Where to stay · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Where to stay in Puerto Vallarta
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Zona Romántica. Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars. Best alternatives — families: Zona Hotelera; budget: 5 de Diciembre.
Key facts
- First visit
- Zona Romántica
- Families
- Zona Hotelera
- Budget
- 5 de Diciembre
- Nightlife
- Zona Romántica
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Zona Romántica | Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars |
| Families | Zona Hotelera | Large beachfront hotels between the town and the marina |
| Couples | Zona Romántica | Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars |
| Budget | 5 de Diciembre | A local residential district just north of the Malecón |
| Luxury | Marina Vallarta | A yacht marina with a boardwalk, golf course and resort hotels |
| Nightlife | Zona Romántica | Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars |
| Food lovers | Zona Romántica | Cobbled streets, Los Muertos beach and the town's liveliest restaurants and bars |
| Solo travellers | 5 de Diciembre | A local residential district just north of the Malecón |
| Quiet stays | Marina Vallarta | A yacht marina with a boardwalk, golf course and resort hotels |
| Beach | Zona Hotelera | Large beachfront hotels between the town and the marina |
Puerto Vallarta neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, food lovers and couples
Zona Romántica
South of the Río Cuale, the Zona Romántica (also called the Old Town or Emiliano Zapata) packs boutique hotels, restaurants, galleries and bars around Calle Olas Altas and Basilio Badillo, two blocks from Playa Los Muertos and its sail-shaped pier. It is the centre of Vallarta's LGBTQ+ scene and the most popular base for walkers.
- Good
- Walk to beach, restaurants and nightlife; Water taxis from the pier; Strong neighbourhood character
- Watch out
- Noisy at night near the bars; Steep streets on the hillside; Busy in high season
- Nearby
- Playa Los Muertos, Los Muertos Pier, Isla Río Cuale, Basilio Badillo
$$ · Best for culture, first-timers and couples
Centro
El Centro is the original town on the hillside north of the river, with the Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the main plaza, the Malecón and steep lanes such as those of Gringo Gulch. Hotels are fewer and smaller than in the Zona Romántica, but it puts you at the heart of the seafront promenade.
- Good
- On the Malecón; Historic streets; Good-value guesthouses
- Watch out
- Rocky shore rather than sandy beach; Hilly lanes
- Nearby
- Malecón, Parroquia de Guadalupe, Gringo Gulch, Mirador de la Cruz
$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and food lovers
5 de Diciembre
This working neighbourhood north of the Centro has taco stands, small markets and guesthouses at lower prices, a short walk from the northern end of the Malecón. It feels more Mexican and less touristy than the Zona Romántica.
- Good
- Lower prices; Local food stands; Walk to the Malecón
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Busy main road traffic
- Nearby
- Malecón, Playa Camarones, Centro
$$$ · Best for families, beach and first-timers
Zona Hotelera
The Hotel Zone stretches along the bay north of town, with big resort hotels on wide beaches facing Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio and shopping centres across the road. It is convenient for the airport and has easy bus and taxi links to the Malecón.
- Good
- Big beaches and pools; Close to the airport; Plenty of all-inclusives
- Watch out
- Little local character; Stronger surf on some open beaches; Taxi or bus needed to reach town
- Nearby
- Playa de Oro, Marina Vallarta, Galerías Vallarta
$$$ · Best for families, luxury and quiet stays
Marina Vallarta
Built around a marina next to the airport, Marina Vallarta has a waterfront boardwalk of restaurants and cafés, a golf course, condominiums and beach resorts. Many whale-watching and sailing trips depart from here.
- Good
- Calm and orderly; Close to the airport; Departure point for boat tours
- Watch out
- Far from the old town; Crocodiles in the marina estuary; keep pets and children away from the water's edge
- Nearby
- Marina boardwalk, Airport, Playa de Oro
$$$$ · Best for families, luxury and beach
Nuevo Vallarta
North of the Ameca River in the state of Nayarit, Nuevo Vallarta is a planned resort area of large all-inclusive hotels on a long, gently sloping beach, with a marina and golf courses. It is about 20–30 minutes from the airport and further from the Malecón.
- Good
- Wide, calm beaches; Resort facilities for families; Close to Bucerías and Punta de Mita
- Watch out
- Isolated from town life; Car or taxi needed
- Nearby
- Nuevo Vallarta beach, Bucerías, Marietas Islands tours
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and quiet stays
Conchas Chinas and Amapas
Climbing the hills south of Los Muertos, Amapas and Conchas Chinas have villas, condos and small hotels with sweeping bay views, and stairs down to coves with tide pools. Zona Romántica's restaurants are a short taxi ride or a steep walk away.
- Good
- Spectacular views; Quiet and secluded; Snorkelling coves
- Watch out
- Very steep streets and stairs; Taxi needed at night
- Nearby
- Playa Conchas Chinas, Playa Los Muertos, Mismaloya road
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Zona Romántica | $$$ | Playa Los Muertos, Los Muertos Pier, Isla Río Cuale, Basilio Badillo |
| Centro | $$ | Malecón, Parroquia de Guadalupe, Gringo Gulch, Mirador de la Cruz |
| 5 de Diciembre | $ | Malecón, Playa Camarones, Centro |
| Zona Hotelera | $$$ | Playa de Oro, Marina Vallarta, Galerías Vallarta |
| Marina Vallarta | $$$ | Marina boardwalk, Airport, Playa de Oro |
| Nuevo Vallarta | $$$$ | Nuevo Vallarta beach, Bucerías, Marietas Islands tours |
| Conchas Chinas and Amapas | $$$$ | Playa Conchas Chinas, Playa Los Muertos, Mismaloya road |
Getting to your hotel
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is about 7 km north of the Centro, near Marina Vallarta, and the drive to the Zona Romántica takes about 20–30 minutes. Airport taxis charge fixed fares; cheaper city taxis and buses stop on the main road across the pedestrian bridge outside arrivals. Ignore timeshare sellers posing as information desks in the arrivals hall.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Puerto Vallarta for first-time visitors?
Zona Romántica. South of the Río Cuale, the Zona Romántica (also called the Old Town or Emiliano Zapata) packs boutique hotels, restaurants, galleries and bars around Calle Olas Altas and Basilio Badillo, two blocks from Playa Los Muertos and its sail-shaped pier.
+Where should families stay in Puerto Vallarta?
Zona Hotelera: Big beaches and pools.
+Which area of Puerto Vallarta is best for a budget stay?
5 de Diciembre ($): A local residential district just north of the Malecón.