We discovered Zona Romantica, ie the Romantic Zone, rather unintentionally. We had a time share week burning a whole in our pocket and came across World International Vacation Club in Conchas Chinas. Online information was virtually non existent, including reviews. Thankfully we took a leap of faith and fell in love with this area of Puerto Vallarta.
Table of Contents
ABOUT
Zona Romantica, also known as Viejo or Old Vallarta, is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta. It’s located on the west coast of Mexico on the Pacific Ocean. This area has evolved into a very trendy and vibrant but relaxed LGBQ and ex-pat friendly community. It is still very much un-commercialized Mexico and you can find plenty of references to the gritty sleepy little fishing village it once was.
It is full of cobblestone streets, bars, cafes, restaurants, and art galleries. It encompasses 4 beaches including Olas Atlas, Los Muertos, Las Amapas, and Conchas Chinos. Interestingly, Puerto Vallarta was relatively unknown until the movie “Night of the Iguana” was filmed here in the 1960s. Elizabeth Taylor’s very public extramarital affair with her co-star, Richard Burton, during the shooting of the film quickly attracted the paparazzi and made Puerto Vallarta a world famous vacation destination overnight.
TRANSPORTATION
Of course most people will arrive via plane. You will need a passport coming from the U.S. Remember when traveling internationally your it needs to be valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond your travel dates, so check your expiration dates carefully.
The Airport
Puerto Vallarta has a very small but well organized and efficient airport. As you get close to the exit you will enter an area known as the “gauntlet.” This is a group of people wanting to entice you with freebies in order to sign you up for a time share presentation.
I knew better and still got sucked in on the first trip when they offered me a very nice map and a free taxi ride. As soon as I mentioned I already had a time share and wouldn’t be interested in another the map was taken away and his demeanor went from friendly to rude. That didn’t stop them from yelling at me as we walked away. They still wanted to offer me a free taxi back to airport provided I paid for the trip there. Past the gauntlet you well see a row of car rental agencies and the exit is just around the corner.
Uber
One of the fantastic things about Puerto Vallarta is they use Uber here. In many other areas of Mexico the taxi unions have come together to have ride sharing booted out. You will run into plenty of people who don’t speak English here including your driver. But thanks to Uber you never need to discuss where you are going or attempt to exchange money. The downside is Uber Mexico is separate. It still uses the same app but everything is charged in pesos. Unfortunately gift cards pre-loaded won’t work. Make sure to use a credit card that doesn’t charge exchange rate fees.
Unfortunately, Uber is banned from picking people up in the airport. They can however drop you off inside the gate on your return trip. When you exit the building turn left and walk along the building. Look for the overhead pedestrian bridge and use it to exit the airport and cross the street. Once there you can call an Uber. I will say Uber is also very cheap here compared to the US. On our last trip it cost about $12 for a 25 minute ride.
The Public Bus
There is also a very inexpensive public bus system. The orange buses run from the edge of downtown in a southern direction through Conchas Chinas. I know riding a bus sounds less than thrilling depending on how adventurous you are, but we found it to be an experience none the less and all for about $0.50 per person. We used the bus to get to an excursion one day and we barley fit the bus was so full. We had to ride in the stairwell for a few legs. Like I said, an experience, but we still laugh about it to this day.
ACCOMODATIONS
This will likely be the hardest decision you make as there is an abundance of beautiful and affordable rentals and hotels to choose from. As stated before we usually stay in a time share exchange but unfortunately this no longer an option for us as our home time share was converted to regular condos recently. We love WIVC Conchas Chinas so much we’ve stayed there twice and even called them about potentially booking directly. It is possible and you do not need to have a time share to do so but it is subject to availability. However there are MANY highly reviewed/rated accommodation options for under $100/n.
Where you stay will be completely dependent on your travel style. There are plenty of hotels near the beach and downtown if sun worshiping or nightlife are your priorities. My suggestion is to find something with a pool and a view. There is nothing like sitting in a pool with a fantastic view and a cold drink in your hand watching the sun go down. If you’re looking for quieter options consider staying in the hills of the Conchas Chinas area. You will quickly become obsessed with balcony time at dawn and dusk.
Additional amenities to consider is to look for a unit with at least a mini kitchen and bonus if you can find a rental offering a pool side grill for guest use. We ate breakfast in our condo every morning, followed by a large lunch in town, and then returned to soak in the pool with fresh made frozen margaritas and steaks on the grill.
