87 Best Hotels in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

If you hang around the pool or the small shared balcony overlooking the street, it's not hard to get to know the other guests—many of them savvy budget travelers from Europe and Canada. Rooms are spare and vault-like, and some are downright dark. Fredy's Tucan restaurant is popular with locals, mainly for breakfast. The hotel is in a part of the Zona Romántica known for its restaurants and shops; Playa Los Muertos is a few blocks away.

The original St. Regis in Mexico (there's now a sister property in Mexico City) boasts a nouveau Mexican architectural style combining geometric simplicity with the warmth of giant palapa roofs and other natural elements. Sleek white tubs, simple outdoor showers, and flat-screen TVs maintain the spare look of the overall design, but room decor is simultaneously cheerful, light, and charming. Separate adults-only pools and restaurants make the space welcoming for couples seeking quiet or romance. Punta Mita's two golf courses flank the property, which is a boon for golfers; the beach is pretty and private but rocky and not suitable for swimming. When reserving, request a partial-ocean-view room, as it's the same price as a garden-view room.

It takes a long walk up a steep hill at Playa Conchas Chinas to reach this bed-and-breakfast, where rooms are furnished with antiques and local art; most have kitchenettes, or full kitchens, along with balconies. Other draws are the efficient and welcoming staff, the fortifying breakfast (cooked to order) served on a palapa-covered patio, the nearly private beach below, and the views from the rooftop sundeck.

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.

This adults-only, extra-luxurious, all-inclusive resort is the only five-diamond hotel in Puerto Vallarta, and you can tell why the moment you step foot on it. This two-tower hotel is sparkling and stylish, with huge rooms, modern sassy decor, and all types of little details such as iPad-operated ambience systems, walk-in rain showers, and smart bidet toilets. The all-inclusive experience is real premium with four top-notch restaurants on the premises, plus two more options at its sister hotel Garza Blanca located within walking distance.

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 boutique hotel with huge suites and panoramic views is Boca’s hidden gem. Furnishing and decor are stylish and modern, with delicate colorful touches. Perched between the mountain and the sea, Villa Armonía allows for true connection with nature and a complete luxury experience.

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.

The condos at this boutique-style accommodation are a favorite among travelers and vacationers who return year after year. The units come in different sizes but all are spacious-enough apartments with necessary essentials and simple but efficient furniture. All include a fridge and kitchen, air conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. The lovely garden and pool are meticulously maintained throughout the year. Did we mention it's a three-minute walk to the beach? The place is very quiet thanks to its location on a dead-end street, yet nights are noisy when nearby Decameron hotel throws a large party.

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.

Located just a few meters from Playa Los Muertos, this hotel is at the center of PV's gay scene. Rooms are modern and spacious, with kitchen, balcony, and ocean views (from the first floor and up). Condos also include a second bedroom. A huge swimming pool, LGBTQ+-theme tours, and English-speaking staff are part of what this well-appointed hotel has to offer.

Located on downtown's northern edge, this is just a few blocks from the malecón, shops, hotels, and restaurants. Rooms are cheerful, with wood furniture, bright white linens, and tastefully subdued accent colors. There's a lively pool scene; the adults-only area, a shallow pool with submerged chaise lounges facing the sea, is a big part of the draw. The all-inclusive rate is a good deal, especially for families.

Located in the Playa Rosa area and just beside the trendy beach club of the same name, these completely renovated bungalows have been called the world's smallest beach resort. The bungalows' interiors come in white with touches of pink and feature palapa roofs.

What began as a hilltop home has slowly become an amalgam of unusual rustic but luxurious suites with indoor and outdoor living spaces. The higher up your room, the more beautiful the view of Sayulita's coast. Accommodations, managed by different owners, range from basic to honeymoon suites with terraces and plunge pools. Details like recessed color-glass light fixtures, Talavera sinks in bathrooms, brick ceilings, wrought-iron table lamps, art in wall niches, and colorful cement floors add a lot of class. The property overlooks a rocky cove where you can fish from shore; a beautiful sandy beach is a few minutes' walk. The staff lends out kayaks, boogie boards, and snorkeling gear.

This popular, up-to-date boutique hotel is located a 10-minute walk from the beach and the Zona Romántica, catering largely to an LGBTQ+ clientele. Most guest rooms have terraces with wonderful views of the sea and the surrounding neighborhood. Suites have kitchenettes, washer-dryers, separate living and sleeping quarters, and a home-theater system. All the rooms are classy, restrained, and individually decorated. The airy, shared dining room–lounge is comfortable and welcoming; the rooftop terrace with infinity dipping pool is lovely.

Palms and plants edge the walkways lining the swimming pool and goldfish ponds, while balconies look down on this idyllic garden scene. Suites have full kitchens, shower-only baths, and tropical-style furniture. The hotel is on a cobblestoned street off the highway; if you don't want to hoof it into Puerto Vallarta, take one of the local buses that pass by every 10 minutes. The beach is a five-minute walk away on the other side of the highway.

Some of the pleasant rooms overlook the beach from a balcony or terrace, but most people stay here for easy access to the good burgers, guacamole, and seafood platter for two ($13) at the adjoining El Alebrije restaurant. The bar, with its cool, brick-floor interior open to the beach, is also popular. Other perks: the long beach, large pool, and hiking and other outdoor activities.

This is an attractive little enclave of cozy and clean (albeit basic) cottages with screened windows. Full kitchens with lots of pots and pans invite cooking, but the real draws are the lovingly tended gardens surrounding the lodgings, the covered patio, and the sparkling, three-lane lap pool. If you love it, settle in for a while; monthly rates are usually available.

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.

Formerly known as Hotel Costa Careyes, Casitas de las Flores is a series of renewed condos, part of the whole Careyes community face-lift. The casitas offer wide-open spaces with traditional Mexican decor and spectacular ocean views. They feature fully equipped kitchenettes and private balconies. Casitas de las Flores is located a few steps from the beach and inside a gated community.

A couple of friendly American expats run this charming cliff-top hideaway with gorgeous views of the ocean and Boca de Iguanas Beach below. The furniture is stylish, and homey touches like lamps and aquatic wall decorations make the snug apartments just right for holing up. The two apartments upstairs, with thatched roofs and kitchen and living room open to the elements, are not usually available in summer due to the rain; the rest of the year they're highly coveted.

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.

Hidden four blocks off the busy malecón, this '60s-era villa has apartments of various sizes filled with modern Mexican art and comfortable, if well-worn, furniture. All apartments have well-equipped kitchens, and a few rooms have ocean-view terraces; the largest has three bedrooms, two baths, and a separate dining room. There's a red-tile pool and tropical gardens. In high season the property accepts only weeklong bookings.

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.

This storied resort rises above a deep-blue pool that flows beside palm oases. The ocean-view rooms have a modern neutral color scheme, beige marble floors, balconies, and tile baths with powerful showers. The beach is small but bustles with activity and equipment rentals, and the breakwater forms a sheltered nook that's nice for swimming. It's in the Northern Hotel Zone, about halfway between the Marina Vallarta complex and downtown Puerto Vallarta.

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.