Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta has become our reliable winter escape on Banderas Bay, and we keep returning to the Zona Romántica — the walkable, leafy old-town heart south of the Cuale River.
Our experience
We've been back seven times since 2023. We've settled in for long stays here, including a 17-night Airbnb run in late 2023 and a 23-night stretch in early 2025 around Pino Suárez, plus a memorable spell at Torre Malibu on Amapas.
We love the mix: cobblestone streets and rooftop terraces, the Malecón at sunset, taco stands next to fine dining, and one of the most welcoming gay scenes in Latin America. The jungle-meets-ocean geography means warm surf in the morning and green hills behind you.
Puerto Vallarta's fame took off after the 1964 filming of The Night of the Iguana nearby — the off-screen Elizabeth Taylor–Richard Burton romance put the town on the map, and their connected villas in the old town became a beloved local landmark.
Must-sees and must-dos
- The Malecón — the seaside promenade lined with bronze sculptures; we walk it most evenings.
- Zona Romántica / Emiliano Zapata — our home neighborhood, with Olas Altas and Los Muertos Beach.
- Los Muertos Pier — the sail-shaped landmark and water-taxi launch to southern beaches.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe church — the crowned steeple that defines the skyline.
- Boat trip to Yelapa or Las Animas — jungle coves reachable only by water.
- Mercado and taco crawls — the local food we plan whole evenings around.
Our pro tip
We've learned to base ourselves in the Zona Romántica and walk everywhere; it saves taxis and puts the best food and beach at your door.
Come in the dry winter months — our January and February stays are warm and rain-free, while summer is hot, humid and brings afternoon storms. Long stays beat short ones here; the town rewards slowing down.
Take a boat trip to Yelapa or Las Animas — jungle coves you can only reach by water.
If a hotel makes more sense for your trip, compare Puerto Vallarta hotels on Klook before booking. Klook has Puerto Vallarta hotel inventory, including properties such as Hotel Playa Conchas Chinas and Hilton Vallarta Riviera.