Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta vs Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta's two most-recommended upscale all-inclusives serve different masters: Hyatt Ziva occupies its own dramatic private cove south of town, while adults-only Secrets Vallarta Bay sits close enough to walk to the Malecón.
At a Glance
| Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta | Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Google Rating | 4.5 ★ | 4.5 ★ |
| Google Reviews | 3,939 | 3,801 |
| Price Range | $$$ | $$$ |
| Resort Type | Family | Adults Only |
| Location | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Puerto Vallarta, Mexico |
| Nearest Airport |
|
|
| Rooms | 335 | 271 |
| Brand | Hyatt | Hyatt |
| Vibe | Business, Quiet | Green, Modern |
| Room Upgrades | Adults-Only Rooms, Swim-Up Rooms, Plunge Pool Rooms | Swim-Up Rooms, Preferred Club |
What Real Travelers Say
Distilled from real traveler discussions and reviews for each resort.
Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
What travelers love
- +Its own private cove with 1,250 feet of beachfront on Las Estacas Beach, so the swimming is calmer than the open-ocean stretches most Puerto Vallarta hotels face
- +A $20M renovation finished in April 2025 redid all 244 North Tower rooms with new AC, woodwork, Smart TVs, Nespresso machines and new sliding glass doors and balconies
- +Tamari, the Asian-fusion restaurant added in the renovation, has teppanyaki tables, sushi and its own bar, and Melanzane now adds Italian with an antipasto bar by day and fine dining at night
- +Ten bars, restaurants and lounges for 335 suites, plus 24-hour in-suite dining included, which is a lot of choice for a resort this size
- +Swim-up suites and an adults-only swim-up room category, plus two adults-only pools and an infinity hot tub, give couples real breathing room at a family resort
Common complaints
- −Food consistency is the recurring complaint outside the headline restaurants: some meals impress and some do not
- −Cabanas are a paid extra booked through the concierge, and traveler forums describe a visible two-tier feel around the pools as a result
- −Spa treatments at VitaMar are priced well above what the rest of Puerto Vallarta charges, and the upsell is persistent
- −Service swings between excellent and indifferent depending on who you get, which stings more at this price
- −This is the Pacific: stronger surf, cooler water and none of the Caribbean's turquoise, even inside the cove
Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta
What travelers love
- +Food is the reason couples rebook: Bordeaux (French, with a wine cellar), Oceana (seafood on the beach), Gohan Sushi Bar and the Market Café buffet lead a lineup of seven Secrets-side venues
- +Reservation-free dining, in the brand's own words 'no reservations or wristbands needed', so you walk into dinner wherever you like
- +All-day free-flow access to Dreams Vallarta Bay next door roughly doubles the restaurants and bars, all with top-shelf drinks included
- +Adults-only on the Secrets side, with its own pools and beach section, while the family crowd stays at Dreams
- +Staff get warm, specific praise from guests, with names like the Sweet Bites crepe maker turning up again and again
Common complaints
- −Membership sales staff are persistent, catching guests near check-in and on the walkways to the pool
- −Room condition reports are split: some recent guests describe chipped countertops, peeling paint and elevators out of service, while others found the resort in very good shape
- −Lunch at Oceana is reserved for Preferred Club guests, so standard-room couples mostly get the buffet and Barefoot Grill by day
- −Music from weddings and events in the central pool area carries up to the higher floors
- −Pacific water in Banderas Bay is darker and less clear than the Caribbean; the white-sand beach is pleasant but not the reason to come
Amenity Differences
Only at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
- Adults-Only Pool
- Babysitting
- Diving
- Fishing
- Kids Club
Only at Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta
- Nightclub
- Restaurants Don't Require Reservations
- Room Service
- Snorkeling
- Walk-In Dining Available
- Yoga Classes
The Verdict
Ziva's setting is the star — a secluded cove with genuinely beautiful scenery, all ages welcome, and rates that often come in well under Secrets. Secrets answers with an adults-only guarantee, strong rooms, and the walkability that lets you spend evenings in Puerto Vallarta's restaurants and old town without a cab. Scenery-and-value families (or couples fine with kids around) pick Ziva; couples who want grown-up quiet plus real access to the town pick Secrets.
Choose Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta if…
The private-cove setting and lower rate win, and you don't need the resort to be adults-only.
Choose Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta if…
You want an adults-only base within walking distance of the Malecón for real Puerto Vallarta evenings.
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