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Shopping Puerto Vallarta Gay men love to shop, especially while on vacation in a new and exotic place like Puerto Vallarta. This area of Mexico is known, among other things, for its ceramics and beautiful hand blown colored glass. Talavera pottery is still locally made using the centuries old techniques of the Spanish. Excellent leather goods from the city of Leon are available in many Puerto Vallarta stores at a third of the cost in the States. The Huichol Indians of Nayarit are among the great artisans of Mexico, producing intricate yarn paintings and beaded masks, animals and prayer bowls. The yarn paintings by such masters as Jose Benitez Sanchez and Jose Bautista are extraordinary and collected by museums around the world. Quite a few of the Puerto Vallarta art galleries and shops carry work by the Huichols and other native tribes like the Cora. Beautiful black pottery from Oaxaca or simple Mexican leather sandals (huaraches) can be had for a song. It's great to go shopping in town as so many interesting stores and boutiques in Puerto Vallarta are filled with quality pottery, stained and etched glass, women's clothing and accessories, beach wear, Cuban cigars, native artifacts, home furnishings, colorful blankets (sarapes), gold jewelry and hand-made items of just about every imaginable design. Mexico is among the world's leading producers of silver, and dozens of stores in PV sell high quality sterling silver items. Prices in Vallarta's retail stores are marked in pesos and are fixed. There are three general areas you might want to take a walk around in to look and shop: Downtown, Cuale River Island and the South Side. The main shopping malls and centers (listed at page bottom) are in the hotel district or in Marina Vallarta.  Downtown The street along the downtown sea wall or Puerto Vallarta malecon, Paseo Diaz Ordaz, has many designer stores that generally sell goods at high prices. It's perhaps better to do some shopping instead along Juarez and Morelos streets, which run parallel to the malecon, and the cross streets in between. Prices are more reasonable and many small stores and fashionable boutiques and quite a number of fine art galleries are in the area. Farther south on Insurgentes street along the Cuale River is the large municipal market or flea market (9am-8pm), with its many of stalls on two levels where you can bargain before buying just about anything under the sun, including thirty dozen or more different types of T-shirts. Many good shops are nearby. Cuale River Island Puerto Vallarta is divided by the Cuale River, which runs from high in the Sierra Madre mountains into Banderas Bay. In the middle of the river is an long and narrow island that has several very good restaurants on it including the well known Le Bistro, Oscar's, and The River Cafe. One can feel the tropical energy of Mexico on this island as in no other part of town, with its botanical gardens, Anthropology Museum, Cultural Center and small stores and boutiques that sell fine clothing, tapestries, obsidian carvings and handicrafts. Many of these buildings are dwarfed by enormous, ancient trees, adding to the beauty and charm of the entire island. Take time to stroll through this lovely part of Puerto Vallarta. South Side-Romantic Zone It's enjoyable to do walking and looking around the cobblestone streets of the South Side (sometimes called the Zona Romantica) especially on the main streets Ignacio Vallarta. Olas Altas and Insurgentes. There are many stores filled with beautiful home furnishings and accessories, jewelry, handicrafts, women's clothing, colored glass and the ubiquitous beachwear and souvenirs. Lazaro Cardenas street has some interesting native art stores/galleries on it, as well as the gay bars La Noche and Frida. Quite a number of good restaurants are in this general area. Puerto Vallarta's "Restaurant Row" on Basilio Badillo street has more than eighteen eateries in six blocks, and a good number of interesting stores as well. Most of the gay-owned bars, restaurants and shops are within several blocks or a short walk of one another on the South Side.

Gay Owned Stores and Other Interesting Shops
Excellent quality goods from all over Mexico can be found by shopping in Puerto Vallarta. Here are the gay-owned shops and stores (**) that I know about, as well as some others that I consider to be unique or of special interest. There are hundreds of stores and boutiques in Pto. Vallarta, so what we have here is a very modest list. Shopping tips: The exchange rate offered in most stores in PV is rather poor, so visit an ATM or change dollars at a Casa de Cambio/Exchange House before shopping. Use your credit card when possible as that gives the best rate; though many stores here only accept cash. I advise you to check prices carefully before purchasing anything, store prices are usually fixed (one can bargain on the beach or at the flea market) and always count your change.

AgroGourmet - North Side/Hotel Zone - Ave. Francisco Medina Ascencio 2820-A (across from the Marina Terminal).  Tel: 221-2656
Natural and organic fruits, grains, vegetables, herbs, fine cheeses, spices and products. Top quality gourmet products, imported as well as locally grown. Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm; Sat, 8am-4:30pm

Alfarería Tlaquepaque - Centro - 1100 Avenida Mexico.  Tel: 223-2121
One of Vallarta's oldest stores and an original source of ceramics and handicrafts for over 40 years. A wide variety of vases, ceramic pots, colored jars and glasses, talavera pottery, dishware, and blown glass by artisans from all over Mexico. Decent prices.  Mon-Sat, 9am-9pm; Sun, 9am-3pm.

Alphonse Swim wear - South Side - 373 Pino Suarez C-17 Loma del Mar.  Tel: 222-7053  **
Uniquely styled swimsuits for men. "He uses his innate knowledge of the beauty of the male form to construct a contemporary style to enhance each man's natural attributes." By appointment only. alphonse@alphonseswimwear.com  Mon-Sat 9am-11am and 3pm-6pm.

Angel's Store - South Side - 256 Lazaro Cardenas.  **
Clothing, gifts and accessories for the modern gay boi.  

Best - South Side/Romantic Zone - 111 Rodolfo Gomez at the San Marino hotel.  Tel: 222-5128  **
Underwear and beachwear for men. Some pretty sexy stuff. Next door to Cyber Smoothie Cafe.  Daily, 10am-8pm
 

Casa Mia - South Side - 437 Insurgentes.  Tel: 222-9699, 222-9083  **
Interior design, home decor, furnishings, fabrics and fixtures, custom sofas, upholstery and draperies - whatever it takes to that make your house your home. Friendly service at Casa Mia Puerto Vallarta with owner Hector Sanchez.  Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm and 4pm-7pm; Sat, 10am-2pm

Christopher Wynn - South Side - 146 Pulpito.  Tel: 222-9390  **
Fine home furnishings.  Mon-Fri, 11am-5pm

Colors - South Side - 116 Pulpito and Calle Malecon, Local #7 at Los Muertos Beach.  Tel: 222-7764  **
Beachwear, clothing, accessories and other boutique items; the Calle Malecon location is just down the block from the Blue Chairs hotel resort, 10am-6pm.  Daily, 10am-9pm on Pulpito street.

Colores Creative Group- South Side - 329-A Basilio Badillo.  Tel: 223-2040  **
Puerto Vallarta's Colores Creative team offers creative design service and web solution for any budget, focused to work with companies in their growth in the PV competitive market. Offering strategy, graphic design, web development, hosting, photography, computer maintenance and repair, cyber cafe/internet service. Further info for Colores Creative Group in PV.  

the Computer Store - Hotel Zone - 153 Guayana.  Tel: 223-2939, 223-2744
Sales and services of new and used computers and laptops, with computer parts and supplies. Over 13 years experience in Puerto Vallarta with Tom Barrington. At the corner of Cuba and Guayana streets, around the corner from the Red Cross. One of the main computer sales/service stores in town, if not the oldest, since 1997.  Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm

Condom House - South Side - 239 Lazaro Cardenas.  Tel: 044-322-126-7722  **
A variety of condoms of different textures and sensations; lubricants too.  Mon-Sat, Noon-9pm

Coral Reef Surf Shop - 114-F Heroes de Nacozari, just off Coastal Highway 200, Bucerias.  Tel: 329-298-0261
New and used surf boards, surf lessons, surfboard rentals, surf related clothing, boardie shorts, leashes, t-shirts, wax, wet suits and other beach and surfing accessories. Since 1997 Coral Reef Surf Shop has served Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita and the greater Banderas Bay area. David and Maneula, owners.  Mon-Sat, 9am-7pm; Sun, 10am-2pm.

Coral Skate and Surf Shop - 322-B Insurgentes - South Side.  Tel: 222-7785
All sorts of surf and beach wear for our local surfers and skaters with skim and skate boards, shirts, sandals, boardie shorts and body boards.  Mon-Sat, 10am-2pm and 4:30pm-9pm

Eclectic Art - South Side - 250 Basilio Badillo.  Tel: 222-5712  **
Handmade home art, carpets, fine art, jewelry, clothing and metal sculptures in Patti Gallardo's store on Restaurant Row.  Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun, 10am-2pm

Elements of Design - South Side - 242 Aquiles Serdan at Ignacio Vallarta.  Tel: 113-0236
Upscale fine home decor and furnishings, interior design items, mirrors, art work, rugs, lighting and accessories. Mon-Sat, 10am-8pm; Sun, Noon-5pm.

Flowers To Go - South Side - 126 Rodolfo Gomez.  Tel : 223-5686  **
Flowers flowers flowers, nicely arranged and they can deliver. Official florist for the Gourmet Festival. Owners Bob Bruneau and Gerardo Lugo.  Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm.

Galeria Corsica - Central - 230 Leona Vicario, Tel: 223-1821 and 735 Guadalupe Sanchez. Tel: 222-9260  **
Contemporary Mexican fine art exclusively, with paintings, sculpture and art objects. Representing such artists as Ada Colorina, Jorge Marin, Paloma Torres, Rocio Caballero, Xavier Esqueda and Ulices Licea. Founded by Jean Pierre Renucci and Jose A. Villavicencio in 2001 and "dedicated to the promotion of contemporary Mexican artists." Galeria Corsica has galleries in Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo and offices in Mexico City.  Mon-Sat, 11am-2pm and 5pm-11pm.

Galeria Omar Alonso - Central - 249 Leona Vicario.  Tel: 222-5587  **
This gay-owned gallery has mainly dedicated its space to antique and contemporary photography, engraving and sculpture. Photos and pieces have been displayed by artists such as Anderson & Low, Gabriel Figueroa, Flor Garduño, Ron Van Dongen, and Luis Gonzalez Palma from Guatemala, one of the most successful Latin American photographers today. Located across the street from ritzy restaurant Cafe des Artistes.  Mon-Sat, 11am-10pm.

Galeria Sol y Luna, Fine Contemporary Art - Central - 155a Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez. Tel: 113-0475  **
Paintings and sculptures by international artists such as Lena Bartula, Don Quade, Randy Cooper, Lorenzo Bruderer and Roberto Lopez Ramirez. Cocktails every Fri, 6pm-10pm, October-April.  Mon-Sat, 10am-8pm and Fri, 10am-10pm

Liquid Men - South Side - 245 Ignacio Vallarta, Tel: 223-3165 and 222 Basilio Badillo.  Tel: 222-3031  **
Fashionable clothes and accessories for the modern gay boy on the South Side in two locations. A stylish selection and popular among local shoppers.  Daily, 10am-10pm

Lucy's Cucu Cabana - South Side - 295 Basilio Badillo.
Unique Mexican folk-art including items from Oaxaca and also talavera ceramics, which they often purchase on their journeys around Mexico during the summer. Co-owner Gil Gevins, Lucy's husband, is also the author of a hilarious book of Vallarta misadventures entitled, "Puerto Vallarta on Forty-Nine Brain Cells a Day", which you can purchase at the shop.  Mon-Sat, 10am-10pm

Marino Jewelry - South Side - 110 Rodolfo Gomez.  Tel: 222-8839
Selection of silver from Taxco and precious gems. They've been in the neighborhood for many years and are gay-friendly locals. Repair and manufacture.  Daily, 9am-10pm

Mundo de Azulejos (World of Tiles) - South Side - 374 Venustiano Carranza.  Tel: 222-2675
The only talavera tile factory in town. Talavera and artistic tiles, pottery and home accessories, with thousands of hand painted items in stock. The talavera and beautiful things at Mundo de Azulejos in Puerto Vallarta have been produced locally in the Valle de Nayarit by this family owned business for some 20 years.  Mon-Sat, 9am-7pm

Mundo de Cristal (World of Glass) - South Side - 333 Insurgentes.  Tel: 222-4157
The first hand blown glass factory in Puerto Vallarta. A local family business that produces and sells lovely colored glasses, decanters, pitchers, candle holders, vases and decorative pieces as well as talavera and ceramic work (photo left).  Mon-Fri, 9am-7pm and Sat, 9am-2pm

Parisina - Downtown - 402 Juarez, Tel: 222-2022 and 2747 Francisco Medina Ascencio, Hotel zone, Tel: 221-1165 
One of the main Puerto Vallarta fabric/telas stores. Main location on Juarez street near city hall and another in the hotel zone. A 75 year old nation-wide chain of ready to wear and decorative fabrics for dresses, scarves, rugs; sewing machines/maquinas de coser, etc.  Mon-Sat, 10am-8:30pm; Sun, 9am-7pm

Papito - South Side/Los Muertos Beach - 162 Malecon Street.  Tel: 044-322-181-1721  **
Beach wear and swim wear for the young gay male and swimsuits for men. Located in the street/block behind the Blue Chairs gay beach.  Mon-Sat, 11am-7pm; Sun 12 noon-6pm

Rainbowland - South Side - 266 Ignacio Vallarta.  Tel: 223-8364  **
A miscellany of Pride gifts of all sorts from clothing and flags to jewelry and ornaments. A small Mexico City company come to Vallarta. Next door Picante gay bar.

Rainbow T-Shirts - South Side - 137 Pulpito.  Tel: 223-2868  **
Exclusively designed colorful and inexpensive t-shirts. Across the street from the gay bar Garbo.  Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm

Safari Accents - South Side - 224 Olas Altas.  Tel: 223-2660  **
A wide selection of handsome home furnishings, colored glass and Mexican religious art, to name a few items. Popular. Friendly service with Gerardo.  Daily, 10am-11pm.

Sea Me - South Side - 114-B Amapas.  Tel: 223-8043  **
Designer sunglasses such as Prada, Dolce & Garbana, Ferragamo, Maui Jim, Versace, Revo and Ray Ban.  Mon-Sat, 10am-7pm

Sergio Bustamante - Central - 275 Juarez, Tel: 222-1129, 223-1405, 222-8321  **
Modern sculpture and original jewelry by one of Mexico's famous artists. Life-size animals done in bronze, ceramic and paper mache.  Daily, 10am-9pm

Serendipity - South Side - 228 Ignacio Vallarta, Tel: 223-1828 and 472 Juarez, Tel: 222-6110  **
Selection of Mexican handicrafts. Talk to Chuey at the Serendipity store on Ignacio Vallarta street.  Mon-Sat, 10:30am-3:30pm and 5pm-8pm.

Sonido Rana - South Side - 325 Francisco Madero.  Tel: 222-4176
An extensive collection of cassettes and CDs, the largest in Puerto Vallarta as far as I know. Everything from classical and new world music to salsa, jazz, traditional Mexican, disco, rock and international pop. Also sells musical instruments including guitars, accordions, organs, violins and harmonicas, written music and books on music.  Daily, 9am-9pm

Suave Central Surf Shop - Central - 800 Morelos.
Specializing in surf wear, surf odds 'n ends and other beach wear and items for surfers and surfing.

Tops and Bottoms - South Side - 156-A Basilio Badillo.  Tel: 044-322-171-2942  **
Hip clothes for the growing gay boy and his gay-friendly straight friends.  Daily, 10:30am-2pm and 4pm-10pm

Xocodiva - South Side - 118 Rodolfo Gomez.  Tel: 113-0352  **
Hand made chocolates and truffles for those with a sweet tooth, "artisan chocolates". Woman/lesbian owned and operated by Charlotte Semple and Carole Fast.  Daily, 10am-10pm

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Puerto Vallarta Department Stores-Shopping Malls-Supermarkets (for detailed information on these and other Puerto Vallarta stores and shopping malls go to the link)

Casa Ley - Central/Downtown - 1150 Avenida Mexico.  The main supermarket downtown, with groceries, bakery and cleaning items downstairs; appliances, clothing, house supplies upstairs.  Daily, 7am-Midnight.
Coppel - North Side/Hotel district - 190 Blvd. Francisco Medina. Tel: 222-8461, 224-8460  Department store.  Mon-Sat, 10am-8:30pm; Sun, 10am-6pm
Galerias Vallarta Centro Comercial - North Side - 2920 Francisco Medina Ascencio.  Newest upscale shopping center in Puerto Vallarta, with the huge upscale Liverpool department store, MMCinemas movie theaters with 12 screens, and over 200 shops and restaurants on two levels.
Gutierrez Rizo - South Side/Zona Romantica - 136 Constitucion. Tel: 222-0222, 222-1367.  The main supermarket on the South Side; with a very good selection of imported foods.  Daily, 7am-10:30pm
Soriana - North Side - Blvd. Francisco Medina, in Plaza Caracol.  A huge department and grocery store in Puerto Vallarta's principal shopping mall.  Clothes, appliances, hardware, food.
Lans - Central - 867 Juárez. Tel: 223-2829, 22-9100.  Modern well stocked department store in downtown Vallarta.  Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm; Sun, 11am-7pm  
Macroplaza Vallarta - Pitillal - 1526 Avenida Francisco Villa at Gonzalez Gallo Avenue.  Tel: 224-9178.  The newest Puerto Vallarta shopping mall complex located two blocks from the Soriana Pitillal shopping plaza, with a large Wal-Mart as its main store among some 200 other clothing and furniture stores, eateries and a movie cinema theater as well.
Plaza Caracol - North Side- Francisco Medina. Km 2.5. Tel: 224-3239. Vallarta's oldest and principal shopping mall, recently expanded, with the Cinemark movie theaters with 11 screens.  Daily, 9am-10pm
Plaza Marina - North Side - Highway to the Airport Km 8. Tel: 221-0490. Large shopping mall on the north end of Puerto Vallarta near the Marina.  Daily, 9am-11pm
WalMart - Marina/North Side/Hotel zone - 2900 Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio.  Tel: 221-0562, 221-0870.  You know the story about Walmart. One of the newest and largest of the grocery-dry goods stores in Puerto Vallarta. Good bakery and deli and a fine selection of vegetable and fruits. Frequented by foreigners and locals alike. Located just next door to Sam's Club and across the boulevard-highway from the Port Terminal where the cruise ships dock.  Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Wal-Mart, New - Pitillal - 1526 Ave. Francisco Villa.  Tel: 224-9178.  At the new Macro-Plaza Vallarta shopping mall in Pitillal.  Daily, 7am-11pm
Woolworth - Downtown - 880 Juarez street. Tel: 223-1568.  Yes it's here too, the age old relatively inexpensive department store.  Daily, 9am-9pm
 

Note: The information on this and other pages of the Gay Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide was deemed accurate when posted, but changes can happen without prior notice. You may wish to call to check on details directly with any businesses in question before planning your time out around Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.