Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Visit the Real ‘Acapulco’: A Puerto Vallarta Trip Guide to the Apple TV+ Show’s Pink Paradise
The pink resort, the jungle-backed beaches, the sunset promenade: the Mexico you fell for in ‘Acapulco’ is real, and it is in Puerto Vallarta. Here is how to plan a trip around the show.
If ‘Acapulco’ left you dreaming of turquoise water, swaying palms and a resort painted the color of a sunset, here is the good news: you can go. The Apple TV+ comedy is set in 1980s Acapulco, but it was filmed almost entirely in Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and nearly every place that gives the show its glow is somewhere you can stay, swim or have a margarita.
This guide is built for fans planning a trip: where to sleep, what to see and how to string the locations together into a few perfect days. For a season-by-season breakdown of where each scene was shot, see our companion guide, Where Is ‘Acapulco’ Filmed?
Nearly every place that gives the show its glow is somewhere you can stay, swim or have a margarita.
5 ‘Acapulco’ Stops for Your Puerto Vallarta Trip
- Barceló Puerto Vallarta, the season one Las Colinas, near Mismaloya.
- Mismaloya Beach and Los Arcos Marine Park for snorkeling and jungle cliffs.
- The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta in Marina Vallarta, reported as the later-season Las Colinas.
- Downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Malecón, where street scenes were shot.
- Playa Los Muertos and Conchas Chinas for beaches and ocean-view hillsides.
Where to stay: sleep at Las Colinas
The ultimate fan move is to check into the resort itself. Barceló Puerto Vallarta, an oceanfront hotel on the coast road south of town near Mismaloya Beach, was transformed into the Las Colinas resort for season one, its white walls painted pink and its interiors dressed in full 1980s style. Today it is an all-inclusive hotel with rooms overlooking the Pacific or the jungle-covered mountains, about 30 minutes from the airport. For later seasons, production was reported to have moved to The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta in Marina Vallarta, a beachfront resort minutes from the airport, which was also given the Las Colinas pink treatment.
Want to splurge? Just north, across the state line in Riviera Nayarit, the coast is lined with luxury resorts, including our favorite fire-driven steakhouse at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort.
Mismaloya Beach and Los Arcos
Steps from Barceló Puerto Vallarta, Mismaloya Beach is a crescent of sand framed by jungle and dramatic cliffs, and it carries Hollywood history: John Huston filmed ‘The Night of the Iguana’ here in 1963, putting Puerto Vallarta on the map. Swim in the calm water, kayak or join a boat out to Los Arcos Marine Park, a cluster of granite islands and arches that is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Bay of Banderas. Facilities are limited, so bring water and sunscreen.
Downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Malecón
The show’s town scenes come alive in downtown Puerto Vallarta, where cobblestone streets climb the hills behind the bay. Walk the Malecón, the oceanfront promenade lined with sculptures, street performers and cafes, then wander the old town’s side streets, which have reportedly appeared on screen. Come at sunset, when the whole bay turns pink, and finish with tacos al pastor from a street stand.
Playa Los Muertos and Conchas Chinas
South of the river, Playa Los Muertos is Puerto Vallarta’s liveliest beach, with its landmark pier, beach clubs and plenty of people-watching. Keep walking south and you reach Conchas Chinas, a hillside of villas and quiet coves with tide pools and some of the best sunset views in the city, exactly the sort of lush, glamorous setting that gives ‘Acapulco’ its look.
A three-day ‘Acapulco’ itinerary
- Day 1: Las Colinas. Check in near Mismaloya, swim, and toast the sunset from the pink resort.
- Day 2: Into the water. Snorkel Los Arcos in the morning, then visit the Vallarta Botanical Garden.
- Day 3: Downtown. Walk the Malecón and old town, lunch on Playa Los Muertos, and end in Marina Vallarta.
Getting there and when to go
Fly into Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR), which has nonstop flights from many U.S. and Canadian cities. Taxis and rental cars make it easy to move between Marina Vallarta, downtown and Mismaloya. The dry season, November through April, brings the sunniest weather and calmest seas; summer is hotter and wetter but quieter. Wondering about the real Acapulco? Read is Acapulco safe right now.
Visiting the ‘Acapulco’ Filming Locations — At a Glance
- Where
- Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, on Mexico’s Pacific coast
- Stay
- Barceló Puerto Vallarta (season one) or The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta (later seasons)
- Must-sees
- Mismaloya, Los Arcos, the Malecón, Playa Los Muertos, Conchas Chinas
- Airport
- Puerto Vallarta International (PVR)
- Best time
- November to April
- Time needed
- Three to four days
Plan Your ‘Acapulco’ Trip
Book a stay by the beach, pack your brightest swimsuit and see Las Colinas for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you stay at the hotel from ‘Acapulco’?
Yes. Barceló Puerto Vallarta, an oceanfront hotel near Mismaloya Beach south of downtown Puerto Vallarta, stood in for the Las Colinas resort in season one and is open to guests, and The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta in Marina Vallarta has been reported as the stand-in for later seasons.
How do I get to the ‘Acapulco’ filming locations?
Fly into Puerto Vallarta’s Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR). Marina Vallarta and The Westin Resort & Spa, Puerto Vallarta are minutes from the airport, downtown is about 15 to 20 minutes away, and Mismaloya and Barceló Puerto Vallarta are roughly 30 minutes south by taxi or car.
How many days do you need to see the ‘Acapulco’ locations?
Three or four days is enough to see the main filming spots at a relaxed pace: one day around Mismaloya and Los Arcos, one in Marina Vallarta, one downtown on the Malecón, and time left over for the beach.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
November through April brings dry, sunny weather and calm seas, the most reliable time to visit. Summer is hotter and rainier but quieter, with lower hotel rates.
Is Puerto Vallarta a good alternative to Acapulco?
Many travelers choose Puerto Vallarta for the same Pacific beach-resort glamour the show captures, with walkable downtown streets, a lively Malecón and easy access to beaches, jungle and the Bay of Banderas.
What else is there to do near the filming locations?
Snorkel or kayak at Los Arcos Marine Park near Mismaloya, visit the Vallarta Botanical Garden, stroll the Malecón at sunset, eat tacos downtown, or head north to the resorts and beaches of Riviera Nayarit.
Where can I read about where each season was filmed?
For a season-by-season look at where ‘Acapulco’ was filmed, see our guide to every Apple TV+ filming location of the series.
This article may contain sponsored or partner content and affiliate links; see our Editorial Policy & Advertiser Disclosure. ‘Acapulco’ is an Apple TV+ series; filming details are based on production reports.
