Puerto Vallarta fills up several times a year for big LGBTQ+ weeks, and most visitors stay in the Romantic Zone, close to the parties. Yelapa, a car-free beach village about an hour by boat from the Los Muertos Pier, is where many of them slip away for a quiet night or two. This guide lists the year's big weeks, with dates when the organizers have posted them, and links to our post for each one.
How to fit Yelapa into a big week
- Pick the light day. Most big weeks have a day or two without a major pool party or night event. That's the day for the boat to Yelapa.
- Stay the night. Boats between Puerto Vallarta and Yelapa run in daylight, so a night in the village is easier than a rushed day trip.
- Book early. These weeks fill the Romantic Zone first, and nearby nights in Yelapa go too.
The big weeks, through the year
Dates below come from each organizer or the tourism board's events calendar. Where nothing official is posted yet, we say "dates to be confirmed".
- Vallarta Bear Week, late January. The biggest bear week of the year. It has its own guide: Yelapa during Vallarta Bear Week.
- Presidents Day White Party, Presidents Day weekend in February. 2027 dates to be confirmed.
- Fairyland Music Festival, March 11 to 14, 2027, per the tourism board's Fairyland listing.
- Easter and Semana Santa circuit, Easter weekend. Easter Sunday is March 28, 2027; party dates to be confirmed.
- Vallarta Pride, late May. 2027 dates to be confirmed; see LGBTQ+ travel to Yelapa and Puerto Vallarta for Pride basics.
- Vallarta Lesbian Pride, late May. 2027 dates to be confirmed.
- Latin Fest, late July. The first edition ran in 2026; 2027 dates to be confirmed.
- Halloween and Día de Muertos, late October to November 2. 2027 dates to be confirmed.
- Thanksgiving week, November 19 to 29, 2026. Brawny Bear Weekend, Leather Fever, and Bearsgiving. Our guide: Thanksgiving week in Puerto Vallarta 2026.
- New Year's circuit, late December into early January. Mantamar Beach Club lists its New Year's festival starting Tuesday, December 29, 2026, on its events page.
Getting to Yelapa during a big week
Water taxis leave from the Los Muertos Pier in the Romantic Zone, about 55 minutes each way, and from Boca de Tomatlán, south of town, with more departures and a shorter ride. Times change with the season, so check the go2yelapa water taxi schedule before you go, and see how to get to Yelapa from Puerto Vallarta by boat for every option.
Checked November 13, 2026. We update this guide as organizers post new dates.
Plan your stay
Casa Gratitud is an ocean-view villa above Yelapa bay with a local host family, and everyone is welcome here. Check dates around your event and book direct at yelapacasagratitud.com.