Are you planning a vacation to Puerto Vallarta but not sure what’s the best area or zone to stay in? Picking the right neighborhood can save time and even money that you might spend on transportation if you aren’t in an area that fit your needs.
When I planned my first trip to Vallarta, I didn’t know what zone to pick either. Fortunately now, I’ve been able to visit a few times and have stayed in several different neighborhoods. By having the opportunity to stay in four of the five zones, I’ve been able to see firsthand what worked for me and what didn’t. Hopefully sharing this info will help YOU make a better decision about the best area to stay Puerto Vallarta.
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Where is Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta is on Mexico’s Pacific coast, in the state of Jalisco. One of the things that makes it so appealing is it’s location on the Bay of Banderas. The bay is the third largest in Mexico, and since Puerto Vallarta lies almost in the middle of it, it means there’s about 30 miles of coast line filled with beautiful beaches, hotels and resorts.
The neighborhoods or zones, basically wrap around the Bay of Banderas, so there’s a multitude of choices of where to stay. You can see why picking one could be difficult.
When is the Best Time to Visit Puerto Vallarta?
While I personally would visit Puerto Vallarta at any time of the year, there are some times when you can count on better weather and less crowds.
High Season
November thru mid April is considered high season in Puerto Vallarta because of the perfect weather. It’s the time of year when the snow birds, Canadians and Americans, begin there migration south to wait out winter in their home countries. It’s also the dry season so that means it doesn’t rain. Average temperature is 82F.
Easter Week or la Semana Santa is also a popular time for Puerto Vallarta. Many people take the entire week and vacation with their families.
Low Season
By May things have really slowed down. Weather wise, it’s still a great time to visit and you can find really good deals on lodging. It’s warm but not so humid yet.
June means the beginning of the rainy season. Expect hotter and more humid weather. The average temp is 88F. This continues through about mid October. Fortunately, when it rains it usually only rains in the evening and at night so your days shouldn’t be affected too much. Although it could be a little overcast during the day even when it’s not raining. July through October is still rainy and hurricane season.
What Are the Hotel Zones in Puerto Vallarta?
There are five main areas or hotel zones in Puerto Vallarta. They are:
- Marina Vallarta
- The Hotel Zone
- Downtown
- The Romantic Zone
- The South Zone
SouthernerSays: you might see some maps that include Nuevo Vallarta but technically it isn’t Puerto Vallarta or even Jalisco for that matter. On some maps the Hotel Zone is divided into north and south. For simplicity, I have left it all as one zone.
Marina Vallarta
The Marina Vallarta zone includes the marina neighborhood and also the area around the airport. This area also includes the main bus terminal and International Convention center. Even though they are the same zone, the accommodations in the marina are very different from the more chain like hotels around the airport.
Where to Stay in Marina Vallarta
The first time I went to Puerto Vallarta, I traveled by bus from Guadalajara. I knew I would be getting in late and at that point I didn’t really know what I was going to do while I was there or if I would even like it. The bus station is close to the airport so I decided to look for something close by in this area for the first night. That way if I was delayed or really tired, I wouldn’t have to travel far after a long bus ride.
I chose City Express to stay in on my first night in PV. It’s on the airport side, or the east side of the main road, Mexico 200. It was perfect for what I needed. City Express is a chain of Mexican hotels geared more towards the business traveler. The hotel was reasonably priced and exceptionally clean. From my room facing the bay, I was even able to see the cruise ships come into the marina.
Even though it was great for that night I arrived, I wouldn’t stay long term because I’d love to be closer to the beach. However, it would work great if you are going to travel around the region. The hotel has a pool, complimentary breakfast and free parking.
Getting Around
City Express is just a quick ride from the airport or bus station and about a fifteen minute ride to downtown. It’s also an excellent area if you have a car because most hotels in this area have free parking available onsite.
This area is best for:
- travelers needing a room for a night
- someone exploring the region and areas north
- someone with a car
The Marina Side
On the west side or the bay side of Mexico 200, is the actual Marina Vallarta. It’s a working marina boats and boat storage. The area is really it’s own little city. You can find everything here. It has restaurants, shops, spas, hair salons, golf courses, a post office and so much more.
Despite the fact that this area of Puerto Vallarta doesn’t have much beach access, unless you stay at one of the resorts on the beach, it’s still one of my favorite areas. Quiet tree lined streets with condos and private homes surround the marina and provide a place to relax and get away from it all but you are still close enough to the action of the marina.
San Tropico Hotel is the hotel I stayed in the Marina Zone. The name says hotel but it’s more condo than anything. It has beautiful manicured grounds and a very nice pool area. Even though I’m usually a beach girl, their pool made cheating on the beach very easy. It’s even slightly heated.
I had a two bedroom condo with a complete kitchen. The entire wall in the living room opened to a huge balcony. I can definitely see why this is a popular place for snowbirds.
The staff was super nice as well. When I checked in early, they not only kept my luggage, they let me go hang out around the pool even though it was early in the morning.
Onsite, there’s a bar that serves breakfast, drinks and beer through out the day. If you decide to roll out of your lounge chair and be a little more active, there are yoga classes poolside too.
Getting Around
The marina is about ten minutes from the airport and ten minutes to downtown. While it is a popular area, it might be a little more complicated getting a taxi to pick you up since these streets are residential and less commercial.
You shouldn’t have a problem with Uber although you may have to wait a little longer. Transportation is readily available in the marina shopping area. And if you don’t mind walking, you could walk to the marina and even catch a local bus to take you downtown.
If you have a car, parking could be an issue in the marina and even on the streets. Check with your hotel to see if they have parking available on the premises.
This area is best for:
- couples
- families
- snowbirds or long term
- someone who doesn’t mind walking
The Hotel Zone
Probably the most popular area of Puerto Vallarta is the hotel zone. Full of hotels and condominiums, it’s pretty large and runs along the beaches of north of downtown. This is where you will find the biggest concentration of the bigger resorts. While there are hotels on the city side of the main road, the majority are on the beach side. If you are a beach lover, this area is one of the best areas to stay in Puerto Vallarta.
It’s also the one area I haven’t stayed in. If I’m traveling solo, resorts are really not my thing. I prefer a smaller more intimate place. However, if I was looking to book a room at one of the resorts in this area, I would check out:
Friendly Vallarta– a modern 4 star resort with beautiful grounds right on the beach
Canto del Sol Plaza Vallarta– a smaller modern resort with Mexican touches
Sunset Plaza Beach Resort– an all inclusive resort and spa on the beach
The hotel zone is close to some of the biggest shopping in the city including a mall, however, you could easily stay on your hotel property and never leave if you didn’t want to.
Getting Around
Fifteen minutes from the airport, you would have no trouble with any type of transportation, including taxis and Uber. Buses run frequently on the main road in this area. You can easily hail a taxi or catch a bus to go downtown. Hotels should have parking if you have a car.
This area is best for:
- first time visitors
- beach lovers
- families
- couples
- girls trip
- solo traveler who wants to be around other tourists
Downtown
Downtown is another hotel zone I’ve been able to experience first hand. Even though I didn’t like where I stayed, I did like the neighborhood very much. It’s not as touristy and I feel like you get a more authentic experience. The first time I visited Vallarta, it was in February, peak season. It was a last minute trip and not knowing a lot about PV at the time, it was crowded so there weren’t a lot of rooms because it was Valentine’s Day week.
Where to Stay Downtown
I was able to snag a room in a smaller hotel in the 5 de Deciembre neighborhood in the Downtown zone called Hotel El Pescador. It’s in a great location and it looks nice on the outside but the rooms are a bit plain. I didn’t plan on being in the room much so I didn’t mind. And I thought it was clean until I came back to a room filled with white dust falling from the ceiling. It was a powdery mold and it was all over everything. Including the bed and my clothes.
Long story short, they gave me three different rooms over the course of three days. The next room, the air conditioning leaked all over the floor and everything in the floor. Not just slightly but like an inch of water during the night. So I had to wait it out. The next room had no air conditioning. Thankfully that wasn’t an issue at this time of the year because it was still mild weather in February.
I travel a lot and I know things happen. My biggest issue wasn’t the room(s) and the inconvenience of moving but how they handled the problem. They didn’t care. There was no understanding that I didn’t get what I paid for. They also offered nothing in return. No apologies, no discount, not even a meal at their restaurant. I mean, how hard would that have been to give me? Things go wrong at hotels, that I accept, but the way they handled it was unacceptable.
Getting Around
The Downtown area is more or less fifteen minutes from the airport. Public transportation, Uber and taxis are plentiful and as long as your hotel has parking you would be okay with a car. It’s also a great walking neighborhood and as I mentioned, just a short distance from the start of the malecon.
This area is best for:
- solo travelers
- couples
- snowbirds
- exploring the center city
- beach lovers
- returning visitors
The Romantic Zone
If you are looking to capture a piece of old Mexico on your vacation in Puerto Vallarta, then look no further than the Romantic Zone or La Zona Romantica or Old Town. My favorite area in Puerto Vallarta.
Situated south of the Rio Cuale, which divides the downtown area, the Romantic Zone is full of smaller budget friendly hotels, boutique hotels, inns, condos and even a hostel or two. There are a few larger hotels but no mega resorts like in the hotel zone. It also has the highest concentration of restaurants and bars in all of Puerto Vallarta.
In the Romantic Zone, you are just steps from the beautiful Los Muertos beach, the iconic Puerto Vallarta pier and the malecon.
Where to Stay
I’ve stayed at two properties in the Romantic Zone. Both are on the small side but perfect for the solo traveler. In typical Mexican fashion, the rooms face inside to courtyards. These types of properties are also very safe since the gate to the courtyard is locked nightly. Don’t worry if you come back after it’s locked; there is always someone there to let you in.
Hotel Posada de Roger is the first property I stayed at in the Romantic Zone. It’s an adorable little inn with rooms on the smaller side but they have some larger rooms and even suites for families. For people there long term or that want to cook, there’s a communal kitchen. They also have a restaurant and their pool is adorable.
Hotel Yasmin is the other place I’ve stayed in the Romantic Zone. It’s next to my favorite restaurant, Cafe de Olla. I started going to the restaurant first and when I found out they owned the hotel I decided to give it a try to. It’s the cutest place decorated with bright cheery furniture and plants in a typical Mexican style. They also have the most inviting pool in the courtyard.
Southerner Says: Hotel Yasmin is cash only.
Getting Around
If you choose this area, you are just about twenty minutes from the airport, with plenty of taxis and Ubers, if you even need them. The Romantic Zone is a super walking friendly neighborhood. Parking is somewhat limited so it’s not ideal for a rental car but there are a couple of public paid lots nearby.
The area is the best for:
- couples
- girls trip
- LGBT
- snowbirds
- first time visitors
- returning visitors
The South Zone
The South Zone is the area along the coastal road that takes you south towards Mismaloya. This area is known for it’s spectacular views. The jungles seem to spill into the ocean. It’s also where the big luxurious resorts and hotels are located. Many are perched high on the hillside and have stunning views of the Bay of Banderas. If you like resorts and a quieter vacation then this might be the best area to stay in Puerto Vallarta for you.
Where to Stay in the South Zone
I didn’t stay overnight but I had the opportunity to spend the day and dine at 5 star, Garza Blanca, an all inclusive gorgeous luxury resort set in the jungle.
Most of these resorts in the South Zone have restaurants on site, offer spa options and can even arrange tours or a driver for you. Besides the spas, the water and beaches are gorgeous here so anyone interested in water activities would love it. You can snorkel or dive the nearby los Arcos.
Getting Around
Since the South Zone is the farthermost zone from the airport so check with your hotel about an airport shuttles. If they don’t have one, you could still hire a taxi. Hiring one or getting an Uber to take you back to town could be a little more complicated due to the remoteness of the area.
The public buses stop at a few of the resorts on their way to Boca de Tomatlan so you could easily bus into the Romantic Zone. You can catch a south bound orange and white bus in the Romantic Zone for forty cents.
The area is best for:
- resort lovers
- romantic getaways
- beach lovers
- someone who wants to stay put
- visitors who have a car
- someone that doesn’t mind skipping the city center
The Best Area to Stay in Puerto Vallarta
Honestly, I really don’t think there is a bad location in Puerto Vallarta. Each one has it’s own unique features and advantages. Wherever you decide to stay, I know you will love it.
