What's it really like?
Puerto Vallarta is a gay traveler’s paradise. Known as one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly destinations in Mexico, there’s a lot to see and do and a lot of fun to have.
Puerto Vallarta, the crown jewel of Jalisco, Mexico, perched majestically on the shores of the Pacific Ocean’s Bahía de Banderas. First up, it started its journey as the quaintly named Las Peñas in 1851, but let’s be real, it only got its groove on as Puerto Vallarta in 1918.
Fast forward to today, and it’s the ultimate hotspot for gay travelers—welcome to Zona Romantica! Right next to Los Muertos Beach, which isn’t just a beach but the beach in the city. Imagine a place with 35 bars, all squished into what might as well be renamed ‘party street’. And just when you think it can’t get any livelier, the beach clubs here throw parties that make everywhere else look like a library on a Monday morning. Get ready to sip, dance, and flaunt your way through the best of gay Puerto Vallarta!
Puerto Vallarta Pride is celebrated every May and is considered one of Latin America’s best pride events.
There are three seasons in Puerto Vallarta. The high season runs from December to March, with warm, sunny days and minimal rainfall. It’s the most crowded time to visit and prices can rise to meet that. Whale-watching is a popular pastime in high season. Shoulder season, April to mid-June and October to November, still has warm temperatures but fewer crowds and are ideal times to have a more relaxed experience. The rainy season from June to October has morning showers and gets very humid in the afternoons; one advantage of traveling then is that prices drop significantly across the city.
Navigating Puerto Vallarta is a breeze. There is a local bus service that runs from early morning until late evening that goes from the hotel zone, through the Zona Romantica gayborhood to Central and back. Look for the ‘Centro’ sign. Most trips are 10 pesos (around 50c).
Taxis are widespread, and as long as you use the official ones, usually yellow with white roofs, you’ll have little problem. They don’t use meters, so a fixed price is negotiated upfront, ranging from 50 to 150 pesos. For those who can’t part with the apps, Uber has landed in gay Puerto Vallarta, ready to whisk you away at the tap of a button.
Gay Puerto Vallarta has a vibing nightlife with bars on most corners. The Zona Romantica gayborhood is the place to be. In fact, 26 of the bars featured here are there, while the other is only one kilometer north. Lazaro Cardenas is known as ‘party street,’ it’s where the bulk of the bars are, and it’s right in the center of the gayborhood. A few bars overlook the beach to the west.
Many bars have drag shows, including Mexican Drag Race viewings. Shirtless bartenders and go-go shows are all the rage and can be experienced in many venues. There is a selection of men-only strip bars, too.
Some bars are cash only, and overcharging on credit cards has been known to happen.
1 Gay Sauna and 1 Cruise Clubs in Puerto Vallarta
When holidaying in gay Puerto Vallarta, you don’t need to rely on hook-up apps to find some fun. There’s a 4-floor bath house and a XXX-rated movie theater known for cruising there. Both are conveniently located in the Zona Romantica gayborhood and open from late afternoon. Both are well worth checking out,
You must be 18+ to enter these venues, and if you look young, your ID will likely be checked.
The city offers a wide range of gay hotel Puerto Vallarta options, from budget beachfront properties with only eight rooms to massive luxury resorts with around 500.
The Zona Romantica gayborhood in the city has well-known chains like Accor, Marriott, and Hilton, as well as local brands and one-off boutique properties.
There are two other hotel zones, each one 5 km north or south of the gayborhood, where luxury resorts are located. 40 km north of the city are the ultimate beachfront luxury properties in the Punta Mita region; Four Seasons, St Regis, and One&Only can be found there.
All-inclusive packages are popular in gay Puerto Vallarta hotels. These are convenient because everything is paid for in advance, so all meals and drinks (including top-shelf alcohol) are covered. Some resorts have so many outlets that guests staying a few days can sample various themes and cuisines.
Gays and the Law
One of the primary reasons gays love to visit Puerto Vallarta is that it’s recognized as one of the safest destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers globally. Approximately one-third of tourists in Puerto Vallarta identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The state of Jalisco, where Puerto Vallarta is located, has some of the most progressive laws regarding LGBTQ+ rights in all of Mexico. Gay marriage was legalized in March 2016—beachside gay wedding anyone?
Getting Tested
The Vallarta Gay Clinic is where to go for STI testing and emergency PEP or PrEP refills. It’s community-based and conveniently located in the center of the Zona Romantica gayborhood.
When traveling to gay Puerto Vallarta with PrEP, it’s advisable to have your prescription or letter from your health provider handy, and don’t travel with more than you’ll need for your trip. Customs officials can be easily suspicious of large volumes.
Local Neighhorhoods
Gay Puerto Vallarta is a well-known party destination but also a flop-and-drop destination. It’s not overly touristy, so you won’t find busloads of people transiting around famous monuments taking photos.
Instead, Puerto Vallarta has one thriving gayborhood known as Zona Romantica; it’s around 9 x 9 blocks beginning at Cuale Island at the north and Los Muertos beach to the west. There is a stack of venues here offering everything from rooftop bars to go-go shows and some of the top drag performances in all of Latin America. There are numerous hotels in this hub, too, ranging from 3 to 5 stars.
Gay travelers who want to visit a historical landmark should head to the Central district, a few kilometers north of the gayborhood, to see Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.
Many activities in the city that are not related to partying are ocean-related. Non-motorized watersports like kayaking and snorkeling are popular, as is whale watching in January or releasing turtle hatchlings in March.
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