Vallarta Adventures - Consider Your Tour Company

There has been a lot of local discussion concerning the giant adventure tour company "Vallarta Adventures".  The company recently began offering on-off road adventures to many locations in our area and have been met with significant opposition from the communities of Sayulita and Higuera Blanca.  Wearing the signature bandanas across their faces the vehicle's occupants rumble caravan style down the quiet back roads, and into the small towns like Sayulita in the video below.  These vehicles, sometimes stacked up 10-12 front to back, ROAR into town kicking up dust(thus the bandanas), idling noisily as traffic crawls slowly forward and making any type of communication virtually impossible for anyone close by, shopping or trying to have a meal just a few feet away at any of the local cafes.  Twice a day these tours are scheduled and even when they go by our house, which sits a fair distance off the road, we know exactly who it is and can even count how many vehicles are in the tour by the noise only.  Where Sayulita loves tourists, the town does not necessarily love the fact that a Vallarta based tour company is cramming it's tours into town's already overcrowded streets and tranquil jungle back roads.  So, if you are on one of these tours and don't exactly get the warmest welcome in Sayulita or Higura Blanca now you know why.

Recently, Vallarta Adventures also constructed this dolphin pen off the beaches of Punta de Mita.  Again, far from "Vallarta".  This sight sent people into a frenzy knowing that trapped wildlife were to be put on display in an ocean cage for those who would pay for the experience.  The local residents and local fishing industry demanded that this thing be removed immediately and created such a fire storm that the cage was dismantled and moved.  Where it went and if it will be reconstructed elsewhere is unknown right now.



Discussions have begun with Vallarta Adventures in hopes that they will hear all issues when it comes their tours and attractions.  We just hope that they listen and hear what people are saying but many times it all comes down to who the biggest player is with the most money and everyone else can just deal with it.  If it comes to this then Vallarta Adventures should be prepared for communities that will not be so welcoming to their clients who are really just out for a great experience and have a good time.