BOCA ADVENTURES

Spend a day at the beach. One of our favorite beach activities is “bobbing” in the waves. Another favorite is relaxing at one of the beach restaurants. We love Ramon’s (Huachinango restaurant). The shrimp quesadillas at Ramon’s are yummy!! He also makes a great Marguerita.

Explore Boca. People are very friendly, so practice your Spanish, they will appreciate your attempts. There is a little dress and shoe shop, a hardware store and a liquor store that sells phone cards, bottle goods and snacks. One block up the street, a man makes lampshades out of twigs and sells them in his garage -- we have several at Casa Ana. There are several little grocery stores, each with its own flavor. If you go to the hanging bridge, which is just a little up-river from the cement bridge, there is a mini grocery in someone’s house at the base of the bridge. Please support the locals whenever you can.

Go Fish. One of the local fisherman, Niko, has taken us on successful 2-4 hour fishing adventures on the bay near Boca. For $35/hour (3-4 people max, but better with 2). Niko provides poles and lures. The price includes filleting your catch to take back and grill at Casa Ana. We catch dorado, tuna, sierra (mackeral) and albacore, and have had many wonderful meals following a trip with Niko. If you catch more than you can eat, share the catch with Niko. You can contact Niko through Ana and Anjel or Ramon at the Huachinango Restaurant on the beach.

EcoTours. Friends who have stayed with us have given rave reviews of EcoTours — birding, nature hikes or ocean tours. For EcoTours contact Griffin Page at naturaltreasuresvallarta.com

Olé! On Wednesday afternoons at 5, you can take in a bullfight at Plaza del Toros for $30. You can catch the Wal-Mart/Hoteles bus. The ring is just past the Marina.

Take a hike around the point to Las Animas, a beach you can only get to by hiking from Boca, or taking a panga (water taxi). The scenery is wonderful, and you will pass several little beaches along the way. The walk takes about an hour, and if you are too tired to walk back, you can hitch a ride with a panga. If you go to Las Animas, spend the day. You can get food and drink on the beach.

Walk up-river to see undisturbed Mexico jungle. The river has many places where you can sit in the pools in the rocks, watch birds, and notice the wonderful plants. Just leaving the village, the path will take you through the “ranch” of the gentleman who walks his horses across the cement bridge, or across the river each day.

Snorkel or dive. We have an excellent dive shop, Boca Divers, (bocadivers.com),which is halfway down the hill from the bus stop. They offer many different opportunities including becoming a certified diver.

Take the bus into Puerto Vallarta. Great shopping, great food . . . . Check out the Flea Market and the Malecon, or ( sea walk). Buy some good art from one of the many galleries. Just hang out at an ocean front restaurant. You will probably want to visit Puerto Vallarta several times.

Hang out on the patio at Casa Ana, visit with your group, catch up on reading or take a siesta. In the morning and afternoon watch as big hummingbirds come to feed amongst the banana flowers.