Meet Ulises Mata. Your Handsome and Friendly Seeing Tour Guide Bear from Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico (PV, MX)

This article is sponsored by Adam Bold from Point of Difference Travel & Events (Sydney’s best travel agency, which is happy to take you to places that are LGBTIQA+ friendly, like Puerto Vallarta, MX).

With a lifelong passion for travel and a unique background taking him from Acapulco to Denver, it’s no surprise that when Ulises made the big move to Puerto Vallarta 6 years ago, he knew that sharing his beautiful home with visitors was the perfect job for him. Offering his clients tours and experiences that aren’t easily found, Uli has built up a loyal following with anyone visiting Puerto Vallarta who may be looking to do something different.  

From hidden waterfall hikes, unique dining experiences, and small to large boat excursions, Uli is ready to work with visitors to come up with the best tour that they didn’t even know they wanted.

Uli is the friendliest guy in PV, so if you see him, make sure to come up and say hello and consider talking to him about activities different from the beach and bars.

What got you into the traveling and cruising industry, especially in Puerto Vallarta (PV), Jalisco? How did it start? Did you have another occupation previously? 

When I moved to Puerto Vallarta from Denver in 2019 I hadn’t really thought about what I would do when I got there. But being someone fortunate enough to have friends from all over the world wanting to visit, I got bored doing the same thing every day (beach, bars, repeat).  So I started exploring on my own the many amazing things to do right near PV.  And when I realised that my friends felt the same way, it clicked in my head that I might be onto something.  So what started as curiosity and the love of discovering unique experiences, I  started offering tours and that turned into what finally became Bears Cruising PV.

It seems like PV is a popular destination for bears around the world with BeefDip and Bearadise, other than Southern HiBearNation in Melbourne (AUS), Mardi Gras in Sydney (AUS), Sitges (ESP), Provincetown (USA), Lazy Bear Week (USA). Do you know why this is? Especially with the bear community. Do you have any local competitions?  

I don’t really think of other tour operators as competitors because we all share the love of our city and the chance to show visitors the amazing things that PV offers outside of the usual activities.  I think each company offers something unique to their audience.  For me, I love the Bear community and their admirers so it was an easy choice.  I also think that when people think of the Bear community, they think of a community that is friendly and adventurous who loves to eat!  And food is a big part of what we do.

I am guessing that you are bilingual (or you speak more than two languages) because of tourism around PV. Do you speak other languages than Spanish and English? And are the Americans (i.e. those from the USA) the most tourist to PV, Mexico, or do you have other countries to come to PV? 

My primary language is Spanish and while I am 100% fluent in English, my friends will all tell you that my 5 years in Mexico has made my accent a little harder for them to understand when I speak English.  Most of my guests are from the US mostly because I spent 21 years of my life there and cultivated many deep friendships, but over the last few years I’ve had guests from all over the world come to visit. That makes things really fun for me.

If I am heading to PV for holidays (hopefully with your company), what should I expect or know from the Mexican norm? And what should I pack?

What people love about Mexico is its laid back attitude.  As long as you follow basic laws that are similar to in the US you’ll have a great time.  As far as what to pack, that’s entirely up to each person.  My friends joke that they rarely see me in a shirt, but honestly t-shirts, tank tops or anything you feel comfortable in.  Other than a few restaurants there really isn’t much of a dress code.  And don’t forget plenty of cute swim trunks!

Have you had any famous celebrity bears visit you? Any mentions? 

Lots of bear celebrities come to PV, it will be a long list if i have to name them. As you can see on my facebook and Instagram post, the bears from all over the world come to PV.

You seem to like to go shirtless in most of your posts. but you do have a nice wardrobe of clothing of singlets and button up shirts? Any favourite styles to look so good? 

When I wear shirts (as infrequent as possible) I’d say I have a very eclectic style of dress. I love western clothes, singlets and the occasional collared shirt.  I don’t follow trends and while some people may ask “what are you wearing”, just know that I have a reason and I feel good about it.

Do you have a pet, and if so, what is it and their name? And are they part of the cruise/sight seeing? 

That’s a question that could require it’s own interview.  I don’t know if there is a bigger dog lover in the world.  I’ve been lucky to have had the most amazing pets.  I’ve also been a huge proponent of fostering dogs.  Something that I’m very proud of is finding a permanent home for a sweet but challenging pit bull names Chunky.  He was amazing with people but had some behavioral issues with other animals.  But I’m happy to say he found a place to call his own and I still keep track of him.  Helping animals is something I’ll always do–it’s very important to me.

You are doing well in the gym to keep yourself thick and juicy for handsome bears. What is your exercise routine or exercise plan? Or why are you a handsome bear?

I’m the kind of person that not follow routines working out or eat healthy,

I do like to workout then go to get tacos.

Other than sight-seeing and going to the gym, is there something that you enjoy doing as a hobby or activity?

I know you’ll be surprised to hear this but I like to eat!  Eating is one of the greatest joys in life and most of my tours include stops at unique, out of the way restaurants, whether they be street food vendors on a busy beach or amazing.

You have a lot of tattoos. Which one is your favourite and why? I am thinking about getting a good tattoo when I get the fur prestiges and handsomeness to look like you, what do you think I should get that would make the other bears amazed? 

My favorite tattoo is the one on my back. It’s related to the aztec, teotihuacan and mayan culture.  These speak to my heritage in which I’m very proud.

Have you travelled around the world (and this can be within Mexico outside of PV), and what is your favourite destination? Any good recommendations for bears? 

BEAR EVENTS: LAZY BEAR CALIFORNIA ,TBRU TX, SOUTHERN DECADENCE NOLA, IBC CALIF, PIG WEEK FORT LAUDERDALE,DENVER PRIDE, DOREY ALLEY SF, SAN DIEGO PRIDE CALIF, BEAR WEEK PTOWN, NYC PRIDE, and ATLANTA PRIDE.

Travel is one of my passions.  I spend time every year in Spain which is a country I love exploring. I also love Colombia–another beautiful county. I’ve also travelled extensively throughout Mexico. Until the last few years I never realized how many amazing places there are to explore in  my own country.  Some of my favorites are my home town of Acapulco.  Other great Mexican destinations I love are Guadalajara, Puebla, Taxco and Zipolite (Mexico’s only legal nude beach!). And if you get a chance you have to visit San Miguel de Allende, not far from Mexico City.  In the U.S., my favorite place is my former home, the Colorado Rocky Mountain area.  

On your website (Bears Cruising PV), you have many tours, like Snorkelling, Fishing, Botanical Garden Tours, Zip Lining, Tequila Testing, Beach tours, etc. Anything missing? 

Yes, we also do transportation services, concierge services, i do like to help friends and family to have and amazing time in our town. That’s the best part of my job.

Would you say being a bear has helped or hindered your career? Is your audience primarily bears?

I think it did, most of my tours, bear events and clients are bears or bear lovers,

Have clients that just text me telling me that their parents,siblings or relatives coming to town and they want me to show them PV. That makes me feel good.

What is your ‘coming out’ story? Were you always gay or later came out gay? And is the community in PV, Mexico supportive to you and your business? And why? 

Ouch….hehehe. My  chosen family in Denver did a great job, moving to Colorado when i was in my early 20’s and meeting all my friends that told me that being gay was not wrong push me to be the person im now. I was living in a world full of insecurities like lots of us, afraid to be rejected from the family. Im very close to my sisters and they are very protective of me. PUERTO VALLARTA is the place where everyone in our community feels free and safe.

What are some good words or phrases in Spanish for those bears who like to come to PV and do some greetings or pick up any cute thick and juicy Mexican bears? 

HOLA PAPI!  LOL. VALLARTA is one of the friendly cities in the world. Locals take that very serious, If one day you have the chance to visit us you personally will notice it.

Is there any advice that you would give someone (like a bear) would be interested in starting in the travelling career and/or start a travelling company for bears, and what is involved? 

As much fun as this industry is, you have to remember that it’s a job and your job is to make other people happy.  If you don’t love the places you visit you won’t be successful.  You have to also be the type of person that gets joy from making people’s valuable vacation time an amazing experience that they won’t ever forget.

Do you have any upcoming PV ship cruise upcoming that the bears around the world should keep their eyes open for and invest in?

Bears cruising PV is the name of my tours and transportation company based  in Puerto Vallarta. I do like to show friends the other side of PV. I do not work with ships coming here,

I do organize boat events for a day. We usually go on the bay with bunch of bears. The biggest one I do is during bear week in late January. Trying to do n event the big date in PV

New years,bear week in late January. Pv pride in may,Mexican Independence Day in September,día de muertos in November

What are your career goals for the future? Continue with working in the cruising industry? Stay in PV? 

My career goals is keep up with what I love doing. Like to show friends that PV is not just a beach and bars town. There is a lot of other activities and places to visit not far from the zona romantica area. I do love PV. This is the place I’m happy. Haven’t plan  or think where to move next. This is home and my happy place.

Thank you Ulises for answering those in-depth questions. 

Here are some quickfire questions:

Location: puerto vallarta

Pronouns: he/him/his

Relationship status (single or partnered):  I’m single at the moment

Favorite Drink: Mezcal (mezcalitas de jamaica)

What type of guy are you into? I do like all kind of guys, hairy beefy guys make me turn around, But definitely the ones that have a good aptitud and conversation,

Favorite Cities/Vacation Spots: 

New Orleans,Denver, san francisco,los angeles,chicago,fort lauderdale, (USA)

torremolinos,sitges,madrid,barcelona(SPAIN)

Cartagena (colombia)

Cdmx,Taxco,Puebla,Guadalajara,Ixtapa,Morelia,Guanajuato,Puerto vallarta (mexico)

Idea of a good date? 

Someone who loves tacos (lol)

Easy going guys that like to explore the world togethers.

What do you look for in a guy? 

Friendship,communication,someone that is up to chase dreams togethers,

A guy thats not afraid to do mistakes. Guys who is real, a person that you can talk about everything, a guy who not afraid to hold your hand and walk in the rain.

Where can you find yourself? Website, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UL535 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uli535/  
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearscruisingpv/
• Website: https://bearscruisingpv.com/