The Unencumbered Truth: Why Black Expats in Puerto Vallarta are Finally Breathing Easy

I can’t believe we’re still having the “is it safe?” conversation in 2026. Honestly, it’s exhausting. If you’re still measuring the quality of your life by how many deadbolts you have on your door rather than how many times you actually exhale during the day, we need to have a serious talk over some very strong coffee. Most people are so busy doom-scrolling through a version of reality that doesn’t exist that they miss the one where you can actually walk down the street and feel… seen. Not watched. Seen.

If you’ve been following my journey here in the Banderas Bay, you know I don’t do fluff. I don’t do the “perpetual vacation” aesthetic that looks good on a postcard but feels empty in practice. I do real life. And recently, I had the absolute honor of being featured in a project that captures exactly what real life looks like for Black Expats in Puerto Vallarta.

The publication is called Rooted in PV, a stunning portrait series by the incredibly talented Tamara A. Fleming. It’s not just a collection of pretty faces; it’s a deep dive into why so many of us have chosen to uproot our lives and plant ourselves firmly in the soil of Mexico. I’m featured on page 10, but the story is much bigger than just my 6’4″ frame.

The Unencumbered Reality of the Banderas Bay

Look, let’s get into the grit of it. In the Rooted in PV feature—which you can check out on page 10 as shown in Screenshot 2026-05-14 at 11.28.17.jpg—I’m quoted saying something that I stand by every single day: “I’m a six-foot-four Black man with a bald head, calf tattoos, and painted toenails—and I walk around these streets completely unencumbered.”.

That word—unencumbered—is the primary keyword for my entire existence here. In many parts of the world, a man who looks like me is a walking target for judgment, or worse. In Puerto Vallarta? Kids come up and want to rub my head at the taco stand because they’re curious. Adults are inquisitive, not judgmental. It’s a melting pot on the West Coast that actually melts. You’ve got Black, white, gay, straight, young, and old all sharing the same space. From my experience, most people speak English because that’s how they make their living, but the connection goes deeper than language.

But here’s the dry, sarcastic truth: the world doesn’t just “change” because you moved to a beach. You have to change with it. As I mentioned in the interview, if you’re going to move to Mexico, you have to be respectful of the culture. Don’t be that person complaining that the music from the restaurant down the street is too loud at 11:00 PM. You’re in Mexico. The music is the heartbeat. If you can’t handle the rhythm, you’re in the wrong dance.

The Rooted in PV Roll Call

This publication isn’t just about my perspective. Tamara did an incredible job interviewing a diverse group of people who are all contributing to the cultural fabric of this city. If you want to understand the Black Expats in Puerto Vallarta experience from the inside out, you need to read the stories of the people I’m sharing this space with.

As you can see in the table of contents from Screenshot 2026-05-14 at 11.28.07.png, the roster is deep. Huge shoutout to the full list of beautiful souls featured in this first volume:

• Gay
• Wendy
• Andre & Theresa
• Onika
• Diamond
• Kemi
• Will (That’s me)
• Hayley
• Sarita
• Sean
• Jason & Depris
• Terry
• Shelley
• Kirk
• Nicole & Lisa
• Cherese
• Berryneice
• CC & Tristen
• Lenora
• Destinee
• Berthe

Every one of these individuals has a “why” that brought them here. And that leads me to the most important piece of advice I gave in my interview.

Know Your Why Before You Pack Your Bags

Moving to another country is a complete lifestyle change, not a permanent holiday. If your “why” isn’t strong, you’re going to waste a lot of time and a lot of money. Are you escaping something? Or are you figuring out who you are next?.

The Black Expats in Puerto Vallarta community is thriving because most of us didn’t just come here to run away from something; we came here to run toward ourselves. If you don’t get clear on that before you land at PVR, you’ll end up giving this place a bad name. Puerto Vallarta isn’t a “bad place” for anyone—it just might not be the right fit for you if you aren’t ready to adapt.

Check it Out

You can check out the full digital flipbook – HERE

When you look through the pages, you’ll see that this is more than just a magazine. It’s a roadmap for anyone who feels like they’re performing a version of themselves that doesn’t fit anymore. The world adapts to who you really are once you stop pretending. This project proves that there is a community here waiting to welcome the real you, not the highly-polished collection of expectations you’ve been carrying around.

Puerto Vallarta is not just a destination for sun and fun—it is a complete lifestyle change for those who happily chose to uproot and get rooted in PV.

If you’re feeling the tug to see what life looks like when you’re finally unencumbered, go read the interviews. See the faces. Then, and only then, pack your bags.

TL;DR: I’m featured on page 10 of Tamara A. Fleming’s “Rooted in PV,” a portrait series highlighting Black Expats in Puerto Vallarta. The article dives into the “unencumbered” life we live here, the importance of respecting Mexican culture, and why you need a strong “why” before making the move.

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Will Walker | @WNWalker | www.WNWalker.com