Ivan's Bella Vista: Top-Floor 2BR, Ocean Views, Heated Pool, Walk to Malecón

Ivan's Bella Vista is a top-floor, two-bedroom apartment at Villa Amistad, our boutique hillside villa in El Cerro, Puerto Vallarta's historic Centro, a 5-minute walk to the Malecón. It looks out over the tiled rooftops to Banderas Bay: slide open the glass wall and the living room opens to the balcony and the ocean breeze. From December through March you can often spot humpback whales breaching offshore. Two king bedrooms with ensuite baths, a full kitchen, 942 sq ft (87 m²) on the top floor. Sleeps 4.



Every apartment at Villa Amistad is named for a friend who helped us get started, supported us and helped us succeed. Amistad means friendship, and we hope you feel it the moment you arrive.



THE APARTMENT

• Balcony: there's a lounge area and a table for four, facing the bay for sunsets. Start the day with coffee out here, and in whale season, keep an eye on the water.

• Bedrooms: two king bedrooms dressed in luxury linens, each with its own ensuite bathroom and rainfall shower, plus air conditioning and a ceiling fan.

• Kitchen: a full kitchen with an island that seats four, good for breakfast or setting up a laptop. Filtered drinking water comes straight from the tap (as everywhere in the villa), and we keep you stocked with coffee from the Chiapas region for your whole stay.

• Work: fast fiber Wi-Fi, up to 1 Gbps with a backup line, so a remote-work stretch is as easy as a vacation.

• Style: warm terracotta tones and handcrafted Parota wood run throughout, including the custom doors made by local artisans.



SHARED WITH THE OTHER APARTMENTS

• 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 Friday (except some Mexican holidays), and your hosts are usually around after they've gone for the day, and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.



A VILLA, NOT A CONDO

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. Ivan's is completely private: its one interior door to Miguel's Mirador stays locked unless both are booked together as our Penthouse. 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

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.



THE NEIGHBORHOOD

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 in the living area and a fire extinguisher.

• The hill: Villa Amistad sits on the hillside of El Cerro, in Centro. Our alley has a gentle to moderate slope, and the most direct street up from the Malecón is a moderate climb. Most guests enjoy it as a little daily exercise, and it’s what gives us our views. If you’d rather ride, taxis and inexpensive rideshares are always close by.

• Stairs: Ivan's is on 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 the apartment, 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 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: after booking, you'll receive a link to answer our check-in questions and digitally sign the Guest Stay Agreement; please complete it within 48 hours of booking and before arrival. Your entry code appears in the guidebook once it's signed. 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 $20 USD Damage Waiver is included with your booking and covers accidental damage up to $400 USD; the details are in the Guest Stay Agreement.

• Guest count: Ivan's sleeps four, 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: solo travelers, 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.



Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.



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