Nuevo Vallarta

Big resorts, a very long beach, and further from Puerto Vallarta than most people realise.

By Sam Med · Last updated October 2026

Resort hotels near Puerto Vallarta — Hotels in Puerto Vallarta. Photo: Bellito25, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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.

Where is Nuevo Vallarta?

Nuevo Vallarta is on the northern shore of Banderas Bay, in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit. Its southern edge is the Ameca River, which is also the border between Nayarit and Jalisco: Puerto Vallarta and its airport are on the Jalisco side, Nuevo Vallarta on the other bank. From the airport it's about 10 km north on Highway 200; from the Malecón and Old Town, 30–45 minutes by road.

State	Nayarit (Puerto Vallarta is in Jalisco)
Municipality	Bahía de Banderas
Border	The Ameca River, just north of the airport
Nearest airport	Puerto Vallarta (PVR), about 10 km south — 15–20 minutes
Time zone	Same as Puerto Vallarta: central time, UTC−6 all year
Official name	Nuevo Nayarit since 2022; Nuevo Vallarta is still common on resort addresses and booking sites

Flying to Nuevo Vallarta

There is no airport in Nuevo Vallarta. "Flights to Nuevo Vallarta" are flights to Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), which serves the whole bay. Because the airport sits on the north side of the city, Nuevo Vallarta is one of the quickest places to reach after landing: usually 15–20 minutes, no longer than the ride to downtown.

The one complication is the state line. Taxi zones and ride-hailing coverage change once you cross into Nayarit, so a pre-booked transfer is the simplest option on this side of the river — check whether your resort package already includes one. Which cities fly direct to PVR is in flights to Puerto Vallarta; taxi fares, buses and arrival tips are in the airport guide.

Nuevo Vallarta or Nuevo Nayarit?

Both, depending on who you ask. In June 2022 the municipal council of Bahía de Banderas voted to rename the area Nuevo Nayarit, a change pushed by Nayarit's governor to give this side of the bay its own identity rather than borrowing Puerto Vallarta's. Some entrance signs had been changed months before the vote. Residents and business owners opposed to the change made themselves heard, and the old name has not gone away: Nuevo Vallarta is still common on resort addresses and booking sites. If you see Nuevo Nayarit, it is the same place.

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, and the resorts here compared in hotels in Nuevo Vallarta.
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 taxi fares, which can be higher for crossing between states — agree the price before you get in. It does not affect the clock (see time zone): under Mexico's 2022 time-zone law, the municipality of Bahía de Banderas keeps central time, the same as Puerto Vallarta, while the rest of Nayarit is an hour behind. Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, Punta Mita and Sayulita all run on Puerto Vallarta time; the hour only changes if you drive further into the state, to Tepic for example. See getting around.

Frequently asked

Where is Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico?

In the state of Nayarit, on the northern shore of Banderas Bay, just across the Ameca River from Puerto Vallarta, which is in Jalisco. It belongs to the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, about 10 km north of Puerto Vallarta's airport and 30–45 minutes by road from Old Town.

Is Nuevo Vallarta part of Puerto Vallarta?

No. It is in a different state and municipality: a planned resort district on the same bay. It shares Puerto Vallarta's airport, and many visitors call a stay there a trip to Puerto Vallarta, but the city itself is 30–45 minutes away.

Which airport do you fly into for Nuevo Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). There is no airport in Nuevo Vallarta; the drive from PVR takes about 15–20 minutes.

Is Nuevo Vallarta in the same time zone as Puerto Vallarta?

Yes. Although it is in Nayarit, the municipality of Bahía de Banderas follows central time by law, like Puerto Vallarta. The rest of Nayarit is an hour behind.

Is Nuevo Vallarta now called Nuevo Nayarit?

Officially, yes: the Bahía de Banderas council approved the name Nuevo Nayarit in June 2022. In practice both names are used, and Nuevo Vallarta is still common on resort addresses and booking sites.