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Where to stay in Banderas Bay
The bay is about 100 kilometres of coastline across two states. Where you book changes the holiday far more than which resort you pick — transfer time, beach type, whether there is a town to walk to. Here is the whole bay, south to north.
Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco
South Shore
Jungle-covered cliffs, small coves and the most dramatic ocean views in the bay. The quietest place to be all-inclusive and still be ten minutes from Old Town.
6 resorts listed · 25–35 min from the airport
Best for: Couples, honeymooners and anyone who wants a view instead of a crowd.
Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco
Zona Romántica
Old Town, Playa Los Muertos and the densest concentration of restaurants and nightlife in the bay. Few true all-inclusives, but the ones here put you in the middle of everything.
4 resorts listed · 25–30 min from the airport
Best for: Travellers who want to walk out of the lobby into the city, and the LGBTQ+ crowd.
Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco
Hotel Zone
The classic Puerto Vallarta all-inclusive strip: a long flat beach, big resorts side by side, and downtown a short bus ride away.
15 resorts listed · 10–20 min from the airport
Best for: First-time visitors and families who want resort life without giving up the city.
Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco
Marina Vallarta
Yachts, an 18-hole golf course and a boardwalk of restaurants, five minutes from the airport and the cruise terminal.
5 resorts listed · 5–10 min from the airport
Best for: Golfers, boaters, cruise passengers and short stays where transfer time matters.
Riviera Nayarit · Nayarit
Nuevo Vallarta
The biggest all-inclusive cluster in Banderas Bay: kilometres of flat golden beach, the largest resorts, the widest choice of family and luxury properties.
10 resorts listed · 15–25 min from the airport
Best for: Families, groups, and anyone who wants the full resort experience.
Riviera Nayarit · Nayarit
Flamingos
The quieter continuation of Nuevo Vallarta, with a historic golf course, big beachfront resorts and noticeably fewer people on the sand.
4 resorts listed · 20–30 min from the airport
Best for: Repeat visitors who found Nuevo Vallarta busy, and golfers.
Riviera Nayarit · Nayarit
Bucerías & La Cruz
Two real Mexican beach towns — cobblestones, a fish market, a Sunday market and one large all-inclusive complex — rather than a resort corridor.
2 resorts listed · 25–35 min from the airport
Best for: Travellers who want a town to walk in and a resort to come back to.
Riviera Nayarit · Nayarit
Punta de Mita
The luxury end of Banderas Bay: headlands, surf breaks, the Marietas Islands offshore and the highest-end resorts on this coast.
3 resorts listed · 45–60 min from the airport
Best for: Luxury travellers, surfers and anyone chasing the clearest water in the bay.