Postcards from Puerto Vallarta. I didn’t do much while lying flat on the west coast of Mexico… and that was the whole point!

Puerto Vallarta is one of the best places to be a “Beach Goth.” It’s an accessible and inexpensive destination with gorgeous beaches as well as street eats, sugar skulls, and mezcal cocktails (what more do I need?)

Read on for a Gothic travel guide to relaxing in Puerto Vallarta! (Wearing a Beach Goth cropped tshirt by Cat and Bat Designs, an indie Canadian company.)

This time, I took lying flat to the next level at Marriott Puerto Vallarta. Hot tip: the beachfront resort does day passes – so you can enjoy a Bali bed, swimming pool and private beach access for the day like I did. (See a video of my beach day on IG @lacarmina.)

Wearing blue light blocking glasses by Gunnar Optiks, and a brown sports bra by Reebok (get it here).

Marriott’s Puerto Vallarta property is large and filled with gardens and greenery — making it the ideal spot to kick back for a day. I took the opportunity to shoot quite a few outfits here.

(Wearing a white sleeveless turtleneck bodysuit by Reebok (get it here) and a red denim mini skirt by BDG (find it here).

I brought my gold Omega Seamaster Cosmic watch out for golden hour at the beach. This belonged to my grandfather — he got it in the late 1960s! (It’s a vintage Omega Seamaster Cosmic Automatic, model 166.026, tool 107.)

See modern versions of this Omega Swiss watch here, and check out video of the watch and sunset in my IG video.

Let’s pretend it’s the millennium and not the collapse.. Feeling Matrix-y at the private beach at the Marriott Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. My Y2K rimless sunglasses are these Adidas Dunamis Evo S in grey. The black leather headband is Sylvain Le Hen / Hair Design Access.

Always wishing that I could get a Time Machine to take me back to 1999. (At least I can dress the part with baggy cargo pants.)

My chunky red highlighted hair is by Katya at Kore Salon Vancouver. The mermaid length is giving Ariel the Little Mermaid.

Marriott PV in Marina Vallarta is an upscale beachfront all-inclusive (just check out the location!)

The hotel offers day passes, so you can relax in the cabana beds and enjoy food and drinks poolside without having to stay at the resort overnight.

No need to get up, as the staff brought fresh coconut water and food right to my lounger. Gotta love a coco hydration station.

I enjoy tropical beach destinations as long as there aren’t mosquitoes or humidity, so Puerto Vallarta (West Coast of Mexico) is my happy place.

Of course, I wear layers upon layers of sun protection. My shield rimless sport sunglasses are Adidas x Marcolin Dunamis Evo S (get them here).

The Marriott Puerto Vallarta’s private beach gives you exclusive access to these calm waves. (Watch this video for a peek at my PV travels.)

I indulged in Mexican enchiladas and chocolate volcano cake with ice cream, and requested a custom drink (coconut cream, banana, dark rum & ice blended – try it next time you’re somewhere tropical).

The Marriott’s oceanfront resort includes an infinity pool, landscaped gardens, a range of restaurants and bars, and access to this beautiful beach.

This is my second time in Puerto Vallarta — you can see my previous PV travel guides here and here for more tips. (This time, I focused on lying flat at the beach!)

I’m heading to another oceanfront destination in July… It’s somewhere I have never been. Keep your eyes on @lacarmina Instagram to see where I’ll be!

Instead of staying at the resort, I booked an inexpensive private Airbnb in the local 5 de Diciembre neighborhood, which was a 5 minute walk to the nearby beach.

Took my grandfather’s Omega Seamaster Cosmic Automatic watch (166.026 Tool 107, from 1967) to catch the sunset! Ω Founded 1848, Omega is famed for their Swiss movement — and this 60s design is inspired by the sea and outer space. (Browse Omega watches here.)

Playa Camarones is one of the most magnificent spots for the sunset. Locals come here to hang — and fish!

Closeups on my vintage gold Omega Seamaster Cosmic 166.026 tool 107 watch from the late 60s.

Omega was founded by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1848. The Swiss watchmaker has been the Official Timekeeper of the Olympic Games since 1932, and its Speedmaster watch landed on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.

Watch the video of my Omega watch and the sun setting at Camarones Beach in Puerto Vallarta.

My grandpa got this Omega Seamaster Cosmic Automatic in Hong Kong in the 60s and it still works perfectly. Ω Are you an aficionado of vintage watches? Who’s your favourite timepiece designer? (See more Omega Seamaster watches here.)

What to do after the sun sets? Puerto Vallarta has a fun LGBTQ scene in Zona Romantica, but my favorite hangout is…

El Colibri, a speakeasy in 5 de Diciembre! There aren’t really Goth clubs in PV, but I always visit this alternative-coded bar for witchy mezcal cocktails.

El Colibri’s ever-changing menu focuses on craft cocktails made from artisanal Mexican liquors – raicilla, mezcal, etc with fresh herbs and fruits.

Puerto Vallarta is a very walkable destination. During the day, I enjoy strolling the waterfront (Malecon) and popping into Mexican art stores around Zona Romantica.

You’ll run into demons, skeletons and other Day of the Dead creatures!

There’s a fab selection of La Catrinas (elegant skeleton ladies), sugar skulls and Mexican devils at Vallarta Anglo Mexican design group.

Stop by Plaza Lázaro Cárdenas to see mosaic skulls and bones. (Wearing Reebook Hammer Street leather shoes.)

I’m drawn to Mexico’s culture of Día de los Muertos (October 31st to November 2nd), where families honor those who have passed with lively rituals and celebrations. (I celebrated Day of the Dead at a parade in Merida one year!)

Colorful sugar skulls represent how in Mexico, death is not to be feared but embraced.

All the skull imagery makes this a rather Gothic destination! (See more about Day of the Dead in my older Mexico blogs.)

And of course, I was here to eat alllll the Mexican food… My favorites were chilaquiles, Kosta shrimp tacos and guacamole, tacos el pastor at Tacos El Gato, and fish tacos at Marisma Fish Taco. (Each meal was about $10 US — if you avoid the tourist spots, you can eat very well on a budget in Puerto Vallarta.)

I also loaded up on green juices and iced coffees since they are cheaper here than in Vancouver.

As you can see, I didn’t “do much” in PV — but I sure got a lot out of my relaxing beach vacation.

Have you been to the west coast of Mexico? If you’re feeling the urge to get away… perhaps you should look into flights!

Finally, some roundups of recent press. I chatted with Abelson Magazine about luxury Japan travel experiences, and did a podcast with Intrepid Times about my travel writing work. “In this episode, we talk about how she carved a distinct niche in a crowded field, and she shares tips for new writers on how to do the same. We also talk about fringe cultures, and making meaningful connections while traveling.”

Don’t forget to watch this reel of my Puerto Vallarta “Goth in Hot Weather” adventures! You can also read my previous blogs about skulls / Zona Romantica and the Elizabeth Taylor / Richard Burton restaurant for more travel tips.

And now, off to a yet-unexplored place in July… add me @lacarmina Instagram to see where in the world is La Carmina!