If you enjoy wine, good food, and events that actually feel elevated — this one’s worth putting on your calendar. 📅 March 5–7, 2026📍 Various locations in Puerto Vallarta (main event at Puerto Mágico) Vinoma Fest returns to Vallarta for its fourth edition, bringing three days of wine, gastronomy, and oceanfront experiences. Here’s what to expect: 🌿 Thursday, March 5 – Gala de Sabores (Casa Velas, Marina Vallarta) An intimate garden evening featuring 5 acclaimed chefs from Mexico and Latin America.It’s a roaming 10-course experience with wine pairings — not a sit-down dinner. Think: • Chef stations under the stars • Sommeliers pairing wines with each course • Upscale but relaxed atmosphere This is the more refined, smaller-crowd experience of the weekend. ⛳ Friday, March 6 – Golf + Professional Tasting Experience Morning: Vinoma Golf Cup at Vista Vallarta Golf Club Afternoon: A special tasting event at Café des Artistes in collaboration with Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, where attendees taste wines like professional judges. If you’ve ever wanted to understand wine at a deeper level, this is the educational day. 🌊 Saturday, March 7 – Grand Wine & Food Festival at Puerto Mágico This is the big one. • 300+ wines • 40+ wineries • Multiple food pairing stations • Live music • Open-air seaside setting • Sunset over Banderas Bay It runs from mid-afternoon into the evening and is designed as a walk-around tasting experience. No rigid schedule. Just explore at your own pace. 💰 Tickets & Pricing General Access: approx. MX$1,450 Premium Access: approx. MX$2,500 (includes upgraded glass, engraving, tote, and access to a special tasting session) Tickets are limited — this isn’t meant to be a massive overcrowded event. 📍 Location Notes for Expats The main event is at Puerto Mágico (Maritime Terminal) in Marina Vallarta — about 10–15 minutes by taxi from Centro or Zona Romántica. Early March weather here is ideal: warm, dry, and perfect for sunset events.

There’s some difficult news out of the bay this week. A humpback whale calf was struck by a boat in Bahía de Banderas and suffered eight propeller cuts. The injuries were documented by the conservation group Ecobac. The calf is still alive, but researchers say it is unlikely to survive long term. This is now the third serious whale collision of the 2025–2026 season (official season runs Dec 8, 2025 – Mar 23, 2026). Earlier this season: • A passenger died after a boat collided with a whale near Puerto Vallarta • Another whale (reported as a female) was badly injured in a separate incident Researchers had recently observed more than 15 calves resting at the surface in the bay — something that’s very common during winter months when humpbacks arrive here to mate, give birth, and nurse their young. Why this keeps happening: Bahía de Banderas is shared water. Whale-watching tours, water taxis, fishing boats, private vessels, and daily crossings all operate in the same corridor. Mothers and calves often rest near the surface, which makes them vulnerable. Even a small lapse in attention — or too much speed — can end badly. There are already federal whale-watching regulations in place, including: • Speed limits under 5 knots in observation areas• Strict approach distances • No cutting between mother and calf • A 240-meter waiting distance for vessels • Restricted zones near Islas Marietas and from Punta Mita to the Río Ameca The issue isn’t the lack of rules — it’s consistent enforcement across all boats, not just licensed tour operators. For those of us living here, this isn’t abstract. Many of us cross the bay regularly or host visiting family during whale season. If you’re booking a tour: • Choose permitted operators • Ask about their speed policies • Pay attention to how responsibly they navigate Whale season is one of the most special parts of living in PV. Hopefully we can see stronger awareness and safer boating practices for the rest of the season. Thoughts? Have you noticed more boat traffic this year?

Puerto Vallarta is turning Los Muertos Pier into an open-air dance floor this Saturday night for Valentine’s Day. Here’s what’s happening: 📍 Where: Muelle de Los Muertos 📅 When: Saturday, February 14, 2026 ⏰ Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 💲 Cost: Free The city is hosting a public electronic music set right on the waterfront featuring DJ Malan (local talent) and DJ Malaventurado (visiting from Monterrey). It’s being promoted as a community celebration for Día del Amor y la Amistad — no cover charge, no restaurant reservation required. For those of us who know the pier mostly for sunsets and water taxis, this will have a different feel. After dark, the lights come on, the bay reflects the glow, and Zona Romántica shifts into weekend energy mode. With a short two-hour set, this sounds more like a focused, early evening vibe rather than an all-night party — which many expats may actually prefer. What to expect: - Couples and friend groups out for Valentine’s - A mix of locals, expats, and visitors - Ocean breeze + electronic music + evening pier lighting - A likely crowd, especially closer to 8 p.m. If you’re planning to go, arriving a bit early could help you grab a better spot on the pier. As always with public events, keep your phone and wallet secure and stay aware of your surroundings when moving through the area. Nice to see more free public events happening in shared spaces like this. Would you go to a waterfront DJ set like this, or is Valentine’s more of a quiet dinner night for you? Source: Vallarta Daily (vallartadaily.com)

An unusual federal operation took place last Friday in El Caloso, where authorities removed a young tigress from a residential condominium complex and detained a foreign national. What happened • Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 • Location: Rivera Cuale condominiums, El Caloso • A one-year-old tigress (Panthera tigris) was seized • A foreign man was detained during the operation • The case is tied to suspected illegal possession of wildlife The search was carried out under a court-authorized warrant led by the Fiscalía General de la República, with support from the Navy, Army personnel, and municipal police. Environmental authorities were also involved, as this case falls under federal wildlife regulations. Officials have not confirmed the identity or nationality of the detained individual, and no formal charges have been publicly announced yet. The case is now under review by the federal Public Ministry. About the tigress Authorities describe the animal as approximately one year old. At that age, a tiger is already large and strong, making urban confinement particularly risky. The tigress is now in official custody and is expected to undergo: • Veterinary evaluation • Identification and microchip checks • Review of any legal documentation She will remain in an authorized facility while the legal process unfolds. Why this matters for residents and expats This isn’t just a headline — it raises real safety concerns. El Caloso is a dense, walkable neighborhood near downtown where families, tourists, and expats live close together. A large predator in a residential unit poses obvious risks not only to neighbors but to first responders and the animal itself. Mexico strictly regulates private ownership of wildlife, especially large felines. Legal possession requires permits, proof of lawful origin, and approved enclosure standards. Without proper documentation, cases quickly fall under federal jurisdiction. This is not the first time Vallarta has dealt with exotic animal enforcement. In 2025, a lion cub was seized after being walked on the malecón.

Puerto Vallarta health authorities have confirmed the city’s first two measles cases and have responded by launching a large-scale vaccination campaign to prevent further spread. What we know so far • Two adult men (one in his 20s, one in his 30s) tested positive • Cases were identified in Pitillal and Ixtapa • Both patients are local residents on the north side of the city • A sanitary cordon has been established around each home, with monitoring and vaccinations covering a 25-block radius Prior to these confirmations, around 50 suspected cases were investigated and all tested negative. Vaccination campaign details Health authorities are aiming to administer at least 6,000 measles vaccines per day over the next three weeks. Vaccines are being offered: • Door-to-door in affected neighborhoods • At schools and public hospitals • At the airport and shopping centers • At large temporary sites, including La Lija sports complex and a Costco parking lot Officials stress that vaccination is the primary and most effective protection against measles. What about masks? At this time: • No mask mandate in Puerto Vallarta • Mask use remains optional and a personal choice • A few private schools have chosen to require masks independently • State mandates currently apply only to higher-case areas near Guadalajara Local authorities are focusing on vaccination, not restrictions. What expats should consider • Review your measles (MMR) vaccination status • Adults unsure of immunity are encouraged to get a booster • Vaccines are free at public clinics and temporary sites during this campaign • Measles spreads very easily, but vaccination provides strong protection Health officials say the goal is to quickly contain the situation and keep Puerto Vallarta safe for residents and visitors alike. 💬 Question for the group: Do you know your measles vaccination status, or would you consider getting a booster while vaccines are widely available? Source: Vallarta Daily (vallartadaily.com)