Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta (Best Areas & Places) (2024)

👉 Jump to: Best Places to Stay in Puerto Vallarta | | Tips | FAQ

I have stayed in every popular Puerto Vallarta neighborhood. Your choice of where to stay in Puerto Vallarta can majorly affect how much you enjoy your trip!

Each of Puerto Vallarta’s different areas has its own vibe, so you need to choose wisely. Travelers looking for a lively area might like the Romantic Zone, while others might prefer the idea of sipping co*cktails at an infinity pool in the Hotel Zone or a private beach in the South Zone.

In this article, I’ll break down exactly where to stay in Puerto Vallarta for every type of traveler. Let’s start with a quick roundup of the best places to stay in Puerto Vallarta, then we’ll deep dive into the city’s areas. If you prefer, you can also read my ranking of the best hotels in Puerto Vallarta.

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Best Places to Stay in Puerto Vallarta

Just looking for a quick answer on the best places to stay in Puerto Vallarta? Here are my top picks:

• 🌟 Best Overall Hotel – Hyatt Ziva
• 👉 Best Value – Hotel Mio Vallarta
• 💖 Best in the Romantic Zone – Vallarta Shores
• 🛥️ Best Near Marina – The Westin Resort & Spa
• ✨ Best in Conchas Chinas – Patio Azul Hotelito Boutique
• 🏖️ Best Near the Malecon – The Paramar Beachfront
• 🏆 Best All-Inclusive – Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort
• 🛌 Best Hostel – Hostel Vallarta

Want more hotel suggestions? See my list of the best hotels in Puerto Vallarta.

Otherwise, let’s do a deep dive of the best areas and neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta:

6 Best Neighborhoods & Areas to Stay in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is longer than it is wide. The city hugs a north to south strip between the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Pacific Coast.

That means many places have great mountain or beach views, and pretty much every area of Puerto Vallarta is close to a beach. Of course some areas are better than others, so let’s rank the top Puerto Vallarta areas to stay in, starting with the best:

Zona Romantica (The Romantic Zone)

👉 View all top hotels in Zona Romantica on Booking.

👉 Best Area For LGBTQ Travelers, Dining & Nightlife | ✨ Best Romantic Zone Hotels: Vallarta Shores ($$$) • Casa Maria Hotel Boutique ($$)

When my partner Clara and I visit Puerto Vallarta, we usually try to stay in Zona Romantica (aka the Romantic Zone or Old Town Puerto Vallarta). Zona Romantica is the most walkable area of Puerto Vallarta and is home to many of Puerto Vallarta’s best restaurants, bars, and top things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

The Romantic Zone is also the center of Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant LGBTQ scene, and definitely the most popular place to stay in Puerto Vallarta for LGBTQ travelers.

To me, Zona Romantica feels like a mini town within Puerto Vallarta. It’s fairly compact, but packs so much into that space that many travelers who stay here barely leave the neighborhood.

The Old Town / Romantic Zone area is also home to the popular Los Muertos beach. But staying here means it is also easy to get to the less crowded and more tropical southern beaches like Mismaloya or Yelapa. Zona Romantica also connects to the Malecón, Puerto Vallarta’s beachfront boardwalk that extends into the neighboring Centro Puerto Vallarta area.

Overall, if I had to recommend just one area to stay in Puerto Vallarta, the Romantic Zone would be it. If you can, book one of the fantastic suites at the beachside Vallarta Shores.

Pros of Staying in Zona Romantica:

• Most walkable part of Puerto Vallarta
• Home to fantastic restaurants and bars
• Easy to get to the southern beaches
• Tons of boutique hotels around Old Town / Romantic Zone
• A very safe Puerto Vallarta neighborhood

Cons of Staying in Zona Romantica:

• Some parts of the Old Town area can be loud at night
• You have to cross the city to get to Puerto Vallarta International Airport
• You may have to walk up and down the hills a bit, depending on where you’re staying in Old Town
• No large supermarkets

Marina Vallarta

👉 View all top hotels in Marina Vallarta on Booking.

👉 Best Area For Families | ✨ Best Marina Vallarta Hotels: Westin Resort & Spa • Marriott Resort & Spa • Holiday Inn & Suites Marina & Golf

Located on the north side of Puerto Vallarta, Marina Vallarta is a developed area of beach resorts, hotels, and condos surrounding the Puerto Vallarta Marina. The Marina itself is a worthy attraction, and is worth a visit for a stroll even if you choose to stay elsewhere in Puerto Vallarta.

Pros of Staying in Marina Vallarta:

• Home to many of Puerto Vallarta’s top resorts (including my favorite, The Westin Resort, which has an unbelievable outdoor swimming pool)
• The Marina is fantastic for taking an evening stroll or grabbing a bite
• Very close to the Puerto Vallarta airport
• The Marina is one of the safest areas of Puerto Vallarta

Cons of Staying in Marina Vallarta:

• A fairly touristy area so does not offer the most authentic Mexican experience
• Not the city’s best beaches (and you have to watch out for crocodiles!)
• Located far from the (better) southern beaches

Zona Hotelera (the Hotel Zone)

👉 View all top hotels in the Hotel Zone on Booking.

👉 Best Area For Beach Resorts & All Inclusives | ✨ Best Zona Hotelera Hotels: Hotel Mio Vallarta • Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort

The largest concentration of hotels in Puerto Vallarta is in the aptly named Hotel Zone. This area is a narrow strip that runs between the main road and the beach between downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Marina. Apart from two shopping malls (Galerias Vallarta Shopping Mall and the La Isla Shopping Center), there is really much here except a ton of beaches and a ton of beach hotels.

While the Hotel Zone isn’t usually my personal pick for where to stay in Puerto Vallarta, it’s reasonably central and you have many of the best hotels in Puerto Vallarta to choose from.

If you’re looking for an adults-only property in the mid range price point, I highly recommend the fantastic rooftop at the Hotel Mio Vallarta. If you’re more of the all inclusive type, then the Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort is a great choice in this area too.

Pros of Staying in the Hotel Zone:

• Easy access to some of the best and largest stretches of beach in Puerto Vallarta
• Lots of all inclusive hotels to choose from
• Very centrally located, so easy to get around

Cons of Staying in the Hotel Zone:

• It’s a fairly empty (in my opinion, boring) area, so be sure to pick a good hotel
• This area gets bombarded with day trippers from cruise ships during port days

Conchas Chinas

👉 View all top hotels in Conchas Chinas on Booking.

👉 Best Area For Romantic Getaways | ✨ Best Conchas Chinas Hotels: Patio Azul Hotelito Boutique • Mondavi Wellness Resort & Spa • Grand Miramar Suites

If you’re looking for where to stay in Puerto Vallarta for a romantic getaway or for a peaceful and relaxing retreat, I’d suggest the exclusive Conchas Chinas area.

Located around a mountain bend just south of Zona Romantica, this hillside neighborhood offers some of the most fantastic views over Banderas Bay. If you’re visiting during whale watching season and squint, you can probably even see a whale from your hotel room’s private balcony or rooftop terrace!

If you like art and design, stay in my favorite boutique hotel: Patio Azul Hotelito. Or if you want more space and a suite, check out the fantastic but affordable Mondavi Wellness Resort. I stayed in both and loved them.

It’s important to understand that Conchas Chinas is geographically separated from the rest of Puerto Vallarta by the hills. This makes it quiet, serene, and peaceful. But it also means it’s not the liveliest area, and you do have to contend with steep inclines on most of the streets. Still, for a romantic getaway, this is the place to be in Puerto Vallarta.

Pros of Staying in Conchas Chinas:

• Incredible views over Banderas Bay
• Very quiet, safe, and secluded
• Conchas Chinas is a hidden beach that is rarely crowded

Cons of Staying in Conchas Chinas:

• It’s very hilly so you need Ubers or need to hike
• Very few restaurants, no bars, and only one convenience store

Centro / 5 de Diciembre (“Downtown Puerto Vallarta”)

👉 View all top hotels in Downtown Puerto Vallarta on Booking.

👉 Best Area For Budget Travelers | ✨ Best Downtown Hotels: The Paramar Beachfront Boutique • Villa Premiere Boutique Hotel • CASA MARÍA MALECÓN

Centro and 5 de Diciembre are technically two different Puerto Vallarta neighborhoods, but together they essentially comprise Puerto Vallarta’s downtown area. This is where you’ll find Puerto Vallarta’s Spanish colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and iconic landmarks like the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Malecón boardwalk.

Puerto Vallarta can be very touristy and foreigner-dominated, but this is one area where there is a bit more of a mix of Mexican tourists, locals, and foreigners. Also, if you’re wondering where to stay in Puerto Vallarta on a budget, you’ll find plenty of affordable hotels, hostels, and boutiques here.

Pros of Staying in Centro or 5 de Diciembre :

• Central, with easy access to the Malecón boardwalk
• More affordable accommodation options
• A slightly more authentic Mexican vibe than other popular parts of Puerto Vallarta

Cons of Staying in Centro or 5 de Diciembre:

• Parts of these neighborhoods can be a bit lively, and thus loud
• Relatively few beaches (instead there is a boardwalk)

Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone & Southern Beaches

👉 Best Area For Beach Getaways | ✨ Best Southern Beach Hotels: Hyatt Ziva • Garza Blanca Preserve Resort • Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort • Barceló (Mismaloya)

Want to know a secret about Puerto Vallarta? The best beaches in Puerto Vallarta are not actually within the city limits: they are actually dotted along the southern coastline where the lush Sierra Madre Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Vallarta’s south zone includes secluded beach areas like Mismaloya, Playa Palmares, and Boca de Tomatlan. Further south via water taxi from Boca de Tomatlan, you can find even more secluded tropical beach towns like Yelapa, home to a stunning golden sand beach. Most are located in bays or coves against the dramatic setting of the mountains, and the lush ambiance reminds me a lot of Southeast Asia.

You can find many all inclusive resorts and luxury hotels in Puerto Vallarta here. My overall top hotel in Puerto Vallarta, the fantastic Hyatt Ziva, even has its own private cove!

Just realize that Ubers and taxis to Puerto Vallarta can be scarce at night, so the South Zone is really a place to stay only if you don’t plan to leave your all inclusive resort or if you are renting a car (use Discover Cars to find the best deals).

Pros of Staying in Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone Beaches:

• Some of the most beautiful golden sand beaches in Mexico
• Fantastic all inclusive resorts, many with a private beach
• Quiet, peaceful, and secluded

Cons of Staying in Puerto Vallarta’s South Zone Beaches:

• It’s 20-40 minutes from central Puerto Vallarta, along a winding mountain road, so you need a car or taxis to get around
• Very few restaurants or conveniences outside of the resorts

Tips for Staying in Puerto Vallarta

Summers Are Hot and Muggy

The first time I visited Puerto Vallarta was during June and July, and I honestly had a rough introduction to the city because it was just so incredibly hot and muggy. During the summer Puerto Vallarta gets a ton of rain. While it’s fortunately usually not the kind of rain that runs all day, when it rains it really pours – so much so that the streets often flood.

For this reason, I would try to avoid visiting this part of Mexico during summer. The best time to visit Puerto Vallarta for good weather is generally between November and May, when it is sunny and dry. Just note that December through March is the high season, so prices are higher during this time.

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Come for Whale Watching Season

High season in Puerto Vallarta coincides with whale watching season. Banderas Bay absolutely fills up with humpback whales from mid-December to early March. If you come during this period, you’re more or less guaranteed to see a whale. You are also likely to see dolphins on your cruise and, if you’re lucky, maybe even manta rays or sea turtles.

🐋 Pro Tip: Whale watching is popular so book in advance. Go here to browse Viator’s top Puerto Vallarta whale watching tours.

Fireworks Are a Nightly Event in Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta absolutely loves fireworks. Coming for New Year’s to see Banderas Bay lit up front end to end is an absolute spectacle. But, no matter when you visit Puerto Vallarta, you’re likely to catch a few fireworks in the evenings.

Many of the best hotels in Puerto Vallarta – such as my favorite, The Westin Resort & Spa – put on nightly fireworks shows you can catch from most anywhere with a view over the bay.

The InDriver App Works Better Than Uber

Uber does work in Puerto Vallarta, but often wait times can start to get a little excessive. Most locals and local drivers prefer another app called InDriver. It works pretty similarly to Uber, but the key thing to know is that you have to pay in cash (and the drivers usually don’t have change). I usually find that InDriver has way more cars available in Puerto Vallarta than Uber.

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Power Outages Are Common in Puerto Vallarta

Power outages are a reality of life in Puerto Vallarta. Particularly during the summer, many areas of Puerto Vallarta experience near-nightly power outages (usually during summer storms).

If you’re staying in a luxury resort or a luxury hotel, they may have a backup generator. Otherwise, you’ll just need to come prepared to wait it out (in my experience, they last anywhere from a few minutes to all night long). It helps to have a backup power bank for your electronics (I use the excellent Anker PowerCore).

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Get a Place With a Great View

One of the best things about Puerto Vallarta is that the topography of the Sierra Madre Mountains plunging into the Pacific Ocean means that most of the best Puerto Vallarta hotels offer incredible ocean views.

Check out my guide to the best Puerto Vallarta hotels for inspiration.

Or you can just book some of my favorite hotels in Puerto Vallarta with great views: Patio Azul Hotelito Boutique or Mondavi in Conchas Chinas are great choices.

The Hotel Mio Puerto Vallarta in the hotel zone also has great views from the rooftop outdoor pool. All are fantastic can’t-miss places to stay in Puerto Vallarta with epic views.

Book Early if Visiting Puerto Vallarta During a Holiday

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular destination during the holiday season, especially for New Year’s. It also has surges of traffic during Spring Break and around American Thanksgiving. If visiting during these times, be sure to book your Puerto Vallarta hotel well in advance.

Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to find Puerto Vallarta hotels that offer free cancellation. Just try a search of Booking’s top hotels in Puerto Vallarta.

You Can’t Go Wrong Staying in the Romantic Zone

If you’ve made it this far in the guide to the best places in Puerto Vallarta, they you may be the indecisive type. If that’s you, my advice is to just search hotels in the Romantic Zone and leave it at that. Unless you want an all inclusive resort, the Romantic Zone really is the most central and best overall area for staying in Puerto Vallarta. I think you can’t go wrong!

FAQs About Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta

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