Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit is located in Nuevo Vallarta, only 25 minutes from Downtown Puerto Vallarta. A resort community on Mexico's Pacific coast, Nuevo Vallarta is just north of Puerto Vallarta on Banderas Bay. Nuevo Vallarta is a breathtaking destination loved for championship golf courses, 3,000 slip marina, and 5 miles of white sandy beach. Just off the coast, the Marieta Islands is a biodiverse sanctuary for dolphins, turtles and humpback whales, and an amazing place for scuba diving and snorkeling. Northwest is the village of Sayulita, known for its surfing culture. Allow our resort concierge to arrange for a taxi ride to Puerto Vallarta, or rent a car and spend the day exploring this beautiful coastline.

In general, there are two main seasons in Riviera Nayarit. The rainy season runs from May through mid-October. The dry season runs from mid-October through April. During the rainy season, guests can expect frequent heavy rain showers on most days, with showers typically in the late afternoon and lasting only a few hours. If you are visiting during the summer, afternoon showers cool down this 200-mile Pacific coastline, giving travelers a break from average temperatures of 90ºF. The best time of year to visit Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit is between April and June when the weather is pleasant. During these months, the rain is scarce and there are fewer tourists and crowds. If you're interested in whale watching trips, the best time to see these amazing creatures is from January to March.

Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit offers a diversity of activities at the resort and a concierge to help you book Puerto Vallarta tours and adventures. You can book local excursions through our Activities Desk, including scuba diving and snorkeling tours, whale watching adventures, golf outings, bay cruises, boat trips to remote beaches and coves, and sightseeing tours to mountain villages.We also offer complimentary kayak, snorkel and boogie board rentals so you can explore the beautiful bay right from our beach.

Being a hotel and commercial community, you can find several shopping centers in Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta, such as Paradise Village (5 min), Plaza Marina (15 min), Galerías Vallarta (20 min), Plaza La Isla (25 min), Plaza Peninsula (25 min) and Plaza Caracol (25 min).

Some of the favorite places among visitors and locals are: El Andariego, Café de olla, Las Adelitas, El Arrayán and Tacos Pepes. Local specialties as well as dishes from different regions of Mexico can be found in theses restaurants.

Church of Guadalupe located in downtown Vallarta holds Mass at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 18:30, 19:30, 20:30 hrs. every day of the week.

Absolutely. San José Obrero Parish holds Mass every Sunday at 8:00, 10:30, 13:00, 19:30 and 21:00 hrs.

Birth season takes often place between August and December and different turtle camps offer the opportunity to be spectators of their liberation. Bahía del Sol beach, at just 3 minutes walk from the resort, organizes this activity at 18:00 hrs. Average cost $35 pesos per person. Please be sure to confirm schedules and availability with your Concierge.

Hacienda Doña Engracia is the most traditional place within the region. Their history dates back to 1927 and it is located on the Las Palmas highway. Opens daily from 9:00 to 17:00 hrs.

Different attractions and activities are available in the destination, such as swimming with dolphins, whale watching in season, snorkeling in virgin beaches, surfing and horseback riding.

The Magical Town San Sebastian is a great local attraction. What used to be a mining town, today is a very important cultural and historical treasure. Talpa de Allende, -a Magical Town as well- is a must-see when visiting the surroundings. Parishes, temples and chapels are an architectural reference of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Jalisco and Nayarit are dotted with beaches everywhere. The most charming and close to the resort are: Sayulita, this picturesque village by the sea has been included in the Magic Towns list and it is located 45 minutes from the resort. The relaxed style and sidewalk cafes combine with the artistic display of galleries and graffiti. Sayulita is known among surfers for the challenging waves found in this spot. Bucerías is located 18 minutes away from the resort. This coastal town offers water sports such as sailing, jet ski or kayak, as well as local cuisine restaurants and art corners. To discover the natural beauty of this privileged destination, the most recommended beaches are Punta de Mita and Punta Negra (40 min), Mismaloya (1 hr) as well as Las Ánimas and Quimixto (1 hr 15 min).

Puerto Vallarta's center has a nice number of arts and crafts in display; art objects, galleries and jewelries can be found almost in every corner. The island at Cuale River and the Flea Market are other great places to find authentic silver.

The shortest route is taking Tepic-Puerto Vallarta highway. Urban buses make stop just in front of the resort; taxis are also available upon request as well as private taxis. Or you can request an Uber or rent a car at the car rental desk located in the lobby.

Jalisco and Nayarit states feature great art and folklore, and markets offer beautiful items everywhere. The nearest places are Bucerías (18 min), Río Cuale and Viejo Vallarta (30 min).

Tourists’ safety is very important for Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta’s authorities. Strolling the streets is very safe and locals are generally very friendly and hospitable.

Transportation within the Puerto Vallarta - Riviera Nayarit area is very safe. A bellboy can call a public taxi upon request, or private transportation service can be arranged by your Concierge. For more information, please contact the concierge at prearrivalconcierge@velasresorts.com or call 322 226 8007.

Puerto Vallarta - Riviera Nayarit is a golf destination par excellence. Best courses are at a short distance from the resort: El Tigre (8 min), Flamingos (13 min), Marina Vallarta (20 min) and Vista Vallarta (28 min).

Puerto Vallarta is a beautiful year-round destination, boasting an average of 300 sunny days per year. The "high season" in Puerto Vallarta is from October to May with average daily temperatures reaching around 86°F (30°C). Puerto Vallarta has a typical tropical rainy season from July to November but some travelers prefer the rainy season to take advantage of lower rates on flights and travel. If you're looking to catch a glimpse of the migrating humpback whales, you'll want to visit between December and March.

If you enjoy the warm, tropical weather and don't mind occasional rain, June and July can be a great time to visit Puerto Vallarta. The weather in the summer can reach 90°F (32°C) in the day with refreshing showers typically in the night and early morning hours. Another advantage to travelling to Puerto Vallarta in the summer months is to escape the crowds and enjoy the beaches.

Puerto Vallarta is a warm all year round mainly consisting of two primary seasons: The rainy season from July to November, and the dry season from December to May. During the rainy season, temperatures can soar to 90°F (32°C) during the day and can bring tropical showers later in the day and throughout the evening. In the dry season, it's unlikely to encounter a rainy day for months at time, the humidity levels drop and its common to feel a cool, tropical breeze.

The beaches in Puerto Vallarta are calm and the water is warm, you'll want to get in and stay a while! Protected within the the limits of one of the largest bays in the world, the beaches in Banderas Bay are ideal for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and many other watersports and activities. There are some rock-reef beaches, but for the most part, the beaches are soft-sand stretches of beach paradise.

Puerto Vallarta translates to mean, "Vallarta Port" and it's one of Mexico's many Cruise Ship Ports. The Port was named after Ignacio Vallarta, a former governor of the Mexican state of Jalisco where Puerto Vallarta resides.

Puerto Vallarta offers many things to do for free. From its historical downtown area to the famous Malecon boardwalk to Los Muertos Beach and the Pier, you can stroll for hours taking in the culture, pre-colonial architecture, open-air art walk, the front-row seat to the gorgeous sunsets and even a daily pirate ship fireworks show - all the views are free! You can also visit the Our Lady Guadalupe Church and the Rio Cuale Museum.

Many tourists and travelers living in other parts of Mexico drive to Puerto Vallarta. It's only about a 6-hour drive from the beach town of Mazatlan, or about 8 hours from the northern border. If traveling from Phoenix, Arizona add about 3 hours. You'll pass the town of Tepic on Highway 200 as well as Guadalajara before reaching Punta Mita, Nuevo Vallarta, and finally Puerto Vallarta. Highway 200 is two lane until you get close to Vallarta, and you will share this steep road with many buses and trucks. Drive carefully on the winding roads, be alert to changing traffic conditions and enjoy the countryside as well as the beautiful mountainous terrain on the way.

As a former fishing village, Puerto Vallarta has always been known for its fresh seafood and ceviche. For those who don't know about this Latin American delicacy, ceviche is a seafood dish made from fresh raw fish, shrimp or a mixture of seafood, cured in citrus juices and spiced with chilis, onions, salt and cilantro served on a hard tostada. The best restaurants to find delicious ceviche in Puerto Vallarta are 8 Tostadas, Cevicheria El Guero, and LAMARA. Probably the most recognizable ceviche restaurant in Puerto Vallarta is 8 Tostadas. You can find numerous locations of 8 Tostadas all over Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta. Each location has an open-air, local feel with mouth-watering ceviche creations served fresh daily. Cevicheria El Guero is also among the top-rated ceviche restaurants in PV. Cevicheria El Guero is located in the downtown Romantic Zone, just a few blocks from the Malecon and the ocean, and it's a favorite among locals and tourists alike. LAMARA is located in Centro just down the street from the HSBC bank and is a more funky atmosphere with vegan options as well as delicious, gourmet ceviche. The ceviche at LAMARA is innovative and unique — definitely worth trying for those who love ceviche.

Puerto Vallarta is one of the best places in Mexico to enjoy a vacation full of fun in the sun. With more than 300 sunny days per year, and a variety of unique activities and eco-tours to enjoy, it's hard not to love this tropical paradise.

August is in the middle of the tropical rainy season (June - October) in Puerto Vallarta. Despite it being summertime, the hours of sunshine are shorter than the rest of the year and days are characterised by short, tropical showers and varied hot temperatures reaching as high as 95F°.

The temperatures are similar to June. The city is quieter as this is considered low season, so it's a great time to check out the cultural attractions.

The international airport in Puerto Vallarta - airport code (PVR) is centrally located, situated between the cultural downtown area of Old Town and "Centro" in Puerto Vallarta and the more modern hotel zone in Nuevo Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to reach most hotels from the airport in Puerto Vallarta.

This is an easy answer! Puerto Vallarta gives tourists something different - authentic Mexico with a friendly flair! It also has a cultural charm that can sometimes get lost in the rush of other touristic destinations in Mexico. In addition to being famous for its soft-sand beaches, Puerto Vallarta also offers many fun activities and eco-tours for all ages and activity levels such as boating, fishing, ziplining, cultural tours and don't forget, the excellent Mexican cuisine!

Puerto Vallarta offers a variety of fun things to do for every taste and activity level. From water activities such as sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing and whale watching in winter months - to ziplining, atv tours, hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing for the adventure seekers. There are so many fun things to do for the entire family.

There are so many fun family activities that it is hard to recommend just one. From beachcombing in Nuevo Vallarta to strolling along the malecon or taking a zip line tour made just for kids, you're sure to find an abundance of family fun when you visit Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta is a resort beach town located on the Pacific West Coast in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. It's known for its gorgeous beaches, delectable international cuisine, breathtaking sunsets, water sports, eco-tours and vibrant nightlife.

Old Town Puerto Vallarta, also known as the "Romantic Zone" is located on the south side of the Rio Cuale River, between the Malecon boardwalk and Conchas Chinas. Old Town is home to a concentration of more restaurants and boutiques than anywhere else in Puerto Vallarta.

Spring Break in Puerto Vallarta is a popular time, not only for the college break in the United States but also for the coinciding Easter holiday and religious festivities of the Mexican culture. As Spring Break dates vary in the weeks of March and early April based on the school in the United States. Mexicans celebrate "Semana Santa" or Holy Week and Easter as their main holidays in the first weeks of April.

July is part of the typical rainy season in Puerto Vallarta. The temperatures are similar to June, but there is a considerable increase in rainfall throughout the month. The city is quieter as this is considered low season, so it's a great time to check out the cultural attractions and avoid the crowds.

Even though it's still winter in February, the temperatures are very warm in Puerto Vallarta. PV is known for having pleasant weather all year and creates the perfect place for a winter beach break to escape the cold of the northern areas. Average daily temperatures are between 60°-80°F.

August is in the middle of the tropical rainy season (June - October) in Puerto Vallarta. Despite it being summertime, the hours of sunshine are shorter than the rest of the year and days are characterised by short, tropical showers and varied hot temperatures reaching as high as 95F°.

Puerto Vallarta, begins to heat up in March as the city heads into summer. The temperatures average 65°-86°F and the days begin to stretch longer, great for an end-of-winter vacation with beautiful beaches, non-stop sunshine, and plenty of exciting things to do!

The weather in Puerto Vallarta in December is beautiful for travelers from colder climates. Daily temperatures range from 60° - 80°F, and have mostly heavy cloud cover. There is on average 1 day of rain since it is outside of the tropical rainy season. The evenings get cool, so we recommend packing a light jacket or sweater to wear after the sun sets.

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's top destinations for scuba diving. Banderas Bay has a well deserved reputation as one of the best places in the world to dive thanks to the abundance of marine life, calid waters, and pacific corals. With more than 10 unique dive sites, it's perfect for both seasoned and beginner divers. Some of these sites include: Los Arcos National Park, Marietas Islands, Los Anegados, El Morro, El Sequel, Colomitas, and El Chimo.