Does Mexico celebrate Pride Month? How do they celebrate? Is Pride widely acknowledged or just celebrated in some places? Does Puerto Vallarta celebrate, and how? Discover the answers to these questions, and the top 5 things to do during Pride Month in Puerto Vallarta.
Does Mexico Celebrate Pride Month?
Yes! Mexico has pride for Pride Month! However, not all states and cities celebrate Pride, and some are not as LGBTQ friendly as Mexico City, for example, which hosts one of the biggest, loudest, and most colorful pride parades in Latin American, next only to Sao Paolo Pride. But, in all fairness, no city or town is as pride-loving as Puerto Vallarta, a little but heavily tourist-oriented coastal town in the state of Jalisco.
So, Is Puerto Vallarta LGBTQ friendly?
Yes, and very much so! Turns out, Puerto Vallarta is one of the LGBTQ friendliest cities in Mexico and Latin America, and Pride Month in Puerto Vallarta is a big deal in this already colorful and vibrant beach town. Thousands of LGBTQ tourists flock to Puerto yearly to bask in the festivities of Pride week, because Puerto Vallarta is so accepting and embracing, that it has become an absolute safe space for the LGBTQ community worldwide.
Hotels and venues are more than used to LGBTQ visitors, and so are locals, who are also very welcoming and warm towards the community. In fact, Jalisco is one of the first states to legalize gay marriage, back in 2016, making Puerto Vallarta a popular gay marriage destination.
So rest assured that during Pride Week, the streets and venues in Puerto Vallarta all fly their Pride flags, and the atmosphere is joyful, fun, and vibrant!
Top 5 Things to Do During Pride Month in Puerto Vallarta
Pride Month in Puerto Vallarta is rather new: the celebrations started in 2013. However, it has fast become one of the best places to spend Pride Week not only in Mexico, but also in Latin America.
Puerto Vallarta has a wide range of activities during Pride Month to bask in the celebrations, so here are the top 5 things you can do during the festivities:
Pride Parties on Opening Night: most of the main gay resorts, bars, and venues host amazing partie.
The Pink Dinner: hosted by The Top Bar, this opening night celebration typically includes a four course meal with live DJ and fireworks. During this event, the Vallarta Pride Committee presents its “Pride Vanguard Award”.
Bar hop and attend the after parties: there are plenty of LGBTQ clubs in Puerto Vallarta, such as Industry, which attracts mainly a male crowd; Mr. Flamingo, which is always crowded and buzzing with music; La Noche or Paco’s Ranch, with its unique drag shows. And, if you are a night owl, Lust Puerto Vallarta offers amazing after parties to dance until the sun rises. Speaking of Paco’s Ranch, just across the street you can find CC Slaughters (run by the same gang that runs the venue with the same name back in Portland), an amazing place to dance all night.
If bar hopping on your own sounds too daunting or intimidating, you can book an experience with the Gay Vallarta Bar Hopping Tour, designed to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the action.
Book a Boat Tour! Diana’s Tour is one of the most popular tours you can take while in Puerto Vallarta during Pride Month, and also, one of the many reasons Puerto Vallarta is a world-class LGBTQ destination, with its open bar amidst the ocean. Now, if you are a little bit more adventurous, you can take the Wet and Wild Cruise, which is mostly for a male crowd, and where clothes are optional!
The Main Parade: of course, the main attraction is the parade, which leaves typically from the Malecón at Hotel Rosita, and ends with a party in Lazaro Cárdenas Park Gardens. You can hook a spot at any bar or beach club and enjoy the contagious vibe, the dancing, and the partying!
Where Do Gays Go in Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta has something for everyone: luxury resorts, amazing emerald water beaches, colorful streets, art, gourmet food, and a vibrant LGBTQ scene that has its core in the so-called Zona Romántica, a colorful street buzzing with bars, resorts, the gay beach, and much more.
There are plenty of bars and experiences to choose from, from jazz bars to cowboy bars and anything in between. For instance, many LGBTQ visitors flock to Marco Reinas Bar, which offers tiaras and feather boas to dress up like true queens (reinas is the Spanish word for queens). There, you can enjoy one of their drag queen shows and parties.
What is the Best Beach in Puerto Vallarta?
There are plenty of amazing LGBTQ friendly beaches all around Puerto Vallarta. However, the best beach would be hands down, Playa de los Muertos, the unofficial gay beach where you can find three different beach clubs, as well as more than fifteen restaurants and hotels, all with different offerings to enjoy the festivities poolside, especially during Pride Week.
There is a story actually that pertains to one of the beach clubs: Blue Chairs. It is said that this beach club was the original “hotspot” for the gay scene back in the day, unmistakable as it is with its blue chairs. Make sure to visit and enjoy their Happy Hour!
How Do I Get Around PV?
Puerto Vallarta is a very safe town for LGBTQ travelers, and even more so during Pride Month. Most venues are in walking distance from or to Zona Romántica. However, you can easily request an Uber ride or a Taxi cab from the venues, just remember not to hail cabs on the streets, always keep an eye on your belongings, and exercise the same caution you require when traveling anywhere abroad.
As you can see, Puerto Vallarta is an excellent option to celebrate Pride Month: not only are the weather and the sights dreamy, but it is also a beautifully open, welcoming, all-accepting, and gay-friendly town that loves to celebrate! The town’s amazing food, service, accommodations, and activities all make Puerto Vallarta the best destination to have a pride month escapade that you will never forget!
