Shelby Karns
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El Arrayán
The arrayán is a fruit tree that is native to Jalisco state. Its aromatic, slightly sour fruit has traditionally been used to make popsicles, drinks, and candies.
Carmen Porras, the owner of El Arrayán restaurant, grew up in Mexico City. She has fond childhood memories of visiting her mother’s family in Guadalajara, where there was a field of arrayán trees. After attending Les Roches in Switzerland and working for the Four Seasons and Camino Real in Mexico City, Carmen moved here in 2000, and soon noticed a lack of high-quality Mexican food from different regions. She opened El El Arrayán restaurant in 2003 with the goal of filling that gap in Vallarta’s culinary scene.
She has definitely succeeded. In almost seven short years, El Arrayán has garnered some impressive accolades such as Virtual Vallarta’s “Best Mexican Restaurant” Readers’ Choice Award for five years running and AAA’s Three Diamond Award. It has also been named a Fodor’s Choice Restaurant, a “Must Do” by Frommer’s, and a “truly memorable experience” by Lonely Planet.
So what makes El Arrayán so special? The first thing is the food, of course! The restaurant focuses on “special occasion Mexican” – authentic specialties from various regions of the country that no one else in town is serving. A good example is El Arrayán’s signature dish, the duck carnitas: crispy duck cooked confit with a sauce made from arrayán, orange, and Guajillo chiles. Another perennial favorite is the cochinita pibil, a Yucatán classic consisting of boneless pork marinated in achiote and slow-cooked in banana leaves.
Carmen says, “We all grew up with Mexican food. Our parents were all really good eaters, and they appreciated Mexican food. We’re lucky in that sense.” That appreciation is apparent; everything at El Arrayán is prepared with fresh ingredients, right down to the tortillas, which are hand-made every day with fresh masa. Even the ice cream is homemade with 100% natural ingredients, such as organic vanilla beans, Mexican chocolate, and cajeta.
El Arrayán also has a unique drink menu, featuring an extensive wine list (many of them Mexican) as well as creative cocktails. The signature cocktail is the Arrayán Margarita, made with arrayán fruit, sweet and sour mix, and 100% agave reposado tequila. Also popular is “Katerina’s MoJo” – crushed basil leaves, vodka, grapefruit juice, and Fresca.
Enjoying all this great food and drink is easy considering El Arrayán’s friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Everything is colorful, from the giant Huichol yarn art on the walls, to the tables covered with traditional oil cloth, to the characteristic details of Mexican Sierra architecture: exposed brick, pink and yellow paint, and terracotta floors. Fittingly, the centerpiece of the restaurant’s open courtyard is a single arrayán tree.
CURRENT SPECIALS AND PROMOTIONS:
· 2 for 1 lime (traditional) margaritas
· 10% discount on all cash payments (does not apply with other promotions)
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Print May 27 2010
There has been talk for years about the possibility of Medicare covering Americans in Mexican hospitals, and now there’s a sign that things may take a step in that direction. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has expressed a willingness to discuss the matter with Washington; the first step would be to ask the U.S. Joint International Commission to certify that more Mexican hospitals meet standards (eight hospitals have already been certified). This is hopeful news for the estimated one million American retirees that already call Mexico home.
Mexican officials have begun to express concerns that oil from the spill in the Gulf of Mexico could reach Mexico’s east coast if the leak is not stopped by August. While trying other potential solutions, BP has been drilling two relief wells that will stop the leak if all else fails, but these wells won’t be finished until the second half of July or even August. Currents have been carrying the oil northeast toward U.S. shores, but the currents are seasonal and begin to shift back toward Mexico in August. So far, Mexico has given the U.S. thousands of yards of containment boom, and there are 120 Mexican ships ready to help if needed. Also, Mexico’s Departments of Defense and the Environment, along with the country’s national oil company, have carried out containment, collection, and wildlife rescue drills. In related news, the Environmental News Network recently published an interesting press release from Kevin Daum, the founder of a company called Save the Oceans, Inc. Daum discusses a method of oil cleanup using non-toxic and inexpensive polymers. See the release at http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3367.
Construction has begun on an Orchid Conservatory that will house the National Collection of Mexican Orchids at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. The future site of the Conservatory has already been cleared and leveled, and the plans for the building itself are finished – it will be a six-sided, column-supported brick structure. To learn more, visit PV Pulse’s articles about the Vallarta Botanical Gardens or Orchids of the Region.
What has been called the “greatest Mexica monolith found” is returning to be displayed at an exhibition titled Moctezuma II after being shown at the British Museum in London. The monolith depicts Tlaltecuhtli, the dual-deity that gave birth to all living creatures and then devoured them at the time of death, and it was discovered in 2006 in Mexico City across from the Templo Mayor. This particular monolith is very special for two reasons: its large size (it’s 4.19 meters [13.7 feet] high, 3.62 meters [11.8 feet] wide, 40 centimeters [1.25 feet] thick, and weighs about 12 tons), and its colors (it’s ochre, red, black, and white, and it’s the only Mexica monolith ever found with its colors still intact). Also in archeological news, a tomb has been discovered in a pyramid in Chiapas with four skeletons, estimated to be 2,700 years old.
Leaders in Guadalajara’s City Council from Mexico’s three main political parties – PRI, PAN, and the Green Party – have agreed on a preliminary proposal sponsored by Ramos Héctor Pizano that would ban the use of plastic bags in Guadalajara in commercial establishments and markets in an attempt to reduce the impact on the environment. Businesses would be required to give their customers biodegradable, recyclable, or paper bags.
Destination:PEACE
By now, it’s no secret that Banderas Bay is a great place for a vacation. The area’s beaches, food, and activities have attracted visitors and kept them coming back for decades. But a growing number of people are starting to look for a different kind of experience – they want to make a positive difference in the places they travel and learn more about a new culture.
Enter Destination:PEACE, offering “voluntourism” opportunities in Banderas Bay. The idea for the company was conceived by sisters Molly and Katherine Fisher while riding a train in Italy in 2009. Molly Fisher founded PEACE, an amazing non-profit organization dedicated to Protection, Education, Animals, Culture, and Environment back in 2005. Destination:PEACE is a natural extension of these ideas, and a way to bring more people together. As Molly says, “It’s the uniqueness of combining a true volunteer opportunity with getting to know the community at the ground level. In just a few days, we can show [volunteers] what they would never be able to experience on their own – things that have taken us years to figure out.”
When you take a vacation with Destination:PEACE, you’ll be volunteering three hours per day to help local communities in need. And since the company works closely with PEACE, no two vacations will be the same. Helping at animal clinics, helping with community composting projects, helping local women make handicrafts, and helping children learn yoga are just a few opportunities.
When you’re not volunteering, you’ll be learning more about Mexico and having amazing experiences. Destination:PEACE offers two themes of vacation. The first theme is the active/adventure vacation, in which you’ll be experiencing the natural wonders of Banderas Bay through hiking, surfing lessons, whale watching, and turtle releases. The other theme is the culture vacation, in which you’ll participate in Mexican cooking classes, salsa dancing lessons, and art classes. In addition, both the active and culture vacations feature daily yoga classes.
Your lodging will be an experience in itself. Participants in Destination:PEACE’s vacations stay at Ayia, a resort in beautiful Punta de Mita. The rooms are 2,600 square feet, and include fully-equipped gourmet kitchens. You’ll also have access to all of Ayia’s amenities: a beach club, kayaks, tennis courts, and the longest pool (200 yards) in Mexico are just a few.
You won’t be disappointed when it comes to food, either. You’ll eat two or three meals at local beach restaurants in Punta de Mita, but the rest of your meals will be catered and brought directly to your condo by NAEF Cuisine, a gourmet catering company based in Punta de Mita.
Currently, all Destination:PEACE vacations start on a Saturday and end the following Thursday. Total group sizes for each vacation are between four and twelve people, in order to keep things more intimate. The cost is $999 if you’re sharing a room with family or friends, and $1399 if you want your own room. This price includes everything – your lodging, meals, and activities. People of all ages are welcome - as Katherine says, "We invite everyone. Our mission and our vision include everyone."
We asked Katherine what participants can expect to take away from a Destination:PEACE experience. She said, “What we really want people to walk away with is the memory of giving back in a special way, so that when they leave they feel really good about the volunteer events they participated in. Remembering the kids’ smiles, remembering when a dog wakes up from surgery… at the end of the day, we want our guests to be able to go back and tell their friends, ‘I hung out with five kids from this community, and taught them the alphabet.’”
If you've been thinking about visiting Banderas Bay, and you're interested in combining a luxurious vacation with life-changing experiences that you'll never forget, visit Destination:PEACE's website, or contact Molly or Katherine below.
Testimonials:
"We enjoyed the ultimate family vacation through Destination:PEACE. From painting a mural at the school with the kindergartners, to helping at the mobile spay and neuter clinic, to whale watching, there was something for everyone in the family to enjoy. We are so impressed with the loving, respectful relationship between the staff and the village. Our only regret is that we couldn't stay longer and help more."
-Lucy Brehm, Portland, OR
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Port of Call PV
When you have only a single day to explore Puerto Vallarta, you don't want to waste a moment. These tips will help you get the most out of your time here.
Basic Information
Puerto Vallarta was founded in 1851, and today it has a population of over 250,000. Situated on the coast of Banderas Bay, it's at the foot of the Sierra Madre mountains on the Pacific ocean.
The climate is tropical, with a dry season (November through May) and a rainy season (June through October).
Exchanging Money
U.S. dollars are no longer widely accepted in Puerto Vallarta. Exchange your money and pay in pesos.
You’ll usually get the best exchange rate at an ATM (cajero automático), especially if you take out larger amounts to make up for the transaction fee. Banks are also a good option, but not as convenient since most banks are closed on the weekends. Check the boards outside of money exchange houses (casas de cambio) for their rates -- these are usually open longer than banks.
City Buses
Puerto Vallarta's city buses are cheap and convenient -- only 6.5 pesos per ride, and very frequent. Bus stops are sometimes marked with blue and white signs, but not always. If need be, look for groups of people at the roadside to see where the stops are.
Major destinations (Wal-Mart, El Centro, Aeropuerto, etc.) will be written on the windshield of the bus, but ask the driver when you board.
Dining
We've got searchable listings for local restaurants at our Dining Map. Need a recommendation? Check our list of Featured Restaurants.
Shopping
Use our Shopping Map to locate recommended stores. Not sure what Puerto Vallarta has to offer? Read our page on Typical Products -- it will give you an idea of the featured items from the region.
Things to Do
With just a day to spend, you'll want to choose an activity and enjoy it to the fullest. Vallarta has many exceptional beaches, tours, local music, and a burgeoning art scene. Take a look at our suggested itineraries for some ideas, or to see a condensed list of the best PV has to offer, see our Must Do List.
View Maritime Terminal in a larger map
Print Feb 11 2010
On February 12th at 7 P.M., El Patio Los Arcos of the Westin Resort and Spa will be hosting the Becas Valentine Classical Concert Under the Stars. Two Vallarta natives, guitarist Mario Blanco and his daughter, pianist Adriana Martinez, will be playing a variety of classical solos and duets by Bach, Mozart, Ponce, Handel, and others. Tickets are 200 pesos in advance at 250 pesos at the door. The proceeds will help support Becas Vallarta, a local non-profit that helps 300 bright, underprivileged students continue their education. To buy tickets, contact Cecile Scriban by phone at 322-223-4606 or by email at celiatsascri@hotmail.com. To learn more about Becas Vallarta, visit their website at http://www.puerto-vallarta.com/amf/.
On February 13th and 14th from 2 to 6 P.M. Lucille Shipley is holding a Painting Exhibition of pieces from her workshop. The works of twenty artists will be on display, and 10% of all sales will be donated to the SPCA of Puerto Vallarta, a local organization dedicated to the adoption, sterilization, and health of area animals. The painting exhibition will be held Lucille Shipley’s workshop at Zaragoza Street 414. For more information, call her at 322-222-1697.
In honor of February being “Heart Month,” some of Vallarta’s top cardiologists will be giving free educational talks on a variety of heart-related topics. On February 16th at 10 A.M. at Hospital CMQ Premier, Dr. Leslie Swindle will be discussing “Heart Health for Women.” On February 24th at 10 A.M. at the International Friendship Clubhouse, Dr. Jorge Chavez is giving a talk titled “What’s New in Cardiology.” And on the 26th at 10 A.M. at Cornerstone Hospital, therapist Lynn Rogers will be discussing ways to change your lifestyle to improve your heart health. For more information, contact Pamela Thompson by phone at 322-222-9638 or by email at pamela@healthcareresourcespv.com.
From February 26th to the 28th, the Los Mangos Library will be holding the 5th Annual Puerto Vallarta Writers Conference. This year’s theme is “Creative Non-Fiction: The Literature of Reality.” Some of the speakers include Elizabeth Kadetsky, talking about writing family memoirs; Dave Lieber, talking about incorporating journalism techniques in your writing; and Karen Hursh Graber, discussing travel and food writing. Tickets are $120 dollars. To register, contact Ginger Carpenter by phone at 322-222-2537, or by email at gingercarp@yahoo.com. For more information on the conference and a complete schedule of events, visit its website at http://www.puerto-vallarta-writers-group.com/Conference.php.
Update: The Zootropo International Film Festival that we reported last week was supposed to take place from February 9th to the 14th, but it has been pushed back to April 5th through the 11th.
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