By Travel Writer Ed Walsh.

Puerto Vallarta has been called the San Francisco of Mexico. You may get some argument over that but it would be difficult to overstate the close ties between the two cities.

I arrived in Vallarta, as locals call it, late last Monday afternoon. After checking into the Hotel Mercurio, I headed for the famous Blue Chairs gay beach, just a short walk away. I plopped myself down on an empty chair near the surf and asked a man sitting nearby if he would keep an eye on my stuff while I went in the water. He turned out to be a San Franciscan, Ben Schatz, who was in town performing with the Kinsey Sicks at the Palm nightclub. Ben is also a part-time Vallarta resident.

After a refreshing swim, I went to the rooftop patio/bar at the adjacent Blue Chairs Resort Hotel to take a picture of the sunset. A group of men from one of the hotel’s balconies gestured me to come over for a better picture. “Hey, you fell for that,” they laughed as I ventured over to take them up on the offer. It turns out the group was from the Russian River. I knew one of them and got a great picture of myself in my shockingly pale skin in the Mexican sunset.

The next night, I arrived back at the hotel to find the desk clerk, Alex Lopez, reading the Bay Area Reporter. He explained that a regular hotel guest brings him copies. During my four night stay, I met four other people from the Bay Area who happened to be staying in the same hotel. At a Kinsey Sicks performance, I met two more San Franciscans, including Jeff Green, one of the owners of the Twin Peaks bar.

Vallarta boasts 17 gay bars and nightclubs and at least 14 gay friendly hotels and bed and breakfasts. In the late 80s, there were only two gay bars, Club Paco Paco and Balcones. Paco’s owner, Paco Ruiz, helped pave the way for other gay business owners by defiantly staging a one-man rebellion. He stood up to police and refused to give them bribes. He took his fight to City Hall and eventually gained public sympathy and support through local and national media coverage.

The gay center of Puerto Vallarta is the southern part of the city in a neighborhood commonly known as the Zona Romantica. Its cobblestone streets are jammed well into the night with tourists and locals enjoying the countless shops, restaurants, and nightclubs.

Gay Condo Rentals in Puerto Vallarta

There are many exciting activities for gays in Puerto Vallarta, which many of you still haven’t discovered. Puerto Vallarta offers a dream paradise for gays, as it offers tours and excursions for all its gay visitors along with other exciting adventures too.

* Visit the botanical gardens
that are located amongst the mountains. This place has been setup as a museum and offers quite an exciting experience. These botanical gardens might not be part of your dream vacation in Puerto Vallarta along with your loved one, but when you experience the beauty and the aroma of chocolate, coffee and vanilla gardens, you will understand yourself why this makes such a good location for a vacation with your partner. The orchids also have a restaurant called “The Plantation House Restaurant and Bar.” Enjoy freshly baked pizzas and other delicacies when you visit these orchids.
* A cruise at the beaches
of Puerto Vallarta is an absolute must. Get aboard on one of the Gay Cruises and enjoy a comfortable and luxurious day, as you get pampered under the sun. Look out for marine animals as you sail with your loved one, and snorkel in the clear waters of private beaches. Laze around and relax all day and evening. Delight in the tropical sunrays against your back or watch the sunset from a cruise.
* Take a leisure ride on horses
up the hills in the woods or even along the river. Take a swim in the rough sweet waters of the river and enjoy food and drinks on the hilltop restaurants. The horseback rides can prove to be a romantic and exciting opportunity to see the beauty of these tropical jungles.
* Take a sunset cruise
amidst the rough waters of the sea. This can be the most exciting highlight of your trip. Book a trip with one of the loud gay cruises. This trip will not only give the opportunity to enjoy the view of the light caressing the hills goodnight, it will give you the chance to feast at the bar with many other singles. Delight in the scenic beauty of the jungles lit by the setting sun. A night on the cruise goes on for quite a while. You may sip Pina Coladas at the bar or share cocktails with your friends or partner. This is a great opportunity to make friendship with others. Dance the night away and enjoy the sexy combination of sunset cruise and party with other gay friendly men.

This week Mexico’s Easter also called Semana Santa will go on from April 9th to 12th. This religious occasion is not celebrated with Easter bunny or colored eggs. However, many local restaurants are preparing gourmet foods for this special occasion. Visit Tikul, on this special occasion and try out their new menu for Semana Santa. Tikul offers a special 3 course menu which is rather elaborate and perfect for a celebration with family, friends and loved ones. Try grilled shrimps with creamy risotto or a chicken teriyaki and mixed vegetables. Highlight your meal with a fruit cocktail with tangy mint and ginger syrup, or just order Espresso crème caramel. If you prefer a more comfortable dinner with friends and family on the beach or at home then order food from The Deli. They offer roasted Turkey dinner with gravy and cranberry relish. Of course a turkey feast is incomplete without mashed potatoes, vegetables and dinner rolls which all accompany the meal, making it elaborate enough for the occasion.

Puerto Vallarta Condo Rentals