Puerto Vallarta Travel Diary

There’s so much to gain when exploring other cities, countries, and cultures. I’ve traveled to Mexico twice, but I’ve never visited a city like Puerto Vallarta which is so full of life, rich in culture, and accepting of the LGBTQ+ communities.

Puerto Vallarta

Where do I begin?! It was my partner and I’s first time in Mexico together. After doing tons of research, we were a little apprehensive about going because we didn’t know what the cultural response would be to our partnership despite the fact that Puerto Vallarta is one of the more LGBTQ+ friendly cities in Mexico. We were pleasantly surprised by how welcoming the community was and a huge part of that is attributed to the owner of the boutique hotel we stayed at in Old Town. Ken, the hotel owner, gave us some really great suggestions of places to go which ended up being some of the highlights of our trip. He and his partner were so welcoming and accommodating. We might as well have been staying with family.

After a long 10 hours of travel, we finally arrived to the hotel around 5:30pm. We were so tired the first night. So, we decided on a quiet dinner with the locals or so we thought. In our attempt to find a quick bite, we stumbled upon Los Muertos Brewing, an American owned brewery serving everything but tacos! Imagine that. Los Muertos is the city’s first craft brewery and brew pub with a menu full of burgers, sandwiches, and custom pizzas. Don’t judge us, we didn’t go looking for American food. To be honest, we were drawn in by three large tv’s airing the NBA semi-finals. It was the perfect find! My partner got to watch her team advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and we also got to meet the owner of the brewery. A cis white heterosexual male who is an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and also the only straight owned establishment in the area that is involved in Puerto Vallarta’s Pride.

LGBTQ+ Beach Club

The next day, we were ready to soak up some sun on the beach. We followed Ken’s recommendations and made our way to Mantamar, the LGBTQ+ Beach Club and Grill of the Almar Resort Hotel. I was ecstatic! The beach was full of men and women on the spectrum, which made us feel comfortable and right at home. Mantawar was pumping with music and positive vibes. We grabbed beach chairs, ordered cucumber margaritas, and enjoyed a day of partying under the burning sun. I’d elaborate, but let’s just say that I’m a lightweight who had one, two, or five too many drinks. Next year, I’ll think twice before partying with the boys.

Detox and Explore

As I’m sure you can imagine, the next morning I engaged in some serious detoxing. Fredy Tucan’s breakfast and brunch restaurant had everything I needed from freshly made juices to Belgian waffles and pancakes stacked with whipped cream and fruit. We become regulars, eating there just about every single day. Another amazing brunch location, which is also steps from the beach, is Coco’s Kitchen. All of their food was to die for. To name a few the gluten-free pancakes, greek omelette, and almond milk oatmeal.

Most mornings after brunch were spent exploring the Romantic Zone. One of the many treasures we came across during our explorations was the never-ending River Cuale Staircase. At the top there was this enchanted looking house that was seemingly built into the side of the mountain. It just so happened to be one of Elizabeth Taylor’s vacation homes! The cobblestone road in front of her house continued on for a about a half a mile West leading to the top of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. One of the city’s most charming landmarks.

On my birthday, we visited Sayulita – a small surfer village about an hour outside of the city. It kind of reminded me of Laguna Beach, California. We spent the day dodging the scorching heat, swimming in the Pacific Ocean, and indulging in Mahi-mahi fish nachos. Next year, we will definitely be spending more time there.

As the trip came to an end, our energy shifted. We weren’t ready for it to come to an end. Although it flew by, I’m happy that we decided to visit the LGBTQ+ friendly city. We are already planning our trip back. I can’t wait to return!

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