Puerto Vallarta's Gay Beach Haven

The jello shots just keep on arriving.

I have, on several occasions, declined, as it's not even eleven in the forenoon yet. I'm already holding a potent mixed drink, and we're only approximately an hour into a full-day journey all around Banderas Bay. I do not want to fall ill on a vessel!

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However, the service staff continue to offer, therefore I shall indulge in a few jello shots on this voyage.

It's tough to deny complimentary beverages, and it's even more difficult amidst the festive environment of Diana's gay and lesbian cruise, where spirits are high and the swimwear is skimpy.

Diana's Tour represents one of the most sought-after gay activities in Puerto Vallarta. As a matter of fact, it could well be one of the most favored gay activities anywhere.

An incredible ninety-seven point two percent of the Trip Advisor reviews evaluate Diana's as a five-star encounter, which has to be one of the highest percentages recorded.

By way of comparison, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon just receives an eighty-five point two percent five-star rating. There you have it - tangible proof that Diana's Tour is twelve percent more pleasurable than one of the wondrous marvels of the natural world!

Diana's is simply one of the reasons Puerto Vallarta is a premier LGBT destination. Is Puerto Vallarta gay-friendly? Indeed, absolutely!

Starting from the shores to the establishments to the bars, here's further proof that PV is an amazing gay getaway.

Top Gay Puerto Vallarta Activities

1. Nightlife

The most astonishing element about Puerto Vallarta might well be its impressive quantity of gay bars and clubs.

There are likely somewhere between one and two dozen of them, contingent upon how you categorize particular establishments - some locales are more "gay-supportive" than explicitly "gay."

They present everything here, from welcoming lounges with pavement seating to upscale rooftop martini bars to dingy dives to strip clubs, gay saunas, plus bathhouses.

Most of them can be discovered in the Zona Romantica, the "Old Town" neighborhood which is particularly welcoming to the LGBT community. Assuming you are residing in that area, almost all of the gay bars will be within walking distance.

The epicenter of the gay bar experience is focused on two bars right across the street from each other - Paco's Ranch and CC Slaughters.

Paco's is the go-to place for a cordial drink and a drag performance, whereas CC Slaughters (managed by the identical folks who run the extremely popular CC Slaughters in Portland) provides a great location to dance the entire night away.

One uncomplicated way to embrace the nightlife involves connecting with the Gay Vallarta Bar Hopping Tour, which is conducted a few times a week during tourist season.

Generally, bar-hopping tours don't appeal to me, seeing as I figure I can locate all the bars on my own with a slight bit of research.

But there's a reason why this particular tour is held in such high regard. For a single charge (commencing at seventy-five USD), all beverages, entrance fees, gratuities, photographs, plus a complete dinner are encompassed.

The team maintains affiliations with the bars, so they can swiftly move you past the queues straight inside, wherein your beverages will be waiting since they dispatch somebody ahead of time to place the orders. The operation reflects a model of efficiency.

The tour eliminates the laborious task of finding places to go. You might be able to ascertain on your own that Paco's and CC Slaughters are worth visiting, but excluding the tour, you might miss other exciting spots like Reinas, an unbelievably divey red-walled neighborhood venue that supplies hats and wigs to try on, and Act II, a sophisticated piano bar.

The bar-hopping tour typically takes off the less-visited months (July-September) but operates year-round otherwise.

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When it comes to explicit gay bar recommendations, La Noche is fantastic. It encompasses three floors, with drag shows and dancers on the inaugural floor, and an open-air rooftop on the top floor.

Industry is not necessarily designated as a gay bar, but given its position in the heart of Zona Romantica, it obtains a considerable amount of gay patrons. Industry has a dance floor plus plays more hip-hop than several of the other establishments.

2. Beaches

Puerto Vallarta's beaches are visually stunning, and there's a popular gay beach section not far from Los Muertos Pier. To locate the gay section, seek out the blue chairs of the beachfront bar/restaurant called, um, Blue Chairs.

To perplex issues a bit, not far from the blue chairs beach is yet another array of blue chairs belonging to the Mantamar Beach Club, another location favored by the gay community.

On the other side are the green chairs of Ritmos Beach Café, which equally has a considerable gay clientele since it absorbs the excess from Blue Chairs.

There isn't an officially-designated gay beach in Vallarta, however the beaches by Blue Chairs, Mantamar, and Ritmos are where the majority of the LGBT crowd tends to congregate.

That's assuredly the destination to go if you want to spend time with (or merely observe) other gay folks.

I passed an afternoon at the green chairs relishing cocktails and embracing the sights - the waves, the parasailers, the local vendors, the speedo-clad beach-goers. Great times!

3. LGBT-specific tours and events

The aforementioned Diana's tour is one that LGBT visitors really ought to attempt to plan. The all-day journey runs from October through July, attracting guests from around the globe, in addition to a handful of locals.

Update: Diana's tour is still going strong, currently priced around 2800 pesos, or one hundred sixty-five USD. It remains a good deal, and the tours continue to sell out.

Diana has been managing the tours for twenty-two years, and they frequently sell out beforehand, so do not delay until the final moment to book.

The cruise includes booze, hors d'oeuvres, a pit stop at a private beach, lunch at a beachfront eatery, and a snorkeling excursion at Los Arcos National Marine Park, a cluster of natural rock formations just offshore.

A plethora of tourists pay for separate snorkeling tours at Los Arcos; Diana's guests have the opportunity to have that experience as component of a significantly more exhilarating day.

Food tours, horseback rides, sunset party cruises, plus different gay tours and parties can be discovered in the city, especially around special events like Pride Week, which occurs in late May.

Gay marriage is legal in the entirety of the state of Jalisco, and even prior to its legalization, commitment ceremonies were conducted at Vallarta Pride.

4. Shops and businesses

Strolling around the Zona Romantica, it's simple to spot gay-friendly businesses everywhere. Massage parlors abound. Retail apparel stores have names like "Tops & Bottoms."

I secured a sweet tank top from RX Supplement & Buen Flex clothing. Buen Flex produces its products locally.

The shirts are manufactured from a very lightweight cotton ideal for the climate, as opposed to the heavier cotton tees typically observed in America.

For the insight on more local gay businesses, examine Gay PV Magazine, one of the preeminent resources for LGBT Puerto Vallarta information.

5. Spas, gay resorts, luxury activities

Virtually all the resorts and spas in PV are gay-friendly, so travelers with some cash to spend might wish to consider luxury experiences. (Should that not be your case, investigate our article on how to visit PV on a budget.)

Hotel Mercurio and Casa Cupula are two highly-rated hotels particularly designed for the gay crowd. The latter likewise features a restaurant called Taste that provides a popular brunch.

Different luxury options in Puerto Vallarta encompass Casa Velas, an all-inclusive resort which presents its own spa, swimming pool, plus beach.

Tequila originated right here in the state of Jalisco in the sixteen hundreds, thus tequila tastings are widespread all through the PV area. I enjoyed a tasting at the Marriott, which fabricates its own Casa Magna brand.

I couldn't quite distinguish the subtle differences amid the blanco, repasado, and anejo varieties. I'll just accept a shot of any of those, thank you.

Even the ATV tour I embarked on in the mountains incorporated a tequila tasting at the end!

Thus, when you are on your extraordinary gay Puerto Vallarta vacation, do not bypass any tequila opportunities that present themselves. And remember, as it's a local product, consuming tequila counts as a legitimate cultural experience.

And I didn't even allude to the fantastic restaurants! What are your preferred motives to visit Puerto Vallarta?

By the way, I equally advise Zipolite and Mazunte as another gay-friendly Mexican beach destination. It has a hippie vibe, also a nude beach and hotel where a large number of LGBT travelers tend to visit.

Gay Puerto Vallarta: Additional Tips for Cash & ATMs

You might find yourself running out of currency while bar hopping, in which instance you will need to be acquainted with your options.

Credit cards. Several of the gay bars in Zona Romantica do not accept credit cards. One bar which does take credit cards is Industry, but there's a three hundred peso minimum.

US dollars. Many of the bars accept US dollars for payment, as there are so many American tourists who visit PV. I was able to expend US dollars at Reinas one night when I was out of pesos. Nevertheless, the exchange rate is generally not optimal. Thus, pay using pesos if you possess them.

ATMs. Where is it possible to locate an ATM in Zona Romantica Puerto Vallarta? It becomes a bit tricky. There's an ATM situated between Mr. Flamingo and La Cantina Margarita, but it actually disburses US dollars instead of pesos. Boo!

If you need an ATM that dispenses pesos, your best bet is to visit Farmacia Guadalajara, which is a grocery store right across the street from Reinas. It's open late at night and has an ATM inside.

As an added perk, there exist some food trucks nearby that stay popular for late-night bar hoppers.

Note: On my initial visit to Puerto Vallarta, I was a guest of the local tourism board, implying that a number of my costs were covered. This guide has been updated with updated recommendations from my later visits.