What We Love
- No reservations needed at any of the restaurants.
- The resort's Art Deco architecture hugged by epic palms that rises up from the sandsational beach.
- The liquor dispensers in the rooms. It's a party. Just add people.
- The treatments at the world-class, delicious spa. Unplug and unwind.
- Supervised fun for the little ones while you savor a drink by the teal waves.
- Teeing off at the 18-hole, championship golf course that's right next door.
- The fitness program that includes Backfit, Aquagym, stretching and bums, legs, tums.
- Dancing the night away at the Pacha nightclub.
Things to Know
- The airport is a mere 15 minutes from the airport so you'll be on that sweet beach lickety split.
- Be sure to visit Cuale Island, a shady and tranquil oasis, to shop for crafty, cool souvenirs.
- Banderas Bay is brimming with animal fun: see the release of sea turtles & swim with dolphins.
- Get up early to snag a beach lounger. They go fast.
- You can go horseback riding in the Sierra Madres, a bucket-list-worthy thing to do.
- If you're more adventurous, there's bungee jumping. Hang on!
- There are oceans of water sports: bodyboarding, kayaking, windsurfing and more. Take the plunge.
Location
Riviera Nayarit - BeachProperty Information
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Resort Details
Dining
Amenities
Activities
Hotel Advisories
General Policies & Fine Print
Check-in Policy - Deposits or credit/debit card hold authorizations are not requested at check-in. "Minimum age of 18 is required for check-in, an ID/Passport will be requested upon arrival.
Convention Policy : Groups traveling together can book this property for their stay taking advantage of group benefits such as 6th or 11th complimentary guest, Group dinner reservation, One complimentary cocktail hour with a selection of appetizers, One complimentary massage for the group leader, Complimentary room upgrades to the next category, Fruit plate and bottle of wine for the VIP, Private check-in when arriving together, Welcome sign. Applicable with Wedding Collections and Social Packages. Consult terms & conditions.
Spring Break Policies - Student Groups/Spring Breakers (either groups or individuals, regardless of age) are not allowed at any time during the year. Guests disturbing or generating complaints from other guests or hotel may be removed from the property,
at their own expense. Parties in rooms are not permitted.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fee are included in vacation price.
Minimum night stay restrictions may apply.
Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
- Early Departure Penalty: 1 Night Applies: Sunday - Saturday 04Jul24 - 23Dec26
- Early Departure Penalty: 2 Nights Applies: Sunday - Saturday 24Dec24 - 30Apr25
- Early Departure Penalty: 2 Nights Applies: Sunday - Saturday 24Dec25 - 30Apr26
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
8830 reviews
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Nov 20, 2024Daughters wedding/Vaca
My daughter's wedding and vacation for the family this was my first and I'm blown away by the hospitality and cleanliness and everything about this trip was wonderful I thank Puerto Vallarta RIU I will never forget!
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Nov 20, 2024Sunny and warm
The main purpose was what is in the title. On top of it, great grounds (Jalisko is even better, the inside, paved area at Vallarta gets a bit stuffy), pools, beach, sea - less wavy then last year in December. My daughter complained that the food was not 5*, some restaurants were just smaller buffets, the dining room service was a bit slow. So much is wasted in food and spent on drinks and yet, there is one lousy volleybal, not even left for use at the court. Volleyball scheduled at 11am is right at the top heat of the day, make it available the whole day - same goes for ping pong/table tennis.l
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Nov 18, 2024
Excellent hotel.
Can’t tell you how much we enjoyed our trip there. Hotel spotless. Always see them around cleaning, wiping and washing. Food was great. Staff pleasant and helpful. Edgar helped us a lot. Alexander one of the captains was accommodating. No shortage of drinks anywhere. Servers were everywhere in the building. I’ve cold water and cups all around the site for people. Nightly entertainment was great. A different theme every night, from Karaoke to riding a bull to the tenors. Restaurants presentation was exquisite. Only complaint was our pool had too many children splashing and screaming when there was a children’s pool already. Forgot to look if there was a separate adult pool. Besides that, we loved it and will definitely come back.
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Nov 18, 2024
Excellent service, nice people, clean, and fun.
Enjoyed the resort very much. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The food is good but not great. It would be nice if there were more choices late at night.
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Nov 17, 2024
Always Great Property
This is the middle of the 3 Riu properties in Nuevo. We quite like it as much as the Palace Pacifico, the adults only and most expensive of the 3. For those not familiar, the property has one building in a “U” shape with a large courtyard and tables / chairs for the nightly entertainment. The restaurants, and bars are all off of the courtyard at the bottom of the building. Beyond the courtyard are 4 pools, including a swim-up bar, and the beach beyond those. Rooms: The rooms are contemporary and have all of the essentials to make your trip pleasant - A/C, ceiling fan, mini-bar, coffee maker, and large TV. The bathroom is bright, with a roomy walk-in shower. Keep in mind that there are no ventilation fans in the bathroom, so bring toilet spray. TV selection was standard fare for most Mexican properties with only a couple of English speaking channels. The balcony's 2 chairs and a table round out a good room experience. Food & Beverage: The Buffet restaurant always has good food selection and very good quality. As with any resort, it is the busiest food area. We and most others we spoke to said, there was always something to be found in the buffet to eat. There are no traditional food and beverage servers around the pools or courtyard. It is basically self-serve for drinking. They do have an roaming beverage cart each day around the pools, usually featuring different margaritas. The swim-up bar and walk-up bar always have lots of staff so wait times are very short at each. minimal, so it’s a fine system. Smoking: Smoking was only allowed in a couple designated areas of the property which even as smokers, we applauded. As with everywhere, some smokers didn't adhere to the rules, but for the most part, they were few and far between. Staff: Every single staff member we encountered was top notch. Some standouts that we hope the Riu will recognize with this review: New General Manager David was by his own admission, still getting his feet wet after only a couple of months, but as with his predecessor, he was there from morning to night, absolutely everywhere, making notes and talking with the staff. He was very nice and receptive on the occasions we spoke during our trip. Front Desk - Cynthia M. on the front desk is simply amazing. On every one of our visits, Cynthia has been an amazing representative for arriving guests and really sets the tone for a great experience. We can’t say enough about how wonderful she is and how we look forward to seeing her each day. Additionally, Nayeli is always quick with a smile and eager to help with whatever needed. She always remembers us and is quick to offer a genuine and warm welcome. These 2 ladies are amazing. Marco Polo one of the Bellmen, is just a delight anytime you walk by, offering a smile, handshake, a joke, and ready to offer assistance every time - wonderful gentleman. We will miss assistant Manager Gardenia who is off to Canada for a new job - good luck! Pool Bartenders - Pedro, Vanessa, Hektor, Abel and Juan Lobby bartenders - Teresa, Eduardo, Paula, Abel, Juan The one negative of the trip had nothing to do with the property or staff, it was from a few guests each day who always forced others around them to listen to their music on their speakers rather than using earbuds. Please be polite and remember that others have also spent a lot of money to be there and enjoy themselves, not just you. Don’t wreck it for them by being self centred jerks. Finally, remember to tip the incredible staff. We noticed lots of people doing just that, and it's wonderful. These folks really do appreciate it. To all of the staff at the Riu Vallarta we are lucky enough to call friends, see you soon!