PV/NV for young kids

[travelhome]

We, three families, will be spending the Thanksgiving week at PV (stay at the Grand Mayan NV, which is a bit north of PV).

The kids are 5, 3, 3, 1. We decided to skip swimming with dolphin. What are the activities that young kids would enjoy at PV or NV or nearby cities? Any recommendations?

 

[PigsDad]

With kids that age, why would you ever leave the resort? The water park with the wave pools, lazy river and fantastic pools keep most kids entertained -- not to mention the beach. When we were there last March, we only went downtown one day, and to be honest, our daughter would have rather spent the day at the resort.

However, since it is Thanksgiving, the one activity that would be worth it is releasing sea turtles into the ocean. There are a few places (look online) where you can go in the evenings and help release the hatchlings back into the sea, and I believe November is still in the season for that.

Kurt

 

[mikenk]

I agree with Kurt; why leave the resort.

We just got back from there. There is an entire section devoted to families with small children - called the Kid Zone, I believe - or similar. They also have a part of the wave pool that is very broad and shallow for toddlers.

I remember thinking how great this all would have been for young families.

Have fun.
Mike

 

[travelhome]

Turtle release at PV.

Thanks a lot for the suggestions!

I checked online and have some questions about turtle release.

I asked the Grand Mayan concierge and they replied that they do not have turtle release program but said Bahía del Sol offers this program.

I saw from Ecotour website that there is a number of participating hotels, mostly in PV, doing turtle release. Do I have to be their guest to join the release? Or can I just walk up to the beach of any participating hotel and ask to be part of that? Is there any cost for this?

A tour company called "Puerto Vallarta Tours by Johann & Sandra" offer turtle release and crocodile tours for $45 Adult and $34 kids. Several other tour companies offer similar tours.

So I'm wondering whether participating through hotel (as non-guest) is about the same cost as using a tour company. Which has better experience?

Thanks so much!

- T

 

[pittle]

Bahia del Sol is a small resort just north of Paradise Village. We stayed there our first time in the PV/NV area. They have a nice little restaurant and are very child friendly. It would be worth checking when they are going to release the turtles and ask if you could have dinner and then watch the release.

We took our family for Thanksgiving at the GM in NV in 2008 and had an 8 year old and 1 year old in our group. The older one loved the water slide, wave pool and lazy river. The little one loved the edge of the wave pool and his parents would take him down to the Kids Pool area and he loved the small slides shallow pool, and sprinkler "mushrooms". It is a great resort for families with small children.

 

[rpennisi]

...I asked the Grand Mayan concierge and they replied that they do not have turtle release program but said Bahía del Sol offers this program.....So I'm wondering whether participating through hotel (as non-guest) is about the same cost as using a tour company. Which has better experience?

We have participated in the turtle release twice in the past 3 years. I loved it and I am sure you and the kids will as well. I have a few short videos posted on tripadvisor if you want to look.
Both times we took a bus (once a free trolley and once a commercial bus) to Bahia del Sol resort. You can walk through the property to the beach and make a left. An ecological organization runs the program. We donated a small amount to them.
Get there before sundown and check out their kiddie pools where the hatchlings are kept.
They take a large basin of hatchlings out to the beach for release each night. Both times we released Ridley's.
They make a line in the sand and give all the kids turtles for release.
Adults get some too, depending on availability.
On cue, the release is made and the little ones head for the water. Some of them flounder and I couldn't help it but I had to butt in and get them all into the water.
One time, we walked back to Paradise shopping center by the road. Another time we walked the beach and got through Paradise's resort with some of their guests.
If we go again this January (a near certainty) with friends, we will probably get a cab or catch a bus because it is a long walk as it gets dark.
Ron
PS We got to Bahia del Sol by trolley/bus just around the corner from the Sea Garden resort. Ask the guys in the booths about where to stand and which bus to take. A better suggestion with little ones is to take a cab to Bahia del Sol...maybe ask the cab to pick you back up in a hour. They probably will do this for you and your kids...tipping would help

 

[easyrider]

The Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta is perfect for kids. imo. It has to be a Grand Mayan reservation, not Mayan Palace or Sea Garden, for all the pools to be available.

Taking the kids to the Mega grocery store to see the meat department would be cheap educational entertainment.