Our story
A building with memory in Zona Romántica
Some places tell their own story before anyone explains it. At Amaca, it's in the details.
Amaca Petit Hotel
A story that's still being lived
The original floor tiles still visible in different spaces, the staircases connecting terraces and rooms, and the views that change as you move through the building.
Our hotel occupies a building designed in the late 1980s by Vallarta architect Salvador "Cachi" Pérez. His work is part of the history of Puerto Vallarta: among his projects is the 1987 redesign of La Palapa, one of the city's best known restaurants. At Amaca, his architecture keeps the character of that era alive, and it's still part of what makes every stay special.
Family and hospitality
Formerly, Descanso del Sol
In the early 1990s, a hardworking family from Guadalajara acquired the hotel, then called Descanso del Sol, and began welcoming travelers to this corner of Puerto Vallarta.
It's the same family that still runs the hotel today. That thread of continuity, of one generation inheriting the care of the place, is part of what makes Amaca feel like a house with a history rather than just another hotel.
A pioneering chapter
Paco's Descanso del Sol
Later, Francisco "Paco" Ruiz joined as operating partner and the hotel took the name Paco's Descanso del Sol. It was one of the pioneering spaces that welcomed the LGBTQ+ community in Vallarta.
We remember that chapter as part of the hotel's history and that of Zona Romántica: a neighborhood whose identity has also been shaped by those who paved the way for others to feel welcome.
Today, at Amaca
We welcome adult guests of every identity, background, and travel style. The welcome extends to couples, friends, solo travelers, and adult families who want to experience Puerto Vallarta from a hotel with a story of its own.
Where to sleep
Find your room
The traces that remain
A past you can still touch and explore
The original floor tiles keep their shapes and colors; the stairways and changes in level give the building its rhythm; the terraces create small pauses between the interior and the cityscape.
Every corner reveals something different. In some spots the greenery and palm trees are at eye level, in others the rooftops and buildings of Zona Romántica come into view. As you climb, the perspective opens toward the hills, and from the rooftop, the views accompany one of our guests' favorite moments: the pool, with Puerto Vallarta stretching out all around.
Day PassHave friends in town?
Share the Amaca experience for a day
You don't need to be staying with us to enjoy the rooftop. With our Day Pass, your friends, locals living in Puerto Vallarta, or anyone who wants to experience Amaca, get guaranteed access to the pool and bar for an afternoon.
$350MXN per person
- Credit for 4 domestic beers or 2 mixed drinks with house liquor
- Use of the rooftop pool and restrooms
- Pool towel per person
Sister hotels · The Amaca family
Have you discovered our sister hotel, Amaca Beach Retreat?
On the other side of Banderas Bay, Amaca Beach Retreat trades streets and rooftops for sea and nature in Quimixto, a beach reachable only by boat.
Many guests combine both worlds in a single trip: a few days of city life at Amaca Petit and a few beach days at Amaca Beach, all within the Amaca family.
Your boat from Boca de Tomatlán, included
In Quimixto you'll find
- A near-pristine beach and beach club
- Waterfall, river, and trails
- Oceanfront rooms and villas
- Spa, pool, and sunsets
Be part of the story
Experience Amaca on your next stay
A hotel with memory in the heart of Zona Romántica. Book direct and discover it.
Book your stay