Nuevo Vallarta
Big resorts, a very long beach, and further from Puerto Vallarta than most people realise.
Nuevo Vallarta is a purpose-built resort district in the state of Nayarit, north of the airport and across the state line from Puerto Vallarta. It is not a town in the ordinary sense: it's a planned development of large all-inclusive resorts, marinas and golf courses along several kilometres of straight, wide beach. A great many people who say they're "going to Puerto Vallarta" actually stay here.
What it's like
The beach is the main event — long, flat and far less crowded than Los Muertos, because the resorts are spread along it. Properties tend to be big, modern and family-oriented, with extensive pools, kids' clubs and multiple restaurants. What there isn't is a walkable centre: no cobbled streets, no taco stands round the corner, few independent restaurants within strolling distance. The design assumes you stay on site.
The distance question
This is the single thing to get right before booking. Nuevo Vallarta is 30–45 minutes from Old Town depending on traffic — noticeably further than the Hotel Zone, which is 15–25 minutes. Listings that say "Puerto Vallarta" can be an hour's round trip from the city you came to see.
| From Nuevo Vallarta to… | Typical time |
|---|---|
| PVR airport | 15–20 min |
| Bucerías | 10–15 min |
| Marina Vallarta | 20–25 min |
| Old Town / Zona Romántica | 30–45 min |
| Sayulita | 35–45 min |
Who it suits
- Families — the calmest, widest beaches in the bay and resorts built around children.
- All-inclusive holidays — this is where the largest properties are; see all-inclusive resorts.
- Golf and marina stays — several courses and a large marina.
- Returning visitors who already know the city and now want the beach.
Who should stay elsewhere
If this is your first trip and you want to experience Puerto Vallarta itself — the food, the streets, the Malecón — Nuevo Vallarta is the wrong base. You'd be paying for taxis twice a day to reach what you came for. Old Town or the Hotel Zone make far more sense. The full comparison is in where to stay.
A note on the state line
Nuevo Vallarta is in Nayarit, not Jalisco. In practice that affects two things: taxi fares can be higher for crossing between states, and Nayarit has at times observed a different time zone — worth checking before an early flight or a booked tour. See getting around.