Director John Huston spent months shooting “The Night of the Iguana” (a bizarre movie that still somehow feels modern) in and around Puerto Vallarta in 1964. By the time he was done he’d fallen in love with the area so he bought an island and built himself a home there.

These days John Huston’s island, Las Caletas, is owned by Vallarta Adventures which offers everything from lounging in a hammock to scuba diving to hanging out with sea lions or dolphins. We have since stopped taking part in activities that involve contact with wild animals, but here’s what happened when we got in the water with a sea lion named Mara.

Kissed by Mara.

Eric kissed by Mara.

Snack time!

Snack time.

Karen is avoiding something. Is it Mara's breath.

Karen getting a whiff of sea lion breath.

Here’s more about travel in Mexico

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