A very peaceful place that I enjoy walking to and through in Puerto Vallarta is the little island in the middle of the Rio Cuale. A large portion of this island is a park. And in that part are some of the most lovely cats on the Rio Cuale.
Cats in Puerto Vallarta
There are a lot of cats in Puerto Vallarta as a whole. You will see them everywhere when exploring the city on foot. Many of these cats belong to homes, however there are a large number that are strays.
The Rio Cuale is a river that empties into the Bay of Bandaras. If you are walking the length of the Malecon, you will see a staircase about mid way. Descend the staircase and follow the path up the river. You are now on the island.
If you keep travelling up this path you will pass several restaurants and a souvenir market. Just beyond the souvenir market and through an underpass, you will come upon the park!
In years past, this park was not in the greatest condition. The workers did their best to keep it clean and keep the plants alive, however I would hazard to guess that the city did not provide much funding to the upkeep of the space.
This year, the park has been completely overhauled and is quite amazing! There are many little paths and trails that you can wander down and through. Many more plants and flowers have been added to the gardens. Art structure vignettes are around every turn. It is really wonderful to see this area spruced up.
The Cats
The Rio Cuale park has always had a large population of stray cats. Do not fear, they are well taken care of by a group of dedicated people who see their every need including spay/neutering. If you are a cat lover, keep your eyes peeled, they are in the trees, behind the buildings and tucked into alcoves.
Most of these lovely felines are timid, they will generally not approach you. When I am in the park, it is usually early in the morning. When I see a cat I want to photograph, I will speak with them and move slowly towards them. Many skitter off, however a few of these beautiful creatures will honour me with their best face forward, and I’ll happily snap away with my camera.
I hope when you next visit Puerto Vallarta, you will be able to find this enchanting little park and get your feline fix!
