Riu Palace Pacifico - All Inclusive - Adults Only

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

7445 reviews

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  A Great All-Inclusive that Balances Energy and Ease.

  We had an absolutely wonderful 5 night family stay at the Palace Pacífico and would stay there again! We were on the 1st floor and had a 2 bedroom suite (2 connecting rooms one with king and the other with two doubles) which was great for my husband and I and our two kids (21, 18). Our room functioned well but it took me awhile to figure out the darn TVs! I know, I know, no TV on vacation but I like to watch a little before I fall asleep so I did take the time one night to figure it out but honestly, I don’t think most people would have the patience. We did use the RIU app to request bar service or our rooms be cleaned and I also ordered room service. Each time we asked, someone was there to resolve our issue or need quickly. The app was very easy to use to look up restaurant menus, drinks et it’s one of the better resort brand apps I’ve used. The map is not great so we just walked around the first night to see where everything was and it’s not a super huge resort so we figured it out. The food was tasty, as expected, and didn’t disappoint us…our belly’s were always full and if we had to wait for a table at dinner, it wasn’t long & someone brought us a drink while we waited. We were able to eat everywhere we wanted (even the elusive steakhouse one night but we did get there early and waited in line). The buffet is just fine with any kind of food you would want to eat, theme nights for dinners and chefs everywhere waiting to attend to special requests. For those complaining about the breakfast food temperature at buffet …it’s fine, and if you want (or expect) hot food at this buffet then go to one of the many chefs just waiting there for you & politely ask them to make you what you want, within reason, & they will do it! The property grounds and beach/pool areas were just beautiful and we were able to get a lounge chair on the beach or at the pool w/umbrellas whenever we wanted them. There are vendors on the beach but they just walk by and you say “no gracias”… they are gone. I didn’t do a massage on the beach but other guests I talked to did, and they loved it - $35 USD for an hour massage is a steal. I agree with other reviews the resort staff are always cleaning and they did an excellent job of taking care of public places, including the pool/beach bathrooms, and making sure all spaces were very clean…ALL the time. I also agree with other reviews on the floors …they are slippery, so be careful. We didn’t see anyone slip or fall but it’s totally possible, especially if you’ve had too much to drink. I agree with other reviewers on the resort staff too (bartenders, waitstaff, hosts, front desk) who were all generally polite and professional though it felt inconsistent at times. Some staff members we encountered (esp. waitstaff) felt more engaging or friendly while others felt more reserved or businesslike. Compared to my vacation experiences in Jamaica, where hospitality tends to be overtly friendly, everywhere, this felt a bit different. But I came to appreciate that as long as the service was great (meaning I got what I wanted when I wanted & nobody was rude) then I was good! That being said, I jotted down the names of a couple staff who I felt, compared to others, went a bit above and beyond and those staff were Julian at the buffet and Adrian at the steakhouse. I have mixed feelings about reviewing the entertainment. The team was energetic and the talent was there for sure, but the style was not our taste. We checked it out most nights, but left early (we did some touring off the resort, so had early mornings). We liked Mexican night the best and the circus night with acrobatics was impressive. The resort is lively. We retired to our rooms by 9:30 ish and the entertainment was still going we could hear it but it wasn’t loud enough to disrupt our ability to fall asleep and was over by 10:30 or 11:00 pm. We never hung out at the swim up bar during the day, but it was full of guests with loud music and revelry! on the other side of the bar, the pool was quiet and peaceful. The beach was not super quiet but just fine to read your book in peace or take a quick snooze. Palace Pacífico is really a great resort that balances a party feel with tranquility. Regarding fitness, we didn’t do any resort activities but I walked by a lot of the “RIU fit” classes in action (yoga, meditation, aerobic) and they looked great! I would have tried some classes but our kids were with us. I would recommend following their Facebook page to get a better sense for the resort and ask questions. I followed the page a couple months before our trip and it helped me feel more knowledgeable or know what to expect when we arrived. I’d recommend staying there!

  Jan 10, 2026
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  Beautiful hotel and everything was perfect

  This is not the first time that we’re staying at Rio hotels but this one is definitely one of our preferred one. This is a beautiful hotel well located where you will find everything that you wish for. I strongly recommend this hotel for people that are looking forward a vacation in a sunny place without having to deal with any issues. In term of value, this is much better than the Club Med!

  Jan 10, 2026
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  Christmas in Paradise

  This was our second family Christmas at Riu Palace Pacifico. The 2 bedroom suite we shared with our adult daughter was perfect as it was 2 adjoining rooms and allowed for everyone’s privacy. Service excellent all around! Luigi in the lobby bar is definitely one of our favorite people along with Samael (sp) at the breakfast buffet! They both always had our drinks ready and waiting when they saw us coming! Grounds are clean and perfectly manicured daily. Pool maintenance did a much better job this year keeping the swim up bar deck as dry as possible to prevent the slip and falls we saw last year.

  Jan 04, 2026
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  Nice clean adults only

  Pros: This hotel was very clean. Ice cold AC. Well Stocked mini bars. Endless hot water. Good WiFi. Snacks and coffees available all day. Lots of seating at the beach and pool. The beach food places always had the best fresh food. Workers were all well dressed and friendly. Cons: the food was terrible. We have been to many RIUs and they are mid level food at best. So I did not have high expectations on the food. Even eggs and whites were over cooked. My bf got NY strip and it was cold and raw we told the waiter so they could take it off. The restaurants u have to line up for the steakhouse was always too busy to get in so we could not go. The gym is very small and doesn’t open until 0700 and there were people waiting to get in every morning. This gym should open earlier or be 24/7 like other RIUs. Many excursions had me leaving the hotel at 0715 so I couldn’t get in before. There are no umbrellas on the beach so if you want some shade you have to rent them for $300 pesos or $15 USD daily… there are lots of beach hustlers that come up on the property despite the area being marked not to. That includes also several horses standing close by and people operating parasailing. The elite side was roped off so those people were not bothered. So if you want to rest… it is difficult at this beach with the constant bothering. Overall a good experience. We ubered to most places and there are miles to walk in both directions. You can see rays in the AM on the shorelines. The NYE food selections were vast and much better than the usual buffet.

  Dec 31, 2025
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  December in Puerto Vallarta at Riu Pacifico

  December in Puerto Vallarta has never disappointed. The weather was picture perfect every day of our trip, the beach is fantastic, the views of the mountains around the bay are wonderful. A small school of rays swimming around the shallow water every day was a nice surprise. This was our first stay at the Riu Palace Pacifico; we have stayed multiple times down the beach at the Riu Vallarta. The resort is clean, and even the beach restrooms were clean. The grounds are beautiful and well-maintained. We had no issues getting chairs each morning by the pools, the beach or even the bar pool, although I was up before 8 AM each morning to find a spot. Our perception of the food was good. We found it above average for resort fare. The buffet had an abundance of options, and the fresh fruit variety was great. We tried a few of the restaurants with mixed results: you have to be in line early for the steak house, but in the end, I didn't feel it was worth the hype and the wait. In the US, we are spoiled with good steakhouses, so it is hard to impress us with steak. The meal was good and had good flavor, but the cuts were all overcooked. The Asia restaurant was just OK. The Mexican restaurant was the best in our opinion with good ceviche, and the tacos and fajitas were really good. We had no wait getting into any of the restaurants except the steakhouse. A few of the employees really stood out during our week. Janet at the breakfast buffet was so pleasant and cheerful. Milton and Andrea and Sebastian with the entertainment staff, were fun without being intrusive. Check-in and Check-out was smooth and fast, and the bellmen were available but not pushy about taking our bags. The crowd was definitely on the older side so the resort was a bit quiet in the evenings, and I think they could use a little better entertainment at night. The Michael Jackson show was fun for sure. Most of the bands are backing track bands that get a little stale. The sports bar is the best we have experienced in Mexico, with a wide selection of beer and spirits, and food that surpasses some of the restaurant fare. The wait staff was also great. There is plenty of room to have a quiet conversation or tables inside for a more raucous group watching a game. The elevators are fast, so we didnt have to spend a lot of time waiting as our room was on floor 7. We will definitely consider staying at the Palace Pacifico again soon.

  Dec 31, 2025