Exclusive | Women's Travel: Canada/Mexico Part Three

PUERTO VALLARTA

STAY
Los Cuatro Vientos (Matamoros 520; +52-322-222-0161; $45+)
This cozy inn, with cheerful rooms, is decorated with Mexican furnishings and crafts. The rooftop sun deck has a panoramic view of the city. Located five steep blocks from the central plaza, they run several week-long women's getaways each year.

Quinta Maria Cortez (Calle Sagitario 132, on Playa Conchas Chinas; 888-640-8100; $05+)
This is an upscale, eclectic though not luxurious, mixed clientele Mexaterranean B&B villa located right next to the beach a few miles south of downtown in the Conchas Chinas area. The property rises in seven levels above the beach. We'd recommend a taxi there, especially in the heat of the day or at night. Service is excellent. Best for couples not singles. Quinta Maria is a recipient of our Editor's Choice award for "elegance and style."

Casa Tres Vidas Villas (888-640-8100; $500+)
Casa Tres Vidas Villas has three- and four-bedroom apartments next door to Quinta Maria. It's good for groups of lesbians or gays traveling together. During summer only they offer one-bedroom rates, inquire if this applies. This property is located on the water, too.

EAT
El Array?n (Allende 344, Centro; +52-322-222-7195; $16-24)
This is one of the hottest places both for food and ambience. It's like being at a country place with a central courtyard, very traditional Mexican with menu delights from around the country. Live music on Saturday.

Chez Elena (Matamoras 520; +52-322-222-0161; $7-20)
Worth the trip for its alfresco dining experience, a menu which includes good seafood and vegetarian dishes and the infamous Green Flash cocktail concoction.

Los Xitomates de Xalisco (Morelos 601; +52-322222-9434$9-29)
High Mexican cuisine combined in a nouvelle way with an Asian-Mediterranean touch that is not only attractive to the eye but totally wins the palate.

Planeta Vegetariano (Iturbide 270; +52-322/222-3075; $5)
The woman-owned Planeta does a filling all-you-can-eat lunch buffet.

PLAY/MEET
Bars
Apaches (Olas Altas 439; +52-322-222-5235; apaches2000@yahoo.com)
The best known lesbian-owned bar in town. Renowned host Marianne from Vancouver presides over a nice, small venue with fabulous martinis, tasty tapas and art shows. Every few weeks new artwork of local artists is displayed. They also serve food from the menu of next-door?s Apaches Bistro. Happy hour is 5-7 p.m.

The Bench and Bar (formerly known as The Palm, Olas Altas 508; +52-322-223-4818; $3.50)
The scene of a British reality TV show in 2004, cocktails, comedy and clarinet wow the clientele here.

Cafes
Dee's Coffee (Rodolfo G?mez 120, E. Zapata; +52-322-222-1197)
Located right next to Karpathos, Dee's is friendly and relaxed. Couches in the back allow conversation while tables streetside open your horizons.

The Coffee Cup (Rodolfo G?mez 148, Just off Olas Altas; +52-322-222-8584)
The Coffee Cup also offers breakfast wraps and bagels.

Clubs
Club Paco Paco (Ignacio L. Vallarta 278; +52-322-222-1899)
Paco Paco attracts more women than the other clubs. The main room downstairs is a '70s-style disco for dancing and drag shows, and behind the main disco is The Ranch, formerly known as Paco's Ranch, a Country & Western-themed area that features male strippers three times a night. Currently there is an open-door policy for Club Paco Paco and The Ranch, even though both have separate management. The second floor of Paco Paco is a cantina with a pool table, juke box and video games. The third floor extends out to a rooftop patio, occasionally featuring live entertainment.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Related Articles:
Women's Travel: Introduction
Women's Travel: U.S. South
Women's Travel: U.S. East
Women's Travel: U.S. West
Women's Travel: Europe
Women's Travel: Tours & Events
Women's Travel: Travel Safety