On February 23rd, my 12 year old daughter, good friend, Sarah, and I embarked on an adventure to Mexico. We spent the first several nights in Sayulita with day trips to San Pancho, a whale watching and snorkeling trip to the Marietas Islands, and hikes to some stunning nearby beaches. The last two nights were spent in Puerto Vallarta. We returned to Manhattan late on March 3rd completely exhausted, minus a few items seized by customs, and with a 13 year old! Happy Birthday, Kaia! Okay, she didn’t actually get a birthday this year, but we sure did celebrate her every way possible!
If you are looking for tips on travel photography, be sure to visit some of my Boston and New York posts in the travel blog from last year. I was with my friend and daughter in Mexico, so I focused on them quite a bit in lieu of street portraits. Since my goal is to be hired for more destination photography, I’ll be sure to share more of those pictures soon.
I took very few street photography pictures beyond buildings and incidental humans in the background. I’m still not comfortable sharing pictures of people without their permission.
You can also find more information about the equipment I brought on this trip. I brought the same body and lenses, although between the surfers and wildlife, I was wishing for a longer lens.
Now, on with the show!
I’ve created a handful of separate blog posts to go into more detail, provide travel tips, and share even more pictures from our Mexico adventure. There will be no shortage of pretty pictures!
Sayulita
The bulk of our trip was spent surrounded by music, murals, and magic in Sayulita, Mexico. New York City is not the only town that never sleeps! This colorful tourist trap is a sweet and simple paradise where you will never feel alone. Check out this blog post for reviews of some of the restaurants, shopping tips, and pictures from the Sayulita and Flag Day Festival on February 24th.
Surfing
Sayulita, Mexico is a great place for surfing, especially for beginners and intermediate surfers. Not only did I get lots of cool surfing photos, but I got to learn from a local surfing photographer. I also had the opportunity to photograph part of the Annual SUP Open Surfing contest.
Beaches
I visited this part of Mexico during high season. We had ideal weather, perfect surf, whales spouting on the horizon, and LOTS of people. Late into the night, there were tourists and locals hanging out on the Sayulita beach. In Puerto Vallarta, the beach was also busy at night with plenty of brave souls diving in the dark waves. I was surprised that a short hike from Sayulita landed me on stunning beaches with very few people. It is beautiful enough to stay put on the busy beaches, but if you want something a bit more secluded, check out this blog post.
Shopping
Even if you aren’t one to spend much time shopping, you’ll find yourself either perusing a variety of jewelry, knick knacks, and clothing or repeatedly saying, “No, gracias. Estoy bien.” There are countless adorable shops lining the cobblestone roads of Sayulita, and a nonstop barrage of independent vendors who will approach you on the beach, streets, and even while you are dining. You’ll find helpful shopping tips in this blog post!
Whales and Boobies
Whale watching season in the Banderas Bay begins in December and runs through the end of March. So, I was there at the perfect time to enjoy beautiful weather and the majestic Humpbacks. When we took a whale watching cruise to the Marietas Islands, we were also lucky enough to enjoy countless Yellow and Blue Footed Boobies!
Puerto Vallarta
The kind people of Puerto Vallarta sure know how to have a good time! And around the clock! We were getting pretty tired toward the end of our trip to Mexico, but there was still so much to do! I loved the street art, the shops and art galleries, and our jungle hike was the perfect adventure for me and my daughter. Lots of colorful pictures in this PV blog post!
Cat Island
When you need a little break from the busy Puerto Vallarta streets, step into the surprisingly peaceful calm of Isla Cuale, also known as Cat Island. Cat lovers should definitely check out this post. I’ve included some links to donate to the kitty cat cause.
Jungle Hike
This blog post is dedicated to our fantastic tour guide for our jungle hike from Boca de Tomatlan to Playa Las Animas. Juan Carlos Jorge Chedraui, or Johnny Jungle, led us to a variety of stunning beaches in Banderas Bay that are otherwise only accessible by boat. What a fantastic adventure!
Street Art
Why don’t we paint our buildings here?! There were murals EVERYWHERE in both Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Everything was so colorful! I wish I had more time to wander around the streets of Puerto Vallarta enjoying the beautiful art.
TEKimages is expanding to travel and destination photography, so you’ll be seeing plenty more exciting locations from this Kansas photographer.
