The Entire Villa

This is an owner-operated boutique villa: we live here, we know the neighborhood, and we take real pride in every stay. It's a 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, we're here to help. Mark, your host, and a villa staff member are based in a private entry-level apartment, entirely separate from the guest villa, which also holds the villa office. John, our co-host and operations manager, oversees daily operations and lives in a private apartment on the rooftop level; he may occasionally pass through to reach his home, mostly in the evening, as unobtrusively as he can. Any staff presence in your spaces is only for housekeeping, maintenance or your requests. We're here when you need us and 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 the apartments; the same code opens the entry gate and every keyless door, and keys will be waiting in the sliding-door locks of the two apartments that use them. There's a video doorbell at the entrance gate; there are no other cameras or video monitoring devices on the property. Every apartment has a smoke and carbon-monoxide detector, and there are fire extinguishers in the villa.
• Stairs: it's 17 steps up from the street to the gate, then interior staircases between the villa's levels, including a spiral staircase to the top-floor studio, with shady spots along the way to stop and take in the view. 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 the villa 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 $200 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: Villa Amistad sleeps 12, 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 villa's limit when you bring a travel crib. Traveling as a smaller group? You can book one of our apartments on its own, or a combination like the Penthouse or Las Brisas.
• 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 (the villa is for the registered guests staying with us), 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.