In Part 2 of the Day Trip From Puerto Vallarta to El Tuito and Mayto. I take a Taxi From El Tuito to Mayto and Tehuamixtle, on Pacific Coast of Mexico. The Taxi Driver is Javier Avila, Born and Raised in Mayto and I interviewed him on The Road to Mayto.
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Hello fellow travelers, welcome this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, and maybe even yours, Puerto Vallarta Mexico.
That music you were just listing to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are La Palapa, The El
Dorado Restaurant, and at night for dinner The El Dorado transforms into the ever so romantic Vista Grill with those dramatic views of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors. Of course, at La Palapa you can enjoy that same view of the Los Muertos Pier all day long for breakfast, lunch or dinner, seated with your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. It’s so romantic, it’s so Puerto Vallarta my friends!
Contact Javier
- From the US Cell Phone 011 52 1 322 118 59 83
- From Canada Using a Cell Phone 01 044 (or 045) 52 1 322 118 59 83
- Mexico Cell Phone 51 1 322 118 59 83
- Javier’s Email Address taximaytojavi@gmail.com
This week is part two of my Day trip to El Tuito and Mayto and Tehuamixtle, south of Puerto Vallarta, but first a little news about what’s going on in Puerto Vallarta Mexico this week, the 21st of February 2018.
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Puerto Vallarta Sets a Coffee Drinking Record Guinness
Puerto Vallarta set the record for the most people having a cup of coffee at the same time. The goal was for 500 participants to come together on the Malecon and beat the previous record held by Germany, of 368. Well, they did it. Not quite the 500 but close, 492 actually signed up for
the event. There were far more people than that, but it was cool. Tables were set up on the Malecon, near the lighthouse, and a stage was set up as well, like Wario talked about from La Trez Cuartoz in the conversation we had a couple of weeks ago. The participants had custom made t shirts marking the event, their own coffee mug, and a chance to be part of Puerto Vallarta History. I got some sweet photos from our friend Maria Jose Zorrilla Alcala, owner of the Belmar Hotel in Puerto Vallarta, and if you haven’t heard the interview I had with Maria some time back, you need to. She is an incredible woman and a gift to Vallarta. Anyway, The Belmar Hotel was a proud sponsor of the event, and I have great photos of her that she gave me permission to use so go to the show notes for this episode and have a look.
So, this got me to thinking, what other records have been set here in Mexico and I was surprised to find that Mexicans love to attempt to break world records. Really, they do!
What is this Guinness anyway?
According to the Wicki pages…On 10 November 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, then the managing director of the Guinness Breweries, went
on a shooting party in Wexford, Ireland. After missing a shot at a golden plover, he became involved in an argument over which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the red grouse (it is the plover). That evening at Castlebridge House, he realized that it was impossible to confirm in reference books whether the golden plover was Europe’s fastest game bird. Beaver knew that there must be numerous other questions debated nightly in pubs throughout Ireland and abroad, but there was no book in the world with which to settle arguments about records. He realized then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove successful.
Beaver’s idea became reality when Guinness employee Christopher Chataway recommended University friends Norris and Ross McWhirter,
who had been running a fact-finding agency in London. The twin brothers were commissioned to compile what became The Guinness Book of Records in August 1954. A thousand copies were printed and given away.
Since then, Guinness World Records has become a household name and the global leader in world records. The book has gone on to become a record breaker in its own right; with sales of more than 100 million copies in 100 different countries and 37 languages, Guinness World Records is the world’s bestselling copyright book ever.
So as I was saying, Mexicans love to set world records, They include…
The Largest Serving of Guacamole
Only in Mexico, in 2017 a wholesaler in Mexico the Empacadora de Aguacates Sierra del Tigre mixed up a serving that weighed in at 6,569.77 lb in Concepción de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, México. Made with 25,200 avocados, 3,500 tomatoes, 3,000 lemons, 750 onions and 90 bundles of cilantro.
The Largest Burrito
Of course, came from Mexico, The largest burrito weighed 5,799.44 kg (12,785.576 lbs.) and was produced by CANIRAC La Paz, in La Paz, Baja California Mexico, on 3 November 2010. The burrito was made from one single flour tortilla which weighed over 2 tons and measured 2.4 km. wow! That’s 1 and a half miles long! The filling was fish with onion, Chile and refried beans – typical to the region of Baja California. 54 restaurants took part and in total there were around 3000 volunteers. The machine used to roll out the tortilla was specially designed and adapted by Blas Avila, it took 9 and a half hours to cover the full 2.4 km.
Most People Kissing Simultaneously
This romantic record was organized by the Government of Mexico City and took place at the Zócalo in the Historic Center on February 14, 2009. The number of participants reached 39,879, an “odd” number because kisses between more than two people were allowed, such as families. Mononucleosis?
Largest “Thriller” Dance Routine.
After the King of Pop left this world, thousands of fans gathered at Mexico City’s Monument to the Revolution on August 29, 2009 to perform the largest dance routine for Michael Jackson’s 1984 hit Thriller, with 13,597 participants. This event was organized by the city government’s Instituto de la Juventud (Institute of Youth). and I have a video of it on the website if you want to see this epic dance routine.
Largest “Day of the Dead” altar.
Mexico is well known for its Day of the Dead celebrations, so of course it has to hold the record for the largest altar commemorating this
date,which measured 6,006.24 ft2. It was set up on October 31, 2014 at the Fiesta Cala de Veras hosted by the Mexico City’s Plaza México bullring.
Most Mentos and Soda Fountains
With the viral trend of making soda fountains with Mentos candies, Mexican confectionary company Chupa Chups Industrial Mexicana and its Italian counterpart Perfetti Van Melle organized this grand simultaneous soda fountain and Mentos event at the International Balloon Festival in León, Guanajuato on November 15, 2014. There were 4,334 active fountains simultaneously gushing.
But what about alcohol. We are talking Guinness you know.
World’s Largest Tequila Tasting Event
The largest tequila tasting was set not in Jalisco, but in Canadia! 862 people participated, and it was put on by two companies called Tequila Tromba and Fonda Lola, one in Toronto, the other in Ontario, Canada, on 19 September 2013. What gives? You could definitely get twice that many takers in Vallarta. Hello, Jalisco. Hello town of Tequila. Canada! Come on!
World’s Largest Margarita
And what about Mexico’s favorite drink, the margarita? Well not so fast Mexico, once again you have been snookered by Las Vegas Nevada where This joint called Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet’s gold mine on the strip set The Guinness world record for the largest margarita with a volume of 32,176 liters, 8,500 US gallons, July 17, 2012.
The World’s Most Expensive Bottle of Tequila
The record for the most expensive bottle is $225,000. It was a The Platinum & White Gold Tequila bottle, sold by Tequila Ley .925 to a private collector in Mexico City, Mexico, on 20 July 2006. The bottle was filled with a unique 6 years aged, 100% Blue Agave Tequila worth $2,500 US.
But how about drinking records?
Most Tequila Shots Consumed
Here’s one from The Associated Press
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – One person is dead and three are gravely ill following a tequila drinking competition (search) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The winner of the contest died. Officials say Ricardo Ivan Garcia — who was 21 — drank more than 50 shots of tequila Sunday night at a disco. The prize was ten-thousand pesos — about 330 dollars.
A prosecutor says the man died of apparent heart failure brought on by alcohol poisoning (search).
Three other contestants remain in serious condition in the hospital.
Here’s another one off The Newsreel…
Frenchman Sets Bar Record by Drinking 56 Shots; Guess What Happens Next…Well, tragically, he died because that’s about 46 more shots than any person should ever reasonably even think about drinking, especially in quick succession.
From Yahoo News…French police opened an investigation on Wednesday following the death of a man in his 50s after he downed 56 shots during a drinking competition.
The man, who was not named, was attempting to beat the previous record of 55 shots in a bar in Clermont-Ferrand in central France on Friday.
The man was driven home in a drunken stupor and emergency services took him in later that night.
He died the next day in hospital after falling into a coma and suffering a heart attack, his daughter, a 21-year-old student, told AFP.
So how many shots of tequila would it take to kill you might ask? Well, it’s a little different for everybody. We aren’t built the same you know, but the blood alcohol level of .34 is a magic number of sorts: According to a lot of the charts it’s the upper limit, on the border line between stupor and death, and it would take an average-sized American male—14 shots to get there.
Some of you may remember the notorious 16-vodka breakfast enjoyed by Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham on the day he died, This is actually very educational: His breakfast may have been a punishing dosage, but it was just a pre-game for a guy with a serious tolerance, according to rock historian Mick Wall—he kept working and drinking that entire day in 1980, eventually consuming a total of 40 drinks, only to lie down that night and choke to death on his own vomit. Nice!
Okay where were we…oh yeah, Felicidades a Puerto Vallarta for setting the record for most coffee drinkers, maybe that tequila thing is too wild for this town. Less vomit. Just sayin!
Okay let’s get on with the show
The Road From El Tuito to Mayto and Tehuamixtle By Cab With Javier Arias
Last week we took a bus from Puerto Vallarta to the town of El Tuito, and if you haven’t heard it yet, listen to it for sure. I interviewed the owners
of a new B & B, La Joya de Tuito, Matty and Jesse, and then I had a wonderful conversation with Maria C. Sandander from Galeria Coppelia.
If you go to my show notes, you will find maps and directions, but I will give them to you again here. You get to the corner of Vesuviano Carranza and Aguacate on the South side of Puerto Vallarta, where the bus to the Botanical Garden and El Tuito will be waiting.
The bus will be pointing down south on Aguacate across from the Kiosko convenience store. The bus waits there till it fill up, and heads south, past Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlan, then heads east and up to the Botanical Gardens for the first stop and then to the town of El Tuito. The bus stops on the highway 200 outside of town, then, turns into town to the main square where it stops and lets off and takes on new passengers for the ride back to Vallarta and parts in between. It’s a very simple trip, approximately an hour long and only 36 pesos, that’s like less than $1.75 US.
I urge you to listen to last week’s episode to see what there is to do in El Tuito. Now last week I was telling you about Javier the taxi driver who picked me up from La Joya de Tuito and drove me to Maria’s place. I basically contracted him to take me to Mayto and Tehuamixtle, if he would return back to Maria’s place in an hour. Javier came back, I bid farewell to Maria and her beautiful Gallery, and hopped into the front seat of Javier’s taxi and off we went. I was really hungry by this time. I really hadn’t had anything to eat all day up till then, so I begged him to stop for food before we hit the road. He pointed to a restaurant and said they make great tortas, so I ordered one for myself, Javier declined, and then off we went. Me stuffing my face with delicious torta, and he telling me about Mayto.
It was really hard for me to keep from pulling out my recording equipment right then and there but I was so hungry, and the plan was, and I asked Javier, because he said he was from Mayto, he would introduce me to an interesting character in Mayto, maybe someone who ran a hotel or
something. Sure, no problem, so off we go along this winding paved two lane road. Paved I say with some trepidation because there are potholes along the way, and Javier knew where every one of them was. He did his best to make the ride as easy as possible. The terrain was lush, green, very similar to where I live in Southern California, except it was I dunno, really green.
The ride took about 45 minutes, Javier telling me great stories and giving me terrific information all along the way. I kept telling him Javier, hold that thought or Javier, look, we really need to talk about that, what you just said. That’s why, during the interview which I did record on the ride back from Mayto, it sounds like I’m prompting Javier. It’s because I’m trying to get the story that I heard already, on tape.
We drove into Mayto and to the beach, and what a sight. Just virgin beach spread out in front of us. We stopped at a small hotel and walked to the bar area. This was a really neat place. But here’s the thing, the owner didn’t want anything to do with me. He didn’t want me to tell my listeners about the place for fear of, I don’t know, maybe he might do more business, I don’t know. Maybe he thought I wanted money, or maybe he thought I wanted to get free lodging, or booze, who knows. But one thing was for certain, no interview. So, I don’t know what to say. Do I just leave it at that? Do I tell you which place it was? I have pictures of it I the show notes of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. One of the guests allowed me to have a look in his room and take pictures so I have those in the show notes as well so have a look. I’m not going to say which place it is, you need to look all right. I mean, I wouldn’t want to upset the guy and give him more business god forbid.
We got back in the taxi. Javier was pissed. He was telling me didn’t like the way the hotel owner talked to me. Dude, don’t worry Javier, I’m a Real Estate Agent man, I get rejected every day That’s part of my job. Every rejection gets me closer to the next yes in my line of work. Oh, but he wasn’t having any of that no sir. He was mad. Don’t sweat it Javier, I don’t need him, I have you.
From there we visited the Hotel Mayto, a beautiful property, there are other hotels and bed and breakfasts in Mayto, and I would say that if you really want to have a deserted beach experience, maybe Mayto would be a good choice. Just look at the photos boys and girls, just saying.
Then he took me up to the next beach, well, bay up, to the town of Tehuamixtle. A sweet fishing village where there was a big restaurant called Candies, and oh my god you guys, you have to eat at this place. The seafood is to die for. There are also other restaurants around, but don’t bother, just eat here.
Javier points to the Shark Statue, “I made that!” “Really?” “Yes.”
“Okay, then would you please pose in front of your shark?” “Sure”, he says. Okay, so if you want a photo of Javier in front of the shark in Tehuamixtle, check out the show notes.
He showed me what’s left of an old building where there was a crane that was used to unload the steamers of their cargo, that was on the way to the mines via El Tuito.
There were people playing in the little bay, cove-let. Fishing boats bobbing in the water, a small pier jutting out. A cozy little place. Perfect for lunch and a few adult beverages before heading back to El Tuito. We stayed just long enough for a couple of pictures. Javier let me roam around for awhile and I said, we better get back before I miss the bus back to Vallarta. So, I got back into the cab, and I whipped put my recorder, and I turned her on, and started asking Javier questions. You are going to get an idea about the condition of the road, as you listen to the recording. This is not recorded in my studio here in Los Angeles, and it’s not recorded on a quiet beach, but instead, on the road from Mayto to El Tuito. Let’s hear from Javier, The Taxi to Mayto.
Thank you, Javier. You are an amazing guy. As you can see, Javier speaks English wonderfully and his rates are very reasonable. But we will get to that after I finish the story.
The last bus out of El Tuito is 5:30. I don’t remember if I told you 5:30 or 6:30 last week, but I just got off the phone with Javier, and he told me that last bus out of El Tuito is 5:30, and the first bus that shows up at the bus stop in El Tuito in the morning is at 7:30. Then, every ½ hour, throughout the day.
So Javier looks at his watch and asks the people siting at the bus stop has the last bus come yet? Nope.
Okay. He lets me out and I pay him. I look around and at my watch. Fifteen minutes till the bus arrives. I walk around the corner and buy a couple of orange drinks and sit back down at the bus stop when all at once, the bells begit to ring, and the fireworks begin to explode. Not the colorful fireworks, it’s still daylight. The ones that make boom sounds….I caught it, Listen. If I hadn’t had the discussion earlier in the day with Maria, I would have wondered what was going on, but it was the New Year Celebration a week later.
Some time passed and still no bus. Then, Javier shows up and motions for me to get in the taxi. Looks like they re-routed the last bus due to the celebration. “Let’s get out to the main road and catch the bus there.
So, we drove out to Highway 200, and he dropped me at a bus stop. Wait here he said, there will be a bus coming from Manzanillo or Melaque. Take it to Puerto Vallarta.
I thanked Javier, my good luck charm, and waited for the bus. I wasn’t ready for cooler weather, but I did get some as darkness descended on all of us waiting for the bus. Just a note that it does get cool, just like Maria said here up in El Tuito at night. I asked a local storekeeper if I could use his bathroom. Si. Great. Damn orange soda. On the way out of the restroom I managed to whack the top of my head on a low ceiling. Just a word of advice to always check for head clearance in some of these places. I was grateful for the pee stop. Better than a boot to the head I suppose.
Fifteen more minutes pass before the bus reading Manzanillo comes pulling up. It’s a nicer bus than the El Botanical Garden/Tuito Bus, and I’m not sure how much I’m going to have to pay. I hand the driver 35 pesos. He looks at it, takes it and I move on the bus. It’s pretty crowded but I manage to find a comfortable spot to sit.
It was dark now, and the bus ride was quite and comfortable. The seat was stuck in the recline position, so I didn’t have to apologize to the person behind me.
An hour later, we pull into the South Side of Puerto Vallarta, and a whole bunch of us pile off the bus.
And that my friends, is the daytrip to El Tuito and Mayto.
So let’s review some items,
If you miss the bus, that last bus in El Tuito, get out to the main road, highway 200, and wait at the bus stop for the Manzanillo Bus or the Bus coming from Barra de Navidad, Melaque. They come once every hour till 9 in the evening. After that. You will need to hire a taxi to take you to Vallarta. How much? Not sure. Or just stay the night in Mayto, Tehuamixtle or El Tuito at La Joya de Tuito, or even arrange to stay at one of Maria’s Cabins. Whatever you choose to da. El Tuito should be on your list of places to go the next time you are in Puerto Vallarta. You can have a great adventure in one day, or make a two or three day trip of it.
Let me give you some prices and information about Javier. His prices are as follows:
Fare From El Tuito to Mayto and Tehuamixtle is 600 pesos each way from El Tuito to Mayto and Tehuamixtle and back. 1,200 pesos round trip. That’s roughly $30.00 US each way. $60.00 round trip. He will wait for you for an hour at no charge. Every hour after that, add another 200 pesos or roughly $10 US per hour to wait for you.
Javier’s Favorite Restaurants in El Tuito
- El Patio de Mario, El Tuito, Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico
- El Valle Restaurante, Cabo Corrientes, Jalisco, Mexico on Highway 200 at the taxi stand
Contact Javier
- From the US Cell Phone 011 52 1 322 118 59 83
- From Canada Using a Cell Phone 01 044 (or 045) 52 1 322 118 59 83
- Mexico Cell Phone 51 1 322 118 59 83
- Javier’s Email Address taximaytojavi@gmail.com
To contact Javier, I have his phone number in the show notes for this episode of the show. Go to www.puertovallartatravelshow.com and go to this episode, The Road From El Tuito to Mayto, and get Javier’s phone Number and instructions on how to call him from the US or Canada or Mexico for that matter. Call him and make a reservation and share the ride with a friend to spread the cost, or go solo like I did. When I talked with Javier today he told me that one of you guys, one of my listeners had already sought him out for a ride to Mayto, so he is waiting for you to call him and set up a tour.
And thanks again to Maria Santander who made sure that Javier and I hooked up on the phone. Maria, you are the best!
That should do it for this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show.
Next week, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more. Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.
And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value proposition. His experience and on the ground knowledge of everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use someone else so do it. Really. And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on-board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and his revitalized Happy Hour Board. I have links to all of those in the show notes.
And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and give me a good review on iTunes if you would. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there. I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blog-posts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.
So, thanks again to Javier my buddy in El Tuito. Call him at 322 118 59 83 . Check out his contact info in the show notes of this episode of the show at puertovallartatravelshow.com. Thank you to Maria Jose Zorrillia Alcala from the Belmar Hotel for the great photos, and for all you do for Puerto Vallarta, and thank you Maria Santander, the unofficial Ambassador of El Tuito. I’m going to be seeing you again my next trip down to Vallarta that’s for sure, And thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos!