On October 11 Hurricane Lidia slammed into the Pacific Coast of Mexico brining destruction to parts of Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Nayarit. Lidia made landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane 8 years after Hurricane Patricia came ashore as a Category 5 Hurricane.

I was fortunate to be in Puerto Vallarta in September, on a fishing trip with Puerto Vallarta Fishing Tours and spent some time walking the Malecon in Puerto Vallarta and La Cruz de Huanacaxtle in Nuevo Nayarit. The weather was beautiful, and we enjoyed sitting on the various patios shaded by the beautiful trees. I love coming to Puerto Vallarta because of the amazing people I have met, the incredible flora and fauna and the fishing. Banderas Bay is an incredible spot for fishing. The bay is 26 miles across and a whopping 3,000 feet deep. Starting in December, the humpback whales arrive in Bahia Banderas to give birth and put on a show for the tourists! It’s a spectacle you don’t want to miss. I share this to say how saddened I was to see the pictures and videos of the destruction and damage caused by the winds and surf. Trees are down and there is debris all along the coastline.

Once the storm had passed the resilient people of Puerto Vallarta were out and beginning the job of cleaning up. Video’s showed folks just getting to it…chainsaws working away and teams cleaning up wherever there was a need. What I also saw in many videos were tourists jumping in to give a hand…one the most heartening sites is how everyone gathered together to cleanup and restore.

The video shows my friend showing me the beach as he gets back to work and is open for business. Sadly, there was one death reported or miraculously there was only one death. The authorities made sure updates of the storm were broadcast and the port was closed to ensure no boats would be caught in rough seas. The communities along Banderas Bay are dependant on tourism for their lively hood. I have been going to Puerto Vallarta for more than 20 years…it is by far my most favorite place. I have always been treated with respect and welcomed. This is a community that will rebound…and I am excited to be back there in just a few weeks!!