EVERYONE LIKES TO EAT

Food is something that is shared by everyone regardless of country or culture.  We find that cooking or food tours are a great way to experience a new port and meet and understand the local culture.

Traveling Spoon and Secret Food Tours are two companies that provide great value and are highly recommended.  I am not affiliated with either company in any way.  Please add a comment for any other companies that you have found offering a great experience.

PUERTO VALLARTA

Puerto Vallarta is a great port.  The crew (and passengers) love it as a giant Walmart is across the street from the cruise terminal.  There is much to do from traditional tours and the pure touristy stuff.

There are three cruise ship berths here, and you won’t know exactly where you will be until you arrive.  It doesn’t matter exactly where you are berthed.

HAL tours met shore-side here instead of the theater, which caused some confusion as guests were unfamiliar with a different process.  Always review your meeting location and plan.

Vendors set up pop-up shops as you head to the street.  I recommend you look at what’s available and make a note of anything interesting.  You will probably be able to find something similar at Walmart or elsewhere during your day.  You may find the prices are close enough, and the convenience of not having to lug it around all day is worth a higher price.

Taxis are available – The initial ask was $10 a person to go to the main tourist spots.  They quickly dropped the price to $5 a person.  If you haggle longer, you could probably do better.  Uber is available and would cost about $10 for the entire car holding four people.  The pickup spot for Uber may force you across a busy street, so it may be worth the higher taxi fare as you leave to avoid delays in getting an Uber.

TRAVELING SPOON

We booked this experience with Manu

Authentic Mexican cooking class in Puerto Vallarta – Traveling Spoon

Our meeting spot was the Mercado Cinco de Diciembre, about 3 miles from the ship at 9 am.  Our taxi was $20 for our group of four and took fifteen minutes.  The market is very local and not touristy.  It serves as the hub for several other markets located throughout the city.  Manu explained that it was worth the trip to come here rather than a local market for the wider selection and better prices.

The market was clean and, despite being full of fresh fish, didn’t have any fishy smell that you may expect in a similar market.  We were here for about 45 minutes as we watched Manu select the fish, meat, and vegetables for the meal we would prepare later.  Manu moved quickly from stall to stall as he selected a perfect Yellow Belly Snapper and various fresh vegetables.

Along the way, he provided helpful tips on selecting produce.  For example, you should look for Tomatillos that are all about the same size so they will cook evenly at the same time.  Finding ripe Avocados can be tricky, and Manu demonstrated how a perfect Avocado looks and feels.

Before we left, we watched a machine making soft tacos, and we had a chance to sample one still warm from the oven – delicious.

COOKING WITH MANU

Manu drove us to his apartment about 1 mile from the cruise port.  We met Max, his very friendly Terrier/Chihuahua mixed breed.

You can contact Manu using Instagram HERE

Read his Tripadvisor Reviews HERE

Manu’s kitchen was small but modern.  We sat at a counter where we could watch his preparations.

Today’s menu

Ceviche
Panela Cheese Red Enchiladas
Served with his Family Salsa

He started working on the Salsa and sauces that would be used later with the Enchiladas.  Manu used a pressure cooker to cook the beef, and he got that started immediately.  He then turned to preparing the other ingredients and the ceviche.

The Ceviche was incredible – a colorful mosaic of diced fish, vibrant vegetables, and fragrant herbs, all bathed in a citrusy marinade that hinted at the promise of bold flavors.  Manu sliced an Avocado incredibly thin and placed it on the ceviche with a twist, creating a perfect final touch.

Our final course was the Enchiladas made with Corn Tortillas, filled with beef.  They were lightly coated with his special sauce – delicious!

We had a wonderful time with Manu, learned a lot about cooking, and enjoyed a delicious meal.

WALMART

We took an Uber back to the Walmart near the ship, where we picked up a few items before heading back to the ship.

SAIL AWAY, AND SUNSET

We had a great time at the sailaway with some excellent snacks.  A fantastic sunset topped off a great day.