WE can begin with the closest option: the Seawall.

The people’s beach is not exactly a beach as we know it, but it’s akin to the life of every resident of Puerto Vallarta. Here we can may find seagulls and pelicans that have called this place home and their meeting ground of choice, not far from a small marketplace where fresh fish is sold like hotcakes. With a little bit of carefulness and decoration, this could be a lovely place where lots of leisure activities can be organized.

Playa de los Muertos is the nearest beach in Vallarta, with restaurants perfectly lined up and street peddlers hawking any item you can possibly imagine: silver, ceramics, ice creams, tattoos, beachwear, braids... you name it! The beach features the original little horse that symbolizes Puerto Vallarta and affects three stones called Los Arcos (The Arches), surrounded by lavish vegetation.

Don’t forget to drop by the Beach Café –one of my favorite hangouts- on a Sunday afternoon, where good music, great food, and a laid-back atmosphere are the name of the game. From Playa de los Muertos (also from the marina and Bocas de Tomatlan), some dinghies sail off to take visitors to other wonderful beaches in the vicinity,to the south, away from the bustling city.

One of my favorite keys is Yelapa. The dinghy ride is exciting as the boat goes skipping on the surface of the water like flat stones in a ducks-and-drakes matchup. Once in Yelapa, you can check in at a small hotel to stay overnight and have the famous cheese-and-apple pies that vendors sell at the beach.

Quimixto gives us the possibility of working out or pumping iron a little bit before splashing into the ocean. We may also swing by a nearby waterfall, either on foot or on horseback, and scour the river banks.

Another choice right in that same direction, though a tad farther, is Las Animas. This trip can be anybody’s sweet delight as tourists run through valuable ecological sites and practice snorkeling. But the most striking feature of all is the green, wild vegetation that we find behind our backs. The almost unreal hues range from green to blue. There are several eateries on the premises, let alone the possibility of kayaking, taking a swim, reading a good book or taking a spin.

If we set a northbound course, the offers are equally exciting. The sensation of being on one of those long, wide, desert islands is unique, and surfers find here the paradise they have always been looking for. We head for two of them, Sayulita and San Pancho.

WAVES AND SURFING

Hopping on a car could be a stressful situation here, but for surfing enthusiasts the feeling is hard to describe, especially when pathways are covered by dark-green vegetation that resembles a marine Eden.

Surfing is a sport full of adrenaline and passion in which nothing is more important than riding a huge wave. The sea, the sand, the beach, meditation and nature make up a perfect combination. This is definitely a life packed with emotional roller coasters and astonishing adventures from the word go.

For adventure seekers, by the way, Vallarta offers incredible beaches peppered with tall waves and secrets that can purify your soul. For beginners and not-so-wet-behind-the-ears surfers, the town of Sayulita is the perfect choice. There, you can lead a hippie-like life filled with reggae, surfing, peace of mind and love for a while. Waves here are usually not so big, so now you know surfing boys and girls: bring only long boards along.

Another beach –and that’s definitely my favorite is San Pancho, lying some three kilometers from Sayulita. The words that better define San Pancho are silence, peacefulness, birds and the sensation of being in a wild place that remains untouched by any human hand.

For pro surfers, though, San Pancho features the best break points around. So this is my message: catch the waves and your lives will take a turn toward happiness and peace.