What We Love
- No reservations needed at any of the restaurants.
- The resort's Art Deco architecture hugged by epic palms that rises up from the sandsational beach.
- The liquor dispensers in the rooms. It's a party. Just add people.
- The treatments at the world-class, delicious spa. Unplug and unwind.
- Supervised fun for the little ones while you savor a drink by the teal waves.
- Teeing off at the 18-hole, championship golf course that's right next door.
- The fitness program that includes Backfit, Aquagym, stretching and bums, legs, tums.
- Dancing the night away at the Pacha nightclub.
Things to Know
- The airport is a mere 15 minutes from the airport so you'll be on that sweet beach lickety split.
- Be sure to visit Cuale Island, a shady and tranquil oasis, to shop for crafty, cool souvenirs.
- Banderas Bay is brimming with animal fun: see the release of sea turtles & swim with dolphins.
- Get up early to snag a beach lounger. They go fast.
- You can go horseback riding in the Sierra Madres, a bucket-list-worthy thing to do.
- If you're more adventurous, there's bungee jumping. Hang on!
- There are oceans of water sports: bodyboarding, kayaking, windsurfing and more. Take the plunge.
Resort Details
- Don RafaelMain restaurantBuffet restaurant open for dinner. Buffets and live cooking stations.
Special evenings: themed buffet (three times a week).
- FlamingoSteakhouse serving A la carte specialities.
- Il GustoItalian restaurantBuffet-style Italian restaurant.
• Poolside restaurant/Theme restaurant - KulinariumGourmet restaurantA la carte gourmet restaurant.
- NirvanaAsian restaurantBuffet-style Asian restaurant.
- Various Lounges/Bars
• Astoria - Lobby bar
• La Boheme - Lounge bar
• Sports Bar
• La Plaza - Bar
• Mezcal - Poolside bar with swim-up bar
*Access to all bars at Riu Jalisco.
- 24-hour front desk
- Accessible facilities
- ATM/Cash machine
- Babysitting,Offsite†
- Baggage hold
- Beachfront
- Bell staff/porter
- Business services†
- Children programs
- Children welcome
- 24-hour front desk
- Complies with Local/State/Federal laws for disabled
- ATM/Cash machine
- Babysitting, Offsite†
- Baggage hold
- Beachfront
- Bell staff/porter
- Business services†
- Children programs
- Children welcome
- Children's play area
- Concierge desk
- Elevators
- Exercise gym
- Free high speed internet connection
- Game room
- Gift/News stand†
- Golf, Offsite†
- Housekeeping - daily
- Laundry/Valet service†
- Lounges/bars
- Meal Plan Type: All Inclusive
- Parking
- Pool
- Restaurant
- Safe deposit box
- Spa
- Sports bar
- Tour/sightseeing desk
- Water sports†
† Fees may apply
- Children's pool
Children's pool with slides.
- Children's program, onsiteDaily daytime entertainment program for children. "Riu land" kids club.
- Direct access to a beach
- Fitness center on-siteComplimentary use of gym.Fitness activities in RiuFit area.
- Motorized Water Sports †
- Non-Motorized Water Sports
- PlaygroundChildren's Playground.
- Pool
There are 5 pools including one with a swim-up bar. New grill by the pool.
- Sauna
- Spa †Renova Spa with a variety of treatments, hairdresser, massages and beauty salon ($).
- Whirlpool
- Golf †Golf course located within a mile of the hotel.
- Kayaking †
- NightclubsComplimentary access to "Pacha" discotheque at Riu Jalisco (open 7 nights a week); drinks included.
- Windsurfing †
- On-site EntertainmentAccess to weekly theme parties for everyone
- Nuevo Vallarta
- Other Local AttractionsBathed by the waters of the beautiful bay of Banderas and sheltered by the imposing Sierra Madre, Puerto Vallarta is one of the most highly-prized tourist destinations in Mexico. As well as excellent beaches and water sports, this destination offers you the chance to enter into contact with unique nature: dolphins, whales and turtles.
† Fees may apply
Guest Reviews
Customer Ratings & Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
9164 reviews
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May 08, 2025Second Visit Exceeded Expectations
RIU VALLARTA REVIEW BY Abbie McLeod This was my 2nd stay at the RIU Vallarta! First: December 2019 Second: April 2025 We were a group of 15 — 8 adults, 5 teens & two 11-year-olds! 👨👩👧👦👨👧👦👩👦👦 Resort Vibes: ✨ Super clean 🗺️ Easy to get around 🍽️ Food was great 🪑 Always found chairs (but yes, people do reserve early!) ☀️ If you want specific pools—set that alarm early! Beach: ⛱️ Nice beach 🌊 Ocean was rough daily (typical for PV) 🛍️ Souvenir hut + a massage shack on the sand Sister Resort - RIU Jalisco: 🚶 Just a 2-minute walk away ✅ RIU Vallarta guests have access (except breakfast & supper) ⛔ Jalisco guests can’t use RIU Vallarta facilities 🎉 Foam party at Jalisco = SO fun! 🌟 Neon party was amazing too! A LA CARTES: 📅 No reservations—just walk in ⏰ Pro tip: Arrive 10 min early to snag a seat ✅ Our group of 15 always got in together 🥩 Steakhouse: Most popular (line starts 30 mins early), but our least favorite ❤️ SteakHouse dinner for two = pretty good 🍝 Italian (A La Carte): Lasagna = amazing 🥩 Kulinarium: Tenderloin = so good 🍣 Nirvana (Asian Buffet): Sushi, spring rolls, veggies = all delicious ☕ Buffet: Perfect for breakfast & lunch—everything I had was fantastic! Overall: This resort exceeded my 2019 expectations! Would 100% recommend it to anyone! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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May 08, 2025
Great First Experience
Great place, very clean premises, great service, friendly and professional staff. Made for a great experience! Would do it again.
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May 07, 2025Disappointing Experience for Families with Young Children – Poor Communication & No Real Compensation
We booked our stay at the RIU Vallarta in December 2024 specifically because of the kid-friendly amenities, especially the children’s splash pool area, which was heavily advertised at the time. We checked in on May 5, 2025, for a stay through May 10, 2025, with our 1.5-year-old son. We also booked a second suite for the grandparents, who were traveling with us. To our surprise, we discovered after checking in that the kids’ water area was closed for renovations. We were not notified in advance, despite the hotel having known about the closure for at least a week. On May 6, 2025, we raised the issue with hotel staff, explaining how essential that amenity was to our family’s plans and how it was a major factor in choosing this specific property. The staff told us we could walk over to the neighboring RIU Jalisco to use their kid-friendly water area—but that’s not realistic with a toddler and grandparents in tow. No notification before arrival and no practical alternative on-site was extremely disappointing. We asked if we could receive a partial refund or credit toward a future RIU stay—even a small amount like 6%—as a good faith gesture. The response was a flat denial, even after supposedly escalating the request to upper management. The only compensation offered was a beach cabana or a late checkout, neither of which addressed the core issue or benefitted our child. On top of that, there was no poolside beverage service (something we’ve enjoyed at other RIU properties), and we encountered venomous snakes on the beach (not the hotel’s fault, but again, it highlights why a functional kids’ area is critical). Overall, I would not recommend RIU Vallarta for families with small children. The lack of communication, empathy, and flexibility from the hotel was disheartening. They could have easily handled this situation better and turned it into a positive customer service moment—but instead, we left disappointed and unlikely to return. My immediate family extensively uses Riu but we will be looking at alternatives.
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May 07, 2025
Fantastic
The resort was beautiful, safe and clean. The food was fantastic. The pools were a bit warm, but it was very warm out, so may have just been a sun warming problem. Otherwise everything was great.
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May 06, 2025
Unprofessional / Disrespectful / Mediocre
Unacceptable Breach of Privacy and Poor Communication Our stay at this hotel was marked by serious concerns around privacy and professionalism. Our room key was deactivated without notice, despite the hotel having my correct contact information. This left my family locked out without access to essential items, including medication. When I requested a new key, a front desk employee, Natalio, asked inappropriate personal questions about my children’s health—completely unprofessional and invasive. He also disclosed that housekeeping had taken photos of my child’s bedding, based on assumptions, and questioned me further about medical issues. This was a gross violation of our privacy. It’s alarming to consider whether photographing guest linens is a standard practice. If so, it needs immediate review.
- AdvisoryStudent Groups/Spring Breakers (either groups or individuals, regardless of age) are not allowed at any time during the year. Guests disturbing or generating complaints from other guests or hotel may be removed from the property, at their own expense. Parties in rooms are not permitted.
- AdvisoryRiu Party in Puerto Vallarta will be temporarily paused during the renovation of Riu Jalisco. The renovation will begin on August 18, 2025, and the hotel will reopen on December 20, 2025. As a result, the Riu Party will not be available for guests at Riu Vallarta and Riu Palace Pacifico during this period. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to resuming the Riu Party events upon the completion of the renovations.
- Check In: 3:00 PM
- Check Out: 11:00 AM
- Minimum Check-In Age: 18
- General Policies:
Check-in Policy - Deposits or credit/debit card hold authorizations are not requested at check-in. "Minimum age of 18 is required for check-in, an ID/Passport will be requested upon arrival.
Convention Policy : Groups traveling together can book this property for their stay taking advantage of group benefits such as 6th or 11th complimentary guest, Group dinner reservation, One complimentary cocktail hour with a selection of appetizers, One complimentary massage for the group leader, Complimentary room upgrades to the next category, Fruit plate and bottle of wine for the VIP, Private check-in when arriving together, Welcome sign. Applicable with Wedding Collections and Social Packages. Consult terms & conditions.
Spring Break Policies - Student Groups/Spring Breakers (either groups or individuals, regardless of age) are not allowed at any time during the year. Guests disturbing or generating complaints from other guests or hotel may be removed from the property, at their own expense. Parties in rooms are not permitted.
Transfer Policy - A price may display when children stay free, if your vacation includes transfer to your hotel.
General Information - Room taxes and service fee are included in vacation price.
Minimum night stay restrictions may apply.
Reservation changes may not be permitted unless authorized by the hotel.
- Pet Policy : Pets Not Allowed
- Early Departure Policy
- Early Departure Penalty:1 NightApplies: Sunday - Saturday 04Jul24 - 23Dec26
- Early Departure Penalty:2 NightsApplies: Sunday - Saturday 24Dec25 - 30Apr26