About the Resort
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is a AAA Five Diamond, all-inclusive resort in Nuevo Vallarta, set along Banderas Bay with the Sierra Madre mountains behind it. Opened in the early 2000s, it helped prove luxury and all-inclusive could coexist.
Key Property Facts
Our Experience
First Impressions
Disclaimer: My brother and I were invited to stay at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit for three nights, including accommodations, food, drink, and entertainment in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve written before about how much I love Mexico, and most of my trips have taken me to the Caribbean side (Riviera Maya, Cancun, and Cabo). I actually stayed at Grand Velas Riviera Maya with my wife last year (read my review here), and it remains one of my favorite resort stays anywhere in Mexico, so the Velas name already carried a lot of weight for me going into this trip.
This was my first time on the Pacific coast, though, and I was curious whether Riviera Nayarit, the original flagship, could live up to the bar its sister property had already set. When the Riviera Nayarit team connected with me about a stay, I was very excited to check it out.
From Omaha, it’s actually a shorter travel day then to other places in Mexico I’ve been. One connection through Houston and we were in Puerto Vallarta by 11am. Since it’s less busy than Cabo or Cancun, we were through customs.
The airport is small, clean, and easy to walk through
Vallarta Rides handled our transfer, and true to the confirmation I’d received ahead of time, their staff was waiting just outside the terminal. Interestingly, this terminal is smaller and less busy, which makes it easier to find your ride.
Side note: Rojelio was the best driver I’ve had on any of my trips to Mexico. He was enthusiastic about the Puerto Vallarta area, told us which areas were safe and which weren’t, and even gave us a short history lesson during our ride. If you ever decide to visit yourself, be sure to ask for him.
While this ride was comped by the resort, I personally always splurge on the private Suburban transfer. I figure you’re already spending thousands of dollars on a long weekend, so what’s another couple hundred bucks to travel in comfort.
That said, the drive was a surprisingly short 15 minutes, which I appreciated since in other locations the customs/ride portion of the trip can take up to 2 hours. A huge win already for Puerto Vallarta.
Arrival & First Impressions
Arrival to the resort was nice, with a covered driveway that opens into a soaring, open-air lobby with a fountain at the center and views straight through to the ocean, something I never take for granted being from landlocked Nebraska.
Check-in took maybe 10 minutes. We were handed a welcome drink (a citrus-forward agua fresca) while our concierge pulled up the reservation and ran through the basics. Something unique to Grand Velas Puerto Vallarta was the welcome massage, a 5 minute head and shoulder massage. I’ve never had this offered to me so I was already impressed.
These are the little touches that I was expecting from Velas, as they use the “surprise and delight” model that Disney does. In fact, it’s a huge portion of their training, and I saw other moments like this show up throughout my stay.
I was very excited about the welcome massage
While our room wasn’t ready until 2, dropped our bags with the bellman, got lunch, and went on a property tour. Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit isn’t a small property, but it’s not a big one either. There are multiple buildings, six restaurants, a spa wing, and three pool areas, so having a guide walk us through the layout saved us from wandering around after a long day at the pool.
You’ll notice in the photo above that the walkway has an open feel to it with ample natural sunlight, but it has a glass covering above the walkway. This is especially welcomed since it tends to rain a lot in the off-season; it’s these little details that are often overlooked but that I greatly appreciate.
You’ll also notice that the resort provides umbrellas at a few points throughout the resort for when you need to walk in the rain.
In my opinion, the grounds are one of the best parts of the resort. Koi ponds are tucked throughout the property, fun to stop and feed if you’ve got a kid or, frankly, an adult who likes koi ponds (just be sure to ask for fish food since the fish are on a strict diet and feeding schedule).
I love Koi ponds so I loved these fish
Since the small details matter, I should also mention that we saw an iguana by the pool. It’s a small detail, but it gives the landscaping a livelier feel than the usual manicured resort greenery.
Our Accomodations
We were given a Master Suite Ocean View, which came in at right around 1,000 square feet, and is considered large by resort standards (more of what I’d expect from a suburban apartment than a hotel room). Every suite category at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit starts at this size, which is one of the things that separates this resort from most others I’ve stayed at; there’s no “standard room” here that feels like an afterthought.
The rooms are inviting and spacious
The design more more traditional than the minimalist, modern look I’ve seen at some of the newer boutique resorts. Dark wood furniture, some of it teak, mixed with neutral tones and tile floors. It felt substantial rather than sparse, and the furniture had real weight to it, nothing that felt like it came from a big-box catalog.
My favorite parts were the little touches like quartz accent walls, LED accent lighting, and lots of natural wood. I’m currently in the process of building a house, so I know how much all of these little accents cost, and appreciated that the resort didn’t skimp on the small stuff.
All rooms have a pillow menu, safe, and bag, robes, and slippers for use during your stay
A welcome bottle of mezcal was waiting on the counter when we arrived, alongside the standard Nespresso machine and a minibar that was fully stocked and quietly restocked every day without us ever having to ask. I don’t like mezcal so I didn’t drink it, but I always welcome extras, whether I use them or not.
The minibar is fully stocked with juice, candy, and beer; they will refill this with whatever you want
Little details stood out throughout the room. As I stated in my review of Grand Velas Riviera Maya, I was surprised and impressed by the pillow menu, which is exactly what it sounds like. Make sure to ask for this, though, since they don’t mention it or showcase it.
Huge resort-style bathroom with large whirlpool
The in-room jacuzzi tub on the terrace is apparently standard across most suite categories here, not just the top tier, which says something about how this resort thinks about “all-inclusive.” Another thing I didn’t use since I was here with my brother but still impressive nonetheless, since I’ve visited many resorts that bill the jaccuzi as an upgrade.
The terrace got a nice breeze and was nice for relaxing after a day at the pool
The terrace itself delivered on the “ocean view” name, which isn’t always guaranteed even when a room is marketed that way (see my Unico review for a good example of when it doesn’t).
One things to note is that unlike the Riviera Maya property that has an entire wing of oceanfront rooms, this property is a big “U” shape, so only a small handful of rooms are actually oceanfront. But since the property is smaller than most all-inclusives and sits right on the ocean, the views are still amazing. For context, this is the best “ocean view” room I’ve ever had, which I would argue rivals most resorts’ “oceanfront” views.
We had a very nice view of the ocean from our room
Room Options at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
While our Master Suite Ocean View was excellent, Grand Velas offers a wide range of suite categories depending on your budget and group size:
- Master Suite Pool View: The entry-level category, still over 1,000 square feet, overlooking the pool and gardens rather than the ocean.
- Master Suite Ocean View: What we stayed in. Partial-to-full ocean views with a private terrace and jacuzzi tub.
- Master Suite Ocean Front View: A step up from Ocean View, with a more direct, unobstructed sightline to the water.
- Parlor Suite / Parlor Suite Ocean View Plus: Similar footprint to the Master Suites but with a slightly different layout, some with two double beds instead of one king.
- One-Bedroom Governor Suite: A larger suite aimed at guests wanting extra living space separate from the bedroom.
- Grand Terrace Suite: Around 1,750 square feet, with an expanded outdoor terrace area.
- Grand Class Suite: The largest of the standard one-bedroom categories, close to 1,850 square feet.
- Family Suite / Two- or Three-Bedroom Family Residence: Built for larger groups or multi-generational trips, with connecting or multiple bedrooms.
- Presidential Suite: The top of the lineup, with the most space and the most exclusive positioning on property.
No matter which suite category you book, the baseline finishes (Nespresso, jacuzzi tub, stocked minibar, pillow menu) stay consistent, which isn’t something I can say about every resort I’ve reviewed.
The Rest of Our Stay
The Service
When you visit any all-inclusive resort, especially at this price point ($1,000 to $2,500 per night, depending on room and party size), the service can make or break the stay. As I mentioned earlier, the service at the Riviera Maya property set the bar extremely high, so I expected its sister property to live up to that experience.
On my tour, I learned that the resort holds its staff to Disney-level expectations. As a Disney fan, I know this means the magic is in the little details, like remembering your food and drink orders and surprising guests with unexpected touches.
Transparently, and since I strive to write unbiased reviews, I think the property nailed the small details in most areas. If there was one spot it could improve, at least based on my experience, it was the poolside service on the main deck. That’s a small criticism.
Some highlights stood out right away. Gustavo, the poolside concierge, checked in with me each morning and several times throughout my stay. Carlos and Fidel at Azul were friendly and attentive, and Jose at Frida remembered my drink order from earlier that day. These were exactly the little details I was hoping would carry through the rest of my stay.
On the adults-only side of the pool (maybe 1/10th of the total pool deck area), the service was fantastic. The attendants were lively, timely, and remembered drink orders. There was a large 60-person wedding party on that side, though, so I chose to sit on the other side of the pool.
On the main deck, I was at the pool the entire day and occasionally needed to flag down the attendant, who didn’t always remember my drink. I suspect the wedding party drew some of the regular poolside team over to the extra guests, and the resort filled in with staff who aren’t normally poolside attendants.
He was always nearby, and at some resorts you get your own drinks, so this is a very small note. Many people I spoke with thought the service was excellent, and I just happen to have a high bar for service at this price point, since I’ve seen various levels across many resorts.
Similarly, at Sen Lin on my first night, the food took a little while to arrive, and our server checked in less often than I’d hoped for refills and dessert. Overall, these were occasional misses in an otherwise polished stay, and I expect they were tied to a busy week.
But, Grand Velas has built its reputation on world-class service, and I saw plenty of that here. So if service is your number one priority, I’d just go in knowing it may vary a bit by outlet and how busy the resort is.
Note: I’ve reached out to the resort to find out if my experience was a one-off due to short staffing or if it’s something they’re actively working on.
The Food
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has six restaurants on property, four of which carry AAA Four Diamond distinctions across French, Italian, Mexican, and Asian menus, all led by executive chef Guillaume Morancé. We didn’t make it everywhere in three nights, but between the a la carte spots and the more casual options, we got a good sense of the range.
Having visited many resorts in Mexico, I’m used to getting one end of the spectrum or another (either good or bad). And I do have to say that I was very impressed by the food here. If you’re a foodie, you won’t leave disappointed.
Azul, the buffet-style restaurant with plenty of options for all tastes. Pro tip: wear non-slip shoes here; the floors are slippery
Sen Lin – Our first dinner, We didn’t get a full dinner here, but we did spend an hour in the space for our mixology class (more on that below), and the restaurant itself is worth mentioning. It’s Asian fusion, and the design alone is worth a look, dark wood, moody lighting, a real departure from the brighter, garden-facing feel of the rest of the resort. Reservations here reportedly go fast, so if you’re planning a stay, I’d book this one early
Lucca – Our first dinner, the Italian-Mediterranean option, with a pianist playing in the background instead of a guitarist. It’s built to be a bit more casual and family-friendly than Frida or Piaf, and it showed in the room’s energy, more kids running between tables, a livelier hum overall. We split a wood-fired pizza and a seafood pasta. Both were solid, well-executed without being showy, though I’d put Frida slightly ahead in terms of how much the meal stuck with me afterward.
Frida – Our first dinner, the night we arrived. Frida is the resort’s traditional Mexican restaurant, named after Frida Kahlo, with live guitar music playing softly while we ate. The mole was rich and clearly made in-house rather than from a shortcut base, and the plates arrived genuinely colorful, more like small pieces of art than standard resort presentation. I’m not usually the guy who gravitates toward traditional Mexican food on a menu (I tend to order the safe stuff), but this meal made me reconsider that habit.
Azul – Our default for breakfast most mornings, and where the resort’s all-day buffet lives. The spread covers the usual pastries, eggs, and fresh juice, but with a heavier lean toward Mexican breakfast staples than an “American” buffet, similar to what I noticed at Vidanta’s Del Lago. There’s also an à la carte menu if you’d rather have something made fresh instead of working the buffet line.
Pool Service – Since I tend to park myself at the pool all day, I normally order poolside service. Hamburgers in Mexico tend to be questionable, but I always like rolling the dice since I just can’t help myself. I have to say that Grand Velas has the best hamburger I’ve had in Mexico, amazing ceviche, and tasty fish tacos (I’d suggest getting the baja variety). While I’m normally disappointed with poolside food, this menu stands out as one of the best executed.
Koi Bar and Aqua Bar – Two of the resort’s bar options, and we spent time the latter. Aqua Bar, closer to the main pool, mixes a strong margarita, and the bartenders were happy to make suggestions rather than just handing over a laminated menu. Koi Bar, tucked closer to the lobby, had a quieter, more lounge-like feel in the evenings, though we never went since sinners were late. However, it looked nice and while we were there in the off-season, it was still quite lively.
The best way to showcase the food is to simply show you photos, so here’s everything I ate, in no particular order:
The Pools
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has three main pool areas, and each one serves a different mood, similar to what I found at Unico. The middle of the property houses a three-tiered infinity pool that looks straight out over the beach and Banderas Bay, with a swim-up bar on the lower level.
View of the infinitypool overlooking the ocean
Since I love lounging by the pool, this is where I spent most of my days, grabbing loungers close to the edge so we could watch the water while I read. Even during a stretch that our concierge described as fairly busy for the season, we never struggled to find loungers, and I never had to “reserve” a chair at sunrise the way you sometimes have to at other resorts.
Unlike other resorts that make you pick your own towels, each lounger had towels already placed on each lounger.
Staff kept towels stacked and ready at every open chair, and the pool itself never felt overcrowded even at midday. There’s a second, quieter pool set further back from the main one, better suited if you want to get away from the swim-up bar crowd and the occasional daytime DJ set.
Adults-only section with a small infinity pool. Service here was amazing
A separate kids’ pool rounds out the lineup that was set apart enough from the adult pools that it didn’t bleed noise into either of the quieter areas.
The kids’ pool, seen at sunrise
For me, the main selling point of an ocean pool is that it overlooks the ocean. I am a sucker for infinity pools and enjoy watching the waves lap the ocean while the sun beats down on my face, but many resorts have vegetation setbacks that block the ocean view.
Other view of the infinity pool at sunrise
However, Grand Velas has a prime location on both the bay and the beach, so the view was amazing, with views of both the hills and the towns.
The Beach
This was one of the more pleasant surprises of the trip. I’ve written before about the sargassum problems that plague the Caribbean side of Mexico, and both my Unico and Vidanta reviews mention dealing with seaweed to varying degrees. Riviera Nayarit sits on the Pacific coast, and sargassum simply isn’t a problem here the way it is in Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
The beach had ample seating and I loved the texture of the sand
Our entire stay, the beach was completely clear. No smell, no washed-up piles to navigate around, just open sand and a long, walkable shoreline. Loungers and umbrellas line the beach in both directions from the resort’s main stretch, and water sports equipment (kayaks, boogie boards) is included as part of the all-inclusive plan if you want to get out on the water rather than just look at it.
We walked the beach both mornings we were there, something I genuinely couldn’t do comfortably at Unico because of how much seaweed had washed up. If the beach experience matters to you as much as it does to me, this alone makes the Pacific coast worth considering over the Riviera Maya.
The Spa
SE Spa is one of the larger resort spas I’ve been to, and it’s earned its reputation as one of the best in Mexico. Our itinerary had us booked for the Water Ceremony followed by a 50-minute massage, and the two together made for one of the better spa mornings I’ve had on any trip.
I very much enjoyed the hydrotherapy circuit
The Water Ceremony is the spa’s signature hydrotherapy circuit, and it’s more elaborate than the standard sauna-and-cold-plunge setup I’ve experienced at other resorts. It walks guests through a clay room, an ice room, a series of pools at alternating hot and cold temperatures, and a color-therapy shower that cycles through temperature and light as you move through it.
The sauna had two rooms and was plenty big
A spa attendant guided us through each stage, making sure we didn’t rush any of it and explaining what each room was meant to do for circulation and stress before we moved to the next. Between stations, they brought out fresh fruit-infused water and cookies on a small tray, a detail that kept the whole thing feeling unhurried rather than like a checklist.
The thing I didn’t expect was for the sauna to be so big. It’s big enough for maybe 10 people but has a separate, smaller room that’s much hotter (I assume this was the original sauna they just kept). Although there was only one other guy in the spa, this little private area would be a great place to sit as a couple or if you just want an extra hot time in the sauna.
The massage that followed was excellent, genuinely one of the best ones I’ve had in Mexico, and at this point I’ve had many. Transparently, I nearly fell asleep twice, which I was told means I was relaxed and very much enjoying it.
The spa also has a full gym, a beauty salon, and more than 30 total treatments on the menu beyond what we tried, everything from body wraps to facials to specialty rituals built around local ingredients like coffee and chocolate. If we’d had a fourth day, I would have gone back just to try some more.
The Gym
The gym deserves a quick mention, because it’s genuinely the nicest gym of any resort I’ve been to. The equipment is top of the line, with smith machines, cable machines, rowers, free weights, and stair steppers, and I can’t imagine how expensive it all was.
This is only half of the gym. I can’t imagine how expensive all of this equipment is, as it’s all top of the line
Even for someone who doesn’t usually spend vacation time in a gym, it’s the kind of space that makes you want to get a workout in.
Each piece of equipment had its own water and towel on it
A nice touch is that the cardio equipment, like the treadmills and stair steppers, had water and towels at each station. It’s a small detail, but it’s the kind of thing you’d expect at a high-end fitness club rather than a resort, and it made it easy to grab a quick workout before a day at the pool.
The Mixology Class
On our second day, we joined David, the resort’s in-house mixologist, for a class at Sen Lin. David has competed in the last couple editions of Mexology Fest, and it showed in how he ran the session.
We made three cocktails over the course of an hour, and David shared the history of each one before we started mixing. The drinks were high quality and really good, and easy enough that I could picture making them again at home. The staff also handled customization requests without any fuss when someone’s preferences differed from what the group was making, and everything was built around fresh, local ingredients.
The format worked well. An hour was the perfect length and never dragged, and every guest had an individual setup with their own utensils, tools, and glassware, so there was no sharing. We were hands-on the whole time, the pacing was good, and the group was small. Rather than just handing us finished drinks to sip, David walked us through ratios, why certain spirits pair with certain acids, and a couple of tricks for balancing a cocktail without a jigger in a pinch.
It was super hot outside, so the air-conditioned space was a relief, and bottled water was plentiful throughout. The atmosphere was relaxed, and it’s a nice change of pace from just parking at the pool. It’s worth doing even if, like me, you’re not usually the “sign up for a class on vacation” type.
Final Thoughts
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit sits in an interesting spot relative to the other Mexican resorts I’ve reviewed. It’s all-inclusive, but the price point, room sizes, and amenity level land closer to what I experienced at Vidanta’s Grand Luxxe, without the sprawling, easy-to-get-lost-in layout of a 12-building complex.
The rooms are genuinely spacious, not just “spacious for a resort.” The food is excellent and a clear step above the pre-packaged fare found at most all-inclusives. The drive in is short, the beach is nice, and the grounds are walkable and well kept.
The one area I’m still sorting out is service, which is where the Riviera Maya property set the bar so high for me. Gustavo, Carlos, Fidel, and Jose delivered the kind of small, personal touches Velas is known for, and I’d love to see that level show up a little more consistently across the property. The stay was polished and comfortable, and in some places it felt closer to a very good upper-tier all-inclusive than a true luxury one. Part of that may have been the large wedding party on property during my visit.
To be fair, we spoke with several families who had never stayed at an all-inclusive before, and they thought it was fantastic. I just have a high bar for service at this price, especially after my stay at the Riviera Maya location.
All in all, I’d recommend Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit for travelers who want oversized suites, excellent food, and a clean, walkable beach on the Pacific side of Mexico. It’s a great fit for couples, families, and anyone looking for a polished, comfortable all-inclusive with plenty to do. If flawless, anticipatory service is your number one priority at this price, I’d set your expectations accordingly.
That said, I’m eager to return and see how the improvements to the property play out, and whether the experience feels more like the one at Riviera Maya the next time around. With so much going right here already, I think it has the pieces to get there, and I’ll update this review after my next stay.
We Liked
Unlike the Cancun area, there was not a seaweed problem
Newly-renovated and luxury-style suites
Food was consistently above-par for an all-inclusive
We Didn't Like
The main pool gets busy around midday in peak season.
Service was spotty at times
Small adults-only pool
Why You Should Upgrade Rooms
The Master Suites at Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit start at around 1,000 square feet, so even the entry-level category has plenty of room. Still, there are good reasons to upgrade. The Wellness Suites (some with a private plunge pool) fit the resort's wellness focus, from SE Spa and the Water Ceremony to the gym, and a private plunge pool gives you a quiet option when the main pool gets busy around midday.
Ocean Front categories let you enjoy the seaweed-free, walkable beach and the water views from your own terrace, and larger suites like the Grand Terrace and Grand Class add outdoor space and living area for families or longer stays.