Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular LGBTQ+ vacation spots on the planet. PV is located on the coast between the Sierra Madre mountains and Banderas Bay. It’s been welcoming same-sex couples for decades, creating an infrastructure of gay-owned businesses, inclusive resorts, and romantic experiences. It’s also a great destination for a honeymoon.
It’s packed with luxury hotels, buzzing gay nightlife, romantic beaches and concierge services for luxury travelers. It’s especially popular with LGBTQ+ American travelers.
Why Puerto Vallarta Works Perfectly for Gay Honeymooners
Same-sex marriage became legal throughout Mexico in 2022, making Puerto Vallarta not just a honeymoon destination but potentially a wedding location as well. The city’s Zona Romántica (Romantic Zone) isn’t just cleverly named – it’s the heart of both the gay scene and the most charming part of town, where cobblestone streets lead to restaurants, art galleries, and the famous Los Muertos Beach.
The practical advantages are significant: direct flights from major US cities keep travel time reasonable, the peso’s favorable exchange rate stretches honeymoon budgets further, and the time zone difference is minimal (just 1-3 hours depending on your location). English is widely spoken in tourist areas, while the city’s compact size means you can walk to most attractions or take quick, inexpensive taxi rides. The climate provides year-round warmth, though the dry season (November through April) offers the most reliable sunshine for beach days and outdoor adventures.
Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta
Another big selling point for honeymoon couples is the hotel offerings. Puerto Vallarta is geared towards tourism, especially to gay tourists from North America. Most hotels in PV are very gay friendly: they’d probably be out of business if they weren’t.
Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular vacation spots for US travelers. Overlooking Banderas Bay and surrounded by the Sierra Madre, it’s an impeccable beach destination. You’ll find a huge gay scene in Zona Romantica – it’s Latin America’s...We Suggest...
Puerto Vallarta: The Out Of Office Collection
Tailor-Made Vacation
Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit-Vallarta is one of our favorites in PV. What truly sets Vidanta apart from other hotels in Puerto Vallarta is its scale and vision. Set within a 2,500-acre paradise, the property includes multiple resort brands (like The Grand Bliss and Grand Luxxe), a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a sprawling lazy river and water park. Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit-Vallarta is where the The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City stayed when they were filming in PV. For honeymooners, Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit-Vallarta is an especially good choice. From ocean-view suites with private plunge pools to couples’ massages at the award-winning Spatium spa, it’s a big hit with luxury travelers.
Hotel Mousai is Puerto Vallarta’s best-known hotel for contemporary luxury travelers. Every suite features a private terrace with a gold-tiled Jacuzzi, mood lighting, and floor-to-ceiling views of the Pacific or jungle-cloaked mountains. Honeymooners can toast with cocktails from a rooftop infinity pool, indulge in gourmet tasting menus, and retreat to the state-of-the-art spa for couples’ treatments. Hotel Mousai’s rooftop bar gives you one of the best views in PV.
Romantic Experiences in PV
Private sunset sailing trips around Banderas Bay offer complete privacy as you watch the sun disappear behind the Sierra Madre mountains while dolphins play in your wake. You can sail to local caves and intimate beaches, such as Majahuitas
The Marietas Islands, just a short boat ride away, provide snorkeling adventures in protected waters teeming with tropical fish, while the famous “Hidden Beach” (Playa del Amor) offers a secluded sandy cove accessible only through an underwater tunnel. For land-based romance, horseback riding through mountain trails gives you stunning valley views and intimate moments away from crowds. For the more intrepid romantic traveler, you can opt for driving an ATV through the mountains and over a suspension bridge
Don’t miss the weekly art walk through the old town’s galleries, where you can discover local artists while strolling through candlelit streets. Many galleries offer private viewings and will arrange for pieces to be shipped home, creating lasting mementos of your honeymoon. The city’s foodie scene is also a big draw – PV is considered to have the best culinary scene in Mexico outside the capital.
The Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton Romance: Puerto Vallarta’s Hollywood Love Story
The legendary romance between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton didn’t just put Puerto Vallarta on the international map – it infused the entire city with an enduring sense of romance. When the Hollywood superstars arrived in 1963 to film “The Night of the Iguana,” their scandalous affair captivated global attention, transforming a quiet fishing village into a playground for the rich, famous and the odd real housewife.
Burton’s grand romantic gesture of purchasing two homes connected by the famous pink “Lover’s Bridge” was quite a flex. Their tumultuous relationship – marked by passionate reconciliations, explosive fights, and an inability to stay apart despite two divorces – embodied the kind of all-consuming love that might be too destructive to aspire to but is nonetheless fascinating to contemplate. Today, Casa Kimberly (Taylor’s former home, now a luxury boutique hotel) serves as a pilgrimage site for romantics, where couples can stay in the Elizabeth Taylor Suite complete with her heart-shaped pink marble bathtub: if that’s not a suitably grand gay honeymoon perk, then we don’t know what is.
Practical Planning Tips for Success
November through April offers the most reliable weather and coincides with the high season when all restaurants and attractions operate at full capacity. However, May and October provide excellent value with fewer crowds and still-pleasant weather, while the summer months offer the best deals despite higher humidity and occasional afternoon showers.
Book accommodations well in advance, especially for winter months when demand peaks. Many luxury hotels offer honeymoon packages that include room upgrades, spa credits, and romantic amenities like champagne and flowers upon arrival. We can arrange all the best honeymoon perks for you.
For getting around, the city center and Zona Romántica are highly walkable, while taxis and Uber provide easy transportation to beaches and attractions. Renting a car isn’t necessary unless you plan extensive exploration of the surrounding areas like San Sebastian or Yelapa.
Creating the Perfect PV Itinerary
We suggest planning one major activity per day, leaving plenty of time for spontaneous moments and lazy afternoon siestas. The city’s compact size makes it easy to change plans based on weather or mood.
Consider alternating beach days with cultural exploration – one day snorkeling at Los Arcos marine preserve followed by an evening cooking class, then a relaxing spa day followed by sunset horseback riding. The key is maintaining flexibility while ensuring you experience both Puerto Vallarta’s natural beauty, nightlife and luxury travel perks.
Ready to start planning your dream honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta? Get in touch and we can put together the perfect itinerary for you.
