Out of the Heat and into the Water

Last weekend saw as many as 150 kite-surfers and windsurfers descend on Banderas Bay for the Riviera Nayarit Wind Festival 2011. With competitors from all over Mexico, United States and Canada, the beaches from La Cruz de Huanacaxtle to Bucerias were teeming with man-sized kites and wind-surf sails of all shapes, colors and sizes; the horizon was peppered with somersaulting sails lashing the breaking white water. As the sweltering heat this last week reminds us of the temperatures yet to come, what better way to cool down this summer than take to the water.


Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit offer a host of different water sports for all levels of ability to keep us in the ocean during the hot and humid summer months: amazing scuba diving and snorkeling, wakeboarding, kayaking and so forth. Below is a list of some of the more adventurous aquatic activities in and around Banderas Bay:

Surfing
By far one of the most popular water sports in the area, surfing (and boogie boarding) has long been an attraction for many visitors. The warm waters of the bay relieve surfers of the need for wetsuits and its soft sandy beaches make learning to surf even more pleasurable for children and adults alike. There are some fantastic breaks both to the north and south of Puerto Vallarta, with the most popular surf beaches found around Punta de Mita, Bucerias and Sayulita. Beginners will find plenty of surf schools providing top quality instruction and board hire, while the local surf communities are surprisingly friendly and accommodating to more experienced surfers.


Paddle Boarding
Paddle boarding or stand up paddle surfing came originally from Hawaii, where it was a method used by surfing instructors as a means of managing larger groups of students: they gained a better view and could see oncoming swells. Today, it is a pleasant, and relatively easy, pastime that involves balancing on an extra-large surfboard, either standing or on your knees, while using a paddle to navigate the sea beyond the breaking waves. For more adventurous and skilled paddlers, there is also plenty of scope for tricks and maneuvers as surfers catch the waves as they would with any long board. There are various places in the bay that rent paddleboards, including Sayulita, Bucerias and Punta de Mita.


Kite Surfing
January to June is the kite surfing season in Banderas Bay, when the onshore breeze provides just the right winds to make the area perfect for this evermore popular water sport, especially in Bucerias. The equipment can be expensive, so renting is a great option at first, and instruction is essential owing to the complexity of the activity. It combines various sport skills, such as surfing, wakeboarding and kite flying, giving you the freedom of near weightlessness and adrenaline. The equipment includes a board, similar to a wakeboard or snowboard, which is lightly attached to the feet and used to surf the waves, while you hold onto a traction kite, which helps you lift yourself over the water, flying or somersaulting through the air.


Sea Kayaking
There are many places in Puerto Vallarta that offer kayak rentals and tours of the bay. The water beyond the waves provides an idyllic setting for leisurely and safe kayaking. Los Arco beauty spot is a popular location as well as tours to Colomitos, just south of Boca de Tomatlán, where there is a picturesque sandy cove. Kayaking also provides the perfect opportunity to combine a snorkeling adventure, exploring the wonderful world beneath the surface of the ocean.

Sea-Doo / Jet Skis
For those who are looking for speed and adrenaline, renting a jet ski might well be the answer. Like an aquatic motorbike, you control the speed and direction of your excursion, blending freedom, velocity and exhilaration in an idyllic setting. Many rental companies offer combined tours that include Jet Ski rental and secluded beach breaks.


Wake boarding
Wake boarding combines the principles of water skiing, snowboarding and surfing. The rider is towed by a motorboat traveling between 18 and 25 miles per hour and navigates the water’s surface on a board similar to a snowboard. While beginners will be happy to simply hold on and avoid falling into the water, more experienced wake boarders find pleasure in the tricks and jumps that make the sport truly invigorating and addictive.

With such an array of thrilling water sports on offer in Banderas Bay, there is no reason to be hot and sticky this summer? Slap on the sunscreen and dive into the sea of possibilities – don’t get hot, get wet!