El Presidente InterContinental Puerto Vallarta Review
El Presidente, InterContinental Hotel, Puerto Vallarta. IHG Puerto Vallarta Review and Photos. On February 14, 2009 we arrived at the El Presidente InterContinental Hotel in Puerto Vallarta and fulfilled a dream - it was definitely a wonderful experience!
Salt Lake Airport - We started in Salt Lake City on February 14, 2009. We were delayed by nearly 3 hours due to a fierce snowstorm. This was a great time to leave SLC and head to Mexico!
The hotel Concierge and Revenue Manager, Alberto Del Paso deserves all the credit for our 1 week stay here from February 14-21, 2009 when we celebrated our 29th anniversary here and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. In October 2007, on a short cruise stop in Puerto Vallarta, Alberto Del Paso had given us a full tour of this beautiful hotel. After experiencing Alberto's hospitality in 2007 and his first-hand preview of the hotel, we decided that this hotel was a "must see" on our to-do list.
The El Presidente hotel is on a secluded beach just a short 30-minute cab-ride (250 pesos) south of the Puerto Vallarta airport.
Each floor has a theme. We were on the sixth floor which is the manzana (apple) level.
We had a wonder deluxe view room #611. This view is AT LEAST deluxe!
The beach here is wonderful. And you don't have to struggle with the crowds. This is truly a get-away vacation. Just kick back, listen to the surf and let your cares float away.
The scene on the beach. You can swim, take in the sun, get a drink on the beach or shop for a local treasure.
The El Presidente is a romantic hotel for anyone. They will even write your special message on the beach for all to see. "Eres Mi Orgullo" means "You are my pride" in spanish.
This is the view from our room on the 6th floor. We had room 611. Wow! And every single room in this hotel has a balcony. How can you beat that?
This is our buddy Carlos. Carlos will hook you up with anything you need on the beach. He can also arrange a fishing or snorkeling excursion for a great price. Carlos arranged a fishing excursion for Dan and some friends he met from Chicago. More on that later. You can't help but smile when you chat with our buddy Carlos. What a great amigo!!
What a view! Every room in this hotel has a balcony view like this.
This is us in our room right after arriving. Clue: The long pants/sweats were quickly traded for shorts/capris!
Great place for an anniversary celebration!
What do you think? If you live in a cold-weather state, who wouldn't love this option?
The grounds at the El Presidente are immaculate. You will really want to spend some time walking around the hotel grounds.
The hotel staff takes pride in arranging your room to meet your specific needs. I explained that valentine's day was our anniversary. Note the decoration. Also note the GIANT size of the bed. We have a king-size bed at home. This was much bigger than our king size bed.
Dan made a special request and presto! Flowers in the room for our anniversary celebration.
When you go to Mexico, you MUST put your foot in the sand. This will remind you that winter is WAY to the north.
You will love the food here. We ate many times at the Frutas y Flores restaurant. Our favorite waiter was Rafael. What a joy he was. This was a great plate to try - the mixed plate of a shrimp taco, a fish taco, a pibil (pork) tostada, a ceviche tostada and of course, guacamole. Dan raved about the shrimp taco - and the shrimp fajitas. They were flame broiled and delicious.
Here is the front desk of the IC Presidente.
What wonderful rooms. And all have balconies!
We went to the Botanical Gardens. This beautiful shot with the beautiful lady is at the Botanical Gardens south of Puerto Vallarta.
You can have breakfast or lunch at the Botanical Gardens. It is a relaxing, peaceful day.
If you love flora and fauna, you will love the Botanical Gardens. You can enter for a small contribution of 50 pesos per person - less than $5 per person. Well worth the contribution.
Relax at the Botanical Gardens!
These are Agave plants at the Botanical Gardens.
Here you can see a Coffee Plant in front of a Giant Ficus tree.
You can walk down to the Jungle River that runs through the lower part of the gardens.
Back at the El President Gardens - not to be disrespected!
What a great beach!
This is Dan's new buddy, Dick from Chicago. He is crazy about the Bears, the Cubs and the Bulls and is a really nice guy. Dan went fishing with Dick and Gene from Chicago. Dick was the only one of the 3 of us to catch a fish - he caught a barracuda and a yellowtail. Way to go Dick!
This is Chicago Gene hauling in a big fish. Unfortunately on this particular fishing trip on the Tuna III, Gene and Dan lost their fish. I think Gene lost his fish because he scared it off the line!!
Our Captain on the Tuna III was Pancho and the Deckhand was Mario.
Gene - you da man! I know you hate the idea, but let's go fishing again in Mexico. We'll do better next time! Dick doesn't think you'll go, but I think you will....
After fishing, Janean and I had lunch at Si Senor in Puerto Vallarta. We highly recommend this restaurant. If you ask the concierge at the IC Presidente - he will get you a free fresh-made guacamole appetizer for you.
This is a perfect vacation - we will be back!
If you stay here, buy something from Victor. He sells handcrafted wooden art crafts. We have wooden bears and turtles from him - the quality is spectacular.
His prices are wonderful. Tell him "hola!" from Danielito from Utah!
Hey look! Just to the right of the "point" in the center of the hotel... it's Janean in our room number 611 - can you see her?
See!! I told you it was Janean. This is room 611. You will love this room if you stay here!!
We spent a morning running the zip lines at El Eden south of Puerto Vallarta. This is an exceptionally fun excursion with zip lines and a tequila tour.
Have you ever husked cacao beans? These are the beans that lead to CHOCOLATE.... Janean was really excited to contribute the the production of chocolate at the Las Palapas ranch!!!
Janean learned to make Guacamole at Si Senor in Puerto Vallarta. Make sure you eat here - it is delicious!!!
You'll say "ole!" at the Mexican Fiesta night!
I love this photo. Pacifico nudged out Modelo Especial on this trip!
We did a zip line excursion at El Eden in the jungle south of Puerto Vallarta. There were 12 different zip line sections. We hiked to each and flew through the jungle canopy at speeds up to 35 MPH.
The El Eden zip line adventure is located in the jungle where the movie, the Predator was filmed.
Watch out for the Predator in the jungles - he shows up when least expected!
The El Eden Zip Line experience is done in the jungle where the movie Predator was filmed. It's a fun place!
Look close and you'll see one of the zip lines we rode through the jungle. We hope to post more photos of the zip line soon.
We also went to the Rythm of the Night Celebration. If you like dance, you will like this. If you like Aztec history, you will like this. If you like both - you will LOVE this!
For Rythm of the Night you take a 1 hour catamaran ride for the pier in Puerto Vallarta to the dock at Las Caletas. This is the beach where Night of the Iguana was filmed. The beach setting for dinner is romantic, the buffet dinner & drinks are tasty and the show is wonderful!
MEMORIES FROM OUR OCTOBER 2007 VISIT TO THE EL PRESIDENTE INTERCONTINENTAL:
During our 2007 visit the surf was gentle. We went for a swim on the secluded beach and had massages near the surf. Ah, what a wonderful visit we had at the InterContinental Hotel at Puerto Vallarta! That's Janean in the water and Puerto Vallarta way to the north on the horizon.
The El Presidente hotel showed us a few of their rooms in case we decide to stay in Puerto Vallarta on a future trip. This is one of their suites with an in-room jacuzzi and a great view.
This is a "standard" room. All rooms at the Puerto Vallarta InterContinental Hotel have a balcony facing the ocean. The views are spectacular!
This is the turtle hatchery at the Puerto Vallarta InterContinental Hotel. The eggs are protected so the baby turtles will be safe when they hatch. The turtles hatch between July to December each year.
2 baby turtles hatched while we were there in 2007. The hotel notifies guests and everyone watches the release of the baby turtles after dark when they are safest from predators.