Summary:

Ivan's Bella Vista is a top-floor apartment at Villa Amistad, our hillside villa in the historic El Cerro neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta. It looks out over the tiled rooftops to Banderas Bay, and when you slide open the glass wall, the living room opens right to the ocean breeze, with a lounge area and a table for four on the balcony. The balcony faces the bay for sunsets over the water, and from December through March you can often spot humpback whales breaching offshore. Two king bedrooms, two ensuite baths, a full kitchen, and 942 sq ft(87 m²) of room to settle in. Sleeps four.



The Space:

Every apartment at Villa Amistad is named for a friend who helped bring the villa to life, and that's really the whole idea behind the place. Amistad means friendship, and we hope you feel it from the moment you arrive.

Both bedrooms have king beds with luxury linens, their own ensuite bathroom with a rainfall shower, air conditioning, and ceiling fans. The full kitchen has an island that seats four and filtered drinking water straight from the tap, here and throughout the property. We keep the kitchen stocked with coffee from the Chiapas region, which guests tend to rave about, for your whole stay. Warm terracotta tones and handcrafted Parota wood run throughout, including the custom doors made by local artisans. Fast fiber Wi-Fi (up to 1 Gbps, plus a backup line) makes it as easy for a remote-work stretch as for a family vacation.

You get light housekeeping Monday to Friday (beds made, a tidy, and are stock of essentials), with fuller cleans and fresh linens scheduled on longer stays; the full schedule is in your Guest Stay Agreement and guidebook.

A VILLA, NOT A CONDO BUILDING Villa Amistad is a house with four private apartments, not a large condo or hotel. Each one has its own private entrance and living space. We added as much soundproofing as we could, but this is still a shared home, so now and then you may hear voices from another apartment. Most guests love the tradeoff: a real villa experience without renting the whole property. We ask everyone to respect quiet hours and the comfort of the other guests staying with us.



Guest Access:

You'll share the heated saltwater pool overlooking the bay (open 24/7, kept around 29 to 30°C / 85 to 86°F in winter), two terraces, an honor bar, and a BBQ grill with the other apartments. The lower terrace has a table that seats nine, so a group can eat together.



The Neighborhood:

Villa Amistad sits on a quaint cobblestone alley in El Cerro, one of Puerto Vallarta's original hillside neighborhoods in Centro. Longtime Mexican families have lived on this street for generations, neighbors know each other and look out for one another, and it feels genuinely lived-in and safe. It's quieter than most areas downtown, though you may hear children playing in the street or a dog barking now and then, the sounds of a real neighborhood. You're a 5-minute walk downhill to the Malecón and the Rio Cuale, with the Romantic Zone just beyond. Five of Puerto Vallarta's most highly rated restaurants are within a 5-minute walk, with many more to choose from. Camarones Beach is a 9-minute walk and Los Muertos Beach about 17 minutes on foot. The nearest pharmacy is a 4-minute walk, there's a convenience store a block up the street, and a coffeeshop is a block away with several more offering Wi-Fi within a 5 to 10 minute walk.



Getting Around:

The Romantic Zone, Centro, and 5 de Diciembre are all within walking distance, most places 5 to 25 minutes on foot. The walk up the hill to the villa is moderate. If you'd rather ride, Uber and taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, and local buses run along the main roads below for about 10 pesos. The airport is roughly a 20-minute drive.



Other Things to Note:

YOUR DIGITAL GUIDEBOOK Once you book, we'll invite you to our digital guidebook, which we built ourselves from the ground up. Answer a few quick questions so we can prepare for your visit, and it unlocks with everything you need: full check-in instructions, a complete guide to the villa, and our local recommendations for Puerto Vallarta. It's also home to our Villa Extras, where you run the practical side of your stay. Request concierge services like airport transportation, a private chef, or grocery delivery; book a Priority Early Check-in or a Late Check-out; arrange an in-house massage from one of our vetted providers.

GETTING IN You'll have keyless entry with your own personal code. For security, we have a video doorbell at the entrance, and there's a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector and a fire extinguisher in the apartment. One thing to know before you book: Ivan's is on the top floor, so it's 17 steps up from the street to the gate, a flight up to the main terrace, and one more flight up to the apartment. There are shady spots to stop and take in the view along the way. There's no parking in our alleyway, but free street parking is available on the adjacent streets, a short walk away.

CHECK-IN Check-in is at 4 PM, and we can often have the apartment ready for a complimentary early check-in at 3 PM. If you'd like an earlier check-in or a later check-out, you can request one for a small fee in the guidebook.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE The check-in form we send after booking includes a copy of our Guest Stay Agreement, which must be digitally signed before you arrive. Once that's done, your guidebook unlocks with all your check-in information and your keyless entry code. The day before arrival, we place a $50 USD authorization hold on the card used to book. It's a temporary hold, not a charge, to confirm the card is valid and can cover any damages, incidentals, or outstanding balances during your stay; your bank releases it after checkout if there's nothing outstanding. A Damage Waiver of $20 USD is included with your booking and covers accidental damage up to $400 USD; the details are in the Guest Stay Agreement.

GOOD TO KNOW The whole property is smoke-free, quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM, and we don't host parties or events. Everyone is welcome here: couples, families, groups, and LGBTQ+ travelers alike. The villa isn't childproof (unfenced pool, open stairs, low railings, and breakable art), so if you're traveling with little ones, reach out and we'll help you decide whether it's the right fit. Booked on its own, Ivan's is completely private; it shares one interior door with Miguel's Mirador next door, and that door stays locked unless you book both apartments together as our Penthouse.

Our guest count includes everyone of any age, infants included, and all guests sleep in the beds provided. If you are traveling with an infant aged two or under, we can welcome one above the apartment's limit when you bring a travel crib. We keep to this for the safety and comfort of everyone staying with us, and we are always happy to help you figure out the right apartment for your group.

We'd love to host you. Hecho con amistad, Puerto Vallarta.



Interaction with Guests:

Mark and John live onsite in our own private apartments, so we're around whenever you need us, whether that's a local tip, help arranging something, or just the peace of mind of knowing a host is here, while fully respecting your privacy.