In Mexico, post-hurricane woes

Before Hurricane Kenna slammed into Mexico’s Pacific Coast on Oct. 25, tourists and residents fled a 200-mile stretch of coastline that included Puerto Vallarta. Although the resort city was spared the full force of Kenna’s 145-mph winds -- the eye of the storm hit 65 miles north -- Puerto Vallarta did suffer some damage.

As of the Travel section’s deadline Tuesday, highways to and from the city were open, as was the airport, which restored all flights a few hours after the storm hit. The city’s marina and golf courses were operating as usual. Electricity, drinking water, telephone service and drainage systems were back to normal.

But four tourist hotels sustained major damage and were closed. The Continental Plaza is expected to be out of commission at least four months, the Suns Resort for three months, and the Plaza Pelicanos and Las Palmas for two months, according to the Puerto Vallarta Hotels and Motels Assn.

The Crowne Paradise, Holiday Inn, Rosita and Pescador hotels reported damage to some rooms and parts of their lobbies but remained open. Guest services at all four hotels were back to normal, with one notable exception: The Rosita’s 10 small boats, available to guests for sportfishing, were destroyed, along with part of the local fishing fleet. Larger boats operated by other hotels escaped damage.

Many of Puerto Vallarta’s hotels are along a 1,000-yard stretch of coastal road known as the Malecon. The storm disabled traffic lights along the road, and police closed the entire stretch to vehicles. Hotels on the Malecon were accessible by car from side streets, and the Malecon itself remained open to pedestrian traffic. On Tuesday, city officials said the Malecon was expected to reopen by today.

Salvador Pena, the city’s director of tourism, said all but two of Puerto Vallarta’s 400 restaurants are open. El Dorado and La Palapa, located along the Malecon, lost their roofs in the storm and suffered heavy damage. Pena said both restaurants expected to restore limited service in temporary quarters by today while they rebuild.

Cruise ships have resumed calling on the city.

“We see businesses working, we see hotels working,” Mexican President Vicente Fox said last week during a tour of Puerto Vallarta. “As for what’s not working, we’re talking to the governor to get it working as soon as possible.”

For updates, visit www.visitmexicopress.com.