Article By Zona PVR Magazine

Puerto Vallarta is known for its colonial charm, cobblestone streets, beautiful beaches, dramatic sunsets, friendly locals and world-class entertainment. While most first-time tourists and cruise visitors will hit the popular Romantic Zone, many seasoned visitors are returning to vacation or permanently reside in the colonias of Versalles & Gaviotas, combining the hotspot of PV’s gourmet restaurant scene with one of Vallarta’s most exclusive neighborhoods.

Versalles is the epicenter for Puerto Vallarta’s vibrant restaurant scene, ranging from chef driven gourmet tacos to Michelin star quality Nouvelle cuisine. The charming colonia with cobblestone streets is adjacent to Las Gaviotas and has restaurants on almost every corner and many offer outdoor “café style” dining. Versalles also has many new condor developments available for purchase. There are few hotels in the colonia but condos are available as vacation rentals.

The exclusive Gaviotas neighborhood has long been a favorite of wealthy Mexicans and is now being re-discovered by sophisticated travelers and new residents. The colonia’s central location offers some of Puerto Vallarta’s best local architecture, with beautiful estates and walled mansions, a palm tree lined central park and wide curving avenues. The neighborhood is a walker’s paradise adjacent to Versalles and offers easy access to the best beaches, shopping and private schools.

We spoke to Greg Moesser, along with his husband Dwight, owners of Villa Vallardin,(www.VillaVallardin.com) a 6BR + 6BA luxury staffed pool villa in Las Gaviotas. Greg shares with us….We originally purchased a condo in the Romantic Zone but found we needed more space, less tourist crowds, a more peaceful ambience and a walkable neighborhood. When we found the Las Gaviotas neighborhood, it reminded us of Beverly Hills, where I was a real estate agent, with its architectural homes and mansions on large flat lots and all within an easy walk to the city’s best restaurants and shopping. For the price of a luxury condo we were able to purchase a home with a pool, separate owner’s suite and live-in staff quarters, and we loved it so much that we now live here permanently.

For those sophisticated travelers that don’t want a typical tourist experience and are seeking to explore PV’s best culinary experience with a more residential ambience, Versalles and Gaviotas is a perfect choice.