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Water Taxi – Why fight the traffic? |
By the Editor -
January 2006
- Leer en español
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 The water taxi is not a new concept of transportation in Puerto Vallarta and the Bay. I remember more than thirty years ago, when I came to this port for the first time, I heard that in order to get to certain places it was necessary to take a water taxi. In those days it was small wooden fishing boats with small outboard motors.
The tradition of using water taxis has maintained itself and its use is more common on the southern side of the city, especially in order to go to places like Quimixto, Yelapa and Majahuitas amongst others. As a matter of fact this is the only type of transportation available for the inhabitants to come to the city and stock up on supplies for their homes and businesses.
A few months ago a brochure which said: “Why fight the traffic?” caught my attention. I took one and I realized that it was the advertisement of a company called WATER TAXI – MARINAS & DOWNTOWN operating water taxis which are running between Nuevo Vallarta – Marina Vallarta – and Downtown Puerto Vallarta every day. Immediately the possibility came to my mind to take this trip.
 The brochures invites the travelers in Nuevo Vallarta in order to get to Puerto Vallarta (and vice versa) instead of taking a regular taxi to avoid car traffic on board of one of their fiber glass boats covered with a canvas roof, impelled by two powerful outboard motors and to embark on an adventure which in addition to achieving the main objective which is to transport them to their destination, turns out to be an exciting journey offering the opportunity to observe different sceneries of the bay and the city from the ocean.
The hours of departure from Nuevo Vallarta are at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. as well as at 12:30, 2:00, 3:45 and 5:45 p.m. The scheduled departures from the pier on Los Muertos beach in Puerto Vallarta are at 10:30 a.m. as well as at 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 and 4:45 p.m. They are designed so that the passengers can organize themselves according to their necessities or desires in such a way that they can carry out all their activities without any rush whether downtown, in Marina Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta.
 At 9 am I embarked at the pier of the Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta together with eight more passengers and two children bound for downtown Puerto Vallarta. The morning was fresh and upon leaving the pier the boat accelerated causing the breeze of the ocean to caress my face. Finally I completely woke up to a new day! We started to leave Nuevo Vallarta behind and the scenery began to change. Very soon we observed the golf course of the Mayan Palace. Then right away we saw the area of Marina Vallarta framed by the mountains in the background. We passed that area and a new scene was presented: the red color of the tiles of the buildings of the city contrasting with the green of the sierra mountains indicated that we were approaching the town. With every moment the mountains came closer and very soon we found ourselves just in front of downtown Vallarta admiring the boardwalk, the church and the beaches. The activity at Los Muertos beach started with various boats of different sizes mobilizing tourists which were about to carry out different activities while some fishing boats began to drive along the coast close to the beach with the purpose of motivating some travelers to rent them.
After approximately thirty minutes we were already disembarking on the pier of Los Muertos and we were told that the first return would be at 10:30 am. Some of the passengers took notes and confirmed that in accordance with their planned activities they would return by 3:00 pm. At this moment I was able to realize the magnitude of the convenience which the usage of this kind of transportation offers to a great number of tourists.
 On one hand if I would be a tourist staying in Nuevo Vallarta I would definitely use this transportation at least once or twice a week in order to visit the center of Puerto Vallarta. The cost is almost the same of that of a regular taxi and the trip is an adventure a hundred times more exciting. The arrival in Vallarta is practically in the heart of the center and from there the visitor can walk towards the most important areas or sites to visit amongst which we have the flea-market, the River Cuale Island, the boardwalk with its open air gallery of sculptures, the main square, the Church of Our Virgin of Guadalupe and the house of Elizabeth Taylor. It goes without saying that on the way travelers will run into a world of options to purchase anything that the mind can imagine as well as diverse types of restaurants which are a magnificent opportunity to delight in a succulent breakfast or lunch.
 On the other hand if I would be staying in Puerto Vallarta I would use the water taxi to go for breakfast to one of the restaurants with a view of the Marina Vallarta or to visit, to get to know and to walk along the area of Nuevo Vallarta. Both are spectacular and each of them has its own specific charm waiting to be discovered. Both the Marina Vallarta as well as Nuevo Vallarta have spectacular championship golf courses. Another significant point in favor of this type of transportation is the possibility –without having to pay an additional cost– of being able between the months of November and March to observe from a very short distance dolphins or humpback whales while they are moving from one place to another. Of course on every return trip to Nuevo Vallarta you may appreciate the sleeping woman in the background on the mountain of Punta Mita. Like always she is a witness to everything that is happening in our Bay of Banderas.
This is only a short review of what it means to travel by water taxi on the route between Nuevo Vallarta - Marina Vallarta - Puerto Vallarta which by the way is the only one which covers this trip. You can catch the boat at the hours previously mentioned, however it is very recommendable to call before to: 221-1863 in order to reserve your seat in the taxi.
The prices per person are:
Nuevo Vallarta – Puerto Vallarta: USD $18:00 Round Trip / USD $10.00 One Way
Nuevo Vallarta – Marina Vallarta: USD $14:00 Round Trip / USD $ 8.00 One Way
* Children under 3 years travel for free.
Many thanks to Jorge Medina who gave me the opportunity to enjoy this trip, as well as to his daughter Miramar who definitely distinguishes herself for offering a service full of warmth and joy. Of course many thanks also to Salvador, the captain of the boat and to Julio the sailor, both were very attentive and helpful.
See you next time and a very Happy New Year 2006.
The Editor
E-mail: editor@pvmirror.com |
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