Profile
Paco’s Ranch is Puerto Vallarta’s oldest gay bar and club: nightly drag shows, go-go dancers, live DJ, and happy hour in the Zona Romántica.
Quick Facts: Paco’s Ranch
| Name | Paco’s Ranch (also known as Club Paco Paco) |
| Type | Gay dance club and drag show bar |
| Address | Ignacio L. Vallarta 237, Zona Romántica, Emiliano Zapata, 48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico |
| Open | Every night, 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM |
| Shows | Two drag shows nightly (the first around midnight, the second at 3:00 AM) and go-go dancers from 11:00 PM |
| Cover Charge | 50–150 MXN depending on the night (details below) |
| Happy Hour | Every night, 10:00 PM – midnight, 2×1 |
| Minimum Age | 18+ |
| Dress Code | Standard Puerto Vallarta club attire: beach casual. A t-shirt, tank top, short-sleeve pullover or button-up shirt, or no shirt; shorts; tennis shoes, sandals, or flip flops. |
| Payment | Credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Cash is recommended as a backup. |
Table of Contents
ℹ️ About Paco’s Ranch
Paco’s Ranch is Puerto Vallarta’s oldest gay bar and club, a Zona Romántica institution around the corner from Industry Nightclub and steps from Lázaro Cárdenas, the city’s gay bar street. Every night it combines happy hour, go-go dancers, two drag shows, and a live DJ in a casual, cozy, trendy room.
The crowd is primarily gay, a mix of national tourists and locals, and women are welcome.
A piece of Vallarta history: The club traces its roots to Club Paco Paco, which opened in December 1989 under Paco Ruiz and his husband David Lansley, often credited as founding figures of gay Vallarta. It operated at Ignacio L. Vallarta 278 until the early 2000s, then moved to its current location at 237. The old address is now home to CODE. Paco’s Ranch also has its own entry on Wikipedia.
🕙 Nightly Schedule
| 10:00 PM | Doors open. Happy hour 2×1 until midnight, with pop hits and music videos early. |
| 11:00 PM | Go-go dancers start, with three sets before the first drag show. Two dancers Sunday–Thursday, four on Friday and Saturday. |
| Around midnight | First drag show. The show takes over the dance floor, and three more go-go sets follow it. |
| 1:30 – 3:00 AM | Live DJ |
| 3:00 AM | Second drag show |
| 4:30 – 6:00 AM | Live DJ again, until closing at 6:00 AM |
| Music | Pop hits and music videos early, dance music of all kinds between the shows, and Latin and pop dance after the second show. |
See the full details on the drag shows at Paco’s Ranch and go-go boys at Paco’s Ranch pages.
💵 Cover Charge & Happy Hour
| Monday & Tuesday | 50 MXN |
| Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday | 100 MXN |
| Friday & Saturday | 150 MXN |
| Peak weeks | Cover is higher during peak weeks such as Bear Week, Vallarta Pride, Semana Santa, and Christmas and New Year’s. |
| Happy Hour | Every night, 10:00 PM – midnight, 2×1 drinks |
| Monday Special | Lunes de Cubetazo: bucket drink specials all night |
🍺 Drink Prices
| Domestic beer | 40 MXN |
| Modelo / Ultra | 50 MXN |
| Bucket of 8: Corona, Pacífico, Victoria, XX, or Tecate Light | 350 MXN |
| Bucket of 8: Modelo Especial or Ultra | 400 MXN |
Prices as posted on-site. Confirm current pricing before visiting.
🎟️ Highlights & Offerings
| Highlights | Great beer selection · Great cocktails · Live DJ every night · Go-go dancers and drag shows every night |
| Offerings | Alcohol, beer, cocktails, spirits, wine, dancing, happy-hour drinks |
| Dining | Table service |
| Atmosphere | Casual, cozy, trendy |
| Crowd | Primarily gay. National tourists and locals. Women are welcome. |
📍 Getting There & Accessibility
| Location | Around the corner from Industry Nightclub and steps from Lázaro Cárdenas, the gay bar street |
| Getting There & Home | Very easy by taxi or rideshare, and both are always available for late-night pickups. Use an official taxi with credentials and a properly identified vehicle. |
| Accessibility | Step-free entrance. The upstairs balcony overlooking the dance floor requires stairs. |
For more tips, see our ride share safety guide.
🛡️ Puerto Vallarta Gay Nightlife Safety
Always use common-sense precautions, in every bar and club in Puerto Vallarta.
| Meeting someone new | If you meet a potential hookup or encounter in a gay bar or on a dating app, always verify their identity and age. |
| If you have a front desk | Have your hotel’s front desk or reception get their ID. |
| If you don’t | Tell a friend you trust who you are with, where you are, and when you expect to be finished safely. |
| Your drink | Never leave your drink unattended, at any time. |
| Getting home | Don’t walk back to your accommodation alone after midnight if it’s more than one or two blocks. Take an official taxi or rideshare instead. |
More in our guide to staying safe in Puerto Vallarta.
📞 Contact & Follow
| [email protected] | |
| facebook.com/Pacosranchpvm | |
| @pacosranchbar | |
| Wikipedia | Paco’s Ranch on Wikipedia |
❓ FAQ
What time does Paco’s Ranch open and close?
Paco’s Ranch is open every night from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Happy hour runs from 10:00 PM to midnight. The club is busiest on weekends, though it can also be busy on weeknights.
What time are the drag shows at Paco’s Ranch?
There are two drag shows every night. The first is around midnight and the second is at 3:00 AM. Go-go dancers start at 11:00 PM, with three sets before the first show and three after. A live DJ plays from 1:30 to 3:00 AM and again from 4:30 to 6:00 AM.
How much is the cover charge at Paco’s Ranch?
Cover is 50 MXN on Monday and Tuesday, 100 MXN on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and 150 MXN on Friday and Saturday. It is higher during peak weeks such as Bear Week, Vallarta Pride, Semana Santa, and Christmas and New Year’s.
Does Paco’s Ranch have a happy hour?
Yes. Happy hour is every night from 10:00 PM to midnight, with 2×1 drinks. On Mondays, Lunes de Cubetazo adds bucket drink specials all night.
What is the dress code at Paco’s Ranch?
The dress code is standard Puerto Vallarta club attire: beach casual. A t-shirt, tank top, short-sleeve pullover or button-up shirt, or no shirt is fine, along with shorts and tennis shoes, sandals, or flip flops.
Is Paco’s Ranch a gay club, and are women welcome?
Yes, Paco’s Ranch is a gay club, and its crowd is primarily gay. It is also the oldest gay bar and club in Puerto Vallarta. Women are welcome.
Where is Paco’s Ranch?
Paco’s Ranch is at Ignacio L. Vallarta 237 in the Zona Romántica. It is around the corner from Industry Nightclub and steps from Lázaro Cárdenas, the gay bar street.
Is Paco’s Ranch the same as Club Paco Paco, and why do some listings show a different address?
Yes. Paco’s Ranch is the same venue under a new name. Club Paco Paco opened in December 1989 and operated at Ignacio L. Vallarta 278 until the early 2000s, then moved to 237. Some online directories still show 278, which is now home to a different club, CODE.
What is the minimum age at Paco’s Ranch?
Paco’s Ranch is 18+.
Does Paco’s Ranch accept credit cards?
Yes. Paco’s Ranch accepts credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Cash is a good backup for a late-night club.
How do I get to Paco’s Ranch, and how do I get home?
Paco’s Ranch is very easy to reach by taxi or rideshare, and both are always available for late-night pickups. Make sure you are picked up by an official taxi with credentials and a properly identified vehicle. For more tips, see our ride share safety guide.
Is Paco’s Ranch accessible?
The entrance is step-free. The upstairs balcony overlooking the dance floor requires stairs.
Should I tip the drag queens and go-go dancers?
Yes. As everywhere in Puerto Vallarta, it is customary and encouraged to tip the performers, dancers, and singers. Tips are very much appreciated and a good way to give to the local community. It helps to carry some cash.
Is Paco’s Ranch safe?
Paco’s Ranch is a busy late-night club, so use the same common-sense precautions you would at any nightlife venue. Never leave your drink unattended, and don’t walk home alone after midnight if it’s more than one or two blocks. See the safety section above for more.
How do I stay safe when meeting someone from a gay bar or dating app in Puerto Vallarta?
Always verify their identity and age. If you have a hotel front desk or reception, have them get the person’s ID. If you don’t, tell a friend you trust who you are with, where you are, and when you expect to be finished safely. Never leave your drink unattended.
Is it safe to walk home from the gay bars at night in Puerto Vallarta?
Don’t walk back to your accommodation alone after midnight if it’s more than one or two blocks. Take an official taxi or rideshare instead, and use common-sense precautions throughout the night.
🔗 Related Guides & Events
- Tonight’s shows: Drag shows at Paco’s Ranch
- Go-go dancers: Go-go boys at Paco’s Ranch
- The full scene: Puerto Vallarta gay clubs guide
- All the shows: Puerto Vallarta drag shows guide
- Around the corner: Industry Nightclub
- Browse venues: Dance clubs directory
- Stay close: Puerto Vallarta gay hotels
