Jonathan's Lugar
★5.0·35 reviews
- Sleeps
- 2
- Layout
- Studio
- Bathrooms
- 1
- Size
- 43.5 m² · 468 sq ft
Overview
Jonathan's Lugar is a cozy king-bed studio at Villa Amistad, our boutique hillside villa in El Cerro, Puerto Vallarta's historic Centro, a 5-minute walk to the Malecón. Look up when you walk in: the ceiling is a hand-hewn wood beam lined with handmade terracotta tiles. One of the largest bathrooms in the villa with a rainfall shower, a private balcony over the cobblestone alley, a kitchenette, 468 sq ft (43.5 m²) on the main level. Sleeps two.
Every apartment at Villa Amistad is named for a friend who helped build it. Amistad means friendship, and we hope you feel it the moment you arrive.
The apartment
- The ceiling: our favorite detail. Every terracotta tile overhead was made by hand, so each one is a little different; see if you can spot the dog's paw print pressed into the clay years ago.
- Your own entrance: something you won't see anywhere else. To reach Jonathan's private door, you cross a little arched bridge over the villa's entry staircase.
- Old and new: when we fully renovated the villa, we kept as much of Jonathan's original look as we could. The result is traditional Mexican charm with every modern comfort you'd expect.
- The studio: a king bed dressed in luxury linens, warm, colorful walls, handcrafted Parota wood accents and air conditioning.
- Bathroom: one of the largest in the villa, with a rainfall shower and premium toiletries.
- Kitchenette: made for reheating meals and making coffee (there's no stove), with a microwave, toaster oven, coffeemaker, hot water kettle, cutlery, plates, bowls and glassware. We keep you stocked with coffee from the Chiapas region for your whole stay, plus filters, tea, sugar and a little starter milk (more milk is at the honor bar or the store a block up the street). Filtered drinking water comes straight from the tap, as everywhere in the villa.
- Private balcony: café seating for two over the cobblestone alley, a good spot for morning coffee or an evening wind-down.
- Work: the indoor table seats up to four and doubles as a desk, and fast fiber Wi-Fi, up to 1 Gbps with a backup line, makes a remote-work stretch as easy as a vacation.
Shared spaces and housekeeping
- The heated saltwater pool overlooks the bay and is open 24/7, kept around 29 to 30°C (85 to 86°F) in winter.
- There are two terraces, an honor bar and a BBQ grill, and the lower terrace has a table for nine: a great place to hang out, enjoy a meal al fresco, or take a Zoom call with a view that'll make your co-workers jealous. Plenty of our guests who still work remotely set up there for the day.
- You get light housekeeping Monday to Friday (beds made, a tidy and a restock of essentials), with fuller cleans and fresh linens on longer stays. The full schedule is in your Guest Stay Agreement and guidebook.
- Serviced villa: our staff are onsite from 10 AM Monday to Saturday (except some Mexican holidays), and when they've gone for the day, on Sundays and on holidays, your hosts are here to help.
A villa, not a condo building
Villa Amistad is one house with four private apartments, each with its own entrance. We soundproofed all we could, but it's a shared home, so now and then you may hear voices; please keep quiet hours in mind. Most guests love the tradeoff: a real villa experience without renting the whole villa. Jonathan's is completely private: its one interior door to Curiel's Retreat stays locked unless both are booked together as Las Brisas. Mark and John live onsite in our own apartments: here when you need us, out of your way when you don't.
Your guidebook and Villa Extras
You'll answer a few check-in questions and sign our Guest Stay Agreement while booking, and your welcome message includes the link to the digital guidebook we built ourselves: check-in details, a guide to the villa and our favorite places in town. It's also home to our Villa Extras: airport transportation, a private chef or grocery delivery, tours and romantic beach picnics, private onsite Spanish lessons, Priority Early Check-in or Late Check-out, an in-house massage from a vetted provider, and your Honor Bar tab.
Location and walk times
El Cerro is one of Puerto Vallarta's original hillside neighborhoods. Our quaint cobblestone alley has been home to the same Mexican families for generations; neighbors look out for one another, it feels lived-in and safe, and it's quieter than most of downtown (you may hear children playing or a dog barking now and then).
- Malecón and Rio Cuale: 5-minute walk downhill, the Romantic Zone just beyond
- Five of Puerto Vallarta's top-rated restaurants: within a 5-minute walk
- Camarones Beach: 9-minute walk. Los Muertos Beach: 17 minutes
- Pharmacy: 4 minutes. Convenience store: 1 block. Cafés with Wi-Fi: 1 block to 10 minutes
Getting around: Centro, the Romantic Zone and 5 de Diciembre are all walkable (5 to 25 minutes; the walk back up is moderate). Uber and taxis are plentiful, buses about 10 pesos. The airport is about a 25-minute drive.
Good to know
- Getting in: we make a point of meeting every guest on arrival. We'll ask for your flight details or arrival time so we can be there to help you settle in and walk you through the villa, its amenities and our house rules. If we aren't able to meet you upon your arrival, the guidebook contains your personal security code and complete instructions for getting in and to your apartment; the same code opens the entry gate and your keyless apartment door. There's a video doorbell at the entrance gate; there are no other cameras or video monitoring devices on the property. The apartment has a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector.
- Stairs: Jonathan's is on the main level, so it's 17 steps up from the street to the gate, then one flight to the apartment. There's no elevator.
- Parking: there's no parking in our alley, but free street parking is available on the adjacent streets. A car can stop at the entrance to drop off people and luggage (drivers may need to back down the alley to leave).
- Check-in and check-out: check-in is at 4 PM and check-out at 11 AM. If your apartment is ready by 3 PM, you're welcome to check in then at no charge; there's no need to ask, we'll message you on arrival day. Earlier check-ins and late check-outs may be requested for a small fee; see the guidebook for full terms and to make a request. Arriving before check-in? You're welcome to drop off your bags from 10 AM, and we'll keep them safe while you head out to explore; if you're arriving on a weekend, just message us beforehand, as our team may not be onsite. Need a place for your bags after check-out? The guidebook has the details, and you can request it under Villa Extras.
- Before you arrive: you'll answer our check-in questions and digitally sign the Guest Stay Agreement as part of booking and payment; your entry code appears in the guidebook before arrival. The day before arrival we place a $50 USD authorization hold on the card used to book: a temporary hold, not a charge, to confirm the card can cover any damages, incidentals or balances; your bank releases it after checkout if nothing is outstanding.
- Damage Waiver: a $10 USD Damage Waiver is included with your booking and covers accidental damage up to $300 USD; the details are in the Guest Stay Agreement.
- Guest count: Jonathan's sleeps two, and that limit is firm. Our guest count includes everyone of any age, infants included, and everyone sleeps in the beds provided. The one exception: we can welcome one infant aged two or under above the limit when you bring a travel crib. Need more room? Our other apartments and combinations sleep anywhere from 1 to 12, so ask us and we'll find the right fit.
- House rules: Villa Amistad is a peaceful retreat on a quiet residential street, not a party house. Have fun out on the beaches and in the bars, then come home to a calm villa. Here, please keep music and voices at a moderate level at any hour, by the pool too; our neighbors live just steps away and will let us know. Quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM, we don't host parties or events, and the whole property is smoke-free. It comes down to respect for all, and it's why we have such a good relationship with neighbors whose families have lived here for generations.
- Everyone is welcome: couples, families, groups and LGBTQ+ travelers alike. The villa isn't childproof (unfenced pool, open stairs, low railings, breakable art), so if you're traveling with little ones, reach out and we'll help you decide whether it's the right fit.
We'd love to host you. Hecho con amistad, Puerto Vallarta.
Dates and booking
Rates follow the season and demand. Pick your dates to see your full total, taxes included; it's locked in when you book.
Cancellation: Free for 48 hours after booking when arrival is at least 14 days away. Full refund more than 30 days before arrival, 50% more than 7 days before, no refund within 7 days. Full policy
Part of Villa Amistad: a house with four private apartments, two combinations, or the whole villa.
What guests said about this apartment
★ 5.0·35 reviewsLeft by guests who stayed in this apartment specifically. Unedited, in whatever language they wrote.
- ★★★★★
It was a perfect place to stay. Exactly as advertised and just wonderful in every way.
- ★★★★★
Mark's place was a pleasure to stay at. It's located in an area that is walkable to the beach and tourist parts of the city yet far away from the hussle and bussle. He and his team were very responsive and we really appreciated his in person orientation to the place when we arrived. We felt safe at all times and really appreciated the detailed guidbook of the place with great recommendations for restaurants and attractions to see. Would stay there again
- ★★★★★
I would like to keep this place to myself it’s that quaint and cleanliness top level and the area is perfect. The walk is nothing to worry about. This place is Puerto Vallarta ambience to a T.. they have implemented so many details that’ make all the difference and set themselves apart from all the other Airbnbs in the area. The honor bar gets a mention on its own because it’s so convenient but there is a store right around the corner too. The birria place a short walk away was delicious. Mark is attentive and thoughtful we will definitely be back hopefully dinner than later. Thanks again Mark and staff.
- ★★★★★
Gran atención de Mark, respondió muy rápido a cualquier pregunta y hay servicio de limpieza diario, el lugar impecable.
Good questions, honest answers
How far is Jonathan's Lugar from the beach and the Malecón?
The Malecón is a 5-minute walk downhill, Camarones Beach about 9 minutes, and Los Muertos Beach in the Romantic Zone about 17.
Does Jonathan's Lugar have a kitchen?
It has a kitchenette for reheating meals and making coffee (no stove): a microwave, toaster oven, coffeemaker and hot water kettle, with cutlery, plates, bowls and glassware. We stock Chiapas-region coffee, filters, tea and sugar for your whole stay, plus a little starter milk. If you want a full kitchen, look at Curiel's Retreat or Ivan's Bella Vista.
Does the apartment have an ocean view?
Not from inside. Jonathan's has a private balcony over the cobblestone alley; the pool, a few steps away, looks out over the bay.
Are there stairs?
Yes: 17 steps from the street to the gate, then one flight up. With Curiel's Retreat, Jonathan's has the fewest stairs of our apartments. No elevator.
Is there parking?
Not in our alley, but free street parking is on the adjacent streets, a short walk away. A car can stop at the entrance to drop off people and luggage (drivers may need to back down the alley to leave).
Is the Wi-Fi good enough for remote work?
Yes: fiber up to 1 Gbps with a backup line, and the indoor table works well as a desk.
Is the pool heated?
Yes. The shared saltwater pool overlooks the bay, is open 24/7, and is kept around 29 to 30°C (85 to 86°F) in winter.
Is Jonathan's Lugar good for couples?
It's our coziest apartment and best suited to a couple or a solo traveler: a king bed, one of the largest bathrooms in the villa with a rainfall shower, and a private balcony with seating for two.
Can I check in early or check out late?
Check-in is at 4 PM and check-out at 11 AM. If your apartment is ready by 3 PM, you're welcome to check in then at no charge; there's no need to ask, we'll message you on arrival day. Earlier check-ins and late check-outs may be requested for a small fee; see the guidebook for full terms and to make a request.
What is the $50 authorization hold?
A temporary hold, not a charge, placed on the booking card the day before arrival to confirm it's valid and can cover any damages, incidentals or balances. Your bank releases it after checkout if nothing is outstanding.

