The Penthouse: Top-Floor 3BR, Two Ocean Terraces, Heated Pool, Walkable

Summary:

The Penthouse is the entire top floor of Villa Amistad, our hillside villa in the historic El Cerro neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta. Slide open the glass wall and the living room opens right to the ocean breeze, with two ocean-facing terraces: one off the living area with a dining table and seating area, and a private one off the master suite with a hammock and lounge seating. From December through March you can often spot humpback whales breaching offshore. Three king bedrooms, three ensuite baths, a full kitchen, and 1,569 sq ft (146 m²). Sleeps six.



The Space:

Every apartment at Villa Amistad is named for a friend who helped bring the villa to life, and that's really the whole idea behind the place. Amistad means friendship, and we hope you feel it from the moment you arrive. The Penthouse joins our two top-floor apartments, Ivan's Bella Vista and Miguel's Mirador, into one home with the whole top floor to itself.

All three bedrooms have king beds with luxury linens, their own ensuite bathroom with a rainfall shower, air conditioning, and ceiling fans. The master suite (Miguel's side) is a lookout of its own: the king bed faces the water, and when you slide open the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the suite and its private terrace become one indoor-outdoor living space, with a hammock, lounge seating, a table that doubles as a workspace, and its own kitchenette. The main living area (Ivan's side) opens through a sliding glass wall to the second ocean-facing terrace, with a dining table and seating area. The full kitchen has an island that seats four and filtered drinking water straight from the tap, here and throughout the property. We keep the kitchen stocked with coffee from the Chiapas region, which guests tend to rave about, for your whole stay. Warm terracotta tones and handcrafted Parota wood run throughout, including the custom doors made by local artisans. Fast fiber Wi-Fi (up to 1 Gbps, plus a backup line) makes it as easy for a remote-work stretch as for a group getaway.

You'll share the heated saltwater pool overlooking the bay (open 24/7, kept around 29 to 30°C / 85 to 86°F in winter), two terraces, an honor bar, and a BBQ grill with the apartments below. The lower terrace has a table that seats nine, so your whole group can eat together. You get light housekeeping Monday to Friday (beds made, a tidy, and a restock of essentials), with fuller cleans and fresh linens scheduled on longer stays; the full schedule is in your Guest Stay Agreement and guidebook.

A VILLA, NOT A CONDO BUILDING

Villa Amistad is a house with four private apartments, not a large condo or hotel. When you book the Penthouse, the top floor is entirely yours, and you share the pool and terraces with the guests of up to two other apartments below. We added as much soundproofing as we could, but this is still a shared home, so now and then you may hear voices from another apartment. Most guests love the tradeoff: a real villa experience without renting the whole property. We ask everyone to respect quiet hours and the comfort of the other guests staying with us.



Guest Access:

You'll have keyless entry with your own personal code, using the main Penthouse door as your way in and out. For security, we have a video doorbell at the entrance, and there are smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors in the living room and the master suite, and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. One thing to know before you book: 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 flight up to your door. There are shady spots to stop and take in the view along the way. There's no parking in our alleyway, but free street parking is available on the adjacent streets, a short walk away.



The Neighborhood:

Villa Amistad sits on a quaint cobblestone alley in El Cerro, one of Puerto Vallarta's original hillside neighborhoods in Centro. Longtime Mexican families have lived on this street for generations, neighbors know each other and look out for one another, and it feels genuinely lived-in and safe. It's quieter than most areas downtown, though you may hear children playing in the street or a dog barking now and then, the sounds of a real neighborhood. You're a 5-minute walk downhill to the Malecon and the Rio Cuale, with the Romantic Zone just beyond. Five of Puerto Vallarta's most highly rated restaurants are within a 5-minute walk, with many more to choose from. Camarones Beach is a 9-minute walk and Los Muertos Beach about 17 minutes on foot. The nearest pharmacy is a 4-minute walk, there's a convenience store a block up the street, and a coffee shop is a block away with several more offering Wi-Fi within a 5 to 10 minute walk.



Getting Around:

The Romantic Zone, Centro, and 5 de Diciembre are all within walking distance, most places 5 to 25 minutes on foot. The walk up the hill to the villa is moderate. If you'd rather ride, Uber and taxis are plentiful and inexpensive, and local buses run along the main roads below for about 10 pesos. The airport is roughly a 20-minute drive.



Other Things to Note:

YOUR DIGITAL GUIDEBOOK

Once you book, we'll invite you to our digital guidebook, which we built ourselves from the ground up. Answer a few quick questions so we can prepare for your visit, and it unlocks with everything you need: full check-in instructions, a complete guide to the villa, and our local recommendations for Puerto Vallarta. It's also home to our Villa Extras, where you run the practical side of your stay. Request concierge services like airport transportation, a private chef, or grocery delivery; book a Priority Early Check-in or a Late Check-out; arrange an in-house massage from one of our vetted providers; and even pay your Honor Bar tab right from the app.

CHECK-IN

Check-in is at 4 PM, and we can often have the apartment ready for a complimentary early check-in at 3 PM. If you'd like an earlier check-in or a later check-out, you can request one for a small fee in the guidebook.

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

The check-in form we send after booking includes a copy of our Guest Stay Agreement, which must be digitally signed before you arrive. Once that's done, your guidebook unlocks with all your check-in information and your keyless entry code. The day before arrival, we place a $100 USD authorization hold on the card used to book. It's a temporary hold, not a charge, to confirm the card is valid and can cover any damages, incidentals, or outstanding balances during your stay; your bank releases it after checkout if there's nothing outstanding. A Damage Waiver of $35 USD is included with your booking and covers accidental damage up to $500 USD; the details are in the Guest Stay Agreement.

GOOD TO KNOW

The whole property is smoke-free, quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM, and we don't host parties or events. Everyone is welcome here: couples, families, groups, and LGBTQ+ travelers alike. The villa isn't childproof (unfenced pool, open stairs, low railings, and breakable art), so if you're traveling with little ones, reach out and we'll help you decide whether it's the right fit.

Our guest count includes everyone of any age, infants included, and all guests sleep in the beds provided. If you are traveling with an infant aged two or under, we can welcome one above the apartment's limit when you bring a travel crib. We keep to this for the safety and comfort of everyone staying with us, and we are always happy to help you figure out the right apartment for your group.

We'd love to host you. Hecho con amistad, Puerto Vallarta.



Interaction with Guests:

Mark and John live onsite in our own private apartments, so we're around whenever you need us, whether that's a local tip, help arranging something, or just the peace of mind of knowing a host is here, while fully respecting your privacy.