Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

Puerto Vallarta? Si, gracias!
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
by Jeff Guaracino
2015-06-23

This article shared 453 times since Tue Jun 23, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

      More Photos


Gay Pride in Puerto Vallarta in late May is a great time to visit. The high winter season has just ended and locals working in the tourism-dependent port city are ready for a party. In May, the water is warm, travel deals are plenty and fewer crowds. The snowbirds have gone home and the LGBT locals are ready to let their hair down during Vallarta Pride.

This year's Vallarta Pride drew celebrities such as designer Andrew Christian, Morganna Love and Viktoria Volkova for a week of parties, including a small but respectable pride parade. www.vallartapride.com

There is much to do in Puerto Vallarta from relaxing on beautiful beaches to swimming with dolphins with Dolphin Discovery ( www.dolphindiscovery.com ) or zip lining with Canopy el Indio ( www.canopyindio.com ). Go Gay can arrange private experiences ( www.gayguidevallarta.com ).

There are 14 gay bars, four dance clubs, five gay hotels, three boat cruises and one gay sauna ( and plenty of hot exotic dancers ). There are dozens of massage parlors for about $25 US.

The men-only Wet and Wild Boat Cruise is not to be missed. An all-day adventure for about 300 men, this booze cruise with a stop at an "anything goes" private beach encourages boys to be boys. You can expect nudity, dirty drinking games and free flowing libations. You know it is going to be a good cruise when the Andrew Christian models and Andrew Christian himself sets sail onboard. Alternatively, the Gay Bar Hopping Tour is a popular way to meet visitors and locals.

Located in the heart of the Zona Romantica ( the gayborhood ), MantaMar Beach Club Bar and Grill is the 'not-to-miss' daytime beach club in Puerto Vallarta. Bottom line MantaMar is the hub of gay "day life" with a live DJ and beautiful people watching. You can choose from beach chairs or poolside cabana service ( For a nominal fee ). From the moment you enter, you know that you arrived. MantaMar Beach Club is Miami fabulous without the attitude or the price tag. During Puerto Vallarta Gay Pride, MantaMar served as the hub for the Andrew Christian Fashion Show, the official press conference, the closing party and gay time parties. MantaMar draws everyone including a yacht that docked right off the beach. Insiders tip: call a few days ahead and reserve one of the premier poolside cabanas. They come with a minimal food and beverage guarantee and towel service fee ( less than 500 Mexican Pesos ). Check out www.mantamarvallarta.com .

CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa is located in the Marina district is perfect for those seeking the ultimate in Mexican luxury. The IGLTA and Tag-approved hotel is massive with 400 rooms most with commanding water views and all of the amenities that would make even the fussiest of American LGBT travelers comfortable. Morning breakfasts by the sea can be followed by dinners overlooking the lush landscaped grounds. If food is your passion, don't miss the Japanese restaurant Mikado. The spa and gym ( recently renovated ) are considered the best in the resort destination. Located only minutes from the airport, the center of the gay scene is about 30-minute cab ride and costs about 130 Mexican Pesos ( about US $9 ). CasaMagna is ideal for mixed travel parties where men, women and families ( gay and straight ) can feel right at home. Compared to the high-sexual temperature of Puerto Vallarta's gay hotels, this hotel is so low-sexual temperature that you have to BYOP—bring-your-own-porn. www.puertovallartamarriott.com

For those looking for luxury in the heart of the "gayborhood," explore Villas Enrique in Los Muertos Beach overlooking Banderas Bay. The private villas could be a good choice for a group of men looking for an intimate stay but with the conveniences of a hotel including daily maid service ( except Sundays ) and a concierge. You are so close to the gay nightlife that you can stumble home no matter how many shots of tequila you've enjoyed at daily happy hour with the "hot Go Go Boys" next door at Blue Chairs Resort By the Sea's rooftop sunset bar. www.villasenrique.com

For those looking for an authentic Mexican experience, a stay at the boutique Rivera Del Rio Hotel is the ultimate choice for travelers who want to experience local culture. Located in the heart of a working-class Mexican neighborhood and convenient to all of the gay bars, clubs and beach, this mansion is the antithesis of the American-style resorts but with service that rivals any Five-Star hotel concierge. Taxi drivers are hard-pressed to find the hotel but that is what makes this "off the beaten track" getaway so desirable. The hotel is the ultimate resort for those looking to connect with the local community. Among the many services you can enjoy an in-suite massage and a private cooking lesson with goods you and your chef purchased at the local food market. This hotel brings a new definition to eating like a local. www.riveradelrio.com

Local officials say Puerto Vallarta is gaining a reputation for destination weddings—especially popular with the lesbians. Costa Sur Hotel gorgeously situated on the mountainside has hosted 30 same-sex ceremonies and has developed a smart, respectful program catering to LGBT couples. Gay-owned R Salon located in the heart of the Zona Romantica specializes in weddings. www.costasurpuertovallarta.com

Alaska Airlines is the official sponsor of Gay Pride Puerto Vallarta. Flying Alaska Airlines supports Puerto Vallarta Pride because the airline flies in the performers, models and other participants.

You need a valid U.S. passport to travel to Mexico and no visa is required. Don't forget to keep your exit ticket given to you by the Mexican authorities upon arrival. You will need it to depart the country. Locals say it is best to avoid August and September since both months bring high humidity and rain. Winter months are exceptional.

To find information including websites, addresses and more, go to the official tourism website at www.visitpuertovallarta.com .

Jeff Guaracino is the author of Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing.


This article shared 453 times since Tue Jun 23, 2015
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

Baby Tate grows up with 'Sexploration' 2024-01-10
- The multitalented pansexual artist Baby Tate has plenty to say on her Sexploration: The Tour. She's packing up her "Wig" and traveling to Chicago to perform an inclusive set of songs such as "Luv Everybody" at ...


Gay News

Disney exhibition chronicles a century of entertainment history 2023-11-21
- Disney100, a large-scale traveling exhibition marking the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company, has opened at the Exhibition Hub Art Center, 2367 W. Logan Blvd., in Bucktown. Hundreds of props and artifacts from the company's ...


Gay News

Club Q shooting survivors to speak at Chicago's Beer Culture Summit 2023-10-15
- Last November, Jessica Fierro traveled back to Colorado after speaking at the annual Chicago Beer Culture Summit. Just one week later, her family changed forever at Club Q, a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs. Her daughter's ...


Gay News

Newsom ends California's travel ban against anti-LGBTQ+ states 2023-09-14
- On Sept. 13, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he signed SB 447 by Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), which ends the state's restriction on taxpayer-funded travel by state agencies and departments ...


Gay News

After HRC's State of Emergency declaration, Canadian government recognizes threat of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation 2023-08-30
--From a press release - WASHINGTON— Just two months after the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a National State of Emergency in response to the unprecedented and dangerous onslaught of anti-LGBTQ laws passed across the country, the Canadian government has updated ...


Gay News

Stonewall veteran Miss Major visits Brave Space Alliance 2023-08-09
- Miss Major, a Black transgender activist who has fought for more than 50 years for her trans/gender nonconforming community, is on tour to call attention to anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ laws across the country. Traveling with her ...


Gay News

Illinois Poor People's Campaign to join faith leaders from 30+ states on Capitol Hill to demand action 2023-06-18
--From a press release - WASHINGTON - Poor, impacted people, advocates and faith leaders with the Illinois Poor People's Campaign will travel to Capitol Hill June 19-21 to highlight poverty as an American death sentence and demand action to end murder ...


Gay News

Travel consultants release best and worst countries for trans rights 2023-06-06
- Asher & Lyric have released "The 203 Best (& Worst) Countries for Trans Rights in 2023." This new study is an accompaniment to its annual LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index to specifically address trans issues. The countries ...


Gay News

Yucatan adventures--with an LGBTQ+ twist--await in Mexico 2023-06-05
- The Yucatan region lies between the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea in southeastern Mexico. It is home to the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo, and features a variety of destinations appealing to LGBTQ+ ...


Gay News

WORLD Zero Discrimination Day, African countries, facility damaged, travel items 2023-03-10
- On Zero Discrimination Day this year (March 1), under the theme "Save lives: Decriminalize," UNAIDS showed how the decriminalization of key populations and people living with HIV saves lives and helps advance the end of the ...


Gay News

SAVOR Peruvian spot Tanta; fundraiser for The Evolved Network 2023-03-09
- One of the best things about Chicago cuisine is that you can travel the world without ever leaving the Windy City. The River North spot Tanta (118 W. Grand Ave.; https://www.tantachicago.com/) embodies one such example. Tanta ...


Gay News

The Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade turns 25 2022-11-02
- The legendary Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade returned for the 25th time on Oct. 31. Kicking off at 7:30 p.m. from Halsted Street and Belmont Avenue, the parade route traveled north before looping back to a large ...


Gay News

Esquire: Chicago has three of the country's 'most fun' LGBTQ+-inclusive bars 2022-10-27
- Esquire magazine's editorial staff curated a list of the "most fun and inclusive LGBTQ+-friendly bars"—and the choices may seem surprising. The magazine chose the Uptown spots Big Chicks and Carol's Pub as well as the Andersonville ...


Gay News

ATTRACTIONS SkyBridge Michigan opens as world's longest timber-towered suspension bridge 2022-10-25
- SkyBridge Michigan is now open as the world's longest timber-towered suspension bridge. After more than a year in the works, SkyBridge Michigan made its debut to the public on Oct. 15, hosting thousands of guests on ...


Gay News

Philadelphia hosts street renaming ceremony for gay tourism expert 2022-10-11
- On Oct. 11, Philadelphia officials will honor the late civic pride booster, celebrated author and former Visit Philadelphia President/CEO Jeff Guaracino by renaming a portion of South 13th Street after the tourism marketer and LGBTQ+ trailblazer ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.