Gay Puerto Vallarta · City Guide

Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico. It’s also a gay mecca. LGBT+ Americans flock to Puerto Vallarta - also known as PV - every year. You’ll find many excellent hotels in PV, not to mention world class nightlife. It’s considered to be the best foodie destinations in Mexico outside the capital.

Once a sleepy fishing town, Puerto Vallarta emerged as a major hotspot when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton made it their second home. From the 1960s onwards, PV has been a very fashionable destination. It offers the perfect combination of sun, sand and sea. In peak season it’s also one of the gayest places in the Americas.

Gay Bars in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta’s gay scene is centred around Zona Romantica. It’s right in the heart of the city. Zona Romantica is Latin America’s biggest gaybourhood. As LGBT+ Europeans flock to Mykonos, LGBT+ Americans flock to PV. Zona Romantica gets very boozy and cruisey at night. You’re sure to have a gay old time. Just avoid having a shot of tequila with every drink and you should be fine.

Mr. Flamingo is one of the most popular gay bars in Puerto Vallarta. It’s in the heart of Zona Romantica. You’ll see people spilling out onto the street as the night progresses. It’s a good place to mingle. For a civilized cocktail, head to Garbo’s Piano Bar. It’s named after the great diva herself. “Tener Garbo” is a Spanish phrase referring to anyone or anything that’s classy. Does that sound like you?

Head to Reinas for a truly surreal experience. It’s a gay bar dedicated to the British royal family. You’ll see pictures of the Queen and Princess Diana plastered all over the walls. The Prince Andrew photo may have been removed since we last visited, come to think it. Don’t miss Reinas for a dose of British eccentricity in Mexico. Paco’s Ranch is a must-visit. It’s considered to be the liveliest gay bar in Zona Romantica. You’ll see some amazing drag shows.

Gay-Popular Hotels in Puerto Vallarta

Much of PV’s tourism industry is skewed towards LGBT+ travelers. Divine Dollars and Pink Pounds flow freely in this city and money sure talks. Pretty much all Puerto Vallarta hotels are either gay-friendly or very gay-friendly. One of the most popular hotels in Puerto Vallarta for gay travelers is the Almar Resort. It’s a “straight-friendly” hotel by the seafront. This is an upscale gay hotel, so you can expect chic rooms and excellent service. The hotel’s Top Bar is also worth checking out - it has great views over the city.

Secrets Vallarta Bay is a great 5-star choice on the famous Malecon boardwalk. Another popular choice for gay travelers is the Marriott Puerto Vallarta. It’s a little further from the nightlife but you can easily get to Zona Romantica and back in a taxi.

Experience Puerto Vallarta

PV is in the state of Jalisco and it overlooks Banderas Bay. Across the bay you’ll see Punta Mita in the neighboring state of Nayarit. It’s well worth taking a boat tour around Banderas Bay. It’s full of dolphins and even some whales. You can explore the local caves and remote beaches.

Casa Kimberly is the former home of Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. It’s now a luxury hotel. You can stay there if you have deep pockets. Failing that you can always pop in for a cocktail in a very swanky setting. The Malecon boardwalk is where you’ll find PV’s best shops. Read More: Things To Do In Puerto Vallarta.

Gay Bathhouses in Puerto Vallarta

There’s one gay bathhouse in Puerto Vallarta called Spartacus. It’s a good place to cool down and let off some tension, so to speak. It’s spread out over four floors. During the busiest months, it can get packed with men all looking for one thing and one thing only. It’s right in the heart of the gay district.

Getting to Puerto Vallarta

You’ll fly into Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR). A lot of flights from the USA or Europe will land in Mexico City. The connecting flight to PV takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. You’ll fly over some very dramatic mountains as you approach PV. From the USA there are also direct flights to Puerto Vallarta from Los Angeles, New York City, Atlanta and other major hubs.

FAQs about Puerto Vallarta

Getting around Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is pretty compact so you can walk. It’s very well pedestrianised. Your exploration should begin on the Malecon where you’ll find the famous Puerto Vallarta sign. An important spot for a photo opportunity.

Taxi

Taxis are your best bet if you aren’t walking, especially if you’re travelling from your hotel into town. Some hotels are very central so you won’t need a cab.

Bus

You can get the bus all over Puerto Vallarta. It’s cheap and it can be bumpy. They say you know you’re downtown in Puerto Vallarta when you start vibrating. Take your mind out the gutter, please. It’s because some of the roads are bumpy.

Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?

People worry about safety in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta is one of the safest cities in the country. The Sierra Madre Mountains surrounding PV protect it from hurricanes. Metaphorically, you could say the mountains also keep it safe from crime.

How expensive is Puerto Vallarta?

Doable by American standards but pricey by Mexican standards. Largely due to the amount of American money in the Puerto Vallarta property market. You can do PV on the cheap or you can do it in luxury.

When To Visit Puerto Vallarta

April - June is a good time to visit Puerto Vallarta. It’s slightly cheaper and less packed with tourists. High season runs from December - April.

All photos courtesy of Almar Resort.