Pros

  • Cute, historic boutique hotel with just 21 rooms
  • Charming, individually decorated rooms have flat-screen TVs
  • Artistic style and personality with custom murals
  • Boutique touches include a pillow menu and scented soap options
  • In the middle of Old Vallarta, close to many shops and restaurants
  • Two blocks from the beach and the Malecon, a boardwalk along the ocean
  • Free Wi-Fi
See More Pros

Cons

  • No pool
  • No on-site restaurant or bar
  • Some rooms are old and in need of updates
  • Tiny, dark bathrooms with old tile and fixtures
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Hotel Catedral is a charming, mid-range boutique hotel that is filled to the brim with color and personality. The walls are adorned with custom murals by Mexican artists, the rooms are named after song titles, and the friendly staff may ask for your preference from a pillow menu. While the amenities are few, the building itself is old, and certain elements are worn (especially the tiny, drab, dated bathrooms), the charm and the excellent location – right in the middle of Old Vallarta, two blocks from the beach – shine through.

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

Catedral Vallarta Boutique Hotel

Scene

A friendly, vibrant boutique hotel with custom artwork

One of the oldest hotels in Puerto Vallarta, built in 1955, Hotel Catedral is named for its proximity to one of the city’s most popular landmarks: the Our Lady of Guadeloupe church, located just a few blocks away. Though the building itself is historic, inside the hotel is fresh, colorful, and vibrant. Brightly colored streamers and strings of lights decorate the lobby, courtyards, and common areas, and a tall statute of a Day of the Dead-style skeleton walking a skeleton dog greets guests at the side entrance. There are two entrances to the hotel, each facing out onto one of the cobblestone streets near the bustling markets of Old Town. Surrounding the hotel are several souvenir shops selling things like tequila, handmade Mexican candies, woven ponchos, and leather bags.

The 21 rooms are arranged over five floors (there is no elevator), and along each floor the terraces are lined with plants with long green vines hanging down into the courtyard, creating a fresh, tropical feel. The halls and courtyard are adorned with colorful artwork and custom murals created by Mexican artists. The friendly atmosphere offers lots of style and personality, as should be displayed by a true boutique hotel. One interesting touch: The hotel offers a pillow menu with a few different pillow options and an aromas menu that allows guests to pick different handmade soaps.

See More Scene

Location

Two blocks from the beach in the middle of Old Vallarta, close to the markets

Hotel Catedral is located in Old Vallarta, a lovely, historic neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets, right in the central district of the town also called Centro. It’s right along the Malecon, Vallarta’s popular oceanfront promenade, and just two blocks from the beach, though the beach here is a bit narrow and rocky – walking farther south the beach gets even nicer. The famous Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, a popular sight on postcards of Puerto Vallarta, and where the hotel gets its name, is right down the street. There is a flea market on the next block and the hotel is also very close to the river market, just a five-minute walk away. It’s roughly a 25-minute taxi ride to the airport.

See More Location

Rooms

Individually decorated rooms, though in an old building with drab, tiny bathrooms

The rooms at Hotel Catedral are each named with the title of a classic Mexican song, such as “Quizas, quizas, quizas…” or “Sabor a mi.” Of the 21 rooms that make up the hotel, two are Penthouse Suites, two are Master Suites, and a few other rooms include the addition of a kitchenette. Every room is uniquely decorated, and some have an artistic theme such as “Maria Bonita,” which is in all pink with roses and a lyric painted on the wall.

Other rooms are painted with bold colors like deep reds and purples, and feature embroidered pillows with flower designs in a traditional Mexican style. While some rooms, namely the single rooms, are on the small side, all rooms have big windows that let in lots of light. A few rooms have tiny balconies that overlook the street below. Every room has AC and a flat-screen TV.

While the hotel’s furnishings are colorful and fresh, the bones of the building definitely show its age: Older tile floors and walls could tell a story, and the age especially shows in the bathrooms. Some of the bathrooms are partially updated with newer countertops, while others are small and dim, with old tile and colors like avocado green and mustard yellow that recall the 70s. Some bathrooms are so tiny that the sink is actually located inside of the shower – seriously, when you enter the bathroom and pull back the shower curtain, a small sink is also located in there.

The two Penthouse Suites located on the top floor are larger, and include full kitchens with small refrigerators and stovetops as well as bigger, sunny bathrooms. One even includes a spacious, private rooftop terrace located atop a creaky wrought iron spiral staircase, with magnificent views of the town in all directions.

See More Rooms

Features

The few amenities include a gift shop, morning coffee, and a rooftop lounge

The hotel centers around a sunny main courtyard in the middle of the building with a lovely little tile-adorned fountain and several table and chairs. There’s a small cafe-like room on one side, open in the mornings with coffee, tea, and cookies available for guests – however there is no bar or restaurant in the hotel. But Catedral sits in a prime location with dozens of dining options within walking distance.

There’s a tiny gift shop on one side of the lobby, selling colorful woven pillows, handmade jewelry, magnets, soaps, and other souvenirs. There are two computers in the main lobby near the front desk with Internet for guests to use. Adjacent to the fourth-floor rooms is a large, open rooftop sundeck, featuring several lounge chairs and umbrellas for shade. From the rooftop, there are great panoramic views of streets of Puerto Vallarta, the Catedral close by, and the ocean.

See More Features

Things You Should Know About Catedral Vallarta Boutique Hotel

Also Known As

  • Hotel Catedral Vallarta

Address

Calle Hidalgo Centro 166, Between Libertad st. y Agustín Rodríguez st., Puerto Vallarta 48300, Mexico

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Catedral Vallarta Boutique Hotel

Scene

A friendly, vibrant boutique hotel with custom artwork

One of the oldest hotels in Puerto Vallarta, built in 1955, Hotel Catedral is named for its proximity to one of the city’s most popular landmarks: the Our Lady of Guadeloupe church, located just a few blocks away. Though the building itself is historic, inside the hotel is fresh, colorful, and vibrant. Brightly colored streamers and strings of lights decorate the lobby, courtyards, and common areas, and a tall statute of a Day of the Dead-style skeleton walking a skeleton dog greets guests at the side entrance. There are two entrances to the hotel, each facing out onto one of the cobblestone streets near the bustling markets of Old Town. Surrounding the hotel are several souvenir shops selling things like tequila, handmade Mexican candies, woven ponchos, and leather bags.

The 21 rooms are arranged over five floors (there is no elevator), and along each floor the terraces are lined with plants with long green vines hanging down into the courtyard, creating a fresh, tropical feel. The halls and courtyard are adorned with colorful artwork and custom murals created by Mexican artists. The friendly atmosphere offers lots of style and personality, as should be displayed by a true boutique hotel. One interesting touch: The hotel offers a pillow menu with a few different pillow options and an aromas menu that allows guests to pick different handmade soaps.

See More Scene

Location

Two blocks from the beach in the middle of Old Vallarta, close to the markets

Hotel Catedral is located in Old Vallarta, a lovely, historic neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets, right in the central district of the town also called Centro. It’s right along the Malecon, Vallarta’s popular oceanfront promenade, and just two blocks from the beach, though the beach here is a bit narrow and rocky – walking farther south the beach gets even nicer. The famous Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, a popular sight on postcards of Puerto Vallarta, and where the hotel gets its name, is right down the street. There is a flea market on the next block and the hotel is also very close to the river market, just a five-minute walk away. It’s roughly a 25-minute taxi ride to the airport.

See More Location

Rooms

Individually decorated rooms, though in an old building with drab, tiny bathrooms

The rooms at Hotel Catedral are each named with the title of a classic Mexican song, such as “Quizas, quizas, quizas…” or “Sabor a mi.” Of the 21 rooms that make up the hotel, two are Penthouse Suites, two are Master Suites, and a few other rooms include the addition of a kitchenette. Every room is uniquely decorated, and some have an artistic theme such as “Maria Bonita,” which is in all pink with roses and a lyric painted on the wall.

Other rooms are painted with bold colors like deep reds and purples, and feature embroidered pillows with flower designs in a traditional Mexican style. While some rooms, namely the single rooms, are on the small side, all rooms have big windows that let in lots of light. A few rooms have tiny balconies that overlook the street below. Every room has AC and a flat-screen TV.

While the hotel’s furnishings are colorful and fresh, the bones of the building definitely show its age: Older tile floors and walls could tell a story, and the age especially shows in the bathrooms. Some of the bathrooms are partially updated with newer countertops, while others are small and dim, with old tile and colors like avocado green and mustard yellow that recall the 70s. Some bathrooms are so tiny that the sink is actually located inside of the shower – seriously, when you enter the bathroom and pull back the shower curtain, a small sink is also located in there.

The two Penthouse Suites located on the top floor are larger, and include full kitchens with small refrigerators and stovetops as well as bigger, sunny bathrooms. One even includes a spacious, private rooftop terrace located atop a creaky wrought iron spiral staircase, with magnificent views of the town in all directions.

See More Rooms

Features

The few amenities include a gift shop, morning coffee, and a rooftop lounge

The hotel centers around a sunny main courtyard in the middle of the building with a lovely little tile-adorned fountain and several table and chairs. There’s a small cafe-like room on one side, open in the mornings with coffee, tea, and cookies available for guests – however there is no bar or restaurant in the hotel. But Catedral sits in a prime location with dozens of dining options within walking distance.

There’s a tiny gift shop on one side of the lobby, selling colorful woven pillows, handmade jewelry, magnets, soaps, and other souvenirs. There are two computers in the main lobby near the front desk with Internet for guests to use. Adjacent to the fourth-floor rooms is a large, open rooftop sundeck, featuring several lounge chairs and umbrellas for shade. From the rooftop, there are great panoramic views of streets of Puerto Vallarta, the Catedral close by, and the ocean.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pets Allowed

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.