We
are staying in the Marina area of Puerto Vallarta
however there are many local towns and villages along
the coast of Banderas Bay. One of these is the quaint
little town of Yelapa, accessible only by boat. Many
tourists will visit Yelapa during their vacation
to PV, arriving by charter tours, booze tours as
they are sometimes called, water taxis or private
boats. A water taxi will cost $250 pesos and is the
best way to get to Yelapa. Some of the cruise tours
will cost as much as $60 US with promises to see
whales, go snorkeling, tour Yelapa and all you can
eat and drink.
Water
taxis are great, however getting on and off can be
a challenge as the boats try to line up at the dock
with waves crashing in along the shore. The picture
on the left shows our taxi leaving the shore with
Puerto Vallarta in the background. The picture on
the right shows Puerto Vallarta from about half a
mile from shore.
. 
Forget
about keeping your hair in place ladies! The wind
and the speed of the boats makes short work of anyone's
hair. With two large outboards, these taxis move
quite quickly from swell to swell, making your trip
an exhilarating trip!
.
Our
taxi captain was quite accommodating when we spotted
a pod of whales in the distance. It appeared to be
a small family with several small whales. It is incredibly
difficult to get a good picture with the boat rocking
in the waves and the whales only surfacing for a
second or two. Fortunately I was able to get a shot
of a tail disappearing beneath the water.
The
picture on the right shows the entrance to a small
bay were the village of Yelapa is located.
. 
There
are approximately 4000 people who live here in small
cabins and ranches up the valley. Many are involved
in providing services to the tourist trade. Peace
and quiet, few lights at night and quiet surroundings
make this an ideal place to relax.
.
A
beautiful beach with several restaurants provides
and ideal place to sit back, enjoy a few beers and
fresh fish cooked to perfection.
.
There are
the usual folks selling blankets, jewelry and more. This fellow had an iguana
that appeared to be tame and would pose for pictures. Our friend Pat joined
us for this trip. Lots of places to do short hikes and get a better view
of the beach.
.
There is
a small water fall that many people will hike up to. The waterfall is not
that exciting, however there are several places along the way to purchase
carvings, jewelry and clothing of various sorts. The picture on the right
is typical of the area and if you look closely, there is a home behind
the tree!
.
Three very hot hikers finally get to the water fall! Did I mentioned that
you can also rent horses which will take you up to the water fall and along
the river bed shown on the right. If I ever go again to Yelapa, horse back
riding will be tops on my list to do!
.
