| The Sierra - An Invitation to Exploration |
 The
mountains that surround the Bay of Banderas are without any doubt one of the outstanding
characteristics of its beauty. The surprise the visitor as well as the local resident,
inviting us to explore them and enjoy their exuberant vegetation, the rivers,
the flowers, the butterflies, birds and other beings that inhabit them.
You can get to know the Sierra and its inhabitants in various
ways. Some adventure seekers use jeeps or 4x4 vehicles. Obviously that is good
for covering great distances in the least amount of time, and for visiting places
or villages hidden in the mountains. But those explorers cannot enjoy or appreciate
the details to be discovered if you undertake a trek on foot, on horseback or
even mountain bike. Trekking and walking are great exercise
and from my point of view, they represent the best ways to appreciate nature,
as they give us the opportunity to see everything, from the most minute living
entities to the century-old trees. We can identify the tracks of wild animals,
insects and birds. And if the trek is long and steep, we get to enjoy panoramic
views that fill our eyes and remind us just how wonderful Life is. Naturally,
horse lovers will tell you that the best way to explore the Sierra is on horseback
considering that our appreciation of the environment from another height gives
us a totally different perspective.  Those
who like challenges and are in good physical shape will opt for a mountain bike
to feel the excitement of the adventure and the adrenalin rush while they explore
the jungle.
Whatever your preference may be, it is of
utmost importance that you have a map of the area you will be visiting. In fact,
maps are important tools if the exploration involves a circuit that includes camping
in the woods. Having an expert, specialized guide along
makes all the difference in the world. He or she will lead us to special sites,
tell us stories about the various places and explain what it is that we are seeing
- plants, birds, villages, customs, in short, we get the opportunity to really
KNOW.  If
you are visiting Puerto Vallarta and the mountains have invited you to get to
know them, you are lucky because there are various recognized companies that offer
specialized tours to explore the Sierra. These can represent a few hours' hiking
or trekking (on foot, on horseback or biking) all the way to a few days in the
Sierra when you get to know the mining towns. The longer ones will give you the
opportunity to observe the transitions between the different types of environments,
and the consequential changes in flora and fauna.
Hasta
la próxima, ** For more information on the various
excursions into the mountains, just call Open Air Expeditions at 222-3310 and
it will be our pleasure to give you all the info you may need. Isabel
Cárdenas Oteiza
AMTAVE
Pacific Zone Vice-President
openair@pvnet.com.mx
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