Dia de los Muertos and Beyond in Puerto Vallarta
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit's Mexology Fest celebrates spirits of all kinds

Mexico’s west coast seaside city of Puerto Vallarta is a gorgeous city filled with beautiful beaches that overlook the Sierra Madre mountains and a charming downtown that boasts Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton as two of its past residents.
Like most of Mexico, Puerta Vallarta offers a plethora of resorts to choose from, but if you like five-star dining and amenities with your beach time, then the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is a great choice in nearby Nuevo Vallarta. The hotel, which received a four-star rating from Forbes, offers swanky rooms, ocean views, and fine dining — all without losing its sense of place.
If you’re planning a trip, there’s no better time than during Dia de los Muertos— when the bridge between the living and the dead opens and loved ones from beyond visit for a brief time each year.
The holiday, traditionally celebrated November 1 and 2, sees families throughout Mexico creating ofrendas — elaborately decorated altars filled with pictures of their deceased family, along with offerings such as favorite foods and drinks. Many cities also host parades, festivals, and concerts. During the two nights of Dia de los Muertos, the local cemeteries are lit by the flames of thousands of candles and the sounds of sadness are replaced by music and laughter as families spend the evening with their departed, eating, drinking, and placing marigolds on their graves.
To commemorate this occasion, the Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is celebrating with spirits of a different kind at its second Mexology Fest, a fusion of Mexico’s rich Día de los Muertos traditions and innovative mixology. From October 31 to November 2, guests can participate in immersive workshops, tastings, and spirited evenings led by top mixologists and bars who will be tasked with creating cocktails utilizing Mexican spirits through the lens of the Catrina — the beautiful skeleton woman who has become a symbol of Dia de los Muertos.
The weekend will also include a bar takeover by one of the 50 Best Bars in North America, a sensorial tasting experience, an agave sound bath, and a trip to Tequila — all incorporated into the Dia de los Muertos theme.
The resort also offers a “Raicilla Roots” experience. For those not familiar, racilla is one of Mexico’s oldest spirits, predating tequila and mezcal. The spirit, which dates to the 1500s, uses different agave plants than its well-known cousin spirits, but in Jalisco, raicilla is made at small family-run distilleries called tabernas. The experience takes you deep into the countryside of Jalisco, to the agave fields of Aycya, a local craft raicilla taberna which makes raicilla both in the traditional way and with more modern equipment.
I took the tour last month and, after a 90-minute journey deep into the Sierra Madre mountains, you’re greeted with a welcome cocktail (and the most adorable puppy known to mankind). At this gorgeous backdrop, deep in the countryside, you learn the history of raicilla, guided by a master raicillero before sitting down to an intimate tasting of several different expressions. Once back at the resort, you’re treated to a mixology class where you learn to make cocktails using raicilla.
Back at the resort, make sure you dine at Frida, the AAA Four-Diamond restaurant that offers traditional Mexican fare. If available, opt for the mezcal pairing dinner. After dinner, be sure to wind down the evening at the resort’s lounge Azul.
The resort is a short drive to downtown Puerto Vallarta and its famed Malecon, a lovely seaside walk filled with shops, restaurants, and art. Stroll down the Malecon to the Romantic Zone, known for its cobblestone streets, and be sure to visit the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a magnificent chapel topped with a crown.
If you’ve built up a thirst, take a break at Los Muertos Brewing to continue your Dia de los Muertos-themed weekend.
If your tastes run more to boating and golfing (or you prefer a lush, yet tranquil experience), Casa Velas is a boutique resort located directly on the Marina Vallarta Golf Course, and a five-minute drive to the airport. The resort is only a ten-minute walk to both the Puerto Vallarta Marina, where you can enjoy cocktails atop a lighthouse, and Táu Beach Club, where guests of the resort have unlimited access to both beach and dining. I stayed at Casa Velas and, while the suites are charming, it was a little quiet. I heard through the grapevine that it’s a hit with honeymooners who likely prefer to canoodle in the four-poster beds and balcony soak pools. Can’t blame them.
For me, I’ll take a weekend filled with cocktails, culture, and friendly spirits.