Puerto Vallarta's Hillside Villas Above Banderas Bay
What a Week Here Actually Costs
10 guests · 5 bedrooms · 7 nights in Conchas Chinas in February at $1,600 a night
Villa rate
7 nights x $1,600
$11,200
Taxes
16% VAT and 4% Jalisco lodging tax on the villa rate
$2,240
Fees
Booking fee, damage waiver, departure clean
$199
Cook
Housekeeping and a cook for breakfast and lunch are in the rate at most houses
Included
Staff gratuities
About 10% of the rent, split among the staff
$1,120
Food & dining
Groceries $50 pp/day, 2 dinners out at about $80 pp
$5,100
Transfers & getting around
Van from PVR both ways at about $160 each, plus about $150 in taxis into town
$470
The number the family pays
$2,033 per person · 82% above the villa rate
$20,329
Plus a refundable damage deposit set by each house, not included above.
These are our costed estimates for a villa of this class, not a quote. Send us the brief and we'll cost your actual house.
Cost Your Own WeekSubject to Villa Type
Housekeeping and Cook: Usually Included
Most of our Puerto Vallarta houses have daily housekeeping and a cook who makes breakfast and lunch, with the groceries on top. Sundays are often a day off.
Dinner Chef Extra
A chef for dinners at home is extra and priced house by house, so ask us for yours.
Tips aren't in the rate. 10 to 15% of the rent, split among the staff, is normal. The 16% VAT and the 4% Jalisco lodging tax are in the costing above. Damage deposits are set house by house, often about $1,500.
Flights
Can You Get There From Where You Live?
Your Nearest Metro
Nonstop from Atlanta on Delta, daily. About 4 hours 20 minutes.
Nonstop from Austin on Southwest, on Saturdays in season. Other days, connect in Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston. About 2 hours 20 minutes nonstop.
One connection from Boston, via Dallas-Fort Worth or Atlanta. About 8 to 10 hours total.
Nonstop from Calgary and Edmonton on WestJet, almost daily, with Flair and others in season. About 5 hours.
One connection from Charlotte, via Dallas-Fort Worth or Phoenix. About 7 to 9 hours total.
Nonstop from Chicago O'Hare on United, daily, and on American in season. About 4 hours 45 minutes.
Nonstop from Dallas-Fort Worth on American, several times a day. About 2 hours 50 minutes.
Nonstop from Denver on United or Southwest, daily. About 3 hours 25 minutes.
Nonstop from Detroit on Delta, daily in season. About 5 hours 15 minutes.
Nonstop from Houston on United from Bush, or Southwest from Hobby. About 2 hours 40 minutes.
Nonstop from Las Vegas on Southwest, up to six times a week, and from Salt Lake on Delta. About 3 hours to 3 hours 30 minutes.
Nonstop from LAX on four airlines, several times a day. About 3 hours 5 minutes.
One connection from Miami & Ft Lauderdale, via Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston. About 7 to 9 hours total.
Nonstop from Minneapolis on Sun Country, with Delta from December. About 4 hours 35 minutes.
Nonstop from Montreal on Air Transat or Air Canada, several times a week in season. About 6 hours 20 minutes.
Nonstop from Newark on United, five times a week. From JFK, connect in Dallas-Fort Worth or Atlanta. About 6 hours nonstop.
One connection from Orlando & Tampa, via Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston. About 7 to 9 hours total.
One connection from Philadelphia, via Dallas-Fort Worth or Chicago. About 8 to 10 hours total.
Nonstop from Phoenix on American or Southwest, several times a day. About 2 hours 40 minutes.
Nonstop from San Diego on Alaska or Southwest, and from Orange County on Southwest. About 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours.
Nonstop from San Francisco on Alaska or United, daily. About 3 hours 50 minutes.
Nonstop from Seattle on Alaska, daily, with Delta from December, and from Portland on Saturdays. About 4 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 50 minutes.
Nonstop from Toronto on Air Canada, daily, with WestJet and Porter a few times a week. About 5 hours 40 minutes.
Nonstop from Vancouver on WestJet, daily, and on Air Canada six times a week. About 5 hours.
One connection from Washington DC, via Houston or Chicago. About 8 to 10 hours total.
Puerto Vallarta International (PVR) is just north of town. Conchas Chinas is 25 to 30 minutes away, and the houses on the south shore toward Mismaloya 35 to 50 minutes.
What Governs the Arrival Day
Most houses arrange a van to meet you, about $160 each way for 10 to Conchas Chinas. The streets up the hill are steep and cobbled, so a local driver beats a rental car.
Taxis and Uber are easy in town, and the Zona Romántica is a short ride down the hill from most of our houses. For a day up the coast to Sayulita, book a driver.
Schedules change. We check yours before anyone books.
Best For
- Groups who want a real town for dinners out, with the Zona Romántica just down the hill
- Big groups, with houses sleeping up to 28
- Groups who like a cook for daytime meals, in the rate at most houses
- Whale watching on Banderas Bay from December to March
Not For
- Anyone who wants to walk out of the house onto the sand, since most of our houses are on the hillside
- Guests who struggle with stairs, since many houses are built down steep slopes
- Summer and early fall, when it's hot and rainy and hurricane season peaks
When to Go
High Season
November to April, with whales in the bay from December to March
Festive Window
Dec 21 to Jan 5, minimum 7 nights at most houses
Low Season
May to October, about a fifth less than February, with the rains from June
Minimum Stay
7 nights over the festive window · 5 nights in winter · 3 to 4 nights the rest of the year
Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta
Conchas Chinas
Most of our Vallarta houses, on the steep hillside just south of the Zona Romántica with views across the bay. Five-bedroom houses run about $1,400 to $2,350 a night in February, and the biggest sleep up to 22.
Amapas & the Zona Romántica
Six large houses closest to the restaurants in town, including Casa Yvonneka, which sleeps up to 28. Five-bedroom setups start at about $1,650 a night in February.
South Shore
Nine houses further down the coast toward Mismaloya, quieter and backed by jungle. Five-bedroom houses run about $1,850 to $2,700 a night in February, and several sleep 20.
Pairs Well With
Planning a Trip to Puerto Vallarta?
Tell us the group and the dates. We'll come back with the houses that fit and what the week costs.
Request a Costed Shortlist