Every once in a while life takes on a cinematic quality, and walking into the Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort lands you straight in your very own movie. As I walked through the sliding doors and was greeted by a two-story framed view of the ocean, the Pacific breeze, and the gentle background noise of people chatting while enjoying a cool drink in the lobby, it felt like the opening scene of a movie I very definitely wanted to star in: me on vacation.
I was so taken with the scene I did not go directly to check-in, instead heading to the balcony to take in the ocean view and let the sounds of the waves lull me into vacation mode as I relaxed into guest mode.
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The lobby—with its inviting bar, local stone details, and and indoor-outdoor feel—is the first hint that this isn’t a copy-and-paste beach resort but a place deeply rooted in the natural beauty of the Nayarit region. Over the next few days, I found out how true this initial impression was.
Things to know about the Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort
Located in the South Zone of Puerto Vallarta, this beachfront property sits away from the crowded North and Hotel Zones of Puerto Vallarta’s Bahia de Banderas. The resort is a recent addition to the Hilton portfolio, and was previously an adults only resort. Its two-tower layout allows space for all sorts of vacationing groups (families, couples, and groups) to enjoy the resort without feeling overwhelmed. I appreciated the size of this resort because it was large enough to not feel crowded and had a variety of activities, but it still felt intimate and easy to navigate.
The rooms
The resort has 444 ocean facing rooms with balconies. I stayed in the tower on the North side of the hotel, which houses most of the rooms with single beds, while the other tower hosts most of the double rooms, which naturally creates zones for families or groups traveling together.
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The rooms feel spacious, and opening the door to the balcony immediately brings the outside in with the ocean breeze, the crashing of the waves, and the chattering birds from the lush tropical jungle that sits just across the street from the hotel,. The rooms offer a comfortable place to take a break during the day or evening, and with the balcony and the great view it feels like an extension of the resort’s amenities, not just a place to sleep.
The beach
One of my memories of a family vacations to Puerto Vallarta when I was young was the overwhelming crashing waves and my dad swooping in to keep us kids upright. At the Hilton Vallarta, though, the private beach is protected by a jetty, which creates one of the few calm beaches in the Bahia de Banderas. During my swims I did not have to negotiating pounding waves, and was able to float calmly on my back, gently being rocked by the ocean.
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The area protected by the jetty was large enough to really feel like you have room to swim and play if you want to do more that float. The beach is fairly shaded in the morning, but the water is still pleasant to swim in during these hours. Another thing unique to the resort is the lack of neighbors, which creates a calm and peaceful beach with plenty of space to spread out. The hotel has beach loungers and chairs set up along the beach and there are showers to wash off the sand before returning to the pool area.
Pools, activities, and amenities
The resort’s two pools are both oceanfront infinity pools, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice the great view if you prefer pool swimming to the ocean. One pool is reserved for adults while the other is open to everyone. Both offer great views of the ocean and water temperatures that are conducive to hanging out. The adult pool has a swim-up bar as well as a places to sit in the water. The other pool, with fun palm tree islands, does not have steps to get in, but rather a zero-entry slope (like you are walking into the ocean), making it the perfect place for kids of all ages, as well as wheelchair users and anyone who might have trouble with pool steps. Both pools are flanked by lounge chairs, and if you’re looking for more privacy, comfort, or a straight view to the ocean, there are Bali Beds available for daily rentals.
There are games as well as drink and food stations around the pools, making snacks easy to get without interrupting pool time. I was particularly drawn to the Coco Loco station, as in my family, one of stories that would be told over and over was one about my pretty straight-laced grandmother visiting Puerto Vallarta in the 70s and immediately wanting one of the cute drinks in coconuts that everyone was drinking. Needless to say, she ended up in a cold shower for the rest of the afternoon, missing her parasailing reservations and cementing Coco Locos into family lore. At this station, I noticed that Coco No Locos mocktails were also available, and guessed that many a tourist has had a similar experience.
The area immediately surrounding the pools is where many of the day’s activities take place. Moving away from generic, the activities help to ground you in the place and culture. From language, to food, to culture, there’s something for everyone’s interests, all done in a way that is specific to location. A daily Spanish language class helps guests orient themselves in tourist Spanish to have respectful interactions while in the region. A Huichol art activity introduces guests to the colorful decorations, symbols, and designs through beadwork. This activity was led by local Huichol artists, and gave me a new lens to view and appreciate the artwork I came across as a visitor in Puerto Vallarta.
In addition to arts and crafts, there are also activities designed to give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of local cuisine and drink. A cocktail class featured information on the region’s agave growers and products, while a cooking class introduced me to Agua Chile Verde, a regional Nayarit take on ceviche. Since then, this has been my go to at our local Mexican restaurant.
Activities are not just limited to daytime. In the evening, there are cultural experiences such as a Mexican Night featuring the food, music, dance and traditions of the Puerta Vallarta area and a poolside fire show features the legends and lore of the Huichol people. I also found an inner artist I did not know I had with a sunset painting and wine tasting class, taught by a local art professor. I left the activity feeling accomplished and delighted.
For more traditional nightlife, there’s a lot to choose among, including a very lively Loteria game at the Martini Lounge, a piano sing-along in the lobby bar, a silent disco overlooking the beach. Each activity I participated in seemed to encourage connection and joy with my fellow vacationers.
After a night of fun, I pulled myself out of bed to attend a yoga class. Being from California, I often feel like I should embrace yoga more, but it has never been my thing. On the beach in Mexico, I think I finally got it. The yoga teacher is not there all the time, but if she happens to be there when you are, it’s worth the early wake up. This seemed true for all of the exercise classes: the teachers are great, and the resort often brings in guest teachers for specialty classes over a few days.
The spa
In an unassuming corner of the resort sits the eforea spa. I arrived midday as it was getting hotter outside, and the cool and calming space was a perfect foil to the bright and lively pool area. The spa offers a number of treatments, include hydrotherapy, massages and facials.
It also had perhaps my favorite and most unexpected touch of any spa I have been to. By the hydrotherapy pools are mosaic lounge chairs where you unwind with cucumbers on your eyes for a bit before your massage. Not only did I love this space as I become more grounded and calmer before my massage, but while I was there a spa attendant came and massaged my head, which was 100% pure bliss. Usually when I get massages I am always worried about getting there on time and my brain is going 100 miles per hour. This 10 minute period or relaxation along with the amazing head massage cleared away all of the chatter in my head, and when my massage started I was able to enjoy it from start to finish, no need to spend the first few minutes worried about wasting valuable massage time.
The restaurants (and other food options)
All-inclusive resorts are in a tricky position when it comes to food: how to feed a lot of people multiple times a day and do it well. In all my meals at Hilton Vallarta Riviera, I never felt like there was any compromise and everything was uniformly excellent. Some of this was done by embracing local cuisine, from the robust selection of Mexican specialties at The Vela Food Hall breakfast (including fresh tortillas) served alongside more Continental choices. At midday, I was able to satisfy my new Agua Chile Verde obsession and love of ocean views at the delightful Cocomar. I may have also stopped by the poolside grill for a second lunch because the aromas made my mouth water.
When traveling with my kids, I have found that taking an afternoon break that includes a place to sit down and a cold drink considerably extends the enjoyable time we have. Even at the pool and beach, which is all about relaxing, taking a bit of time in a breezy indoor space is a great break. The Mojito Lounge is a family-friendly hidden treasure within the resort. The quiet, indoor-outdoor bar had swings, couches, and hanging chairs for kids to want to come and relax out of the sun; plus special kids drink, including a Shirley Temple and the Dirty Monkey, a kid-pleasing concoction of bananas and chocolate and possibly some pineapple.
Dinner also shined with a range of elevated global cuisines. There’s Maxal, the Mexican restaurant highlighting Mexico’s diverse regions; Sunan, a Southeast-Asian inspired restaurant; La Luce which offered not only amazing sunset views but perhaps some of the best Italian food I have had, with the ravioli particularly leaving me wanting more. I was also able to sample dinner foods from the other restaurants and speak with the chefs. What struck me most was how passionate they were about creating great foods and experiences. No matter what type of food they were showcasing, a lot of thought and creativity went into marrying the flavors with the best produce, fish, and meats the Nayarit region had to offer.
Throughout the hotel there was great care taken to extend Mexican hospitality to all of the guests. This was a reoccurring theme of my entire stay, and I feel one that made this a standout resort. My interactions with the staff enhanced my stay, not because they were catering to my needs, but because they were sharing their love of Puerto Vallarta and the Nayarit region. They introduced me to local after-dinner drinks, their favorite hot sauces, and their favorite areas outside of the resort. Their love and willingess to share the magic of this part of Mexico made this resort feel less transactional and more encompassing, and as I am writing this I am also checking availability and airfare to take my whole family back because this is an experience to be shared.
Reviews
The Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort earns four out of five on Kayak and 4.5 out of five on Tripadvisor. Guests like the warm service, the activities, and the setting.
