The Trekking Pawns' Diary

Let me take you back to our first trip to Puerto Vallarta , because somehow I never wrote about it here — only posted snippets to our Instagram. It was a memorable arrival, full of little surprises, some sweaty confusion, and a whole lot of charm. We landed in late January , a great time to visit weather-wise. The immigration line ? Surprisingly smooth. I’ve seen horror stories on social media, but our experience as U.S. citizens was relatively easy. There were two options: Wait in line to speak with an actual immigration officer, or Use the automated kiosks — self-scan your passport, smile for a quick photo, and get a receipt with a QR code you need to scan and complete your immigration paperwork before leaving Mexico . Right at the top it said: “KEEP – DO NOT THROW AWAY.” You bet I tucked that away in a safe spot. Outside the airport, things were… chaotic. A lot of energy, heat, and noise. It was hot — much hotter than I expected for winter — and people were crowding aro...

I just realized… I never actually told you about our first trip to Puerto Vallarta (PV) here on the blog! I’ve posted bits and pieces over on Instagram, but it’s about time I gave this magical destination a proper shout-out. We traveled in late January into early February , and honestly? It was the perfect time to go. The weather was warm (okay, hot as soon as we stepped off the plane), but still manageable — especially compared to the scorching summer heat we've heard about. I can’t even imagine walking around town during those humid summer months. Winter in Puerto Vallarta, though? Just right. 🌞 Flying into Paradise We flew in from the West Coast and had quite a few options. While some of the more budget-friendly flights had long overnight layovers in Jalisco or Mexico City , we chose to spend a little extra and go for the direct flight . No regrets. It made our travel day so much smoother — less hassle, more time soaking up that sweet Mexican sunshine. Our flight itself...