Tim - Out in Mexico
Staying at Almar Resort: My Return 10 Years Later

It had been about 10 years since I last stayed at Almar Resort, so on my recent trip to Puerto Vallarta, I decided it was time to check it out again. Almar has been part of Puerto Vallarta’s LGBTQ+ tourism scene for more than a decade. The current resort emerged from a major redevelopment in the mid-2010s, around the same time its sister property, Mantamar Beach Club, was becoming one of the anchors of the gay beach scene on Playa Los Muertos. Today, Almar is an adults-only LGBTQ+ resort overlooking the bay at the southern end of Zona Romántica.

What struck me this time was just how much the resort has grown into a destination of its own. You could check in and barely leave the property if you didn’t want to.My room was extremely spacious and quiet, the air conditioning worked great, and the staff throughout my stay was friendly and accommodating. My resort fee included daily breakfast at The Top Sky Bar, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good the breakfasts were. It also included access to Mantamar Beach Club, so there was no separate entry fee, along with access to the private Eden Pool & Lounge Garden on the fifth floor. Eden has a large saltwater pool, jacuzzis, loungers and a much more relaxed atmosphere than the party scene down at Mantamar.

One of the biggest surprises was the resort’s new gym on the first floor. This isn’t the tiny hotel fitness room with two treadmills and a few dumbbells that you sometimes encounter. It’s a fantastic modern gym and a welcome addition if you want to keep up your workouts while you’re in PV. Almar has also added a beautiful new spa with modern treatment rooms and an extensive hydrotherapy area. I booked a massage and spent some time using the hydrotherapy facilities, and both were very relaxing. Spa treatments and hydrotherapy are an additional charge and aren’t included with the resort fee, but for me they added another dimension to the stay.

And then there’s the entertainment. The Top Sky Bar transforms from a breakfast spot in the morning to one of Almar’s main social and entertainment venues later in the day. The resort currently hosts Drag On Top performances Thursday through Sunday evenings, as well as its Sunday Drag Brunch, with a buffet, bottomless mimosas and live drag performances. Down at Mantamar, the atmosphere shifts again with DJs, pool parties, cocktails and the beach just steps away.

After returning roughly a decade later, what I liked most about Almar is that it can be whatever kind of Puerto Vallarta vacation you want it to be. You can spend the afternoon partying at Mantamar, retreat to the quieter Eden pool, get a massage, work out, watch a drag show, have dinner and drinks overlooking the bay, or simply disappear into your room and relax. Of course, Zona Romántica and its huge selection of gay bars and restaurants are nearby, but Almar has reached the point where leaving the resort can sometimes feel completely optional. For an LGBTQ+ traveler who wants the resort experience while still being close to the heart of gay Puerto Vallarta, that remains Almar’s biggest appeal.

1 de octubre 2026