At this point in our travel career, we’ve been to Pride celebrations in at least three dozen cities.
Vallarta Pride still holds a spot in our top-five favorites of all time, right up there with New York, Toronto, Miami Beach and Breckendridge—each spectacular for wildly different reasons.
This year’s Vallarta Pride celebration lasts from Sunday, May 17 until Sunday, May 24.
Because PV is also in our top-five travel destinations of all time, we’ve slept our way around the coastal Mexican city. (And we’ve also stayed in a lot of hotels!)
Whether you’re looking to stay at a big resort, a small hotel that’s exclusively gay men, a major-chain all-inclusive or something that falls somewhere in between, we’ve curated a list of six places we’ve stayed over the last few years that will fit any budget or vibe.
Plus, you’ll be close to all the Pride festivities, world-class restaurants, and abundant LGBTQ bars and clubs around the always gorgeous, ever-welcoming Puerto Vallarta, the rainbow-colored crown jewel of Jalisco.
Not to mention, Puerto Vallarta continues to be a vacation destination that isn’t afraid to put LGBT inclusion front and center.
We’ve included the distance from each property to Los Muertos Beach Pier, the centerpiece of the gay beach, as a point of reference for this handy guide to LGBTQ+ hotels and queer-friendly accommodations across Puerto Vallarta.
Chic and Queer: Tryst Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta’s newest LGBTQ+ hotel is always one of the sexiest. Catering to a predominantly gay male clientele, the property features a restaurant, a rooftop pool and bar with amazing views of the Bay of Banderas, and many rooms with the same great vantage point. It’s a social hub for the community with queer hotel guests mingling with other LGBTQ+ people and allies during happy hour, drag brunch or pool parties.
Distance to Los Muertos Beach Pier: 950 feet (4-minute walk)
Price During Pride Week: From $299/night
trysthotels.com
Gay Clothing Optional: Casa Cupula
Famous for its weekend clothing optional pool parties, this gay men’s escape on the mountainside above the Zona Romantica offers comfortable rooms, excellent views, a naughty “secret garden” and an on-site restaurant, which also does drag brunches. The pool parties are always memorable and just the right amount of messy.
Distance to Los Muertos Beach Pier: .5 miles (10-minute walk; 4-minute drive)
Price During Pride Week: From $229/night
casacupula.com
No-Frills LGBTQ+: La Iguana Vallarta
We just discovered this place and stayed for the first time in early March. It’s nothing fancy, but we thoroughly enjoyed our room (actually, more of an apartment thanks to a full kitchen and spacious living room). If you’re a pretentious queen, it’s definitely not for you, but the rooms are comfortable, the a/c works great and the rooftop soaking pool is great for quick cool-offs. It’s also steps (literally) away from gay bars galore, men-only saunas, male strip clubs, drag shows and two of PV’s main cabaret venues.
Distance to Los Muertos Beach Pier: .6 miles (10-minute walk; 6-minute drive)
Price During Pride Week: From $110/night
laiguanavallarta.com
Luxury Resort with Killer Views: Grand Miramar
Last summer, we headed up the mountain to the highest resort in Puerto Vallarta and we still have a perfect mental picture of the views from our balcony. It’s a quick walk to the beach (if you don’t mind walking steep inclines down the mountain) or an easy Uber or taxi. The resort offers an optional all-inclusive plan if you want to eat and drink to your heart’s content or you can get your room a la carte and enjoy the occasional meal at the rooftop restaurant then head into town for some local flavor (and flavors).
Distance to Los Muertos Beach Pier: 1.8 miles (38-minute walk; 10-minute drive)
Price During Pride Week: From $174/night
grandmiramar.com
All-Inclusive Chain: Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive
Perhaps you’ve got Hilton points burning a hole in your wallet. Or you want to be a little bit away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Then this all-inclusive’s a solid choice. To be clear, we prefer the adults-only aspect of the three queer properties, but we know a lot of people adore not having to worry about their food and beverage bill at the end of a stay. Plus, the beach here’s nice and secluded, the views are wonderful and you have several dining options to fill your days. And your belly.
Distance to Los Muertos Beach Pier: 6.5 miles (20-minute drive)
Price During Pride Week: From $525/night (all-inclusive, double occupancy)
hilton.com
Major Chain Resort: Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
Similar to the Hilton property, if you have Marriott Bonvoy points to spare, consider this resort minutes from the airport. Like its Hilton sister, this hotel’s very family friendly, so if you don’t mind children running amok, it’s got plenty of beauty to make up for that kind of energy. The spa’s one of the best we’ve experienced in Puerto Vallarta, too, and you have eight restaurant and bar options so even if you choose to stay a full day or two without leaving the property, your taste buds won’t ever get bored.
Distance to Los Muertos Beach Pier: 6.2 miles (31-minute drive)
Price During Pride Week: From $190/night
marriott.com
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Discover more places to stay, things to do:
visitpuertovallarta.com
gaypv.com
