Moment · Mexico
Puerto Vallarta: Settling Into the Zona Romántica
Settle into the Zona Romántica in Puerto Vallarta, between the blue chairs of Los Muertos Beach and the bars of Olas Altas.
Mexico’s Gay Capital
Puerto Vallarta sits on the Bay of Banderas on Mexico’s Pacific coast, with the Sierra Madre rising behind its old town. It has long been known as the country’s gay capital, and its LGBTQ+ scene runs year-round rather than for a single season.
Most of that life happens in the Zona Romántica, the old neighbourhood south of the Río Cuale. Its cobbled streets, beach clubs and restaurant terraces are close enough to walk between.
Settling in for a week or more lets you fall into the rhythm of the place.
Los Muertos Beach and the Blue Chairs
Playa de los Muertos is the main beach of the Zona Romántica. At its southern end, the beach clubs known for their blue chairs and umbrellas draw a largely gay crowd from morning until sunset.
The Los Muertos Pier, with its curved sail-like design, is the place to watch the sun go down over the bay.
Olas Altas and the Old Town
Olas Altas and the streets around it hold most of the neighbourhood’s bars, cafes, and restaurants. Evenings often begin with drinks on a terrace and move on to dinner, then to a drag show or a late bar a few blocks away.
Puerto Vallarta also has a concentration of gay-owned and gay-operated hotels that set the tone for the neighbourhood, from small boutique stays to larger resorts on the hill.
We know where you will be welcome, and where to take more care.
Request a quote →Gringo Gulch and Old Hollywood
Puerto Vallarta became internationally known in the 1960s, when John Huston filmed The Night of the Iguana nearby. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton bought homes in the hillside neighbourhood known as Gringo Gulch.
A walk up through its lanes gives you views over the rooftops and the bay and a sense of how the town grew from a fishing village into a resort. Below the hill, the Isla Río Cuale divides the old town in two, with a shaded path, craft stalls, and small restaurants along the river. From there, the Malecón runs north along the seafront, lined with sculptures.
Beyond the Town
The bay holds more than the beaches of town. Boats leave from Los Muertos Pier for coves to the south, including Las Ánimas and Yelapa, reachable only by water. A private yacht for the day can also take you snorkelling at Los Arcos, the rock formations off Mismaloya, with lunch on board.
Inland, the Sierra Madre offers waterfalls, botanical gardens, and mountain villages, and the bay is home to humpback whales from December to March.
Planning Your Puerto Vallarta Experience
The most pleasant months are from November to May, when the weather is dry and warm. Vallarta Pride takes place each May, with a parade along the Malecón. Same-sex marriage has been legal across Mexico since 2022, and Puerto Vallarta is a popular place to celebrate.
Out Of Office can arrange a stay in one of the town’s best hotels, private boat days, and tables at the restaurants that matter most. Your LGBTQ+ travel specialist can also combine Puerto Vallarta with Mexico City or one of our beach holidays elsewhere in Mexico.
Tell us where your mind keeps going back to. We will do the rest.
A line or two is enough to start. A specialist will pick it up from there.
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Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
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