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Mexican food has some of the most well-known and loved dishes in the world. Mexican cuisine varies by region due to local climate and geography amongst other things.
This time we will take a culinary tour in the Banderas Bay area.
Vallarta is actually an important culinary destination in itself. A mix of international chefs, discerning gourmands that have made the city their hometown, a long-running gourmet festival, the local Mexican food traditions, that are centuries old plus quality ingredients from sea and land combine into great food, great prices and an ever-expanding list of options.
In here seafood is a favorite, plus the local dishes are very interesting for the newcomers too, these include dishes that are part of Jalisco's traditions (the state in which Vallarta is located), especially from Guadalajara, the state capital.
1.Pescado or Camarón embarazado
One of the local dishes that best represents what is typical in the town is "fish or shrimp embarazado", that is, pregnant fish/shrimp... sounds weird? It's mostly the name that is, it's actually a linguistic deformation of "pescado en vara asado", that is fish roasted on a stick.
This delicious local food is prepared by grilling fish or shrimp marinated in lime over coals, then served with Huichol salsa. The fish itself can be school shark (cazón) or marlin, another variant is to use shrimp instead of fish.
2.Birria
The main ingredients of this dish include goat or lamb meat, boiled in a spicy sauce that includes cumin, oregano, and ginger. It's served with lime (they call it lemon here), onions and the inseparable tortillas
3.Pozole
The most famous dish and the favorite of almost all Mexican is "Pozole" that has different incarnations around Mexico, in Jalisco and Vallarta it's a tasty broth that includes as main ingredients pork or chicken meat, seasoned with chili and includes a special popped corn. Once served you eat it with lettuce, radishes, and tostadas (sun-dried tortillas) y can be red or white, depending on the ingredients used for the soup.
4.Tamales
A Mexican favorite, that you'll also enjoy in Puerto Vallarta is the "tamal" (plural: tamales), these are actually an American dish that you'll find in local variants from Mexico all the way to Patagonia. The local version is prepared with white corn dough that is filled in the middle with either salty or sweet options, the most popular are green tomatoes with meat or red tomatoes with meat, all include chili pepper in greater o lesser amount, ask before eating, some have a sweet pineapple filling, kids like these a lot and they DO NOT include chili. The dough is then wrapped in corn leaves and steamed, yummy, give them a try!
5.Tortas ahogadas
We can't forget the famous "Tortas Ahogadas" (can be translated as "drowned sandwiches"), a very typical local dish. In Guadalajara, there's a saying that "you've not been to Guadalajara unless you've eaten tortas ahogadas", so you're expected and "forced" to try them. These sandwiches are made with a special local white bread called "birote" (the story behind the name is that a Frenchman whose last name was Birot, in the XIX century tried to make baguettes in Guadalajara and ended up inventing the birote) that is then stuffed with pork meat in pieces (some variations include shrimp and other fillings) and then covered with a generous amount of spicy chili and tomato sauce (that's when they are "drowned"...), many places offer a variety of sauces from "pica poquito" to stronger options.
From Caribbean beaches to Pacific cruise ports, destinations in Mexico offer optimal inexpensive getaways. Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) and The Riviera Maya are just three vacation hotspots that won't wreck your wallet. Don't let pricey airline tickets ruin your vacation budget. With a few simple tips, save money you can spend instead on tours, souvenirs and enjoying Mexican culture.
Use the calendar
Use Southwest Airlines Low Fare Calendar online to view the cheapest times to fly to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City or Los Cabos. Enter your origination and destination cities and click on the month that you wish to travel. A calendar pops up showing the best deals for each day of the month. For example, airfare the day after Christmas and the weekend before Christmas is the most expensive time to travel during the month of December on a flight from Phoenix to Cancun. A flight costs less than half as much during the first 12 days of the month or after the first week of January.
Avoid Holiday Travel Times
Visiting Mexico during national holidays can be a festive and exciting experience, but you'll also pay a premium for airfare. Travel during times when school is in session and government and businesses offices are open to find the lowest rates. Mexican citizens tend to travel during the national holidays when many businesses close for one or more days. Airfare increases to Mexico for the Christmas holiday season beginning with December 12, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Although the main focus of the festival is Villa de Guadalupe Hidalgo north of Mexico City, the national holiday gives citizens time to travel in all parts of the country. The winter holiday season ends with the New Year's holiday. The Easter season is another busy travel season in Mexico where Maundy Thursday and Good Friday just before the Easter weekend are national holidays. Other national holidays include:
Constitution Day, the first Monday in February
Benito Juarez's Birthday, the third Monday in March
Labour Day, May 1
Independence Day, September 16
Revolution Day, the third Monday of November
Price flights online
If you know when you want to go on your Mexican holiday, check out onsite price matching sites like JustFly or Google Flights. Although you might have to move quickly to snag the very best deal, take time to check out the details before you commit. Some prices you'll find online don't include taxes and additional fees, which can tack on more than $100 on a flight from Phoenix to Cancun, for example. Lower priced fares might add one or more stops, extending your flight time. For example, a 4.5-hour flight from Phoenix can turn into 15 hours of flying and airport layovers when you fly via Dallas to save a few dollars. Keep legroom in mind, too. Google Flights includes how much legroom you'll have which, if you're tall, can be worth paying more for to be comfortable for hours in the air.
With SQN Getaways, find the best accommodation packages and have an amazing time in paradise.
Source: (Usa today)
A vacation is an escape from the routine and a great opportunity to try new things. You’re visiting a whole other country with an ancient and rich culinary history. Traditional Mexican cuisine was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010, so try something new at every meal, and as we say here, “Buen provecho!” (Enjoy your meal!)
1.Sopa de Lima
A very tasty kind of chicken soup with a twist! It is based on a light chicken broth and served with shredded chicken, deep-fried tortilla chips, and what in the Yucatan Peninsula is known as lima. Not to be confused with limes or lemons, the limes a less acidic citrus fruit similar to lime but sweeter like an orange. Intriguing? Wait till you try it!
2.Panuchos
Small, handmade corn tortillas, stuffed with beans and then fried in oil or lard. They are served with shredded lettuce, some meat such as chicken, turkey or pork, tomato, and onion, previously seasoned with sour orange and salt. You should also try them with avocado, carrot, and colorado (a paste of pipian, chile, and achiote, also known as annato seeds). The panucho is said to have originated in Merida by a street vendor out of his typical ingredients but wanting to serve his hungry customers. That, however, is a story for another post.
3.Salbutes
Corn flour tortillas, deep fried in oil until they inflate and get crispy. They can be served with ground beef, chicken, or shredded turkey and are seasoned with tomato and lettuce, avocado slices, and chopped red onion. Ask for some refried black beans as a side dish. In fact, ask for panuchos and salbutes so that you can savor the flavor of both of these staples of Yucatecan cuisine.
4.Papadzules
These delicacies consist of corn tortillas soaked in a sauce made with pumpkin seeds, stuffed with eggs, and then bathed in a sauce of tomato with some habanero chili and onion. They are often garnished with chopped red onion and habanero chili, as well. Be careful with the habanero, it can be quite hot! Remember, if you’re not out for a spicy adventure, make sure to tell the vendor: sin picante, por favor! (Hold the spicy, please!)
5. Cochinita Pibil
A real feast for your senses, this dish is basically pork meat marinated in achiote, wrapped in a banana leaf, and cooked in an earth oven. According to some recipes from the early 1900’s, the entire pork (after some preparations, mind you) was baked in the earth oven. The cochinita pibil is accompanied with red onion in a sauce made with sour orange juice and habanero. It is usually eaten in tortas (a kind of sandwich) and tacos. This dish is also made with chicken; the famous Pollo Pibil. However you eat it and whatever meat you choose, Cochinita Pibil is definitely pulled pork paradise!
6. Kibis
Of course, we cannot forget the picturesque kibis. You can find people walking around the beaches with a glass box perched on their heads and shouting their singsong proclamation of “kibis… kibis!” Kibis are made with mashed wheat and ground beef or pork and seasoned with some spearmint, garlic, and onion. They are oval or round in shape and deeply fried. You should always eat them with some chopped red onions and, if you dare, habanero chili. These delicious darlings of Yucatan cuisine were actually brought to the region at the beginning of the 19th century by Lebanese immigrants. Today, they are a staple of the culinary heritage of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Don´t miss the chance to delve into Yucatan food and travel to the Riviera Maya check our Travel deals and BOOK NOW your beach getaway!
Source:
Yucatan Cuisine: Yet Another Reason to Visit the Mexican Caribbean
Every year Gray, blue and humpback Whales migrate away from the cold, to the warmer waters near Mexico to breed and bear their calves… They begin arriving in November and from December to the end of March each year, there’s an opportunity to catch glimpses of the amazing Whales …
Whale is the common name for marine mammals which belong to the Cetacean order, which also includes Dolphins and porpoises. Whales collectively inhabit all the world’s oceans and number in the millions, with annual population growth rate estimates for various species ranging from 3-13%.
This bay is nestled between the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, so Puerto Vallarta is a good point of departure. As these mighty whales reach 14 meters in length, it is possible to see them from the beach while they’re jumping in the sea, but there’s nothing compared to getting a closer view. A tour is advisable since the agencies are constantly monitoring the whale sighting spots and know exactly where to go. You will see dolphins along the way, so get on board and enjoy a photo safari.
From December to March, it is possible to see 11 different species of these enormous whales. The Mazatlan-Teacapan zone carries out activities for humpback whales. During boat tours, it’s possible to observe dolphins, sea lions, and even killer whales. Mazatlan also has a stunning beach, so take a few days to soak up the sun and visit the “Old Mazatlan,” the Malecon and Isla de la Piedra.
Looking for the right conditions for mating, the gray whales swim along Los Cabos in Baja California from January to April. There are different options of transportation, from a standard boat to a luxury trimaran. For a better view, a boat with a glass bottom will help you get a fuller view of these animals. Relax during the ride by watching the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, and photograph the sea lions and exotic birds along the way.
To help you prepare for your whale watching excursion, we have some tips that will improve your experience.
You need to be in the selected spot in Mexico between December and March, which is when the whales can be found in Mexican waters.
Eat a good, wholesome, breakfast; porridge or cereals and fruits are ideal. Don’t go whale watching on an empty stomach; also, you are less likely to suffer from motion sickness if you have eaten than not. Avoid too much greasy food and avoid alcohol before and during your excursion.
If you are experienced with binoculars, bring them along. Most people will not find them much use: it’s an art using binoculars on a moving boat and the field of vision is quite restricted.
A good camera with a zoom or telephoto lens is ideal. If your camera needs batteries, bring additional ones.
Bring rubber-soled shoes that will support your feet and your ankles as the boat moves and the waves hit up against the side of the vessel causing shudders or sudden movements. Flip-flops and heels are not appropriate on a whale cruise boat.
If you have never been on a long boat trip before, you might like to take some motion sickness medicine with you. You could purchase this at home or from any pharmacy in Mexico. You will need to take the medications before you board the vessel; it’s no use taking it once you are on the water.
Be sure you pack a high-factor sunblock and a hat as there is little protection from the sun once you are out on the open waters of the Pacific (besides the boat canopy which may only provide partial cover). Over 50% of the suns rays bounce off the ocean’s surface and hit you – so you can burn even in shade. You can also sunburn under overcast skies as the sun’s UV rays can penetrate cloud. If you are traveling with children, be sure they are well protected from the sun with sunblock a hat.
Most Whale Cruise boats have two decks; an upper deck, which offers better distance visibility and a lower deck, which is closer to the water (and thus the whales, when they appear) but with restricted visibility at distances. It’s impossible to predict when or how the Whales will appear. There are very strict maritime guidelines about how a boat should approach and be maneuver around whales and the skipper may not be able to go in the direction that you think will offer you the best view.
A lot of time on a whale watching excursion can be taken up with waiting for the whales to appear. Children, especially young children, can get bored quickly with nothing to see or do. Bring crayons, coloring pads, books, and small games to keep your children entertained during the day. Also, pack a picnic lunch and bring plenty of bottled water.
