Table of Contents
- 1
- 2 Mantamar Beach Club: The Anchor of Puerto Vallarta’s Day-Play Evolution
- 3 2026 Event Schedule: Circuit Parties & Sunset Sessions
- 4 Day Pass Options (2026 Prices)
- 5 Seating Options
- 6 Reservation Policies
- 7 Mantamar Insider Pro-Tips & Reservations
- 8 The Mantamar Experience: Puerto Vallarta’s Premier Luxury LGBTQ+ Oasis
- 9 The Almar Group Connection: Luxury Stay & Play
- 10 Exclusive Perks for Almar Resort Guests
- 11 The Mantamar Phoenix: From Ashes to PV’s Premier Beach Club
- 12 The 2014 Pride Landmark: A Cultural Shift
- 13 The Birthplace of the Puerto Vallarta Beach Circuit (2015)
Mantamar Beach Club: The Anchor of Puerto Vallarta’s Day-Play Evolution
Puerto Vallarta’s identity as a global LGBTQ+ powerhouse was forged in the night, but it was perfected in the sun. For decades, the city’s pulse was found on the dance floors of icons like Los Balcones (est. 1982). But while the night was covered, the world-class “Day-Play” luxury found in Ibiza or Mykonos remained the missing link in the PV story.
In December 2013, Mantamar Beach Club changed the clock, providing the permanent, high-production infrastructure that turned a simple beach day into a global destination. Today, it remains the only place on earth where you can experience a world-class circuit production with your feet in the sand and the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop.
2026 Event Schedule: Circuit Parties & Sunset Sessions
For 2026, Mantamar has transitioned into a full production house, curating its own independent festivals throughout the year. Note: While many events run parallel to city-wide crawls, Mantamar now manages its own exclusive talent rosters and ticketing.
- Mantamar Bear Week (Jan 26 – Feb 1): A dedicated week of international Bear-circuit DJs and high-energy pool sessions.
- Fairyland Music Festival (March 12 – 15): Produced with Brian Kent, this is PV’s premier Queer House beach festival.
- Semana Santa (April 2 – 5): The peak of the domestic high season with massive beachfront productions.
- Vallarta Pride 2026 (May 21 – 24): The “feet-in-the-sand” main stage for the city’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration.
- Thanksgiving & NYE Festivals: Closing the year with the same high-production energy that started it all in 2015.
Weekly Sessions: Catch international guest DJs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11:00 AM until approximately 9:00 PM. Mantamar remains a strictly Adults-Only (18+) LGBTQ+ inclusive club where all members of the community and their allies are welcome.
Day Pass Options (2026 Prices)
For visitors not staying at the Almar Resort, entry is typically managed via a daily Day Pass. For the 2026 season, standard day passes start at approximately $1,000 MXN.
- What’s Included: This fee generally covers your entrance, use of the famous infinity pool, towel service, and a standard beach chair (subject to availability).
- Important Note: During peak Puerto Vallarta events like Beefy Bear Week or Vallarta Pride, prices may increase, and food/beverage credits may be excluded.
Seating Options
| Location | Seating Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| In the Sand 🏖️ | Beach Chair Loungers | Individual loungers directly on Los Muertos Beach with optional food and bottle service. |
| Gazebo | Larger shaded beach structures ideal for groups wanting privacy on the sand. | |
| Around the Beach Club 🍹 | Cabanas | Premium shaded seating near the pool with VIP bottle service. |
| Hydrojet | Poolside seating with access to hydro-massage jet features. | |
| La Terraza | Elevated VIP daybeds with panoramic ocean and dance floor views. |
Reservation Policies
Mantamar Insider Pro-Tips & Reservations
- The 1:00 PM Rule: All reservations are held strictly until 1:00 PM. If you have not checked in by then, your spot can be released to the waiting list without a refund.
- Booking Window: Always book at least 2 weeks in advance for holiday weekends or peak winter dates.
- Topical Authority: Check our Fairyland 2026 Billy Porter Announcement for details on the specific dates when standard discounts are paused.
The Mantamar Experience: Puerto Vallarta’s Premier Luxury LGBTQ+ Oasis
Mantamar isn’t just a pool club — it’s a full-scale party production where every detail is designed to heighten the senses and elevate the LGBTQ+ vacation experience in Puerto Vallarta. From sunrise lounges to high-energy circuit nights, Mantamar delivers a meticulously curated journey that has become a staple of the city’s festival calendar.
Infinity Pool & Ocean Views
The centerpiece of the club is the iconic infinity pool. Designed to create a seamless visual transition from the chlorinated blue to the deep sapphire of Banderas Bay, it is the most photographed pool in the Romantic Zone. Surrounded by plush daybeds and climate-controlled jacuzzis, it offers an unobstructed view of the Los Muertos Pier, providing the perfect backdrop for golden hour “Sunset Sessions.”
World-Class Sound & DJ Residencies
Mantamar’s production ensures global circuit-level audio fidelity, with a multi-tiered speaker system covering pool, terrace, and cabana zones. International DJs like GSP, Brian Kent, Alex Acosta, and Hoolio Kmacho bring the beats, transitioning from melodic daytime tracks to peak-hour heavy-hitters. Signature themed sessions, including “Feet in the Water” and sunset sets, are fully integrated with lighting and visual design to create a cohesive sensory journey.
Culinary & Mixology Highlights
Mantamar elevates the standard pool party with its sushi stations and creative mixology. Fresh Pacific seafood and Japanese-fusion dishes keep guests energized, while signature cocktails and premium spirits flow all day — ensuring every drink complements the evolving soundtrack of the party.
Exclusive Event Integration
During major festivals like Vallarta Pride, Fairyland Music Festival, and Bear Week, Mantamar’s full production capability is unmatched in Puerto Vallarta. The club manages talent rosters, ticketing, and immersive stage design, creating festival-quality experiences directly on Los Muertos Beach. Guests enjoy curated performance schedules, special DJ residencies, and themed sets, all while having access to VIP perks, day passes, and Almar Resort privileges.
The Legendary Mantamar Pool Parties
While the beach is for relaxing, the Mantamar pool is the stage for some of the most famous pool parties in Latin America. The pool deck frequently evolves into a high-energy open-air dance floor, with full nightclub-level production reserved for peak weekends, major festivals, and select holiday events. Unlike temporary pop-up events, the pool party culture here is a permanent fixture of the Puerto Vallarta experience.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: The Peak Sessions
From 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, the atmosphere shifts from a sophisticated lounge vibe in the morning to a high-energy sunset pool party. During peak weekends, major festivals, and holiday events, the production expands further, transforming the pool deck into a full-scale open-air nightclub experience with enhanced lighting, visuals, and extended DJ programming
The Almar Group Connection: Luxury Stay & Play
Mantamar Beach Club is the flagship “Day-Play” destination of the Almar Group, Puerto Vallarta’s leading name in luxury LGBTQ+ hospitality. While Mantamar is a world-class beach club open to the public via day passes, it serves as the vibrant “oceanfront backyard” for guests staying at the adjacent Almar Resort Luxury LGBT Beach Front Experience.
This “Sister Brand” relationship creates a seamless ecosystem for the luxury traveler. Guests of the resort typically enjoy exclusive perks, such as included access to the club’s facilities and priority reservations for the coveted pool-side cabanas. By staying at Almar, visitors can transition from their ocean-view suites to the infinity pool in seconds, making it the ultimate “anchor” for a high-end social vacation in the Romantic Zone.
Exclusive Perks for Almar Resort Guests
Staying on-property at Almar Resort provides the most cost-effective and seamless “Titan” experience. Almar guests receive elite benefits that are not available to the general public:
- Complimentary Beach Access: Almar guests receive free, complimentary access to the beach chair loungers.
- The “Ocean Front” Privilege: The loungers closest to the ocean are reserved specifically for Almar guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
- 50% Off Luxury Cabanas: Almar guests can book premium cabanas at half price (subject to daily availability).
- Holiday & Festival Value: These discounts remain active even during long weekends and major festivals.
- Exceptions: Discounts and complimentary access do not apply during the Fairyland Music Festival or the New Year’s Eve Gala event.
The Mantamar Phoenix: From Ashes to PV’s Premier Beach Club
The story of Mantamar Beach Club is one of incredible resilience. While many see the polished infinity pool and luxury cabanas today, few realize that the venue almost vanished before it truly began. Opened in late December 2013, the club was a bold new luxury vision for Playa Los Muertos, bringing an upscale “Day-Beach Club” architecture to Puerto Vallarta’s gay scene for the first time.
Disaster struck on the early morning of January 8, 2014. A short circuit ignited the massive, newly constructed palapa. Within seconds, the 10-meter-high thatched roof—the crowning jewel of the club’s design—was engulfed in flames visible across the entire Banderas Bay. By dawn, the brand-new structure had burned completely to the ground.
Instead of folding, the Meza family and the Almar Group launched an immediate rebuild. This “Phoenix moment” is what solidified Mantamar’s place in the community. By May 2014, the club was ready to host the official closing of Vallarta Pride, turning a business into an LGBTQ+ icon.
The 2014 Pride Landmark: A Cultural Shift
While Vallarta Pride officially began in 2013, it was the 2014 festival that signaled Puerto Vallarta’s transition into a top-tier international gay destination. Mantamar Beach Club played a pivotal role in this evolution by providing the high-production venue the festival previously lacked.
On Sunday, May 25, 2014, Mantamar proudly hosted the Official Elegant Closing Party of the 2nd annual Vallarta Pride. This was more than just a celebration; it was a deep dive into local roots. The evening featured a special photo exhibition and an encore screening of “Feel the Pride,” the definitive documentary detailing the LGBTQ+ history of Puerto Vallarta. By anchoring the festival’s finale, Mantamar proved it was the new guardian of both PV’s rich history and its vibrant future.
The Birthplace of the Puerto Vallarta Beach Circuit (2015)
The “Circuit” party of Los Muertos Beach was officially born during Thanksgiving Weekend 2015 (November 27–30). For the first time, international party organizers Jeffrey Sanker (White Party Palm Springs) and Will Gorges (Latin Fever) collaborated to bring the legendary White Party brand to the sand of Puerto Vallarta. Javier Jimenez had also been instrumental in working with Jeffrey to bring the circuit party brand to the shores of Banderas Bay.
Though the Sanker-Gorges partnership was brief, that inaugural 2015 weekend changed everything. Headlined by global powerhouse DJs Alex Acosta and Cindel, alongside local favorites DJ Ramses and Daniel Sandoval, it proved that Mantamar could support world-class production with the ocean as a backdrop. This event successfully turned Thanksgiving into one of the busiest gay travel weeks for the city, a tradition that continues to this day.