside, doesn’t mean to say that tradition is thrown out of the window. Garza Blanca Signature Residences homeowners still enjoy setting up their Christmas tree in the tropics and placing decorations to provide that traditional feel. Here are some tips on how to put a new touch on your Christmas in Puerto Vallarta: …
One of the advantages of homeownership at a 5 Star resort like Garza Blanca in Puerto Vallarta is that you have everything on call: room service, maintenance, fine dining, spa treatments and more. However, a great on-site benefit that you might not have taken into consideration is the small store next to Garza Blanca’s lobby, where you can buy all kinds of essential vacation items such as sunscreens, hats, souvenirs, jewelry and more. Myskova at Garza Blanca’s The Shop Boutique The Shop Boutique at Garza Blanca is pleased to announce its most recent concession of beach-inspired fashion items from Canadian-born designer, Kim Martin, founder and owner of the Myskova Beach Boutiques in Mexico. With stores on Puerto Vallarta’s famed Malecon boardwalk, Kim Martin’s Myskova brand has already been a great success in Banderas Bay, providing chic beachwear and stylish causal solutions for women looking for an original yet comfortable look at the beach. A Little about Kim Martin Kim Martin grew up in a family of designers and sewing geniuses, spending her childhood in Canada …
by Nicole Martin For snowbirds travelling to Mexico this winter and year round PV homeowners, deciding which wine we should pair with our meals and dinner parties welcoming our new found friends can be a daunting task, especially as you may not be able to find the labels you are used to at home. Add to that all those wonderful new Mexican flavors you will be adding to your dishes, and you might be stumped over which wine to serve. Never fear, Garza Blanca Resort’s expert sommelier, Miguel Jauregui shares his top tips for wine pairing in Puerto Vallarta to suite your budget and lifestyle. How can one pick a good wine in Puerto Vallarta? There are so many options in Puerto Vallarta for great wine. Contrary to what people might think, Mexico is a great wine producer too. The first thing to consider is what type of wine you want to serve with your meal: white or rose can be a great option for the warm weather. Likewise, when it is really hot, you …
Today when one hears the word “wellnesss,” what often springs to mind are skinny thirtysomethings detoxing on green juices in silent retreats in India, no alcohol, raw food diets and loads of exercise including sweaty bikram yoga performing the Russian splits while doing a water fast; oh, and did I say, no alcohol, unless you are rubbing it on your war wounds from a session of cross fit! However, despite the seemingly prohibitive nature of this recent trend towards healthy lifestyles, wellness comes in all shapes and sizes, for all budgets, ages and preferences. And where else but on Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore can you dedicate yourself to your kind of wellness! Take a look at these top treats for relaxation on the South Shore. Your Kind of Wellness on Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore If the idea of a day spa appeals to you and your kind of wellness, the brand new Spa Imagine located on the 15th floor of hotel Mousai at the heart of Garza Blanca Preserve is the crown jewel of luxury …
There is more to purchasing your dream home at Garza Blanca Signature Residences than enjoying luxury sea view apartments in one of the most exclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta. Your investment opens up a colorful world of life in Mexico. One of the attractions of living in Puerto Vallarta is its lively social scene full of events and activities for expats, especially during the popular months between November and April. Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay’s range of Farmer’s Markets are sure to keep the shopaholic in you amused. Below is a great list of the top Farmer’s Markets in Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay for you to explore, and you can also check the local website to find the current time and dates of the Farmer’s Markets. Old Town Farmer’s Market (Puerto Vallarta): The Old Town Farmer’s Market is open each Saturday from nine thirty in the morning until two in the afternoon. The Old Town Farmer’s Market usually runs until the end of April, and is one of the best Farmer’s Market to go …
4 Ways to give back while you are in Puerto Vallarta Garza Blanca’s full-time homeowners are a wonderful mix of US Citizens, Canadians and Mexicans, some of whom live in paradise year round while others are not yet ready to retire in the sun, preferring to pop back and forth to spend as much time as possible at their favorite home away from home. Many Garza Blanca residents realize just how fortunate they are and spend time and money “giving back.” How about you? Do you want to leave an ordinary mark on this world or an extraordinary one? Here are four “GIVE BACK” activities that might fill your days with purpose in paradise bringing you a rewarding experience helping others in need. PASITOS DE LUZ Disabled children in Banderas Bay need your support and the local charity, Pasitos de Luz, can help you to do just that. This non-profit organization is a local rehabilitation center that offers daily schooling to over 120 severely disabled children that come from households experiencing extreme poverty. These children …
Becoming a homeowner at Garza Blanca Signature Residences in Puerto Vallarta offers more benefits than just its beautiful beach, world class facilities, luxurious apartments and penthouses, and gourmet restaurants, it is also home to a very special and endangered plant that is the official flower of Puerto Vallarta – the Magnolia Vallartenisis. Magnolia Vallartenisis, Puerto Vallarta’s Official Flower On our 85 acres of stunning jungle preserve you will find Puerto Vallarta’s official flower, the Magnolia Vallartensis (Vallarta Magnolia), which is in danger of extinction. To help preserve this delicate flower, Garza Blanca’s gardening team, headed by Don Gregorio, is taking extra measures and using its green-fingered talent to make sure that this iconic flower is still around for Signature Residence homeowners and guests for centuries to come. A New Species of Magnolia According to an article published in Vallarta Opina by local journalist, Rodrigo Lopez Becerril,[1] the endangered official flower of Puerto Vallarta is a new species of magnolia that can only be found in the Municipality of Puerto Vallarta, especially around the Palo Maria …
Nicole Martin a passionate animal lover and South Shore resident since 1989 has the opportunity to interview Naturalist Petr Myska and find out why he loves living South. What made you move to the South Shore of Puerto Vallarta Southern shore of Banderas Bay has everything a nature lover wants. That’s why I live here. What do you like most about living on the South Shore? Two of my favorite playgrounds meet here – the ocean and the tropical forest. Both very rich in living organisms. I never get bored here. On the contrary – I don’t find enough time to admire and capture in photos the local natural beauty. As a biologist and bird lover, what is the most spectacular phenomenon you have seen? I don’t have to go far from my home to be amazed. Few people know that many of the photos published in my Viva Natura field guide were actually taken right from my balcony. I can bird watch all year around from my windows, and even observe whales during their …
Find out why foodies need to spend more time on Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore. So many visitors and expats living in Banderas Bay dine in downtown Puerto Vallarta where great food is happening, but if only they knew that once you leave the cobblestone streets and venture even further towards Mismaloya you will find many South Shore restaurants that offer magical culinary experiences for foodies and spectacular views, charm and history. So, where can you eat on Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore? (South Shore Restaurants listed from closest to furthest) Bistro Teresa Bistro Teresa is located only two minutes south of the gas station leaving Puerto Vallarta’s downtown on the Highway to Barra de Navidad, and is a favorite for foodie snowbirds. Tiny and chic (reservation recommended), enjoy a lovely view overlooking the romantic zone. Attended by its owners, you are sure to feel at home at Puerto Vallarta’s South Shore Bistro Teresa. Lindomar A Sunday (and sometimes Saturday) favorite for Puerto Vallarta locals is La Playita´s brunch at Hotel Lindomar. Located overlooking Conchas Chinas Beach …
