What It's Like Being Black and Gay in Puerto Vallarta
Okay, so let me tell you what it's actually like being Black and gay in Puerto Vallarta, because I get asked this ALL the time. The first time I came to PV was about three or four years ago, in January, and I was supposed to stay for a little while. Child, I extended that trip three times. That should tell you something right there. Eventually I ended up living here, so this isn't me guessing from a weekend trip. This is what it felt like day to day, walking around the Zona Romántica as a Black gay man.
The Short Answer: Yes, We're Welcome Here
If you're a Black gay man wondering if you should come to Puerto Vallarta, my answer is absolutely, yes. I never had a racist moment here, nothing overt, nothing that made me feel like I needed to leave. The locals treated me really well, and I think PV is an amazing first place for Black gay men to get their feet wet with solo travel (and yes, I hear it, LOL). We are welcome here, and honestly? There should be more of us.
That doesn't mean it's a perfect utopia, and I'm going to give you the real version below, the staring, the drunk tourists, all of it. But overall, PV was good to me.
My Digital Guide
The Ultimate GAY AF Puerto Vallarta Guide
Everything I learned living in PV, in one place: where to stay, where to eat, the bars, the beaches and the stuff nobody tells you before you land.
Get the Puerto Vallarta Guide →Yes, People Will Stare at You
Let's just get this out of the way: people stared at me. A lot. Now, people stare at me everywhere, because I'm beautiful. I'm KIDDING. I really don't know why people stare at me. People have told me in the past that it's probably because they think I'm attractive, and I have a hard time seeing myself like that. I'm very humble, darling. But between that, being a Black man in a place where there aren't a ton of us, and some people probably recognizing me from social media, I definitely got looked at.
People were also really curious. I got asked where I'm from all the time. But here's the thing: nobody was ever rude about it. It was curiosity, not hostility. It does get very interesting having people look at you all day, every day, and you have to get used to that. But it never felt threatening.
And this lines up with what a lot of other Black travelers say about Mexico in general. Black Mexicans exist (Afro-Mexicans were officially recognized in the Mexican Constitution in 2019, and about 2% of the country identified as Afro-descendant in the 2020 census), but in a lot of tourist areas you just don't see many Black people. So the stares are usually people being curious about something they don't see every day. Know that going in and it'll make a lot more sense.
Finding the Other Black Gay Men in PV
When I first moved to PV, I actually met a group of Black gay men who lived there, and they were great about introducing me to different places and showing me around. But child, they were trying to holler at me, LOL. It got to be a little much, so I kind of went on my way and did my own thing. I did really enjoy hanging out with them in the beginning, though, and if you're new here, finding your people like that can make a big difference.
The good news is there's more and more for us in PV now. Events like POSH PVR Escape, a summer gathering for Black queer travelers in Puerto Vallarta that Travel Noire and others have covered, are bringing a lot more of us down here at the same time. If you want to be around other Black gay men, plan your trip around something like that.
Get Travel Insurance (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)
Look, I know insurance isn’t the sexy part of planning a trip. But I promise you do NOT want to be the person paying out of pocket for a hospital visit after a scooter accident, some bad street food, or a surprise trip to the ER in a country where you don’t speak the language. I use SafetyWing because it’s built for people like us who bounce from country to country, and you can sign up even after you’ve already left home.
Locals vs. Tourists: Who Treated Me How
Mexicans treated me VERY well. I never really had any issues with locals, unless somebody was drunk, and even then it was just sloppy, not racist. I definitely had a few moments where somebody had too much to drink and I had to gather them. But for the most part, Mexicans were wonderful to me. Now, I'm not naive, I know part of that is that they're happy to take our tourist money. But I never had any problems.
The tourists are a different story. There's a thing in PV where some of the white tourists, particularly Americans and Canadians, get completely out of control. They get drunk, they get messy, and the behavior is just not okay sometimes. I never had a real altercation with anybody, but I have definitely had to check a few people. If you've been to PV during high season, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
And honestly, I didn't really hang with the American and Canadian crowd that much while I was living there. I came to PV for something different from what I was used to back home, so that's where my energy went.
Dating and Hooking Up as a Black Gay Man in PV
Let me be real with y'all: there is nothing better than a Mexican man, honey. Mexican men know how to lay it down. The bodies? Just sexy. I miss it so much. I'm not going to pretend I came to Puerto Vallarta just for the sunsets.
I did meet tourists here and there too, but more or less they were Black or brown guys. Everybody has their type, and mine in PV was very much the local men.
One thing I'd say if you're using Grindr or any of the apps here: meet people somewhere public first, especially when you're new. That's not a PV thing, that's an everywhere thing. If you want to know where to go out, I break down the bars in my best gay bars in Puerto Vallarta guide, and if you want the more adult side of PV, check out my gay cruising guide.
Party & Pool Scene Vibe
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Almar Resort — Mantamar's pool party HQ – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tryst — Drag brunches, DJ rooftop nights – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Casa Cupula — Clothing-optional rooftop pool parties – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐ Blue Chairs Resort by the Sea — The OG gay beach party – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Chic by Pinnacle 179 — Rooftop cocktails, adults-only luxury – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hotel Amaca — Hillside chill, weekly pool parties – Click here for rates & availability
The Day the Bears Found Me on the Beach
People always ask me for one moment that stuck with me, and honestly, it was mostly good moments. But there was this one day on the beach that I'll never forget. I was just laying out, minding my business, and these random bears, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL Mexican men, kept coming over, hitting on me, hollering at me. That was a good day, baby. That's the kind of energy PV gives you.
If you want to plan your own beach days, start with Playa Los Muertos in the Zona Romántica, that's the main gay beach. And if you're coming for Bear Week, my BeefDip Bear Week guide has everything you need.
Is Puerto Vallarta Safe for Black Gay Men?
For me, yes. I never dealt with overt racism here, and I never felt unsafe because I'm Black or because I'm gay. Puerto Vallarta has one of the most established gay scenes in Mexico, and the Zona Romántica is about as gay-friendly as it gets. The bigger things to watch out for are the same things you'd watch out for anywhere: don't get sloppy drunk and walk home alone late, keep an eye on your drinks, and let someone know where you're going if you're meeting someone new.
For a deeper breakdown of safety in the city overall, read my Is Puerto Vallarta Safe in 2026? post. And if you want a bigger-picture look at where Black gay men are welcome around the world, I wrote about that in Black Gay Travel: Where We're Welcome, Thriving, and Actually Having Fun.
Tips for Black Gay Men Visiting Puerto Vallarta
Stay in or near the Zona Romántica. That's where the gay bars, the beach, and most of the action is, and you can walk everywhere. My Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta guide breaks down the hotels by vibe.
Expect the stares, and don't take them personally. It's mostly curiosity. A smile and a "hola" goes a long way.
Plan around the events. If you want to be around other Black queer travelers, look at events like POSH PVR Escape in the summer, or come in high season (roughly November through April) when the whole town is full.
Learn a little Spanish. The locals will appreciate it, and it makes everything easier, from ordering tacos to, well, other conversations.
Watch the drunk tourists, not the locals. In my experience, the messiest people in PV were the visitors, not the Mexicans.
Boutique Romantic / Gay-Owned Vibe
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Villa Premiere — Adults-only beachfront, butler service – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Casa Velas — All-inclusive luxury, adults-only escape – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hacienda San Angel — Michelin-key boutique, hillside romance – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Playa Los Arcos — Classic beachfront, longtime gay favorite – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐ Villa Lola — Intimate adults-only B&B charm – Click here for rates & availability
So, Would I Tell Other Black Gay Men to Come?
Absolutely. Puerto Vallarta is one of the places I recommend most to Black gay men, especially if you're new to solo travel. It's close to the US, it's easy to get around, the locals are warm, the men are fine, and you can be completely yourself. Will people look at you? Yes. Will you have a good time? Also yes. Come down here, honey. We need more of us.
If you're thinking about staying longer, check out my cost of living in Puerto Vallarta breakdown and Is Puerto Vallarta Worth Visiting? And if you want everything in one place before you land, grab my Puerto Vallarta guide.
FAQ: Black and Gay in Puerto Vallarta
Is Puerto Vallarta welcoming to Black gay men?
In my experience, yes. I lived there and never had an overt racist experience. Locals were warm and curious, and the gay scene in the Zona Romántica is very welcoming.
Will people stare at me in Puerto Vallarta if I'm Black?
Probably. There aren't many Black people in a lot of Mexico's tourist areas, so expect curiosity and questions about where you're from. In my experience it was never rude.
Are there other Black gay men in Puerto Vallarta?
Yes. There's a small community of Black gay men who live there, and events like POSH PVR Escape bring more Black queer travelers to PV every summer.
What's the dating scene like for Black gay men in Puerto Vallarta?
In my experience, really good, especially if you're into Mexican men. Just meet people in public first, like you would anywhere.
Is Puerto Vallarta a good first solo trip for Black gay men?
Yes. It's one of the best first solo trips I can think of: it's close to the US, walkable, very gay-friendly, and easy to navigate.
Keep Planning Your Puerto Vallarta Trip
The Ultimate GAY AF Puerto Vallarta Guide · Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta · Best Gay Bars in Puerto Vallarta · Is Puerto Vallarta Safe in 2026? · Cost of Living in Puerto Vallarta · Black Gay Travel: Where We're Welcome