Where to stay in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta, the right part of town.
The old town, the hotel zone, the marina and the resort coast north into Nayarit. The bay is the same; the evenings are very different.
Both open in a new tab. Rates, dates and reviews are there.
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Where visitors stay in Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta's hotels follow the curve of Banderas Bay. The Romantic Zone and the old town are the cobbled streets, the Malecon and Los Muertos beach; the Hotel Zone and Marina Vallarta are the high-rise resorts north of the center near the airport; Nuevo Vallarta, across the river in Nayarit, is the big all-inclusive strip; and Punta de Mita and the Riviera Nayarit beyond it are the luxury resorts and the surf towns. Transfers run 15 minutes to the marina and an hour to Punta de Mita.
01
Romantic Zone and the old town
Boutique hotels and small inns on the hill streets above Los Muertos beach, with the restaurants, the pier and the Malecon on foot. The Puerto Vallarta people come back for.
Suits: Couples, walkers, food, nightlife
02
Hotel Zone and Marina Vallarta
Large resorts and all-inclusives along the beach between the center and the airport, with the marina's restaurants and the cruise port. Ten minutes to the old town.
Suits: Families, resorts, short transfers
03
Nuevo Vallarta
The all-inclusive strip on a long calm beach across the river in Nayarit, 20 minutes north of the airport. Resort days, with the town a taxi ride away.
Suits: All-inclusive, families, calm water
04
Punta de Mita and the Riviera Nayarit
The gated luxury resorts at the point, then Sayulita and San Pancho's surf-town hotels, 45 to 60 minutes from the airport.
Suits: Luxury, surf, slow stays
Hotel links open Expedia in a new tab. All Travel Fun earns a commission on bookings made through them; it does not change what you pay. Distances and times above are approximate.
Good to know
- Two states, one bay
- Puerto Vallarta is in Jalisco; Nuevo Vallarta and Punta de Mita are in Nayarit. Prices, taxis and tour pickups treat them differently, and the old time-zone split is gone.
- Hills mean stairs
- The old town's charm is its slopes, and many small hotels have steep approaches and no elevator. Listings say; it matters for luggage and knees.
Once the room is booked
- Things to do in Puerto Vallarta: the day trips and tours worth booking before you land.
- All-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit: what the package covers and which zone suits whom.
- Mexico and Central America Flights by Phone: more trips in the region.
Questions before you book
Old town or Nuevo Vallarta?
The old town for walking to dinner, the beach bars and the Malecon; Nuevo Vallarta for an all-inclusive week on a calm beach. Thirty minutes apart by taxi.
When is the best time to stay?
November to April is dry and busy, with whales from December. May to October is hot and humid with afternoon storms and much lower rates.
How do I book a hotel from this page?
Each "See hotels" button opens Expedia's hotel search for that part of Puerto Vallarta, with live rates, photos, reviews and the cancellation terms. You book and pay there. All Travel Fun earns a commission on bookings made through those links; it does not change what you pay.
Can your agents book the hotel over the phone?
Our agents book flights. Call to price the flight to Puerto Vallarta; book the room on Expedia once your dates are fixed.
Where to stay elsewhere in Mexico
Flying to Puerto Vallarta?
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