Where to stay in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta sits on Bahía de Banderas on Mexico's Pacific coast, in the state of Jalisco. It is a resort city where the Sierra Madre Occidental meets the sea, with a marked dry season in winter and most rain falling between July and September. The city proper is compact enough that where you base yourself changes the character of your trip more than the distance you travel.
For a visitor, the city divides into four main areas: the hotel zone along the shore to the north, the Centro along the shore between the two, the Olas Altas – Colonia Emiliano Zapata area south of the Cuale river (often called Zona Romántica in tourist brochures), and residential areas to the east of the hotel zone. The oldest section is Col. Centro near the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, especially Hidalgo street. This guide covers the areas worth considering as a base, what kind of traveller each suits, and how each connects to the rest of the city.
Best areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta
1. Centro (Old Town)
Centro is the historic heart of the city, along the shore between the hotel zone and the Zona Romántica, with the oldest section near the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Hidalgo street. This is where you find moderately priced hotels, bed and breakfasts, apartments, villas and condominiums, along with hostels. It suits first-time visitors who want to walk to the main downtown attractions, restaurants and nightlife, and it puts you within a short walk of the beach and the Malecón.
Accommodation here ranges from budget hostels a minute from the beach to mid-range hotels two blocks from the beach and seven from the pier, some with pools and restaurants. Because this is the old town, expect a compact street layout rather than resort-style grounds.
2. Zona Romántica (Olas Altas – Colonia Emiliano Zapata)
South of the Cuale river, this area is known as Olas Altas – Colonia Emiliano Zapata and appears in some tourist brochures as Zona Romántica. It holds a concentration of moderately priced hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, apartments, villas and condominiums, and the south end of Old Town has a number of gay-friendly hotels. It suits budget travellers and anyone who wants a walkable base close to the beach and the old town's dining and nightlife.
Calle Francisco I. Madero is the street to know here: it hosts a group of similar, simple but clean hotels at very affordable prices, and it is a five to ten minute walk from the Malecón. The beach at the south end, Playa Los Muertos, is the area's anchor.
3. Hotel zone (Zona Hotelera)
The hotel zone runs along the shore to the north of Centro. This is where you find well-known international hotel chains and upscale villas and condominiums, alongside mid-range beachfront resorts and all-inclusive properties. It suits families and travellers who prefer resort facilities, private beaches, kids' clubs and pools over a historic street setting.
It is roughly two miles from the airport and about a mile from downtown Vallarta, so you can reach the old town easily while staying in a more self-contained environment. Some properties here sit on the beachfront with multiple restaurants and outdoor pools.
4. Marina Vallarta
Marina Vallarta is an exclusive zone built around the main channel of Mexico's biggest marina, on the bay. It holds upscale villas and condominiums, all-inclusive resorts and luxury boutique properties, several of them family-friendly and beachfront. It suits travellers who want a quieter, resort-oriented base with marina views and on-site dining.
It is a short drive from the airport and from downtown, so it works well if you plan to split your time between resort grounds and trips into the old town rather than walking everywhere.
5. East of Zona Romántica (Col. Benito Juarez)
The area east of the Zona Romántica, around Col. Benito Juarez, is a residential zone rather than a tourist district. It is the kind of place where you find hostel-style budget accommodation, and it suits travellers prioritising low cost over proximity to the beach.
It sits inland from the coast, so you should expect to walk or take transport to reach the beach and the old town's sights rather than stepping out onto them.
6. Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita
Further out around the Bay of Banderas, Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita hold well-known international hotel chains and upscale villas and condominiums. These suit travellers who want a resort stay away from the city proper, with the bay as the main draw.
They are outside the city, so a stay here means committing to the resort environment and travelling into Puerto Vallarta for the old town, the Malecón and the downtown restaurants.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: hostels, simple cheap hotels on streets such as Calle Francisco I. Madero in the Zona Romántica, and small hotels offering clean, basic rooms. Some budget rooms come with kitchenettes and private balconies.
- Mid-range: family-owned hotels, bed and breakfasts, apartments, villas and condominiums, and beachfront resorts in Centro, the hotel zone and Marina Vallarta. Expect options such as pools, restaurants, air conditioning and proximity to the beach or the Malecón.
- Splurge: international hotel chains, all-inclusive resorts and luxury boutique properties in the hotel zone, Marina Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita, with spa facilities, gourmet dining, beach clubs and marina or ocean views.
Best area for a first visit
Centro is the strongest base for a first visit. It puts you in the oldest part of the city, near the church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Hidalgo street, within walking distance of the main downtown attractions, the beach and the Malecón. From there you can explore the Zona Romántica and the hotel zone without committing your whole stay to a resort.
Frequently asked questions
Which area is best for walking to the main sights?
Centro and the Zona Romántica. Centro is within walking distance of the main downtown attractions, and in the Zona Romántica the hotels on Calle Francisco I. Madero are a five to ten minute walk from the Malecón.
Where should families stay?
The hotel zone and Marina Vallarta. Both hold family-friendly resorts, and the hotel zone has beachfront properties with pools, kids' clubs and multiple restaurants. Marina Vallarta's all-inclusive resorts are also family-oriented.
Where do budget travellers find the cheapest rooms?
The Zona Romántica, particularly Calle Francisco I. Madero, where a group of similar, simple but clean hotels offers very affordable prices. Hostel-style accommodation also exists east of the Zona Romántica and in Centro.
How far is the airport from the main areas?
The hotel zone is about two miles from the airport and about a mile from downtown. Centro hotels can be around twenty minutes from the international airport, and some properties in the hotel zone are roughly fifteen minutes away.
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