Hotels in Nuevo Vallarta

The bay's biggest cluster of all-inclusive resorts, just north of the airport — how the strip is laid out, and how the resorts differ.

By Sam Med · Last updated October 2026

Most of Banderas Bay's large resorts stand in a row along one long beach just north of the airport, in Nuevo Vallarta — officially renamed Nuevo Nayarit in 2022, though hotels and booking sites still use the old name. It was built as a planned resort district, with canals, a marina and golf courses, and the hotels follow suit: big, self-contained, mostly all-inclusive, many built around families. This page sets out how the strip is laid out and what separates the main resorts. We haven't stayed in them; everything here comes from the hotels' published facts and the sources listed at the end.

At a glance

The three stretches of the strip

South: Vidanta and Paradise Village

The southern end, by the Ameca river, is dominated by Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta, a resort complex big enough to be its own town. It groups several brands at different price levels — Grand Luxxe, The Estates, The Grand Bliss, The Grand Mayan and the family-oriented Mayan Palace — around three golf courses, one of which runs along the river. Its theatre has staged LUDÕ, a Cirque du Soleil show, since December 2025, and its BON theme park opens to Vidanta guests on 24 October 2026, with public opening planned for April 2027. Next door, Paradise Village has 681 suites, its own marina and the El Tigre golf course.

Centre: Paseo de los Cocoteros

The middle of the strip, along Paseo de los Cocoteros, holds a line of all-inclusives: Grand Velas, Occidental, Hard Rock and others.

North: Flamingos

Further north, towards Bucerías, the Flamingos stretch holds the three Riu hotels, Villa del Palmar Flamingos and Villa La Estancia. Riu puts its Palace Pacifico about 13 km from the airport and 2 km from Bucerías, so this end is the closest to that town's streets and restaurants.

The main resorts compared

All-inclusive (AI) status, age policy and features as the hotels describe them in 2026. Check the current terms for your dates before booking.

Not in Nuevo Vallarta: Iberostar Playa Mita, Dreams and Secrets Bahía Mita, Grand Palladium and Marival Armony are further up the coast towards Punta de Mita, and Hyatt Ziva is in Puerto Vallarta itself.

All-inclusive or room-only?

Most resorts here sell all-inclusive only. A few — Paradise Village, Villa del Palmar Flamingos and Villa La Estancia — let you choose, and the Vidanta brands each have their own terms, so check what your rate covers. Because there's little within walking distance outside the resorts, all-inclusive is usually the practical choice here; what it does and doesn't cover is explained in all-inclusive resorts.

Adults only, or with children?

Nuevo Vallarta is family territory: most resorts here run kids' clubs, and several have teens' clubs. For an adults-only stay, the Riu Palace Pacifico is the dedicated option on this strip; Marival Distinct keeps separate adult areas, and the Krystal Grand has an adults-only pool. For more choice, see adults-only resorts.

What changed in 2026

• Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta closed in summer 2026 for about five months of renovation, with reopening targeted for late December. Check before booking the holidays.
• Riu Flamingos, the former Riu Jalisco, came back expanded, with 120 extra rooms.
• Vidanta added the LUDÕ show (December 2025) and opens the BON theme park to its guests on 24 October 2026.
• A tourist fee: in August 2026 a municipal environmental charge of about MXN 47 per visitor (once, not per night) was proposed in Bahía de Banderas. It is not in force, and would need the state congress's approval.

What to check before booking

• Distance to what you want to see. Old Town is 30–45 minutes away; if you plan to eat in the city most nights, stay there or in the Hotel Zone instead. See where to stay.
• Vacation-club sales. Vidanta, Paradise Village and Marival all run vacation clubs, and reviewers describe persistent sales pitches at some properties. You can decline any presentation.
• Taxes in the price. Nayarit charges a 5% lodging tax; check whether the rate you're quoted includes it.
• Kids' club ages and hours, if they matter to you — they vary by resort.
• The transfer. Crossing the state line complicates taxis and ride-hailing; a pre-booked transfer is the simplest way in. See the airport guide.
• The sea. The beach is open to the bay; swim where the resort's flags allow, and see beaches for what the flags mean.

Latest articles

New · 8 Oct 2026

Christmas and New Year in Puerto Vallarta

Processions, posadas, a giant tree on the pier and fireworks over the Malecón — what the holidays look like…

Read →

New · 8 Oct 2026

Puerto Vallarta vs Cancún

A Pacific town between mountains and sea, or a Caribbean resort strip near the Mayan world? An honest…

Read →

New · 8 Oct 2026

Shopping in Puerto Vallarta

The river market, the weekly markets and the malls — and how to tell real silver, Huichol art, Talavera and…

Read →