The Penthouse

• 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.

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. The Penthouse is completely private: Ivan's and Miguel's are joined through their interior door, so the whole top floor is yours, and you share the pool and terraces with guests in up to two apartments below. Mark and John live onsite in our own apartments: here when you need us, out of your way when you don't.

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.

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.

• 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 the Penthouse's main keyless door on Ivan's side. There's a video doorbell at the entrance gate; there are no other cameras or video monitoring devices on the property. The Penthouse has smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors in the living room and master suite, and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
• Stairs: the Penthouse is 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 to your door, with shady spots to pause and take in the view. You'll mainly come and go through the main keyless door on Ivan's side; the master suite (Miguel's side) also has its own entrance up a spiral staircase, through a sliding door with a key waiting in the lock, if you'd like to use it. 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 $100 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 $35 USD Damage Waiver is included with your booking and covers accidental damage up to $500 USD; the details are in the Guest Stay Agreement.
• Guest count: the Penthouse sleeps six, 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.