Every now and then, life becomes cinematic, and when you step into the Hilton Vallarta Riviera All Inclusive Resort, you step into your own movie. As I walked through the sliding doors and was greeted by a two-story view of the ocean, a Pacific breeze, and the soft background noise of people chatting while enjoying a cool drink in the lobby, it felt like the first scene of a movie I really wanted to be in: I on vacation.
I was so taken in by the scene that I didn’t go straight to check-in, instead heading to the balcony to admire the ocean and let the sound of the waves lull me into relaxation mode.
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The lobby – with its inviting bar, local stone details and indoor-outdoor atmosphere – is the first hint that this is not a beach resort, but a place deeply rooted in the natural beauty of the Nayarit region. Over the next few days, I learned just how true that initial impression was.
What you need to know about Hilton Vallarta Riviera All Inclusive
Located in the southern zone of Puerto Vallarta, this beach hotel is away from the crowded northern and hotel zones of Puerto Vallarta’s BahÃa de Banderas. The resort is a recent addition to the Hilton portfolio, and was previously an adults-only resort. Its two-tower layout allows a variety of 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 be crowded and have lots of activities, but still feel comfortable and easy to navigate.
Numbers
The resort has 444 rooms with balconies facing the ocean. I stayed in the tower on the north side of the hotel, which has the majority of rooms with single beds, while the other tower has the majority of double rooms, which naturally creates zones for families or groups traveling together.
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The rooms feel spacious and opening the balcony doors immediately opens you up to the outside with ocean breezes, lapping waves and chirping birds from the lush tropical jungle across the street from the hotel. The rooms offer a comfortable place to relax, day or night, and with a balcony and beautiful views, it feels like an extension of the resort’s amenities, rather than just a place to sleep.
The beach
One of my memories of a family vacation in Puerto Vallarta when I was young was the crashing waves and my dad flying in to keep us kids upright. At the Hilton Vallarta, however, the beach is protected by a jetty, creating one of the few quiet beaches in Bahia de Banderas. During my swims, I didn’t have to overcome the pounding waves, and I could calmly float on my back, gently swaying in the ocean.
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The area protected by the dock was large enough to really feel like you had room to swim and play if you wanted to do more than swim. The beach is quite shaded in the morning, but it’s still nice to swim in the water during those hours. Another feature of the resort is the lack of neighbors, making for a calm and peaceful beach with plenty of space to spread out. The hotel has sunbeds set up along the beach and there are showers to wash off the sand before returning to the pool area.
Pools and activities
Two of the resort’s pools are oceanfront infinity pools, which means you don’t have to give up a great view if you prefer to swim in the ocean pool. One pool is reserved for adults and the other is open to everyone. Both offer great ocean views and water temperatures that are conducive to relaxation. The adult pool has a swim-up bar as well as seating in the water. Another pool with fun palm islands has no steps, but has a zero slope (like you’re walking into the ocean), making it ideal for children of all ages, as well as wheelchair users and anyone who might have trouble with the pool steps . Both pools are surrounded by lounge chairs, and if you’re looking for more privacy, comfort or direct ocean views, Bali Beds can be rented for the day.
There are games around the pools, as well as drink and food stations, making it easy to get snacks without interrupting your pool time. I was particularly drawn to the Coco Loco station because in my family one of the stories that was told over and over was of my lovely grandmother with plain lace who visited Puerto Vallarta in the 70’s and immediately wanted one of the cute cocos drinks. that everyone was drinking. Needless to say, she spent the rest of the day in a cold shower, pining for parasailing reservations and cementing Coco Locos in family lore. At this station, I noticed that Coco No Locos mocktails were also available and guessed that many tourists had a similar experience.
The area surrounding the pools is where many of the day’s activities take place. Moving away from the general, classes help ground you in a place and a culture. From language to food to culture, there’s something for everyone’s interests, all made to fit the location. Daily Spanish classes help guests navigate tourist Spanish in order to interact respectfully while in the region. The Huichol art event introduces guests to colorful ornaments, 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 encountered 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. The cocktail class provided information about the region’s agave producers and products, while the cooking class introduced me to Agua Chile Verde, the regional Nayarit version of ceviche. Since then I have been frequenting our local Mexican restaurant.
Activities are not limited to daytime. In the evenings, there are cultural events such as Mexican Night, which features food, music, dance and traditions of the Puerto Vallarta area, and a firework show by the pool with the legends and lore of the Huichol people. I also found an inner artist I didn’t know existed in a sunset painting and wine tasting class taught by a local art professor. I left the class feeling accomplished and satisfied.
For a more traditional nightlife, there is plenty to choose from, including a very lively lottery game in the Martini Lounge, piano singing in the lobby bar, and a silent disco overlooking the beach. Every event I participated in seemed to encourage connection and joy with my fellow vacationers.
After an evening of fun, I rolled out of bed to attend a yoga class. Being from California, I often feel like I should be doing more yoga, but it’s never really been my passion. On the beach in Mexico, I think I finally figured it out. A yoga teacher isn’t around all the time, but if she is, you should wake up earlier. This seemed to be true for all the exercise classes: the instructors are great, and the resort often brings in guest instructors for special sessions over several days.
Resort
In an unassuming corner of the resort is the eforea spa. I arrived at midday as it was getting hotter outside and the cool and calming space was the perfect match for the bright and lively pool area. The spa offers a range of treatments including hydrotherapy, massages and facials.
It also had my favorite and most unexpected touch of all the resorts I’ve been to. Near the hydrotherapy pools there are mosaic sunbeds, where you can relax for a while with cucumbers in front of your eyes before a massage. Not only did I love the space because I became more grounded and calm before the massage, but while I was there, the spa attendant came and gave me a head massage, which was 100% pure bliss. Usually when I get a massage I’m always worried about being on time and my brain is going 100 miles an hour. This 10 minute period or relaxation along with a wonderful head massage got rid of all the chatter in my head and once my massage started I was able to enjoy it from start to finish without having to spend the first few minutes worrying about wasting precious massage time .
Food
All-inclusive resorts are in a tough spot when it comes to food: how to feed a lot of people multiple times a day and do it well. In all of my meals at the Hilton Vallarta Riviera, I never felt like there was any compromise and everything was uniformly excellent. Part of that was thanks to the local cuisine, starting with The Vela Food Hall’s extensive Mexican breakfast selection (including fresh tortillas) served alongside more continental fare. At noon, I was able to satisfy my new obsession with Agua Chile Verde and my love of ocean views at the gorgeous Cocomar. I might as well have stopped at the poolside grill for my second lunch because the aromas made my mouth water.
When traveling with my kids, I’ve found that an afternoon break that includes a place to sit and have a cold drink goes a long way in increasing the amount of time we spend together. Even at the pool and on the beach, where you can relax, spending time in the breeze indoors is a great vacation. The Mojito Lounge is a family-friendly hidden treasure at the resort. The quiet indoor/outdoor bar had swings, sofas and hanging chairs to keep the kids wanting to come and relax in the sun; plus a special kid’s drink, including Shirley Temple and Dirty Monkey, a kid-friendly banana-chocolate mix and maybe a little pineapple.
The dinner also shone with many exquisite dishes of world cuisine. There’s Maxal, a Mexican restaurant that showcases the diverse regions of Mexico; Sunan, a Southeast Asian restaurant; La Luce not only had amazing views of the sunset, but possibly some of the best Italian food I’ve had, especially the ravioli, which left me wanting more. I was also able to try dinner dishes from other restaurants and talk to the chefs. What impressed me the most was how passionate they were about creating great food and experiences. No matter what type of food they showcased, a lot of thought and creativity went into pairing the flavors with the best produce, fish and meat that the Nayarit region has to offer.
Throughout the hotel, great care has been taken to show Mexican hospitality to all guests. This was a recurring theme throughout my stay and I feel it made this resort great. My interactions with the staff enhanced my stay not because they catered to my needs, but because they shared their love for Puerto Vallarta and the Nayarit region. They introduced me to local after-dinner drinks, their favorite hot sauces, and their favorite spots outside the resort. Their love and desire to share the magic of this part of Mexico made this resort less transactional and more expansive, and as I write this, I’m also checking the availability and cost of plane tickets to take my whole family back, because this is an experience that needs to be shared.
Reviews
Hilton Vallarta Riviera All Inclusive Resort earns four out of five on Kayak and 4.5 out of five on Tripadvisor. Guests love the warm service, activity and atmosphere.