The Mexican Riviera is home to some of the most beautiful locations in all of Mexico. A popular stop on this cruise itinerary is Puerto Vallarta. Recently, we had the pleasure of cruising this region on the brand new Carnival Panorama. If you have an upcoming cruise with a late day stop in Puerto Vallarta, we highly suggest you book the Rhythms of the Night Shore Excursion. See why this is one of the most popular tours in our 6 Reasons to Book the Rhythms of the Night Shore Excursion.
6 Reasons to Book the Rhythms of the Night Shore Excursion
Entertaining and Lively Boat Ride
The experience begins with an approximately 45-minute boat ride from the cruise port across Banderas Bay to the show’s location, Las Caletas. From the start, this experience is well organized with friendly and attentive staff.
Once the boat sets sail, get ready for a fun and energetic party. If you opt to upgrade your experience with the all-inclusive drinks, you will have a selection of pre-mixed cocktails, beer, or a few basic liquors to enjoy during the trip. Even if you pass on the booze, the boat ride is filled with music, some fun facts, and plenty of photo worthy views.
On the return trip home, the party doesn’t stop. Along with keeping the bar flowing, the crew puts on a high-energy, humorous “musical” review. Yes, this show contains some bad lip syncing and mismatched outfits, but it provides loads of laughs. These antics are the perfect end to a fun-filled evening.
Beautiful Grounds
Once you arrive at Las Caletas, you have some time to tour the grounds. With a well-manicured beach and hammocks, you could relax and enjoy the waterfront views prior to dinner. Or, in between the meal and show, you can take a peek around this natural setting.
If this looks like your ideal resort, you will want to plan a return trip. This secluded beachfront property is home to an all-inclusive beach break during the day.
Only accessible via boat, the mountain backdrops and tranquil jungle-like atmosphere of this private oasis set the scene for an unforgettable evening. This remote location is the perfect spot for a night time shore excursion. Even better, our ship had the entire property to ourselves during the excursion.
Exquisite Food
Rhythms of the Night is dinner show. Unlike some similar combo tours, the food itself is well worth the visit. It is a dinner buffet, but it contains a wide variety of freshly made entrees. There were several meat, chicken, and seafood offerings, in addition to salad and light desserts. I particularly liked the shrimp and calamari saute that had just the right amount of spice. It was fresh, hot, and mixed well with some rice.
There are several dining areas located on the grounds offering bay front views while you dine. The all-inclusive drink pass also works at the resort, so you can enjoy a limited selection of beer, wine, and mixed drinks along with the meal. While the food was delicious, you do not have too much time to savor the flavor. So, we suggest grabbing a bite to eat as soon as you arrive, then exploring the grounds before the show.
Captivating Show
All we have to say is , WOW! This show certainly exceeded our expectations. A wonderfully vibrant mixture of music, humor, costumes, and impressive acrobatics, Rhythms of the Night Savia was certainly a feast for the eyes. The production quality, performers, and outdoor amphitheater setting were first rate and certainly rivaled any modern Cirque-style show.
Savia unfolds several different scenes featuring an array of performers. These include strength acts, fire twirlers and dancers, acrobatics, and more. It was a non-stop, action packed hour, filled with emotion and mysticism.
Based on the Aztec’s creation legend, the show journeys to the ancient civilizations that have preceded the modern human race. As each of these cultures emerge, the persistence of the human spirit is on full display. The show leaves viewers optimistic about the future of mankind.
Savia was created, written, and directed by the co-creator of Cirque du Soleil, Gilles Ste-Croix. We were not aware of this at the time, but following the hour long show, we could certainly see similarities in the style of storytelling.
Perfect for Families or Couples
The show is advertised for children ages 6 and above. There were plenty of families on our shore excursion, and they all seemed to be having a good time. The material is family friendly and still appeals to adults in the audience.
For couples, the intimate location provides a romantic backdrop for a magical night out, starting with the sunset cruise over to Las Caletas. Upon arrival, you will notice that the pathways are lit with candles and tiki torches. Further, we were sat at a table for two and serenaded with music during our gourmet dinner. This dinner and a show performance is certainly a date night to remember.
Ease and Convenience
On the Rhythms of the Night shore excursion, everything is arranged through the cruse line. We were able to book our ticket pre-cruise and didn’t have to worry about anything else after that. Our tour met onboard the ship, and we were escorted to our boat a short walk away for the ferry ride over to the beach.
There is no need to worry about missing the ferry to Las Caletas or missing the ship on the way back. The entire group is guided by the Vallarta Adventures crew throughout the evening. While at the beach club, there were plenty of support staff assisting with directions to the show arena, bathrooms, bar, etc.
On the return ride back to our ship, we docked right alongside the vessel and were among the last cruisers to return. We were never concerned that Carnival Panorama was going to leave without us as everything was booked directly with the cruise line.
Comments
Have you visited Puerto Vallarta on a cruise? Have you seen the Rhythms of the Night show? Drop us an anchor below to share your thoughts on this popular Mexican Riviera shore excursion.
