Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
This 7-day getaway includes a 3-night luxury stay at Hotel Mousai just south of Puerto Vallarta proper and 4 nights of cultural immersion in the Zona Romántica neighborhood at an Airbnb.
Why We Chose It
Puerto Vallarta is a short flight from our home in Arizona, making it an easy warm-weather escape with minimal travel time. The city offers an appealing balance of beach relaxation, strong regional cuisine, and a walkable historic core that still retains a distinctly Mexican character. Unlike some resort destinations that feel isolated from local life, Puerto Vallarta blends traditional neighborhoods, an active food scene, and a scenic Pacific coastline.
The surrounding Sierra Madre mountains drop dramatically into Banderas Bay, creating one of the most visually striking coastal settings in Mexico. The famous Malecón waterfront promenade, historic churches, art galleries, and open-air markets give the city cultural depth beyond the beach.
How We Structured It
Our plan intentionally combined two very different experiences. Hotel Mousai provided a few days of high-end resort amenities—ocean views, excellent dining, and a quiet setting in the jungle south of town. We then moved into the Zona Romántica, the city’s most vibrant neighborhood, where cobblestone streets, local restaurants, taco stands, cafés, and beach clubs make it easy to experience Puerto Vallarta on foot.
This combination allowed us to enjoy both sides of the destination: luxury resort relaxation and authentic urban exploration.
Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta
Hotel Mousai is an adults-only, all-inclusive luxury resort located just south of Puerto Vallarta along the jungle-covered hills of the Sierra Madre overlooking Banderas Bay. The property is known for its contemporary design, panoramic ocean views, and high level of service. It has a AAA Five Diamond rating, making it one of the most highly rated resorts in Mexico.
We stayed in the Mousai Suite, a spacious 1,069-square-foot room designed with modern finishes and floor-to-ceiling glass that frames sweeping ocean views.
Key features include:
Private terrace with gold-tiled jetted plunge pool
King bed with separate mini-lounge and sofa
Large walk-in rain shower
Smart Toto bidet toilet
In-room iPad control system for lighting, music, temperature, and concierge communication
The suite is designed for indoor-outdoor living. The terrace becomes the focal point, providing a private place to relax while overlooking Banderas Bay.
The in-suite iPad allows guests to request room service, schedule spa treatments, and communicate directly with the concierge without making a phone call.
The resort operates on a high-end all-inclusive plan, which includes:
Breakfast buffet
Gourmet à la carte lunch
Gourmet à la carte dinner
24-hour room service
Restaurants and bars on the property include:
Noi – Italian cuisine
Dao – Asian-inspired dishes
Mística – Contemporary Mexican cuisine
The Rooftop North & South – rooftop dining and cocktails
The highlight of the property is the rooftop infinity pool, which offers unobstructed views of the bay and is a central gathering point during the day and at sunset.
Hotel Mousai is a luxury retreat focused on relaxation, high-end dining, and dramatic ocean views rather than a traditional large-scale beach resort. The setting in the hills above the coastline provides quiet seclusion while remaining only a short drive from central Puerto Vallarta.
Zona Romántica
The Zona Romántica, also known as Old Town or Viejo Vallarta, is one of the most distinctive neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta. Located just south of the Cuale River, it embodies a traditional Mexican character while also serving as one of the city’s most active dining, nightlife, and cultural districts.
Unlike the large resort zones north of downtown, the area is compact and highly walkable, with narrow cobblestone streets, small plazas, independent restaurants, galleries, and boutique hotels. It is widely considered the most vibrant neighborhood in the city.
Zona Romántica blends traditional architecture, beach access, and a dense concentration of restaurants and nightlife. For visitors who prefer staying within walking distance of cafés, markets, galleries, and the ocean, it is one of the most appealing areas of Puerto Vallarta.
Key Highlights
Playa Los Muertos & Pier. The main beach serving downtown Puerto Vallarta is Playa Los Muertos, anchored by a distinctive sail-shaped pier that has become a recognizable symbol of the city. The pier is illuminated at night and serves as a departure point for water taxis to beaches along the southern coast.
Dining Scene. Zona Romántica has one of the strongest restaurant concentrations in the region. Options range from taco stands and casual Mexican eateries to upscale dining. Many restaurants offer open-air seating that spills onto the sidewalks and small plazas.
Nightlife & Entertainment. The neighborhood becomes particularly lively after sunset, with cocktail bars, music venues, and cabaret-style performances. The Act2PV theater complex is known for live music, cabaret, and drag performances.
Art & Local Markets. The district contains numerous small art galleries, craft shops, and boutiques. During the winter high season, the Olas Altas Farmers Market attracts both locals and visitors with prepared foods, produce, crafts, and live music.
Lázaro Cárdenas Park (Tile Park). This central plaza is known for its colorful mosaic tile installations that cover benches, columns, and surrounding surfaces. The tile work was created through a long-running community art project and has become one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable landmarks.
Day Trip: Yelapa
Yelapa is a small fishing village on the southern shore of Banderas Bay, about 45–60 minutes by boat from Puerto Vallarta. The village is accessible only by water, which helps preserve its relaxed, low-key character.
A wide beach fronts the town, backed by jungle-covered hills and simple restaurants serving seafood and drinks. A short walk inland leads to the Yelapa Waterfall, a small cascade reached by footpath from the village.
Getting There
Visitors typically reach Yelapa by:
Water taxi (panga) from the Los Muertos Pier
Panga from Boca de Tomatlán, about 30 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta by road
Organized tours that include snorkeling, drinks, and lunch
Our Route
Rather than joining a group tour, we hired a private panga in Boca de Tomatlán and set our own schedule. Our captain first stopped at Colomitos Beach, a tiny jungle cove known for its clear water, where we had lunch and a swim.
From there we cruised slowly along the coast, stopping briefly in a quiet bay to feed angelfish, before continuing south to Yelapa.
Exploring the Coast
Several small villages and beaches south of Puerto Vallarta—including Colomitos, Las Ánimas, Quimixto, and Yelapa—can be reached independently by water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán or as part of organized boat tours.
We forgot to take photos in Sayulita! This photo is courtesy of Alice Kotlyarenko
Day Trip: Sayulita
About 25 miles north of Puerto Vallarta, across the state line in Nayarit, the town of Sayulita is a designated Pueblo Mágico known for its surf culture, colorful streets, and lively arts scene. Once a quiet fishing village, it has evolved into one of the Riviera Nayarit’s most popular beach towns.
The compact center is filled with boutique shops, street vendors, surf schools, cafés, and casual restaurants, many set beneath colorful papel picado banners that stretch across the narrow streets. The main beach attracts beginner surfers and visitors who come for the relaxed, bohemian atmosphere.
Our Visit
We hired a private driver from Puerto Vallarta and arranged for pickup later in the afternoon. After arriving, we spent several hours simply wandering the town, browsing small shops, and soaking up the lively street scene.
For lunch we settled into a casual restaurant and enjoyed a traditional Mexican meal—fresh guacamole, tacos, and cold drinks—before continuing to explore the plaza and beachfront.
Overall Impression
Sayulita has an energetic, youthful vibe that appeals to surfers, artists, and travelers looking for a laid-back beach town with plenty of activity.
While we enjoyed the visit, we found parts of the town to be more tourist-oriented than we typically prefer, particularly in the busy central streets near the beach. Still, it was an interesting contrast to Puerto Vallarta and an easy half-day excursion from the city.