A Beauty By the Bay
Puerto Vallarta’s location is equally stunning, and an equally good reason to visit. To the East, lush green slopes of tropical rainforests appear to rise almost straight up from the sea, and to the West, rocky cliffs and sun-drenched beaches surrender themselves to the Bay of Banderas - one of the largest, deepest and most beautiful bays in the world.
Growing Gay
In recent years, LGBT travelers have discovered Puerto Vallarta, and have begun traveling there in droves. Again. Small wonder. Puerto Vallarta’s allure as a resort destination is universal, and its population is friendly, accepting and relaxed. There’s also a thriving LGBT community (made up of both Mexican nationals and American and Canadian ex-pats), and an infrastructure (i.e., hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops) that’s in place to welcome and serve both the city’s LGBT residents (full-time and seasonal), and the many visitors who come to visit from points worldwide.
Goin’ South
Most gay travelers to Puerto Vallarta tend to make Old Vallarta their home base, especially on the Southern end of Il Centro (where there’s a great gay guesthouse - Villa David, and a bunch of great restaurants (one of which is lesbian-owned El Arrayan)), and in the entire Zona Romantica (South of the Cuale River).
The Zona Romantica is dotted with gay hotels, gay bars, gay-owned businesses, and a variety of incredible, world-class restaurants. There are also all sorts of great shopping opportunities - colorful flea markets (where you can still find a deal or two), eclectic shops with a variety of products made by local and regional artisans, art galleries, and even high-end shops featuring fashions, jewelry, and leather goods designed to suit the tastes (and the pocketbooks) of international jet-setters and movie moguls.
Zona Olas Altos
Olas Altos is one of the primary streets running the length of the Zona Romantica. It is also, more generally, the name given to the section of the Zona Romantica where the largest concentration of LGBT venues are located. It also includes the Los Muertos Pier (where the gay cruises embark), the Malecon (home to the World-Famous Blue Chairs resort and bar), and the Los Muertos (gay) Beach (where you can relax in the sun with a bucket of beer and enjoy the sand, the surf, and the friendly natives hoping to sell you everything from sunglasses to a temporary tattoo).
Cab it or walk it!
If you aren’t staying in the Olas Altos area (and there are plenty of places to do just that - Hotel Mercurio, Boana Torre-Malibu, Terrazza Inn, or the Blue Chairs), you can get there by cab ($3 from pretty much anywhere in town). But once you arrive (or if you are staying in the area), walking is definitely the way to go in this part of town where everything is close by, and where the streets tend to be narrow, cobblestoned, and steep. It’s also the very best way to experience and explore the diverse array of shops, bars, restaurants, cafes and galleries. In the morning, you can sit and have a coffee at the Coffee Cup (a cute coffee shop run by a couple of friendly American Ex-Pats from Los Angeles) or grab a smoothie (or some fresh-squeezed juice) over at Cyber Smoothie (while you log in to the internet and/or schedule a great massage with the owner, Leonardo).
Later, you can work off breakfast with a nice walk, or a work out at the Acqua Spa - a small but clean and well-run gym and day spa. Then when it’s lunch time, you can catch a quick lunch (I especially enjoyed Cafe Bohemio, Chili’s and Mama Dolores), or shop for everything from shoes (great leather) to sundries (remember that you could (but NEVER would) buy all sorts of over-the-counter medicines for whatever ails you in Mexico!).
Sun Time. Fun Time
Now it’s off to the beach for some sun and fun. The gay beach doesn’t have miles and miles of white sand, but it is a nice beach and the view (of both the bay and the boys) is just not to be missed! And after all. Where else can you go to the beach and have folks just begging to bring you another Margarita! Ahhh. This is the life!
Evening Fare
Evenings in the Zona Olas Altos, and thoughout the Zona Romantica are always lively, start early (when folks gather to watch the sunset), and end late (or early as well, if you count the wee hours of the morning as early).
Martini bars are quite the rage in Puerto Vallarta (despite the somewhat obvious conflict with native-made tequila and the ever-popular margaritas), and they’re a great place to meet friends or make friends. Apaches (on Olas Altos) offers great Martinis (and everything else) either inside or outside. It’s a sort of combination sidewalk cafe/martini bar, and it’s generally busy and lots of fun. Also nearby (equally enjoyable, and worth a visit in the early evening or later at night) are La Noche, Garbo, and Sama.
Gotta Love the Nightlife!
Nighttime activities in Puerto Vallarta are lots of fun and not for the timid. Most of the dance clubs don’t really start hopping until after midnight, and many of them have hot strippers, (who can dance in the almost altogether, and who work really HARD for their money!), great drag shows, and incredible music and light shows. If you’re in to the club scene, you’ll have plenty to choose from in Puerto Vallarta, and pleanty of time to enjoy them as they pretty much keep hopping right up until the wee hours of the morning.
More to do
Soft adventure lovers will enjoy the many tours and day trip options in and around Puerto Vallarta. Canopy tours of the surrounding rain forests are quite popular as are parasailing adventures, tours of the Bay, whale watching, and hiking. There’s a lot to do (if that’s your cup of Tequila) or lots to watch while you relax drinking one!
