Life in Amapas and Conchas Chinas
The Beverly Hills of Puerto Vallarta — quiet, beautiful, and walkable to everythingAmapas and Conchas Chinas are often called the Beverly Hills of Puerto Vallarta — and it is easy to see why. As you leave Zona Romantica heading south, the cobblestone streets wind steeply upward through lush hillside vegetation, revealing increasingly spectacular views of Banderas Bay below. Luxury villas and boutique condos line the cliffs, each angled toward the water.
Villa Casa Aliona sits within this elevated quiet enclave — close enough to the Romantica Zone to walk for dinner, far enough up the hill that the noise never reaches you. The neighborhood is genuinely peaceful: birdsong in the morning, cicadas at dusk, and the distant sound of waves from the terraces.
Depending on where you are in Amapas, Zona Romantica is just a 5–15 minute walk downhill — past bougainvillea-draped walls, hidden garden gates, and the occasional iguana sunning itself on a stone wall. At night the bay glitters below and the lights of Puerto Vallarta stretch north along the coast.
What You Can Walk To
Playa Amapas — 10 minutes. Playa Conchas Chinas — 12 minutes. Zona Romantica restaurants and bars — 10 to 15 minutes downhill. Los Muertos Beach and Pier — 15 minutes. All the best of Puerto Vallarta is within easy reach on foot.
What is Nearby by Taxi or Bus
The Malecon boardwalk and Centro — 10 minutes by taxi. Vallarta Botanical Gardens — 20 minutes south. Sayulita and Punta Mita — 45 to 60 minutes north. The orange public buses run along Highway 200 at the base of the hill for easy and affordable access everywhere.
The Vibe of the Neighborhood
Quiet and residential during the day, with the hum of the jungle and the occasional sound of waves. At sunset the terraces come alive — this is one of the best places in all of Puerto Vallarta to watch the sky turn gold over Banderas Bay.
Amapas streets are steep, winding, and narrow — best navigated on foot going downhill to town, and by taxi or Uber on the way back up after dinner. Uber works well throughout PV and is typically very affordable. A taxi back up the hill from Zona Romantica usually costs around 80–120 MXN.
South of Conchas Chinas the coast continues through some of Puerto Vallarta's most pristine stretches: Estacas, Los Venados, Punta Negra, Palmares, and the famed Garza Blanca beach. These make excellent day trips accessible by bus, taxi, or rental car.
Staying in Amapas means you experience Puerto Vallarta the way its most devoted visitors do — with enough distance from the action to appreciate the bay's full beauty, and enough proximity to never miss a great meal, a vivid sunset, or an impromptu walk along the shore.