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

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!


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.

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!


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.


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.


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!


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!


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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!


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.


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.

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).


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.

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?


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.


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.


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

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.


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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