Hidden Beach, Marietas Islands, Banderas Bay

Gay Puerto Vallarta – Mexico's Gay Beach Capital in 2024

Planning a trip to Gay Puerto Vallarta? Then read on as we explore the best gay hotels, gay bars and restaurants, gay pool parties, and gay boat tours in Mexico’s gay beach capital!

Pool Club at Casa Cupula - Luxury Boutique Gay Hotel
Pool Club at Casa Cupula - Luxury Boutique Gay Hotel

Overview – An increasingly popular gay travel and retirement destination, Puerto Vallarta attracts LGBT+ from around the world with its stunning natural beauty and incredible gay nightlife. The Romantic Zone is the beating heart of gay life in Vallarta or PV for short. With new gay venues opening up all the time, the gay traveler is spoiled for choice with LGBT+ hotels to fit every budget and dozens and dozens of gay and gay-friendly bars and restaurants in the gayborhood. With great weather, a super popular gay beach, exciting gay boat trips on Banderas Bay, spectacular sunsets, and amazing gay nightlife, Puerto Vallarta should be on every gay travel list!

Quotation Mark
We're born naked, and the rest is just drag.
  • – RuPaul

Pool at Sapphire Ocean Club
Pool at Sapphire Ocean Club
Parasailing from Los Muertos Beach
Parasailing from Los Muertos Beach
Jet's Naked Boat Tour
Jet's Naked Boat Tour
Casa Cupula's Naked Pool Party
Casa Cupula's Naked Pool Party
Chictini
Chictini
Sunset from La Capella
Sunset from La Capella
Act2PV Gay Performance Venue
Act2PV Gay Performance Venue
La Catrina Cantina Drag Show
La Catrina Cantina Drag Show
Love Bridge at Casa Kimberly
Love Bridge at Casa Kimberly
Hidden Beach on Marietas Islands
Hidden Beach on Marietas Islands

Top 10 Things To Do in Puerto Vallarta

  • Relax on the gay beach -
    Hire loungers and an umbrella from one of the many gay and gay-friendly beach clubs on Los Muertos gay beach.
  • Go parasailing -
    Organize a 10-minute flight directly from the beach for a thrilling experience and insane views of Los Muertos Pier and all of Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay!
  • Party on a gay boat cruise -
    Book ahead to reserve your spot on one of the numerous LGBT+ cruise options in PV. Our favorite is Jet's Naked Boat Tour for an unforgettable experience. It's also a great way to meet local expats and fellow travelers alike!
  • Swim naked at a gay pool party -
    Don't miss one of the fabulous and fun gay pool parties at Casa Cupula, the luxury boutique gay hotel. Casa Cupula's Pool Club is both clothing-optional and pet-friendly and is open to the public even on days without parties.
  • Watch sunset from a fabulous rooftop -
    With a spectacular infinity pool, jaw-dropping views of the Pacific Ocean, and excellent craft cocktails, head up to Chictini, one of the newest and best rooftop bars in PV!
  • Celebrate life or a special occasion at La Capella -
    This classic Italian restaurant is the best spot for views of the iconic church, sunset dining, date night, or to celebrate any special occasion, violinists and sparkelers included!
  • See a show at a gay performance venue -
    PV has not one but two super popular and fun gay theaters where you can catch a classic gay fave like Mamma Mia at Act2PV or a beautiful tribute to Sam Smith at The Palm.
  • Watch amazing drag -
    On any bar hopping experience down the main gay 'drag' on Lázaro Cárdenas, you will find amazing drag. We loved the original and fun vibes and Mexican street art at La Catrina Cantina.
  • Snap a pic on Love Bridge -
    Reserve for dinner at The Iguana to see gay icon Elizabeth Taylor's Love Bridge. Modeled after the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, the bridge allowed Liz and future husband Richard Burton who lived across the street to rendez-vous in private.
  • Find Love Beach -
    To be one of the lucky 116 people allowed daily to set foot on Playa del Amor or Love Beach, which is best known as Hidden Beach, reserve your spot well in advance (see Best Day Trips below).

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHT


We are absolute nature fans, and one of the most impressive beaches in Mexico is the Hidden Beach on the protected Marietas Islands in Banderas Bay. Formally known as Playa del Amor, or Beach of Love, Hidden Beach is an exclusive destination that requires a 30+ minute boat ride and decent swim to reach. Check availability and book your tour. Only 116 lucky souls are allowed daily, so it's imperative that you book well in advance. Alternatively, don't miss the famous Jet's Naked Boat Tour (pictured above in our Gay Vallarta Youtube video). Not only will you find incredibly sexy naked crew, but you will also land on a totally secluded beach only accessible by boat. On arrival, you can of course run around in your birthday suit, enjoy a refreshing swim, or just sit in the surf with a cold drink from the included open bar. The bartenders are also naked and gorgeous! All in all, we can guarantee an amazingly fun experience!

Colorful Street Art in the Romantic Zone
Colorful Street Art in the Romantic Zone

When to go
– The weather is near perfect from December to April with day time temps in the 80’s and lower humidity. This is high season along with super high season around New Year and Easter! Puerto Vallarta Gay Pride held in May is also a super popular and fun time to be in gay PV!

Almar Resort & Mantamar Beach Club
Almar Resort & Mantamar Beach Club

Where to stay – For the best exclusively gay and LGBTQ-friendly hotels in Puerto Vallarta, read our full review here. We highlight our Top 3 best gay hotels and provide two incredible alternatives, one budget, one luxury option. Take me to gay hotels.

Sunset Dining at El Dorado Restaurant
Sunset Dining at El Dorado Restaurant

Where to eat and drink – For gay and gay-friendly restaurants, of course, the Romantic Zone is the epicenter, but don’t be afraid to venture further afield to Centro and Gringo Gulch, both a short 10-15 minute walk from the Romantic Zone, for some of the best restaurants in Puerto Vallarta!

Casa Kimberly Entrance
Casa Kimberly Entrance
Liz Taylor Greets You at Iguana
Liz Taylor Greets You at Iguana
Love Bridge View
Love Bridge View
Sunset at Iguana
Sunset at Iguana
Chocolate Dessert
Chocolate Dessert
Mariachi Performers
Mariachi Performers

Perhaps the best restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and our hands down favorite is The Iguana Restaurant and Tequila Bar at Casa Kimberly. Housed in gay icon Elizabeth Taylor’s former mansion, The Iguana dazzles guests with its luxurious setting, romantic ambiance, excellent service, and of course, top notch entertainment. Reservations are an absolute must and thankfully can be made via Open Table. In addition, don’t forget to take a photo on the Puente del Amor or Love Bridge that connects the property’s two buildings on opposite sides of the street. The bridge was modeled after the Bridge of Sighs in Venice and allowed Richard Burton, who lived in the casita across the street, to rendez-vous with Elizabeth Taylor without the flash bulbs of the paparazzi. To bring this full circle, Richard Burton was also the star of The Night of the Iguana for which the restaurant is named.

La Capella Italian Restaurant
La Capella Italian Restaurant
Amazing Corner Table
Amazing Corner Table
Sunset View
Sunset View
Celebration with Violinists
Celebration with Violinists

The next best restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and the best for special occasion dining is La Capella Italian Restaurant. For stunning sunset views of the iconic church, impeccable Italian food and service, and beautiful violinists to help you celebrate, you will be glad you booked ahead. Reservations are an absolute must and can be made via Open Table.

Delicious Fajitas and Live Entertainment at Ok Jose!
Delicious Fajitas and Live Entertainment at Ok Jose!

For popular gay faves for dinner, we loved Ok Jose!, especially when Jose is performing. We managed to walk in not realizing it was a performance night. Not only were we treated to an incredible evening of entertainment, our Caesar salad was prepared table side and our fajitas were brought out flaming! We loved each and every moment of flamboyance at this fun and delicious spot!

Coco's Kitchen
Coco's Kitchen
Mar y Vino
Mar y Vino
Langola di Napoli Pizza
Langola di Napoli Pizza
Trattoria di Nuovo
Trattoria di Nuovo
Bucatini Pasta at Trattoria
Bucatini Pasta at Trattoria
Pistachio Waffle Cone at Lix
Pistachio Waffle Cone at Lix

Now for the best of the rest. We love a ‘go to’ breakfast spot that is pet-friendly and all around perfection. In Puerto Vallarta, Coco’s Kitchen fits the bill. It is also amazing for lunch. At least once, we had back to back meals here! It’s that good.

For lunch with a view, we really enjoyed Mar y Vino. It’s a super unique spot in that the tables are literally in the rooftop pool with one of the best views of the Los Muertos Pier. Our margaritas were on point as was the guacamole and cauliflower tacos. The service was also super friendly. We enjoyed it so much in fact that we came back a second time in our first week in PV!

For the best pizza in town, don’t miss the no frills atmosphere but delicious wood oven fired pizzas at L’Angolo di Napoli. Sticking with Italian, we also highly recommend the romantic garden and pastas at Trattoria Di Nuovo.

If you have a sweet tooth after all of these delicious meals, head over to Lix Homemade Ice Cream for the best ice cream and waffle cones in Puerto Vallarta! Our favorite flavor was the pistachio. The comfy pet-friendly seating out front makes for great people watching as well!

Chachalaca Gay Bar
Chachalaca Gay Bar

Where to find gay nightlife – In terms of gay bars and nightlife, you are spoiled for choice in Puerto Vallarta with dozens and dozens of venues. Our favorites include the post beach happy hour at Chachalaca, the local chatty bird and perfect name for a gay bar. It’s low key and fun with drink specials and great service.

One Six One PV
One Six One PV
Local Craft Beer Tasting!
Local Craft Beer Tasting!

Once the sun sets, gay PV comes alive! A great place to start your evening is the new high end and very classy One Six One PV. The lighting here is just gorgeous. They also have a roof garden so you have a choice between two equally lovely settings.

Act2PV Bar
Act2PV Bar
Mamma Mia at Act2PV
Mamma Mia at Act2PV
The Palm Cabaret and Bar
The Palm Cabaret and Bar

Next up, don’t miss a show at one of the two gay performance venues. Act2PV has three theaters in a giant complex with multiple shows every night. The space includes its own bar as well where you will be personally escorted to your seats by an usher for an exclusive touch. For an intimate cabaret experience, we highly recommend The Palm! The Sam Smith tribute was super fun with excellent drinks, singing, dancing, and just all around good energy! After the show, head to La Catrina Cantina for more entertainment of the drag variety. It was by far our favorite drag show. The gorgeous rooftop at La Noche is another great choice. Both La Catrina Cantina and La Noche are on the main gay ‘drag’ on Lázaro Cárdenas.

El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club
El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club

Where to find the best gay beach or pool club – On gay Los Muertos Beach, you will find El Dorado, Sapphire, Blue Chairs, Green Chairs, and Mantamar beach clubs.

Pool at Sapphire Ocean Club
Pool at Sapphire Ocean Club
Always Happy at the Beach!
Always Happy at the Beach!

Two of the higher end options along Los Muertos Beach are El Dorado and Sapphire Ocean Club. One of the benefits of Sapphire is the pool which adds some privacy if desired. Speaking of privacy, as noted above, we love the clothing optional Pool Club at Casa Cupula with amazing views of the Romantic Zone. At Casa Cupula, we really appreciate the no hassle experience, top notch service, and of course, privacy. It’s also nice for singles and couples alike to come on days without themed parties for ultimate relaxation.

Marietas Islands Hidden Beach Tour
Marietas Islands Hidden Beach Tour
Whale Watching In Banderas Bay
Whale Watching In Banderas Bay
Hidden Beach aka Love Beach
Hidden Beach aka Love Beach

Where to go for the best day trips in and around Puerto Vallarta – One of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico, Playa Escondido or Hidden Beach can only be reached by a small boat and then a decent swim under the rocks into the cavern open to the sky above. Officially, the beach is called Playa del Amor or Love Beach, but it is more popularly known as Hidden Beach located on the Marietas Islands approximately twenty-two miles west of Puerto Vallarta. During whale watching season, you will most likely see whales en route–we were lucky enough to find a pod in both directions! Also, of note, since boats can’t reach the Hidden Beach directly as the cavern opening is too low, provided helmets and life jackets are required for the swim. Once inside, you are rewarded with a spectacular beach with soft white sand, aquamarine water, and warm sunshine. Just over a hundred people are allowed to visit per day for conservation efforts, so book well ahead. Be sure to book a tour like Marietas Islands Hidden Beach Tour that includes access to Hidden Beach and not just snorkeling around the islands. A tour to this beach is definitely an exclusive highlight of any trip to Puerto Vallarta. We loved our mini photo shoot and queerly did our best to make this beach gay!

Puerto Vallarta International Airport (airport code: PVR)
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (airport code: PVR)

Getting here – Puerto Vallarta is located on the Pacific Ocean’s Banderas Bay, one of the ten largest bays in the world, in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Most likely, you will land at PVR Airport. From there, we recommend taking a taxi or Uber to your accommodation. The current fare to the Romantic Zone is around 180MXP or just under $9USD. Alternatively, there are frequent city buses for just 10 MXP or $0.50 USD with a list of destinations written on the front window.

PVR Priority Pass Lounge Bar
PVR Priority Pass Lounge Bar
Comfortable Lounge Seating (Downstairs!)
Comfortable Lounge Seating (Downstairs!)

For those of you with a Priority Pass, which we receive membership complimentary through our Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Credit Card, there are a number of top notch airport lounges with great food and drinks and some of the best service you find at any airport lounge in the world. Our favorite is the Grand Elite Lounge and their sister lounge Terrazza. Both are pet-friendly, and they will even drive you via golf cart to your gate! They not only aim to please but exceed your expectations.

Pro tip – For Uber pickup, turn left toward the busy highway when you exit baggage claim at PVR Airport. Cross over the pedestrian bridge and your uber will be waiting for you on the other side. Only authorized taxis can pick up outside baggage claim.

Other Services


Banking – There are national and international bank ATMs available at Puerto Vallarta International Airport. We recommend getting Mexican Pesos (MXN) here on arrival. For reference, $1 US Dollar (USD) is worth just under 20 pesos (it’s recently been fluctuating between 17-20 as of the publication date of this article).

Busy ATM on Basilio Badillo No. 156-S in the Romantic Zone
Busy ATM on Basilio Badillo No. 156-S in the Romantic Zone
Two Gay Expats - Mexico - Always DECLINE ATM conversion to SAVE!!!
Always DECLINE to SAVE!!!!

In addition, there are plenty of ATMs around the Romantic Zone. There are three including Banorte at the corner of Basilio Badillo and Olas Atlas–just look for the long lines during high season! For national and international banks as well as ATMs, you can find both just a short walk to Centro, including HSBC, Santander, and Citibanamex.

Pro tips – Always pay in local currency when you travel (both in cash and on your credit card). If you pay in USD at a restaurant or shop for example, the posted foreign exchange rate is always 5-10%+ less than the interbank rate your bank or credit card company would charge. In other words, you will pay extra for the convenience of paying in USD. Again, always pay in local currency to save.

When withdrawing money from ATMs in Mexico (and now throughout the world), one thing to note (which we learned the hard way) is knowing to always decline the conversion offered by ATM to save. If you accept the conversion, you are agreeing to an additional 5-12% fee on top of the ATM use charge. That’s INSANE! Also, we initially thought declining the conversion would cancel the transaction, BUT it does not. It simply saves you the extra markup. For extra savings, look into the Schwab Checking Account that reimburses all foreign ATM fees. We’ve saved thousands in ATM fees over the years with this account!

To learn how to get the most pesos for your dollars, watch our 7 Tips to Get the Most Pesos for Your Dollars in Mexico. We’ll also cover some common scams and money mistakes to avoid, so we can save you even more money.

Barber & Booze
Barber & Booze
Two Gay Expats - Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Barber & Booze - Cocktail
Craft Cocktails

Barbershop – To keep it fresh, we found a fabulous gay-friendly barbershop on the way to the gay beach. Barber & Booze is everything you could hope for in a gay barbershop! Craft cocktails (for purchase), an included hair wash, and a precise cut with friendly service! What more can you ask for?

SETAC Wellness Center
SETAC Wellness Center

Sexual Health – For STD testing and sexual health, head over to SETAC Wellness Center in the Romantic Zone at Lázaro Cárdenas No. 379. For more information check out their website here.

The Fit Club Gay Gym
The Fit Club Gay Gym

Fitness/Gym– The main gay gym in Puerto Vallarta is The Fit Club. They have air-conditioning and offer daily, weekly, and monthly passes/memberships. Alternatively, Big Apple Gym around the corner is popular with the LGBTQ+ community.

Two Gay Expats - Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Vinos America Wine & Liquor
Vinos América Wine & Liquor
Two Gay Expats - Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Vinos America
Excellent Selection

Wine/Liquor store – On bustling Basilio Badillo in the Romantic Zone at No. 284, you will find an amazing wine and liquor store with a huge selection. This was our one stop shop. They also have an excellent selection for champagne to celebrate any occasion or to toast the New Year!

Travel Resources


Hospiten Hospital - Andy Waiting To Be Checked Out By The Doc
Hospiten Riviera Maya Emergency Room

Travel Insurance – Don’t forget to add global travel medical insurance that covers you while traveling outside of your home country. We recommend Safety Wing. You can buy it even if you are already abroad. Most health coverage in the U.S. for example does not cover you in Mexico, thus it’s extremely important to protect yourself from out of pocket costs due to a medical emergency. We learned this the hard way which you can watch here. To learn more about Safety Wing, click here.

Car Rental – Should your travel plans call for hiring a car, we use rentalcars.com to search the best prices among the major car rental companies. With flexible rentals, no hidden fees, and price match guarantee, we feel confident booking with them. Just make sure to book with your Chase Sapphire Reserve for extra protection.

Marietas Islands Hidden Beach Tour
Marietas Islands Hidden Beach Tour

Travel Experiences – Discover authentic, unforgettable experiences and explore the world with Get Your Guide. They offer top-rated tours and activities in Puerto Vallarta. We have used Get Your Guide for numerous adventures around the world.

Want to see more? For additional footage of our adventures in Puerto Vallarta, check out our Gay Vallarta YouTube video as well as our latest video, Puerto Vallarta's Best Gay Hotels, and be sure to smash that like button and subscribe! And, of course, follow us on Instagram @twogayexpats for more gay travel inspiration!

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Hi! We're Two Gay Expats

Hi gorgeous, and welcome to our LGBTQ+ travel blog! We're Andy and Trai, a gay couple traveling the world with PRIDE 🌈  …and our rescue dog, Pattie!

After meeting in San Francisco in 2018 and later moving to Chicago, we decided to quit our jobs in 2021, sell everything, and become Two Gay Expats. For over two years, we explored the best of gay Mexico while waiting for our house, Casa Cangrejo, to be completed in Tulum. We got married at The Beach Tulum in 2020 and became Mexican permanent residents in 2022.

Today, we continue to travel around Mexico and the world to show you our favorite places. If you'd like to follow our adventures, subscribe on YouTube and join us on Instagram.

🖤 Andy + Trai