Dia Ocho En Puerto Vallarta

When I felt the metallic clasp of the airplane seat belt buckle click together reality set in hard.

It was over.

Villa Caliente, Villa Balboa, and Villa Venado…now exist just in memory.

It was a dazed feeling to wake up in the soft soft bed of a private suite in Villa Venado and just hours later to be sitting on board an airplane, checked back into the reality of life like the rest of the freshly tanned passengers.

Only I have a little secret.

Yes we were all in Puerto Vallarta for a lovely vacation…but none of these other folks woke up where I woke up this morning.

None of them woke up surrounded by magnificent art works, in a home on a hillside like Villa Venado.

None of the travelers around me had breakfast and coffee on the terrace of a home that could easily be seen featured by a celebrity lifestyle TV show or affluent living magazine.

None of these travelers around me had the experience I had.

They had a vacation.

I had a dream…and it came true.

How much more is that worth? To have an experience?

It’s priceless.

I just had a priceless vacation experience, not beyond my dreams, but beyond my expectations. But why?

Because I had no idea you could vacation like this so affordably. Yes it isn’t cheap, but vacationing never is. You go on vacation to escape. To feel special. To pamper the ones you love. To have an experience.

Villa Venado provided that for me.

Villa Balboa provided that for me.

Villa Caliente provided that for me.

The reason I woke up so early every day. The reason why this morning I got up and walked around the still house just looking at everything. The reason why I stood on the terrace and looked out at the jungle rolling down to the ocean and breathed deep and closed my eyes absorbing every sensation available to me…was because this was an experience. This was an experience that I will never forget and that I may not ever get to repeat. This was an experience well beyond average. Average is what you get on a cruise ship, at a touristy resort, and the hotel right on the beach.

So I wandered around Villa Venado this morning looking at the art work, the architecture and fine detail built into every square inch of this magnificent home…I walked around outside and looked at the house and the grounds and lush hillside around it. I watched the halo form along the top edge of the hill as the sun began to climb and light up the upper most leaves on the trees. I took one last deep breath…and said goodbye.

We packed our bags, ate breakfast and drank our locally roasted coffee on the terrace (Chef Kori arranged for us to get over 10 pounds of coffee from a local roaster to bring home) and in what now seems like the blink of an eye, it was time to go.

Down the hill under the mango trees, up the coast highway, through old Vallarta and the romantic zone, past the River Café, past some of the restaurants and shops we’d visited, past the Malecon, past the marina where the mammoth cruise ships dock, and finally to the airport.

Good bye Puerto Vallarta…until next time.

Dia Siete En Puerto Vallarta

Being in paradise, and staying in some of the finest homes I’ve ever seen anywhere, really makes waking up at 6am easy. While the other members of our party sleep their time here away I sneak outside.

Resting my elbows on the railing of the main floor terrace I lean out to let my eyes and ears drink in the early morning at Villa Venado. The gentle breeze is rocking the tops of the palm trees planted near the house. The birds are becoming active. I see them in the tree tops off in the distance to either side of the villa. Their calls echo around the hillside. Sometimes it sounds like they receive answering calls from the next hillside or canyon over. There isn’t any man-made noise to be heard. Growing up in northern Minnesota I have a great appreciation for the solitude of morning in the woods where the only noise is nature. This morning has a similar feeling. The air smells differently and the birds sound different, but morning before man starts his machines is my favorite time of day.

Villa Venado is a very private Puerto Vallarta villa. There are only two other villas nearby, one is being remodeled, and both were unoccupied during our stay. So we basically had the hillside to ourselves.

After about an hour I rousted my companions. We had breakfast and coffee on the terrace and discussed the activity planned for today and wondered what it would be like. None of us had been on a zipline canopy tour before and we felt excited and a little apprehensive as to what the experience would be like.

The owners of Villa Venado, Jeff and Juliana, also own the Puerto Vallarta canopy tour that we’ll be visiting today and they include free passes to the tour for guests that stay at the villa. Los Veranos Canopy Tours is the name of the company, and Juliana was kind enough to call us at the villa, check to see what time we’d like to go and arrange for one of their shuttle buses to pick us up at the roadside down below the villa. (As we’re about to find out it’s a bit of a drive up into the Canyons and a cab ride would be pretty expensive.)

The tour recommends bug spray, comfortable shoes, and having a camera on a strap. Some people recommended we wear long pants, perhaps to help with the bugs. We did not wear them and would not recommend them. We did a lot of hiking up steps and paths and you will get really hot if you wear pants. See their website for complete details here: http://www.canopytours-vallarta.com

We checked in with Sochie, told her our plan, when we would be back and headed out. We walked down the fancy manicured drive and then continued on to the cobble stone past a few modest homes and condos and many many mango trees (the mangos were not ripe yet...just two more weeks and they would have been). We crossed to the other side of the coast highway and waited for about 5 minutes until the very clean and modern tour bus arrived.

The drive from here took us down the coast through Mismaloya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mismaloya) and then we turned up a valley road into what looked like a wildlife preserve or national park. There were signs in Spanish that said something to the effect of “don’t litter” and “take out what you bring in.” I didn’t see a sign that told us a park name, but signs like those are generally synonymous with nature park type places, and it certainly looked like one.

The bus wound its way up in the canyon and climbed higher and higher. After about 15 minutes we slowed down and turned off the main road into a quaint and non-touristy looking little town. In the corner of my eye I saw movement in the sky over head. I looked just in time to catch a person mid-canyon on a zip line that was hundreds of feet off the ground and far higher than what I expected. I told the team that if what I just saw was the zip line we’re going on, “I hope you guys brought a change of underwear.”

We unloaded, were directed to lockers for personal belongings and told to use the restrooms…”To avoid mid-air accidents.” Which we were told was a frequent occurrence.

The staff was very comical and super friendly, so after a minute or two it was obvious that they were joking about the frequency of the "mid-air accidents". However the zip-lines we could see from the base camp were very high, and one member of our group was becoming very anxious.

Next they led us to the area where they handed out the gear and explained the best way to conduct yourself on the zip-lines. They offered reassurance about safety and told us what to do in certain situations; like if you stop short of the platform, are coming in too fast, etc…

Zip-Line crash course completed we were marched up the hill to begin the tour.

To say the least…it was AMAZING!!!

They started us off with some smaller lines, tree to tree, to help folks gain confidence. But it wasn’t long before we were doing some seriously long lines. We’re talking multiple football fields of distance across canyons that, on our highest run, go more than 700 feet in the air above the canyon floor.

It was spectacular and the staff would often take volunteers to hang upside down, spin round and round, and for other aerial shenanigans. I call them shenanigans because the guides we very playful, very humorous and worked extremely hard to make the experience memorable for everyone.

At the end of the tour we each put $10 in their tip jar and bought shots of Tequila - which is the tradition (or so the bar tenders would have you believe). But it was a bit of a workout and we certainly felt we deserved a shot to celebrate our bravery and counter act the adrenaline that was pumping.

This experience was one in a life-time. If you come to Puerto Vallarta, go on this Canopy Tour. It was SO much fun. Even our most anxiety prone companion was having a blast by the end.

At the base camp there is a restaurant and cantina along the river. You may go swimming there aswell if you like. They also have a petting zoo of sorts with some pigmy marmosets and squirrel monkeys, a large iguana, a big python and a tarantula. (I will get some video up soon of the Pigmy Marmosets eating yogurt from my hand. It was one of the most endearing things I have ever experienced…)

From an animal rights perspective I am sure there are those that will disapprove, but their animal facility was very clean and appeared well kept. The animals appeared healthy and very well cared for and similarly to a zoo, when people get to interact with animals I believe they’ll have a better appreciation for them and the environment that they rely on. I know I will never think about the jungle without remembering my little tiny pigmy marmosets and how cute and special they are.

With a few hundred pictures in the camera and what I hope will turn out to be some good video we head back to Villa Venado. On the way home one of the tour guides grabbed a van and shuttled the four of us right to the front door saving us the long walk up the hill. His thoughtfulness was most welcomed. The other two couples that were in the van, catching a ride back to their cruise ship, had to pick their jaws up off the floor of the van when they saw where we were staying.

Yeah…it really is THAT nice.

Home sweet vacation home…

The rest of the afternoon we spent lounging by the pool, soaking in some sun, and silently lamenting the fact that it was our last full day in paradise. Together we sat on the patio lounge chairs and watched for the last time as the sun slowly approach the horizon, touch it and sink quickly into the ocean.

That evening my lady friend and I were treated to a fancy dinner, prepared by our two cohorts.

The candles were lit. The waterfall was trickling, The warm lights inside Villa Venado cast everything in gentle gold. We raised our glasses for last time to an amazing experience and to the people that made it possible.

What a trip.

What luxury.

What a way to vacation. Why would anyone stay in a hotel on vacation? I know I never will again.

Thank you Jeff and Juliana for opening your home to us. You’ve really created a masterwork here and a great value for the vacation traveler that seeks a more refined experience...

Click here for information about renting Villa Venado in Puerto Vallarta.

Dia Seis En Puerto Vallarta (Part 3)

Every minute that goes by this morning is bittersweet. Our time at Villa Balboa is coming to an end.

On the agenda; gourmet breakfast by chef Kori, a sample of the spa treatments available at the villa, a light lunch and our goodbyes to the wonderful staff and this amazing ocean front home rental in Puerto Vallarta.

Chef Kori starts us off right with a fresh mango and cantaloupe smoothie. She insisted that we drink a lot of water as the masseurs would go to work on us and if we’re not hydrated sufficiently we’ll cramp up badly.

After breakfast we’re told it is time and we head down to our terrace, where I spent those peaceful moments earlier in the morning, and we find the two women already set up for us. No CD of relaxing ocean waves needed, mother nature already provides that sound track. Add the firm touch of an expert masseur and aroma therapy oils to create the best massage experience I’ve ever had.

After the massage a dip in our room’s infinity Jacuzzi is the final touch to our luxurious and relaxing stay.

Our bags are packed we’re ready to go….

I sneak away from our group to take one final walk though the villa to soak up into memory as much of this experience as possible. The garden and koi ponds on the rooftop, the wonderful décor and pool and patio on the main floor, the movie theater, the waterfall, the master suites, the executive apartment, the other bedrooms, the unique bathrooms throughout the villa. The sounds. The smells. The feeling of the sun on my face with the cool rocks at the base of the waterfall beneath my feet. I want to remember everything!

We say our goodbyes and thank yous to Christhian and Eduardo, and as we’re about to call a cab to meet us, chef Kori offers to drive us to our next stop…Villa Venado.

Chef Kori, who will probably have her own cooking show someday she’s so adorable and spunky, is simply too nice. If you’d like to contact her for event catering or private chef service email her at chefkori@hotmail.com

On to Villa Venado…

With the help of Eduardo we piled our luggage into the back of Chef Kori’s Dodge Ram pick-up, that still had California plates even after 7 years of driving in PV. Chef Kori explained some of the intricacies of the Mexican driving system and it was shocking. Thank goodness cabs are so plentiful, buses run regularly, and nice locals like Chef Kori will help you get around.

As she put the truck in drive we looked back at the entrance to Villa Balboa and the large wooden doors that hide a sanctuary of such opulence it is hard to image the could exist more than a handful of villas like this one in the entire world.

We rolled up onto the coast highway and Villa Balboa was quickly gone from view.

The truck bounced down the coast highway. Wind blew in our faces carrying the smell of the ocean wafting through the foliage that lined the road. I took a deep breath and said, “You guys think we should just go to the airport? Cuz there’s no way the trip can get any better than what we just experienced.”

Chef Kori, jokingly step a little on the break and said, “o.k..” We all chuckled.

Chef Kori told us that Villa Venado shouldn’t be very far down the road from Balboa, though she had never seen it. That made sense as Venado was only just finished in 2009.

Soon we were slowing down and turning left to go up a bumpy hillside road. There were some condos or apartments to the left and some small houses on the right. The road was the cobblestone that we had seen in many parts of Vallarta and there were large Mango Trees over hanging the road as we climbed.

After a short distance the road opened up to an area of the hillside that was under slow development. We passed another 2 or three houses and then we came to a gated drive that was as finely paved and manicured as you’d see in any modern multi-million dollar luxury home development in the US. We passed through and climbed the steep palm lined pavement drive and as we rounded a bend we saw it.

Villa Venado.

A warm toned, uniquely designed, luxury villa set behind large walls on the lush hillside. This home rose like a castle, or a chateau, and with dramatic architecture faced the ocean and seemed to say, “I am Venado…hear me roar!”

We were stunned by this home, but in a different way than Villa Balboa.

Sochie, the house manager, met us at the gate in the wall. I would say door but this large wooden gate reminded me more of the entrance to a castle. It was made of bulky, heavy rough-hewn timbers, and featured a large cast iron handle. On closer inspection you could see that the door’s simple design was enhanced by an entrance security system. Classic meets modern is a theme you’ll notice in much of the architecture here.

As we stepped onto the grounds it became immediately apparent that, similar to the case of Balboa, the pictures you see online do not do the home justice.

Flagstone tiles lead up to the entry stairs and the 12 or 15 foot high front door that is surrounded by glass that must go up another 10 feet. To the right you see the guest house and garage, to the left the estate wall wraps around the side of the home revealing a path onto the lower garden area of the grounds. Walking up the steps you cannot help but feel like you’re living in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous or MTV Cribs.

Walking past a polished marble sphere, 3 feet in diameter, that has a hole drilled through it turning it into a fountain, we push the front door and enter Villa Venado.

Astounding.

The foyer opens onto the main floor of the home and the only word that can be used to describe this living space is; expansive. The ceilings must be 30 feet high in this part of the house.

Art work and sculptures decorate every wall. Massive panes of glass allow for a panorama of the jungle hillside and ocean.

We could tell sunsets from here were going to be magnificent.

The main floor features a gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances. The main floor terrace stretches about half the width of the house and provides a sitting area off the kitchen for coffee or light meals. The dining room will accommodate 8 comfortably and 10 if you don’t mind a little less elbow room. All around you are pieces of fine décor.

The back drop for the dining room is the home’s waterfall that sends rivulets running down a wall of what appears to be stacked black slate. At the base of the waterfall is a copper statue, turned green like the statue of liberty, of a sword fish leaping from the water.

It was clear the owners of Villa Venado spared no expense in its creation.

Continuing the tour, there is one bedroom on the main floor with its own private bath and terrace and also an iMac computer with DSL internet and a Vonage with free calls to the US.

Now the spiral staircase that takes you to the upper and lower levels requires special attention. The marble stairs are set into the wall and have no other railings or banisters holding them in place. They appear to float without support.

On the upper level of the home there is an office and luxurious master suite. The master bath has a huge sculpted marble tub. It is really quite spectacular. If this tub was quarried and cut from a single piece of marble it alone must have cost tens of thousands of dollars...

As we turn to leave I snap a picture of the staircase looking down from the top floor…

On to the first lower level. Stepping off the stairs the panorama is amazing, and I’m not just talking about the ocean view.

Immediately upon stepping onto the lower level you see a finely crafted billiard table. To the left are large glass panes that reach from the level of my toes all the way up to the ceiling of the main level, and provide a full view of the waterfall feature. To the right of the Billiard table is the living area and entertainment system. A 72 in flat screen is centered on the wall surrounded by speakers, audio and video components below, artwork to break up the wall and then built-in shelves on each end are filled with books and a few photos of the owners family.

A plush leather couch faces the TV and a full bar backs up against the wall facing the ocean. Two bedrooms then flank this living area to each side.

Stepping out onto the pool patio area you see the outdoor grill, palapa dining area, infinity pool and jaccuzzi.

I can’t wait to see this place all lit up tonight.

The tour moves on to the second lower lever where the workout room is located along with a neat vintage arcade that features antique pinball machines, Foosball table, a shuffle board table and a very cool looking bathroom sink. I won’t tell you what it looks like. You’ll just have to explore it for yourself. Sochie’s apartment is also located on this level.

Not part of the tour, but because I was curious, I asked her to show me the lowest level, and there we saw the state of the art water purification system. It was much more complex looking than I thought it would be for a house this size. Good to know the owners spared no expense anywhere in constructing this beauty of a home.

Back to the main floor and a pow-wow with Sochie to determine what we would need her to pick up for us at the store. Having Chef Kori spoiled us because we told her to just rock our culinary world and she did. Because we wanted to cook ourselves at this our last home we needed Sochie to pick up some things from the market.

Steak, veggies, eggs, chorizo, fruit, tortillas and of course cerveza, were on the list to pick up.

Having arranged everything we needed with Sochie, and knowing tomorrow would be a busy day… We hit the pool and turned on whole-house XM radio and enjoyed the rest of our afternoon.

Sochie returned that evening with our provisions and we grilled steak and veggies, enjoyed a bottle of wine and headed to bed. We closed the walls of sliding doors, turned on our in room air conditioner and fell right to sleep…

What a day.

Tomorrow…ZIP LINES!!!

Dia Seis En Puerto Vallarta (Part 2)

Every minute that goes by this morning is bittersweet. Our time at Villa Balboa is coming to an end.

On the agenda; gourmet breakfast by chef Kori, a sample of the spa treatments available at the villa, a light lunch and our goodbyes to the wonderful staff.

Chef Kori starts us off right with a fresh mango and cantaloupe smoothie. She insisted that we drink a lot of water as the masseurs would go to work on us and if we’re not hydrated sufficiently we’ll cramp up.

After breakfast we’re told it is time and we head down to our terrace, where I spent those peaceful moments earlier in the morning, and we find the two women already set up for us. No CD of relaxing ocean waves needed, mother nature already provides that sound track. Add the firm touch of an expert masseur and aroma therapy oils to create the best massage experience I’ve ever had.

After the massage a dip in our room’s infinity Jacuzzi is the final touch to our luxurious and relaxing stay.

Our bags are packed we’re ready to go…

I sneak away from our group to take one final walk though the villa to soak up into memory as much of this experience as possible. The garden and koi ponds on the rooftop, the wonderful décor and pool and patio on the main floor, the movie theater, the waterfall, the master suites, the executive apartment, the other bedrooms, the unique bathrooms throughout the villa. The sounds. The smells. The feeling of the sun on my face with the cool rocks at the base of the waterfall beneath my feet.

I want to remember everything!

We say our goodbyes to Christhian, Eduardo, and as we’re about to call a cab to meet us, chef Kori offers to drive us to our next stop…Villa Venado. Chef Kori, who will probably have her own cooking show someday she’s so adorable and spunky, is simply too nice. If you’d like to contact her for event catering or private chef service email her at chefkori@hotmail.com

Good bye Villa Balboa... Hello Villa Venado!

More pictures and video of Villa Balboa will be posted soon!

Dia Seis En Puerto Vallarta

The sound of the ocean is the most welcomed alarm clock I have ever known.

Awake at 6:00 when on a tropical paradise vacation would normally not be on the agenda, but when it’s your last morning at Puerto Vallarta's Villa Balboa you want to take advantage of every last second to soak in as much of the home as possible...

My goal at this moment is to absorb the essence of this home so that in weeks and months and years from now, I can close my eyes, and be transported back here.

Right here, on the terrace of the Sea Shell Room, the 4th floor master suite, standing on the cool glassy marble looking out onto a pre-sunrise ocean and sky that blur together pale shades of blue with subtle strokes of cherry blossom and lavender. The ocean rolling over rocks, a few pelicans down the beach, the sea breeze across my face and the deep relaxing breaths make up the quartet serenading me this morning. A single fishing boat is silently making its way out of the bay.

These moments, and so many others, are now indelibly etched in my memory.

Villa Balboa will do this for you as well.

Only perhaps your forever moment will be when your lover catches your gaze in the rooftop garden. Or when you’re holding hands on your room’s private terrace as you watch the sun set before your eyes. Or when you touch wine glasses after you are escorted to a private candlelit dinner for two in Balboa’s hidden sanctuary. Or when you, your children, and grand children are all on vacation together and all 20 of you have just sat down around the dining room table and each face is turned toward you, anticipating the loving words of an elder so proud of the family all being together at Christmas. Or the moment when the world stands still, the golden glowing sun hanging just above the horizon, in the breathless moment just before you say, “I do”.

Such is the power of Villa Balboa…

It creates the moments that change your life forever.

(To Be Continued…)