Kevin and Inge McGuinness share their love of Puerto Vallarta by giving visitors information about Happy Hours, bar hopping, local craft beers, taco stands, cheap eats, local hikes and more using Facebook Groups
Plus an Interview with Kayla Muir From American English Tree About Their Changing Lives Event, and about Spanish Lessons for English Speakers and English Lessons for Spanish Speakers
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Hello fellow travelers, welcome to 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, in fact my new home, and maybe even yours too and that’s Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are The Le Bistro Jazz Café, riverside on The Isla Cuale, and the La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous
Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner,
seated with your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. Or riverside at Le Bistro, it’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.
This week we are going to be visiting with my friends Kevin and Inge McGuinness, Expats from Canada who love to share their enthusiasm for Vallarta with visitors and friends by creating Facebook Groups like a Puerto Vallarta Happy Hour Group, a Walk and Wobble bar hop, they have a Craft Beer Lovers page, Taco Stand and Cheap Eats map, and so much more. You will love Kevin and Inge.
We also have a new face, well voice associated with American English Tree, That’s the school where English speakers who want
to take Spanish lessons here in Vallarta, or even on line, can learn to speak Spanish and with their tuition, at the same time fund
the education of a Mexican who will be learning English. Her name is Kayla Muir, who is one of Eddie Rodríguezes star students and instructor at American English Tree. Kayla will be talking about the Changing Lives Event that will be taking place today, Monday the 3rd at La Huerta BBQ. A sold-out event.
We have Vallarta news and more so let’s see what’s happening this week, the 3rd of March 2025.
I have to apologize to you for my voice. I’ve had this cold thing where I got an ear infection and then lost my voice for a few days, so I’m trying not to sound like a teenager going through puberty. As a result, I’m going to be putting off my story about our move
to Vallarta just for one more week. Till I get my voice all the way back. And by that time I hope to have Kim Bix from Geen Go 4 Gringo back on the show. Kim and Green Go 4 Gringo are the folks who helped Debbie and me through the process of obtaining our residency in Mexico. And they also introduced us to the folks who helped us get our Mexican Tax ID Numbers, so we could open a Mexican bank account.
That whole story, next week.
Water Shortage is Coming to Vallarta, Conserve Now
Last year was the first June I’ve ever spent in Vallarta and I was shocked to see that the Cuale was all dried up. I’d never seen that before. I don’t know if it always dries up at the end of the dry season, but apparently, last year, it did. And this year, although the river is still running, I can see where while we’re at the beginning of March, the first rains in this neck of the woods isn’t expected till the middle or end of June, and that’s a good three and a half months away. So already we are getting calls to conserve water from Seapal, the government entity in charge of getting water through the pipes.
Here’s what they say…Kind of…
Puerto Vallarta is about to enter the stagnation period, which is characterized by the low water level in the height of rivers due to the lack of rainfall and this in turn reduces the production capacity in the supply sources.
This natural phenomenon that traditionally presents itself from the month of March, has recurred in the region in the face of the reduction in the incidence of rain in recent years and this 2025 already causes some havoc on the levels of SEAPAL Vallarta tanks that present lower levels.
So now is the time to pay attention to your own water usage. Try taking shorter showers or as I do, I take Navy showers. The water goes off while I wash the hair and soap up, saving lots of water in the process. I know you are paying big bucks to stay in paradise, but be kind to the environment, and do what you can to conserve water. It’d be no bueno if water rationing were to take place here. It happens often here in the blue collar neighborhoods, and that seems to get the natives restless. Save agua. Please.
Of course with lack of rainfall comes dry hillsides and fires. There was a small fire up in San Sebastian the other day, and a larger one up in Mascota before that one. And next week you will be meeting a real angel, Christina Callahan from Canada runs a charity called Angels for Mexico, and they bring surplus firefighting supplies from Canada, to Puerto Vallarta. You’ll meet Christina. And we had an opportunity to watch Canadian firefighters train local firefighters up close and personal. In fact you’ll be hearing from a firefighter from Red Deer Alberta and Pata Salada, one of our local Vallarta Bomberos, or firefighters as well. Next week will be an awesome episode so stay tuned.
Trash Pickup Gets Serious with Fines For Dropping off Trash
Last week I talked about the new trash collection plan in Puerto Vallarta, and it seems they are getting serious about exactly what time you can drop off your trash in your designated neighborhood trash heap. In fact a sign went up on the wall next to our neighborhood trash heap that read, both in English and Spanish…
Please do not throw garbage on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays. Only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6 in the morning until 8 in the morning.
There are cameras, anyone caught littering after hours will be fined. Again the hours to throw are 6-8am, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
So yes, they are getting serious on our block, and here’s what they say about it in the Vallarta Reporter online…
I have a link to that article from Vallarta Reporter Online, in the show notes.
Fines to be Imposed for Improper Trash Disposal in Puerto Vallarta
So, the trash saga continues. And it’s getting trashier by the minute. I’ll be keeping an eye on it for you as time progresses. Remember, don’t litter. The camera’s watching you.
There has been no change in the Visa Requirements for Visitors Entering Mexico From The United States
I’ve been getting a couple of emails from some of you who have been concerned about a possible change in requirements for US Citizens wanting to come to Vacation in Mexico, due to the current political climate between Washington DC and Mexico City. But as of now, at least, things haven’t changed, from the Secretary of Foreign Relations de Mexico Dated February 28th 2025…
In response to recent inquiries about visa requirements for U.S. citizens, we confirm that U.S. citizens do not need a visa to visit Mexico as tourists. Additionally, Mexico’s current immigration regulations regarding this matter have not changed.
So, there we have it directly from the secretary’s mouth, uh, pen, uh, keyboard, no changes, at least as of now.
It’s Spring Break Time, Plan Appropriately
It’s spring break time and as a result the US State Department has offered up their look out, don’t do that list….From Vallarta Reporter…
So there, you’ve been properly advised, and warned. My suggestion don’t look for trouble, and you won’t have any. No snorting lines of coke off a naked woman’s stomach and you should be good to go. Just a little advice I got from a local.
I have a link to that article from Vallarta Reporter Online, in the show notes.
Of course if you aren’t a pre adult college student type, you may want to keep the thought in the back of your head that you may be encountering this variety of the human species in great numbers. Plan appropriately.
Now the next big event here in Vallarta will be Semana Santa. Semana Santa and Pasqua in Puerto Vallarta are April 13th till the 20th. We’ll be talking about that as the date approaches.
The end of my voice is fast approaching.
Let’s get to our interviews, shall we?
American English Tree Changing Lives Event
Our first guest is a newcomer to a old time Vallarta institution, American English Tree. I’ve had Eddie Rodriguez, founder of American English Tree on the show many times over the years. American English Tree is school really. It’s where English speakers can learn Spanish in paradise, and at the same time, sponsor a Mexican student through English classes.
Our next guest is Kayla Muir, and Kayla, as I mentioned in the opening comments of the show is a model student, and as a result, a pretty good, well, great teacher. And she is very enthusiastic about what they do at American English Tree. So she’s a perfect fit for us because we are enthusiastic about Vallarta and Mexico and getting closer to the people in general, aren’t we?
Now Kayla will be talking a little about the event that’s happening right now as I speak to you. The event has been totally sold out, but remember to support the sponsors of the event by going to their restaurants and businesses while you are in town, and you can find that information in the show notes. By the way, if you are looking for show notes right now, March 3rd, you should
look at them tomorrow when they will be more complete. But remember, if you didn’t get tickets to this Changing Lives event this year, make plans for next March and have a ball. But right now, let’s go to one of my favorite places in town to record an
interview. To the roof overlooking a busy corner, Lazaro Cardenas and Insurgentes, To Restaurant San Lucas for a margarita, one of my top three margarita watering holes in this town, and a talk with Kayla Muir, with American English Tree, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Thank you very much Kayla. What energy, right? I have links and phone numbers emails and what’s app info for American English Tree, in the show notes.
Contact Information For The American English Tree PV
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559552842566
- Website: Website for American English Tree
- Phone: 322 236 5924
- Email: americanenglishtree@gmail.com
Kevin and Inge McGuinness in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Next, we have a really lovely couple from Canada who have made Vallarta their home and love to share the things they love about Vallarta, with friends they meet through their various Facebook Groups they have created. Their names are Inge and Kevin McGuinness. As I said, both from Canada, but Kevin, as you will notice from his accent, is originally from Liverpool England.
Their Facebook groups include Craft Beer Lovers, a Puerto Vallarta Happy Hour Page and collaborate with the famous Happy Hour Board I always talk about. Kevin does guided walks up to the cross up the hill above downtown PV. They do a walk and
wobble pub crawl almost every week. Kevin has a Taco and cheap eats map, actually, three of them and even a craft beer maps. And they do all this stuff for the love of Vallarta. No fees, no tips, no money changing hands, they just do it. And they are amazing, and you need to meet them.
- Puerto Vallarta Craft Beer Lovers Facebook Group
- PV Happy Hour Board Facebook
- PV Happy Hour Board Website
Taco Stands and Inexpensive Eats Map
Craft Beer Map Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta Happy Hour Map
We all met at another one of my favorite restaurants to do interviews in, Morro Paraiso with a couple of listeners I told you about last week, Russ and Susie from New York. I also interviewed Russ and Susie, actually on the same afternoon, but that will be a treat for another episode.
So, lets go to one of my top five margarita places in all of Puerto Vallarta. Way up the Cuale River to Restaurant Morro Paraiso, in Paso Del Guayabo, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Okay, thank you so much Kevin and Inge. You are both so very special human beings. Sharing your love for the town we all love so much. Thank you for what you both do.
I have links in the show notes that will take you the Taco and craft beer maps, the walk and wobble, the happy hour board, all that, in the show notes at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com.
Okay, that should do it for this week, 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 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 follow share with a lover of Puerto Vallarta or give me a good review wherever or however you happen to be listening. 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 blogposts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.
Thanks to Kayla Muir from American English Tree. I have all their information for you in the show notes. Take Spanish and help a Mexican learn English. It’s a good thing.
And thanks so much to Inge and Kevin McGuinness These people really like to help you learn the ropes, the bars, the taco stands, the craft beer, the cheap eats. I have links to their Facebook pages and all the cool google maps in the show notes at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com.
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.
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