Thanksgiving in Mexico
Waking up to the sounds of crashing waves and delicate wind chimes and drinking coffee while taking in the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre Mountains guaranteed a grateful start to this year’s Thanksgiving. Travel is something I will never take for granted but the gift of exploring the world is something I was hyperaware of this year in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
I’m a big fan of traveling over the holidays for a whole list of reasons and this year’s Thanksgiving trip to Mexico was yet another fantastic family, holiday adventure.
The morning of Thanksgiving my family embarked on an adventure to Yelapa, a small beach town on one of the world’s largest bays: Bahía de Banderas. It took us just over 30 minutes to get there by boat from Boca, a water-taxi hub. We were greeted by numerous locals trying to get us to do anything from eat at their restaurants, ride their parasails, or allow them to be our Yelapa guides. My family, unsurprisingly, decided to explore on our own.
Between the beach where we were dropped off and the entrance into town there is a river which, when the tide is high, is too deep to cross on foot. Upon arrival, the tide is definitely high so we spent an hour lounging on the beach sipping margaritas and eating nachos. A pretty tasty Thanksgiving lunch in my opinion.
After lunch we returned to the river and waded through the cold water to get to town. As we escaped the beach we also escaped most of the other tourists which felt like such a relief. We wandered through Yelapa down tiny stone streets gazing up at strings of colorful flags with only the occasional giant-insect sighting. The quiet town drew us in and gave us the peak into Mexican culture we were craving.
Our stroll through Yelapa was followed by a bit more beach time while we waited for a water taxi to bring us back to Boca. The few drinks we’d had combined with extensive time in the sun had the whole family ready for a proper siesta.
We returned back to our incredibly beautiful AirBnb in the Zona Romántica to rest and relax before sunset.
Around 6:00 pm the sun was setting and everyone was showered and rested. It was time for sundowners. I blended watermelon, blood orange, lime juice, and tequila to give everyone a fun drink before the meal prep began. I put on some music and we all sipped our drinks as we began preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Grace and I chopped veggies, Mom sautéed them and Dad grilled them along with the fish. My parents purchased all the food at a local farmers market in the morning so we knew it was fresh.
We sat at a round wooden table on the deck indulging in our locally sourced meal reflecting on the day, discussing favorite memories from past trips, and even making plans for future ones. Travel is so integrated into our lives and it’s hard to imagine who I would be without it. I’m thankful for this holiday in Mexico and for every opportunity I’ve had throughout my life to meet amazing people around the globe and witness the unbelievable beauty of planet Earth.
I’m excited to share more content from this trip and hopefully inspire you to make a visit of your own! Subscribe to The Livermore Lens on YouTube and check out our Thanksgiving in Mexico Vlog!
