The Daily Dig

Highland Wildflowers and Native Orchids of Pacific Mexico
A guided tour by Nancy Swearengen
Any wildflower or orchid lover won't want miss either of these two fantastic botanical journeys in and around Puerto Vallarta Mexico. In addition to visiting exclusive and gorgeous houses and gardens of this beautiful sea side town, Nancy has also arranged time in the new and beautiful Puerto Vallarta Botanical Garden. The tour will also explore the coastal region and its unusual plant communities and discover the inland highlands rare and endemic plants.  Add to this scintillating company, delicious food, downtime for R & R or personal explorations, and you have a week of botanical fun not to be missed! Tours are scheduled for July 17-24, 2010 and October 9-16, 2010. The itinerary is as follows.

Saturday
Depart your home city. You will be met at Puerto Vallarta Airport for transfer to our luxurious villa, where you can settle in, unpack and check out our beautiful surroundings. We’ll all gather for cocktails and a festive welcome dinner.

Sunday
A sumptuous buffet breakfast will be available every morning at our villa.  Spend a luxurious and languid morning. We’ll depart late morning for an in-depth visit to the amazing Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens.

We’ll have an orientation tour,  guided by Robert Price, founder and Executive Director of the Gardens, who will share with us the fabulous story of how  the Gardens came to be established.  As we wander along the jungle trails, we’ll see vanilla and cacao growing among giant forest trees. You’ll have an opportunity for a dip in the pristine jungle river! We’ll enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch at the Gardens’ restaurant, Hacienda de Oro, which will include a raicilla tasting. (Raicilla is a regional spirit made from agave.)
Dinner this evening is on your own.

Monday
After breakfast, we’ll go town, and enjoy a historical and cultural tour of Puerto Vallarta and the Dr. Felix Palm collection. Lunch on your own will be an opportunity to explore Puerto Vallarta’s diverse culinary offerings. Later we’ll explore some of Vallarta’s most spectacular private homes and gardens.
Dinner this evening is on your own. 



Tuesday
After breakfast  we’ll depart the villa and drive south to El Tuito on the Palms to Pines Scenic Highway.  We’ll pass through several unique ecosystems and stop to observe local orchids and wildflowers in the extraordinary pine-oak woodlands.  Lunch is at  Hacienda Divisadero in El Tuito. We’ll visit a local farm in Chacala for a glimpse of rural Mexican life, as well as native wild flowers and cycads in an oak forest overlooking the Pacific.
After a full day in the countryside, we’ll return to the villa, where dinner is on your own.

Wednesday (Free Day)
Enjoy our usual buffet breakfast, and then choose between Vallarta Botanical Gardens ATV Tour or time on the beach, or day in town where you’ll be able to explore the many elegant shops and galleries, and haggle for bargains in extraordinary Central Market, or perhaps some of each!

Thursday
After breakfast, we’ll embark on a two-hour scenic journey east into mountain terrain of the Sierra Madre Occidental to the village of San Sebastian del Oeste. We’ll be greeted at the restored Hacienda Esperanza by owner Debra Old, who is Canadian. We’ll enjoy a fascinating  afternoon observing myriad botanical wonders including native fir trees and orchids on La Bufa, a mist-hidden highland sanctuary.
Dinner on your own at suggested small restaurants in San Sebastian, and we’ll stay overnight at the charming Hacienda Esperanza.

Friday
Our breakfast this morning will be served in the Hacienda Esperanza dining or on the terrace. Then we’ll enjoy a walking tour and exploration of San Sebastian’s historic past. We’ll visit several local gardens and points of interest, including a family-run coffee plantation. On our way back to Puerto Vallarta, we’ll visit Hacienda Jalisco Museum. 
Tonight we’ll enjoy a cocktails and a festive Farewell Dinner at our villa.

Saturday
We’ll enjoy our last breakfast buffet, and have an opportunity to chat once again with Robert Price from PVBG, exchange addresses, and say goodbye, before  checking out of the villa and departing for the airport.

About Nancy Swearengen
Nancy is, among other things, an enthusiastic botanist, who has specialized in nature education and interpretation for more than two decades. Among her favorite activities as a staff member at the University of California Botanical Garden in Berkeley, California, were arranging and escorting garden tours and training tour guides! She has traveled widely, particularly in Mediterranean Europe, Mexico, and Latin America, and recently retired as Branch Head of the Northern California Branch of the Mediterranean Garden Society. Nancy is also a member of several other plant groups, and loves “plant people” as much as she loves plants!

For reservations contact:
LANDMARK TRAVEL, LTD.
335 Village Square, Orinda, CA  94563-2505
Ph: (925) 253-2600  .     Fax: (925) 254-8130
Susie@landmarktravel.com   .   www.landmarktravel.com