Puerto Vallarta Gay Map

The GAYPV Puerto Vallarta Gay Map is your complete gay guide to find gay and friendly places in different Puerto Vallarta neighborhoods.

Getting to Puerto Vallarta and the Gay Zone

First, you need to fly into Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport “PVR.” Once there uber or cab from the airport to the Zona Romantica.  As of July 1, 2017 Uber is operational in Puerto Vallarta. There are also the official white airport taxis, but you will pay less if you cross the street (there is a pedestrian bridge which crosses over the highway from the airport) and take a yellow local taxi.

There are usually no meters in Puerto Vallarta taxi cabs; rates are determined by zones. Budget daredevils or light baggage travelers can take local public buses from the airport to the gay zone which are quite fun and only cost around $1 USD.

Before you take a taxi, always get the taxi number (generally printed on the exterior of the back seat doors) and the “sitio” number – contained within a circle on the driver’s door. This will help you in the very rare chance that you encounter problems or leave something in the cab. This can be a lifesafer for lost items.

Neighborhood Colonia Zona Romantica: The Gayborhood

In Puerto Vallarta, local neighborhoods are called colonias. The gay zone is located in the Zona Romantica or Old Town Vallarta colonia about a twenty five minute uber/taxi ride south of the Puerto Vallarta airport. This zone begins at the bridge crossing the Rio Cuale River and ends basically at Mantamar. This is where you will find a large majority of the gay businesses in Puerto Vallarta including

• Almost all the gay bars on Lazaro Cardenas street, Basilio Badillo Street, Olas Altas, Rodolfo Gomez, and Pulpito street.
• Los Muertos gay beach including beach clubs Blue Chairs, Mantamar, Si Senor, Daiquiri Dicks, Blue Shrimp, El Dorado and La Palapa
• several gay owned clothing stores
• Several gay and gay friendly art galleries
• Many fabulous restaurants including gay owned restaurants and street taco stands. With the major exception of Starbucks, there are no major food or beverage chains in this zone.
• The famous Puerto Vallarta Los Muertos Pier
• Major gay events such as Puerto Vallarta Gay Pride, almost all the PV circuit parties (White Party, Beef Dip Bear and Leather, and Bearadise take place at venues in this zone.
• Other cultural events Southside Shuffle, Old Town Farmers Market
• The major Puerto Vallarta theater shows and gay cabaret venues are located here  The Palm Cabaret and Act2PV.
• gay lodging and accommodations is a heavy concentration of residential condo buildings, some gay and friendly hotels and bed and breakfasts and luxury private homes and villas.

This is an older part of PV, hence its name Old Town. Streets are narrow as you get closer toward the beach, mostly cobblestone and parking is very limited. Once inside this colonia, everything is easily walkable and for the most part safe when walking day or night from the clubs. As always when walking at night, try to walk in the lighted areas and in groups if possible. Do not walk if you have too much to drink.

Puerto Vallarta Gay Map Colonia:El Centro

This is Puerto Vallarta’s original downtown colonia, located just north of the Zona Romantica. This zone runs north from the Rio Cuale River to the Puerto Vallarta Stadium. In this zone you will find:

• • The world famous Puerto Vallarta Malecon and all the Malecon sculptures
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe church and Los Arcos arches
    The Vallarta Centro Art Walk and many fabulous art galleries
  • Many gay friendly restaurants including larger American brands like Burger King, McDonalds, Subway etc
  • Many traditional Mexican shops
  • lodging is a mix of residential condo buildings, gay friendly hotels and bed and breakfasts, and luxury private homes and villas
  • No major gay bars or clubs. The larger gay clubs on the malecon(Mandala, Zoo) are mostly attended by straight tourists but you can often see some gay national clients there.

Fluvial/Versalles Zone

This is a new and upcoming residential and commercial development area as many of the LGBTQ community have relocated there or purchased investment property there. The zona romantica has limited land and area for new growth, limited parking and very high rents. The Fluvial/Versalles can be accessed by taxi/ubers and normal fare public bus transportation from 6am until 11pm.

This colonia includes

• Many many great restaurants. The Versalles colonia has clearly become restaurant row in Puerto Vallarta. There are estimated to be over 50 restaurants located in this area or opening a second location with a wide range of cuisines, price ranges and settings.
• Large Shopping Centers including Costco, La Comer, and Walmart
• New residential homes and recently many new condo developments for those who want to escape the Romantic zone traffic, noise, and high rents.
• This is considered the up and coming new place to live/rent for Puerto Vallarta’s recent growth of LGBTQ residents and visitors.

The Hotel Zone

This colonia runs north from the stadium to the Marina and is accessed by normal fare taxis/ubers and public bus transportation from 6am until 11pm. This colonia includes

• • Main Hotel Chains (Sheraton, Secrets Resorts, etc) and Condo Buildings
  • Many Restaurants including larger American brands Outback and Mexican brands
  • Shopping centers La Isla, Liverpool, Walmart

The Marina

This colonia runs from the Puerto Vallarta port where the cruise ships dock (Maritime Terminal) to the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Aeropuerto) and is accessed by normal fare ubers/taxis and public bus transportation from 6am until 11pm. This zone includes

• • • • The Puerto Vallarta International Airport Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Aeropuerto
      • the Marina port where all major cruise ships dock and its own malecon
      • Commercial shops and restaurants (Sonora Prime Grill, La Vaca Argentina Steakhouse)
      • The most recent addition to the Marina area is Puerto Magico a huge shopping and entertainment center
      • Major Hotel chains (Marriott, Westin) and other larger condo buildings
      • Many straight clubs and straight strip clubs
      • Marina Vallarta Golf Course

Las Juntas

Going Further North Is the State of Nayarit Mezcales/Nuevo Vallarta/Bucerias/ La Cruz de Huanacaxtle

Puerto Vallarta Gay Map: Punta Mita

• Many High End Hotels and Mega Resorts Four Seasons Punta Mita, Iberostar Resorts and large condo developments
• Many Restaurants
• Shopping and gay friendly Bars

Conchas Chinas,Mismaloya, Boca De Tomatlan

Going Further to the South Zone includes the areas of Conchas Chinas, Mismaloya and Boca De Tomatlan and is accessed by ubers/taxis . Traveler’s Tip note as you are going south nearing Mismaloya you will experience a return trip access issue with uber/taxi. This area lacks return uber service and has limited taxi service from areas starting at Mismaloya and Boca De Tomatlan.

It is a good idea to pre arrange service or have a transportation provider contact with you to arrange or originate your return trip back to PV. Normal fare round trip public bus transportation is available in Mismaloya and Boca De Tomatlan from 6am until 11pm is available.

Access to and from Puerto Vallarta is only by Federal Highway Carretera Road 200. Also note in rainy season there has occassionally been rock/muds slides along Hwy 200 resulting in unexpected traffic delays. The normal Puerto Vallarta public bus transportation system ends at Boca De Tomatlan.

As you continue South you will enter areas of Mayto Beach, El Tuito and Tehuamixtle located in city of Cabo Corrientes. This is available in public busses but requires a special bus with less frequent schedules started here. These interior locations make popular day trips from Puerto Vallarta.

In this zone you will find

• • No retail shopping and a very few isolated basic necessity item shopping in Boca De Tomatlan
  • Ocean front restaurants Le Kliff, Xalli Beach Club, Ocean Grill
  • The zip lines and canopy tours
  • The Vallarta Zoo in Mismaloya
  • The Boca De Tomatlan pier for small public pangas to playa Colomitos, Las Animas, Quimixto, Las Caletas, Majahuitas and Yelapa ***
  • Mostly lodging and some larger hotels (Hyatt Ziva, Barcelo and condo buildings) The population is much less dense (concentrated mostly on the right side of Hwy 200 going along the Pacific Ocean) as the left side of Hwy 200 is mountainous and mostly jungle. In rainy season, June to October watch out for rock slides and closed roads due to heavy rain on Road 200.
  • No bars or clubs
  • these locations make popular  short day trips from Puerto Vallarta

***Going further south along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, there are very remote beach towns only accessed by water transportation pangas. These include playa Colomitos, Las Animas, Quimixto, Las Caletas, Majahuitas and Yelapa. These small pangas are small motorized boats that transport up to 15 people daily to and from Boca De Tomatlan to these coastal remote areas.

Schedules vary but many tourists make sure they are heading back to Boca De Tomatlan by 4 or 5 pm. Expect very bumpy rides and heavy wave movement in these boats. These areas make great day trips from Puerto Vallarta.

Some of these remote areas literally have nothing but sand and palm trees (Colomitos) to the larger of these areas Yelapa having just a few restaurants, 1 or 2 small hotels, and some very brave natives/locales living in homes there.

Cabo Corrientes

This remote colonia is the southern most part of the state of Jalisco and you will only find the world famous Vallarta Botannical Gardens here. The botannical gardens can be accessed via a public transporation bus originating in Puerto Vallarta here. Expect to spend atleast a half day to a full day to enjoy the landmark and the on site restaurant .

Getting Around Puerto Vallarta By Public Bus

Getting from Zona Romantica to El Centro and vice versa is walkable. Getting from other zona will require some mode of transportation. Puerto Vallarta is easily accessed by public transportation buses with fares around $1 usd. Taxis and Uber are plentiful and cheap and best to get the rate before you take the ride. Also note the taxi cab number and sitio (ask the driver) if possible in case of lost items.  Pay the rate in Mexican pesos and the tip is optional.

Some taxi driver are notorious for not having change so beware of them taking your big bills without being able to give you change. Public buses can also take you to further places south like the Vallarta Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Boca De Tomatlan. Special ATM grey public buses take you to Nuevo and even as far as Punta Mita and Sayulita for a few pesos more.

Renting a car is not really necessary unless you plan some major day trips like to El Tuito. If you do make sure you get full coverage in case of accidents. Of course all road signage is in Spanish. Two unique things to note for American drivers is some left turn lanes occur from the far right lane and when there is no stop sign (a frequent thing) the rule is one and one take turns who stops and who has the right of way.

Getting Around Mexico By Commercial Bus For Day Trips Tequila, Guadalajara, San Sebastian De Oeste, Mascota, and Tepic

One of the great things about Mexico is the ability to travel literally anywhere around the country in a commerical bus. Many nationals frequently use commercial bus lines like ETN, Primera Plus, and Vallarta Plus to travel to and from Puerto Vallarta.

Many expat locals and residents also use them for day trips to Guadalajara, Leon, Morelia, even Mexico City is possible. They are for the most part comfortable, air-conditioned, furnished with internet, a charging station and provide limited food. Best is to pack your own if you are taking a longer trip.

For a complete traveler’s guide to the gay scene in Puerto Vallarta visit the GAYPV website here.