Is this why Canadiens flock to the Riviera Nayarit
More Canadiens than Europeans now arrive in Puerto Vallarta. Only Mexico’s neighbor to the north, the United States, sends more visitors.
The relationship between Canadiens and Puerto is even deeper than that. When applying for Mexican residency in Puerto Vallarta (Nuevo Vallarta to be precise) you will hear French spoken by applicants waiting in line, as well as by the Mexican officials. This is real.
Here at Playa Las Tortugas we welcome many Canadien guests. Often for much longer stays than a typical American visitor. Rather than the typical 5-7 day visit, Canadiens often stay for weeks or even months at a time.
It’s the weather!
Clearly the weather in the Riviera Nayarit is a driving factor from November through May. This is amplified of course by the huge contrast in weather experienced by someone living in Quebec, Vancouver, or Winnipeg. And let’s not discount the length of day. For example, today Calgary will experience 9 hours and 45 minutes of daylight, while the Riviera Nayarit will enjoy almost 12 hours of daylight. Those 2+ hours are precious! How many fish can you catch in 2 hours? How many waves can you catch?!
It’s the Canadiens!
Our personal experience with Canadiens has been they seek what I guess I would say is a more “authentic experience”. For example, our villas have private chefs. They do the shopping and cooking, and then clean everything up. Our chefs are locals from the towns of Otates and Zacualpan. These are not tourist towns, at all. And our chefs generally don’t speak English. This does not deter the Canadiens. Rather than head to the beach when the chef arrives, they pull up a chair. They ask questions, they converse (some better than others!), and we’ve had guests even ask if the chef will teach them how to make the dishes, so they can prepare the same meals for their friends back in Canada!
Off the beaten path
Many areas in the Riviera Nayarit are still off the beaten track. Yes, you can settle into a resort in Puerto Vallarta or Punta Mita. But, when you step out just a little further, a new world opens up. And we’re only talking another 1-2 hours from Puerto Vallarta. But you would be surprised how quickly the tourists drop off once you’re 15 miles from the airport. My sense is Canadiens have a stronger affinity for this type of adventure. They have a “show me the real Mexico” vibe about them.
I’m willing to bet a higher percentage of Canadiens not only arrive in Puerto Vallarta, but also then step out to Sayulita…to San Pancho…and finally to Playa Las Tortugas.
Maybe because Canada is more wild, Canadiens prefer to travel to places that are also more wild?
Here’s to the wild ones!