Gay Puerto Vallarta
Gay Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta is a gay old town. Mexico's most popular gay destination draws crowds of "Dorothy's friends" from both sides of the Río Grande and from the Old World as well.
The Romantic Zone is the hub for rainbow bars and sophisticated, gay-friendly restaurants. Here, many foreigners have relocated to PV to fulfill their ultimate fantasy in the form of bistro, bar, or B&B. International savvy (and financial backing) teamed up with Mexican sensibilities has produced a number of successful gay businesses.
Gay hotels offer entertainment that allows you to party on-site without having to worry about getting "home." In addition to gay properties such as Blue Chairs and Casa Cupula, hotels like Los Cuatro Vientos, in Centro, and Quinta María Cortez above Playa Conchas Chinas are gay-friendly.
Clubbing may be the favorite pastime in the Romantic Zone, but there's more than one way to cruise Vallarta. Gay boat tours keep the libations flowing throughout the day, and horses head for the hills for bird's-eye views of the beach.
Get the Scoop
Gay Guide Vallarta (www.gayguidevallarta.com) is an excellent and occasionally opinionated source of information about gay-friendly and gay-owned hotels, restaurants, and nightlife.
Gay PV (www.gaypv.mx) is a free gay guide to the vibrant LGBT lifestyle in Puerto Vallarta, which you can find all around Zona Romántica.
The Beach Scene
The undisputed king of daytime beach action is Blue Chairs (South end of Los Muertos Beach, Col. E. Zapata, Zona Romántica).
Next door, the green umbrellas blend with the blue; at this end of the beach, though, it's pretty much gay no matter what color the umbrellas. This is PV's most popular rainbow beach scene, a magnet for first-timers as well as those sneaking away from social obligations in Guadalajara.
Cruises
Boana Hot Springs (Boana Torre Malibu Condo-Hotel, Calle Amapas 325, Col. E. Zapata 322/222–0999 www.boana.net) offers a twice-weekly romantic hot spring tour ($75). Included are transportation, a candlelight dinner, and open bar. In high season tours operate Tuesday and Friday, leaving at 4:45 pm and returning to PV at midnight. To hold a spot, make a deposit in person at Boana's office in Boana Torre Malibu, behind Blue Chairs on Highway 200 just south of the Romantic Zone.
Diana's Gay Cruise (322/222–1510; 866/514–7969 in U.S. for reservations www.dianastours.com) is a booze-and-beach cruise (Thursdays and most Fridays in high season) popular with lesbians and gays. Straights are also welcome, but minors are not. Go for the swimming, snorkeling, and lunch on the beach at Las Animas or another area beach, or for the unlimited national-brand beers and mixed drinks. Most of the time is spent on the boat. It's easiest to reserve tickets ($80) online using PayPal. Private tours are also available.
