Romantic Zone Vacation Rentals

Staying in the Romantic Zone (Zona Romántica)

The Romantic Zone is the neighborhood south of the Río Cuale, also called Old Town or Zona Romántica. Its cobblestone streets are lined with galleries, shops, cafés, restaurants and bars, and it is the center of Puerto Vallarta's well-known LGBTQ+ scene and much of its nightlife. People stay here because everything is on foot.

If you are comparing Romantic Zone hotels with a condo, the difference is space and a kitchen. A condo gives you a living room, a place to make breakfast, and in many of our buildings a rooftop pool with a view of the bay, often with a bar and loungers. You still get a local team: we meet you at the building when you arrive, and our office is in the neighborhood if you need anything during your stay.

What's nearby

Los Muertos Beach and the pier

Playa Los Muertos is the city's most popular and lively beach, a few blocks from most of our buildings. Playa Olas Altas is its north end, toward the river. The Los Muertos Pier is the neighborhood's sunset spot, and the water taxis to the boat-only beaches to the south, such as Las Ánimas and Yelapa, leave from it. If you are curious about the name, read the story of Los Muertos, and for the coves beyond, see our guide to the Puerto Vallarta beaches.

Restaurant Row and the food scene

Basilio Badillo is known as Restaurant Row, and the streets around it hold more restaurants than you can try in a week. Most of our buildings are within a few blocks, so dinner is a short walk and so is the way home. Our restaurant guide picks a few favorites.

Nightlife and the LGBTQ+ scene

The Romantic Zone is where Puerto Vallarta goes out. Bars, clubs and shows fill the blocks around Restaurant Row, and the neighborhood is the heart of the city's LGBTQ+ scene, with gay bars and clubs that welcome everyone. Our LGBTQ+ travel guide covers the scene in detail.

Downtown and the Malecón

Downtown and the Malecón, the seaside boardwalk, are a walk north across the river, past Isla Cuale with its craft market and shady paths.

Getting around Old Town

Most of the Zona Romántica near the beach is flat and easy to walk, and most guests never need a car. The streets are cobblestone, so bring shoes with some grip, and parking is tight, which is another reason to skip the rental car. Taxis and rideshares are easy to find when you want to go farther.

Toward the south and east edges, the streets climb into the hills, for example around Selva Romantica. If stairs and slopes are a concern, tell us and we will point you to a building on the flat.

Who the Romantic Zone suits (and who might prefer elsewhere)

• Couples and groups of friends who want the beach, dinner and a night out all within a few blocks.
• LGBTQ+ travelers, since the neighborhood is the center of the scene.
• Food lovers, with Restaurant Row at the door.
• First-time visitors who want to walk everywhere and skip the car.
• You might prefer the Hotel Zone if you want the sand right outside the door and a beachfront pool.
• You might prefer Amapas and Conchas Chinas if you want quiet streets and bay views over nightlife.

Some streets are lively late at night, especially on weekends near the bars. For a comparison of all our areas, see our guide on where to stay in Puerto Vallarta.

Our Romantic Zone condo buildings

Our Romantic Zone condos are spread across the neighborhood's buildings, most of them with rooftop pools. Soho PV has a heated rooftop infinity pool with a bar and fire-pit lounges. Loft 268 is adults only, with a rooftop infinity pool and the glass-enclosed Sky Bar. Zenith is known for its rooftop infinity pool with palm islands. Desire (also written D'esire) has a rooftop infinity pool heated year-round. Pavilion has a semi-Olympic lap pool plus a rooftop pool, and sits in the middle of the nightlife. Dvine has a rooftop infinity pool and bar across from the Santa Cruz church. Oceana is on Basilio Badillo itself, with a heated rooftop lap pool. Selva Romantica (Casa Tortuga) is a gated garden complex on the hillside with an infinity pool. Oasis at Rivera Cuale sits by the river at the edge of the neighborhood, with a garden pool and a rooftop pool.

We also manage condos in other buildings around the neighborhood. On New Year's Eve, most building rooftops stay open until at least midnight for the fireworks over the bay.

Romantic Zone FAQ

Is the Romantic Zone the same as Old Town?

Yes. Romantic Zone, Zona Romántica and Old Town are three names for the same neighborhood south of the Río Cuale, in the colonia of Emiliano Zapata. Locals and visitors use all three.

Is the Romantic Zone a good place to stay in Puerto Vallarta?

For most visitors, yes, and it is where most of our guests stay. You can walk to the beach, Restaurant Row, the nightlife and the Malecón, so you do not need a car.

How far is the Romantic Zone from the beach?

Playa Los Muertos is a few blocks from most of our Romantic Zone condos, on flat streets. Buildings on the hillside at the edge of the neighborhood are a little farther and uphill on the way back.

Is the Romantic Zone noisy at night?

Some streets are, especially on weekends near the bars, and Pavilion in particular sits in the middle of the nightlife. Tell us if noise matters to you and we will suggest the right building and condo.