33 Best Hotels in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

A favorite of models and celebrities, this spectacular resort is nestled on top of a hill above a private beach and inside a wildlife reserve. Cuixmala is redefining what a luxury retreat looks like. The suites and casitas are huge, modern, and colorful, while the decor stays classy without being opulent. The property features two restaurants, a beach club, and diversity of nature-related activities available for its guests.

A luxury boutique resort hidden in the middle of nowhere, Las Alamandas is a top-notch hotel with tasteful Mexican design and decor. Ample-size suites are colorful and fully equipped with everything expected from a hotel of this category. Two gourmet restaurants and a rooftop bar provide excellent dining options.

This hotel is recommended for its location: right on the beach and in the midst of Zona Romántica's restaurants, bars, and shops. Yellow trumpet vines and lacy palms draped in tiny white lights enliven the pool and the bar-restaurant, which has music nightly and a Mexican fiesta on Saturday evening. Rooms are well-appointed, though some furnishing has seen better days. The swimming pool is a very lively area, although not very private, as passersby can look inside from the sidewalk.

This suite-only beachfront four-diamond resort in Nuevo Vallarta features Spanish-colonial-decor rooms, a private balcony overlooking the bay, and a multilevel lagoon-style pool. It's ideal for couples and families who want to enjoy luxury and quality, and good food can be enjoyed at any of the restaurants within the property. 

Hollywood celebrities have stayed at this new and award-winning resort when visiting Puerto Vallarta for vacation—and it's no surprise why. It's luxurious, nestled between the hills and the clean waters of southern Bahia de Banderas, and offers all the amenities and attention to detail you can think of. Rooms range from "deluxe" to "grand penthouse" suites, all exquisitely furnished, yet without forgetting the hotel's eco-friendly purpose.

Guests consistently give this hotel high marks for the classy suites, each with a brown-and-taupe color scheme and an ample terrace. Separate sitting rooms have a second flat-screen TV, and there's even a pillow menu. The pools are surrounded by spacious patios, so there's plenty of room to find the perfect spot in the sun or the shade. Given the elegance of the place, it's a shame to have to wear the usual wristbands.

At Casa Velas, a luxurious all-inclusive resort without the hassle of mass tourism, everything feels classy and personal. With just 80 suites, this adults-only hotel offers outstanding service and an all-around upscale experience. Rooms are spacious and enriched with subtle touches of Mexican design, and some include a hot tub or plunge pool. Although there are plenty of quality dining options and a large swimming pool, the big setback is that guests have to take a shuttle to the beach.

Architect-owner Marc Lindskog has created a nook of nonchalant elegance, with updated country furnishings of wicker, leather, and wood; rock-floor showers without curtains or doors; and cheerful Pacific coast architectural details. Mosquito netting lends romance to cozy, quilt-covered beds. Waves crashing onshore, their sound somehow magnified, create white noise that lulls you to sleep. In the morning, settle into a cushy chaise on your private patio to watch seabirds swim; at night watch the sunset behind Punta Mita. These simple pleasures make this hideaway a winner. It doesn't hurt that the food is truly delicious, the bar is well stocked with international labels, and it's all included in the room price.

This family-oriented all-inclusive resort features a pirate-theme water park as its main attraction. The Baby Paradise and the teens’ club are also well appointed. Rooms aren’t spectacular but they offer ample space and include kid-size bunk beds. All restaurants feature their own kids’ menu. An adults-only sister hotel is available next door, for those looking something a bit more peaceful.

El Careyes Club and Residences is an oceanfront, integrally designed project that features a wide array of lodging options, including one- to five-bedroom suites, private villas, and luxurious bungalows. Each accommodation comes with a fully equipped kitchen and top-notch amenities and toiletries. The common areas include five infinity pools and tubs, as well as access to private restaurants.

The hotel and its fabulous spa perch above a lovely beach at the northern extreme of Bahía de Banderas. Spacious rooms occupy Mexican-style casitas of one, two, and three stories. Each room has elegant yet earthy furnishings and a private terrace or balcony—many with a sweeping sea view. One of the Jack Nicklaus–designed golf courses has a challenging, optional 19th island hole. The gym is first-rate, and a good variety of sporting and beach equipment is on hand. Just offshore, the Marietas Islands are great for snorkeling, diving, whale-watching, and fishing, and home to a romantic beach in a cove. This is the place for indulging golf and spa fantasies or just using the luxurious, top-notch facilities. It's a great spot for kids, too, with fantastic beaches, a doughnut-shape pool with current where you can float in inner tubes, and an excellent kids' playroom with Internet and lots of cool games.

Set on the spectacular end of a peninsula, this resort (hands-down the best hotel in the area) overlooks the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Navidad lagoon to the east. Rooms are big and luxurious, although the decor feels more mid-20th-century Europe than modern tropical Mexico.

In scale and majesty, the public areas of this property outshine all other Nuevo Vallarta all-inclusive resorts. Ceilings soar overhead, and the structure and furnishings are simultaneously minimalist and modern yet earthy, incorporating stucco, rock, polished teak, and gleaming ecru marble. The spa is excellent, and the views—with the garden-shrouded pool in the foreground and the beach beyond—are striking. Rooms are sleek with elegant furnishings and appointments. The high price entitles you to top-of-the-line spirits in minibars and restaurants.

The Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta is a luxury, all-inclusive resort 20 minutes from Puerto Vallarta with a gorgeous beachfront setting and everything you would expect from this well-known brand. 

This old-school resort was recently transformed back into a trendy destination among mostly Mexican tourists. The decor is a bit kitsch but in accordance with the festive style of the resort.

Perched on a hill overlooking La Cruz, this brand-new hotel and spa has 42 villas all tastefully decorated in a somewhat Balinese style. The silent surroundings and serene ambience are perfect for a romantic (or individual) escape, with good food and even better drinks in a classy environment.

Perched on a beautiful headland, "Serene Point" enjoys balmy breezes and offers life-changing views from the infinity hot tub. It's an adults-only oasis of calm. Rooms have lovely furnishings and decor and shared or private terraces, some with fab beach views. The private beach far below is clothing optional. Spa treatments are inventive, and activities like horseback riding, tennis, and nonmotorized water sports are included in the price.

Considered the flagship of the three Riu hotels in the area, the Riu Palace Pacifico is an all-inclusive beachfront resort with an excellent family-friendly beach, assorted restaurants as well as a buffet, and a huge pool. 

The Krystal Reflect is a beachfront hotel ideal for families and couples. While children stay, eat, and play for free, there is also an adults-only pool and restaurant where grown-ups can find some quiet time. Rooms range from standard luxury to swim-out suites, with access to all the entertainment the hotel offers, including a world-class spa.

Marival Armony Resort facing Banderas Bay boasts modern tropical decor, seven international restaurants, a spa, a kids' club, and five pools. Views from the rooms are nothing short of spectacular, and the hotel can organize tours and activities to keep you busy.

Come here if you're looking for an all-inclusive bargain with a wealth of activities. On the one hand, rooms have strong air conditioning and amenities like hair dryers, irons, and ironing boards; on the other, they have small tubs, cheap doors, and uninspired modern decor. There's an extra charge, inexplicably, for the use of in-room safes. Only a few units have ocean views, but there are plenty of individual palapas and lounge chairs at the beach. If you go to bed early, avoid the Club building, with a downstairs karaoke bar that goes on until midnight.

The Marriott is hushed and stately in some places, lively and casual in others. All of the restaurants—including a sleek Asian restaurant serving Thai, sushi, and teppanyaki and a large, pleasant sports bar—have kids' menus. The meandering grounds boast a large infinity pool as well as gardens of indigenous plants. Rooms have cheery, classy decor; each has a balcony and most have an ocean view.

Located in Marina Vallarta, Mayan Palace provides the luxury and comfort expected from a Vidanta resort but is closer to the action that only Puerto Vallarta has to offer in the region. Rooms are large and most of them feature ample balconies and gorgeous ocean views. Dining options are limited, but guests have access to the gourmet restaurants of other nearby Vidanta resorts. 

The sprawling, all-inclusive Meliá, on the beach and close to the golf course, is popular with families. Rooms are quiet havens in subdued blue, cream, and sand. There's a huge pool, an outdoor theater with nightly shows, and elaborate children's programs and amenities—including a climbing wall and a batting cage. Considering it's an all-inclusive, prices are very reasonable.

This Nuevo Vallarta hotel and time-share property is perfect for families, with lots of activities geared toward children. Many people love it, although the property's dedication to timeshare guests makes some other guests feel excluded. Most suites have balconies with either marina or ocean views. Furnishings are attractive as well as functional, with pretty cane sofa beds in a soothing palette and well-equipped kitchens. Locals like to visit the clean, well-organized spa, which smells divine and is praised for its massages and facials. The beach here is tranquil enough for swimming, although some small waves are suitable for bodysurfing.

This high-volume hotel at the south end of long and lovely Bucerías Beach has manicured grounds and a pool for each of its six buildings. Rooms are plain and not particularly modern, but that's a small price to pay for the excellent beachfront location and astoundingly low all-inclusive prices. Rooms in the older section have the best views, since they were built along the water; rooms on the other side of the road have the benefit of being adults-only and are almost brand new. Besides location, the only real distinction between one room and another is whether the room has a king or two double beds. The median age of the clientele here is around 50 years old.

Secrets is a fancy all-inclusive, adults-only resort set in the heart of the Hotel Zone. The rooms offer wide, ample space and plenty of little details and luxuries (such as a Jacuzzi on the balcony). Some ground-floor suites include access to a swim-up pool. Public areas include two swimming pools and a large Jacuzzi, seven international restaurants, and a series of top-notch bars.

Marking the start of the Hotel Zone, the Sheraton was the first of the big-name resorts built in Puerto Vallarta, and ever since it has maintained its status as a Vallarta household name. Even though the building is a few decades old, rooms are renovated constantly to keep up with the times. Sometimes it can feel very business-like, as its convention center is one of the busiest in town.

This impressive hotel is an excellent choice for both families with kids and couples looking for a place to get away from it all. Modern and well-appointed rooms can range from single to multifamily suites, and may have a tub in the balcony overlooking the resort grounds and ocean (if you're above the fourth level) or the mountains behind. The resort caters mostly to all-inclusive vacationers but lodging-only is also available. There's a slow river, a wave pool, several restaurants, slides for kids, gyms, tennis courts, a golf course, and a fantastic beach where weddings take place. The resort has expanded even more in the past few years, and now there's a water park in the making and a permanent Cirque du Soleil, among other secret projects that are being developed.

Villa del Palmar Beach Resort and Spa is a big, family-friendly, all-inclusive resort that has a bit of everything without excessive luxury. Rooms offer ample space and colorful Mexican decor. Among other amenities, Villa del Palmar includes a well-appointed fitness center, a spa with a diversity of services, three swimming pools, a kids' club, four restaurants, one cantina, and a couple of delis.