Puerto Vallarta Offers LGBT Romance and Charm

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Puerto Vallarta Offers LGBT Romance and Charm
Incredible landscapes, enchanting corners, romantic dinner with a perfect sunset and a dream come true honeymoons
Tim Wilson
A native of Seneca, South Carolina, he arrived in Puerto Vallarta in 2008. Since 2010 he has been Editorial Director and owner of GAYPV Magazine.

In the early 1960’s, Puerto Vallarta was a typical Mexican fishing village which burst into prominence fueled by the tempestuous love affair between Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Hollywood discovered Puerto Vallarta and many creative gay Hollywood elite soon discovered the romance and charm of our city.

You might say the filming of The Night of the Iguana was the first step in making Puerto Vallarta a gay mecca See bit.ly/gaypv024.. Our city offers the LGBT community a truly romantic destination. Think of intimate boutique hotels, quaint inns, and cozy, bed and breakfasts overlooking a tropical, gay beach. Imagine how perfect this setting would be for the celebration of your relationship.

The Sierra Madre Mountains rise from the sea and nearby jungles team with exotic animals and fragrant flowers. Imagine how perfect such a place where would be for your next tropical adventure. Think about candlelight dining overlooking the endless Pacific and imagine the joy you will see in your beloved’s face. It’s all here in Puerto Vallarta, a Mexican gay friendly destination where misty blue mountains, lush jungles, and the endless sea meet. It is no coincidence that the gay area of Puerto Vallarta's old town is called the Romantic Zone. Our cobblestone streets are narrower; massive rubber trees form a canopy over the streets; and scents of bougainvillea and jasmine fill the air.

The setting is intimate Mexican colonial and everything you might wish for is within easy walking distance. Zona Romantica is the center of our LGBT community and home to many full time, LGBT residents. From the Rio Cuale and south to the seahorse at Almar Resort , LGBT life unfolds in one of the most beautiful places on earth. By day, gay life is centered on the beach which stretches from Mantamar to Sapphire Ocean Club.

Our city offers the LGBT community a truly romantic destination.

Watch the pelicans swoop and scoop up lunch and the dolphins and whales (in season) cavort in the bay, while you sip and snack. Relax on the sand and enjoy our gorgeous sunsets which welcome the romance of night.

At night in the Romantic Zone, the city’s twenty-plus gay bars and clubs come alive. (We boast more LGBT action than most large international destinations.) Most of the gay bars in Puerto Vallarta, like Sama, Anónimo, Apaches, and La Margarita, are intimate spaces where it is easy to talk and carry on a conversation. Add the host of clothing shops which cater to our needs; toss in gay and gay-friendly art galleries; and season it with activities such as Diana's Gay and Lesbian Cruise and you will taste the flavors of our LGBT life. Top-up your night with gay cabaret and late night disco clubs like CC Slaughter’s and relish our life which offers something for every LGBT traveler.

Our boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts exemplify the romantic quaintness of Puerto Vallarta. Almost all the LGBT owned properties are less than 25 rooms. Nestled in the lush tropical hills of Amapas overlooking Zona Romantica is Puerto Vallarta’s most luxurious, gay boutique hotel--- Casa Cupula and its fine-dining restaurant, Taste. Constantly rated the top LGBT boutique hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Casa Cupula offers sophisticated lodging for LGBT travelers and friends.

Another LGBT boutique property is Villa Mercedes. The hotel´s colonial Mexican architecture and cubist wall paintings capture the essence of Mexico. The ten-room Villa David, located in the EL Centro zone and just a short walk from Zona Romantica, is another charming property. This hacienda style mansion built around a courtyard with a tiled pool oozes romance. Planted with birds of paradise, orchids, bougainvilleas, and night blooming jasmine, it is a great place to sit and read, play games, talk, or just hold hands.

Although gay weddings are not approved in Puerto Vallarta’s State of Jalisco, civil unions are legal for citizens. Most couples go to Mexico City where gay marriage is legal, and return to Puerto Vallarta for their honeymoons. (See bit.ly/gaypv027). Several beachfront commitment ceremonies have been performed at Si Senor and Blue Chairs. Last year in May, Sapphire Beach Resort hosted a mass, symbolic LGBT commitment ceremony during Vallarta Gay Pride Week (www.vallartapride.com). There are many luxurious villas that are perfect for LGBT ceremonies. You can book Villa Savana or choose a villa from Ron Morgan Properties. Jim Lee Events, the number one wedding planner from Dallas, Texas, operates in Puerto Vallarta and can handle all your details.

If gay marriage were legal in Puerto Vallarta’s State of Jalisco, tourism would increase. LGBTQ couples would have the best of both worlds a wedding ceremony and honeymoon destination, all in one of the most romantic places on earth.

Typically, gay weddings are more intimate than mainstream weddings because their guest lists are smaller. So why would gay marriages be important for tourism in destinations like Puerto Vallarta? For example, gay couples spend three times more on weddings than on commitment ceremonies. Although gay couples do spend less on their weddings than heterosexuals, gay couples spend a lot more on their honeymoons. That means: hotels sell more room nights; restaurants serve more diners; and support services, like flower suppliers, tour companies and travel operators, have more clients.

The most popular months for weddings are June, August, and September.  Mexico is the world´s leading wedding/honeymoon destination. This is a slower season for Puerto Vallarta. If gay marriage were legal in Puerto Vallarta’s State of Jalisco, tourism would increase. LGBTQ couples would have the best of both worlds--- a wedding ceremony and honeymoon destination, all in one of the most romantic places on earth. How intimate would that be!

Tim Wilson
A native of Seneca, South Carolina, he arrived in Puerto Vallarta in 2008. Since 2010 he has been Editorial Director and owner of GAYPV Magazine.