Manuel “Manny” Hernandez Salazar is a Puerto Vallarta original in the truest sense of the phrase. Born and raised in the city, his family roots run deep, back to the 1940s he says, when Vallarta (what locals call it) was still a sleepy Mexican town on the Pacific Ocean, flirting with its bright future.
He’s also, without exaggeration, one of the happiest humans you’ll ever meet. The kind of guy whose smile arrives before he does. Manny left Mexico for Canada at 22, collected two degrees, an MBA, and started a family. But Mexico was never far from mind.
“Vallarta was always in my heart,” he says. “Even when I thought I might never live here again.”
After COVID, the stars aligned, and Manny is back in Vallarta with his wife, three children, and a vast network of friends and family spread across this city, including an estimated 400 cousins. I met him and his oldest daughter, Gia, on a food tour during a recent trip to Puerto Vallarta.
Even though I’ve visited many times, this felt like a new introduction. There’s nothing better than discovering a place through the people who love it fiercely and want you to love it too.
“I see myself as a Vallarta ambassador,” Manny says. “I love building bridges between cultures, breaking taboos, and making sure people leave with a deeper, warmer connection to Mexico than when they arrived.”
Mission accomplished. I felt instantly at home. The only thing better would be to qualify as a cousin and eat tacos with them at Manny’s Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta has grown exponentially over the years. Does it still retain some of the city you remember as a kid?
The footprint of the city is an absolute departure from my childhood, but the soul of Vallarta remains untouched.
The emerald mountains, the fiery sunsets, and the rhythm of the Pacific haven’t changed a bit. That timeless natural beauty is exactly why people continue to fall in love with my “little” city, generation after generation.
Do you have a favorite childhood memory ?
Oh, so many! I remember the simple magic of walking home from school and stopping at the shore for a snack with the sand between my toes. But my favorite was always the heavy summer rains.
The streets would turn into rushing rivers, and my friends and I would spend hours racing “coconut boats” down the currents. It was pure, unadulterated joy.
Are there still pockets of Vallarta that remind you of childhood?
Absolutely! While the skyline has grown, the beach and the local parks feel like protected sanctuaries. Walking along the shoreline is like stepping into a time zone that never moved. The salt air and the sound of the waves are exactly as they were when I was a boy.
Some say PV hasn’t changed a bit, while others say it’s unrecognizable, but to me, it’s always home.
When you were in Quebec, what did you miss most ?
Let’s just say my seasonal winter depression vanished the moment I hit the Vallarta sunshine!
Why was it important to you to bring your family back ?
I have three kids: Gia (22), Merida (8), and Hendrix (7). It was vital for me to give them Mexico and Vallarta as their most meaningful inheritance.
I didn’t want them to just grow up saying their father was Mexican; I wanted them to feel Mexican in their bones. I wanted them to have their own footprint here, in a place that will belong to them long after I’m gone.
How long have you been leading tours Vallarta? And what do you enjoy most about the job ?
Even before I moved to Canada, I was always in tourism. My favorite part has always been showing the city to others. Seeing PV through a visitor’s eyes helps me see the beauty of my home renewed every single day. What’s not to love? I get to escape the four walls of an office, have fun all day, meet fascinating people, and eat incredible food. It’s the best “job” in the world!
What’s something about PV that would surprise visitors?
People are often surprised by the profound sense of empathy here. Visitors notice that, despite the hustle and bustle, you don’t see the same levels of homelessness or neglect found in other major cities. We look after our own. There is a deep communal effort and many resources dedicated to helping people get back on their feet.
If there was one thing to eat in PV, what would it be?
That is the hardest question of all! Food here is “soul food,” fresh, abundant, and accessible.
If I had to choose my “last meal,” it would undeniably be classic tacos with fresh guacamole. It’s a timeless masterpiece for a reason, and there are a few secret spots in PV that do it better than anywhere else on earth!
When you’re not working, what do you do with your family?
We are big on family engagement! We’re usually out enjoying the beach, the pool, or the arcade.
At home, we’re a “board games and movies” type of family. Cooking together and reading are the anchors of our routine. It’s all about being present with each other.
Anything else you’d like to add about your hometown?
Be careful when you visit Vallarta: it has a mischievous way of stealing your heart. You might fly home, but a piece of you will stay here forever. That “longing” you feel afterward can only be cured by your next visit.
But that’s what life is about: finding the people and places that make you truly happy.
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