Canto del Sol Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive
Canto del Sol Puerto Vallarta, which now trades as Canto del Sol Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive and has dropped the old Plaza Vallarta and Beach & Tennis Resort names, is built around activities more than beach luxury, and it works best when you accept that framing from the start. Tennis is still in the plan, one hour of court time per day, which is a real extra at this price, but it is a court and an hour, not the eight-court complex that older write-ups describe. Beyond tennis, the resort layers in kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling, beach volleyball, dance, nightly shows and seven dining venues in a way that keeps the schedule full. The property is split into two connected sections, beach and mountain, and the colonial architecture and tropical grounds give it more personality than you would expect from a mid-range all-inclusive in the northern hotel zone.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Tennis is genuinely part of the all-inclusive plan: one hour of court time a day is included, which is rare at this price in Puerto Vallarta, though it is an hour on a court rather than the championship complex older write-ups describe
- +Seven dining venues: El Pescador international buffet, Akita (Asian), Il Cantico (Italian), Mar & Tierra (steaks and seafood), Los Peces snack bar, Mi Morenita (Mexican) and a Cevicheria serving 13 styles of ceviche, which is more variety than most resorts in this tier
- +Heated pools with a children's area, and a lively, well-kept pool scene that travelers rate as energetic without being chaotic
- +The daily programme names kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling, aqua-aerobics, beach volleyball and dance, with live music, themed shows, karaoke and a DJ at night, so the schedule stays full for the price
- +Colonial-style architecture and tropical landscaping across two connected sections, beach and mountain, which gives the property more character than box-resort designs
- +Ten-minute drive to downtown Puerto Vallarta's Malecon and the restaurant and bar scene on Basilio Badillo; the resort sits in the northern hotel zone close to the airport and the marina malls
- +Supervised Kids Club for ages 5 to 12 with crafts, games and a mini disco, plus a kids' pool, and the resort runs children-stay-free promotions, so it is built for families rather than tolerating them
Cons
- −Beach is small with a rocky entry into rough Pacific surf, not the flat turquoise water of the Caribbean, so the pools are the de facto beach substitute
- −Older room blocks are noticeably dated, with basic furnishings, thin mattresses and limited decoration that feel behind the price point
- −Room quality varies a lot by building because the property has not renovated evenly, so luck plays a role in what you get
- −Specialty dining is rationed: the plan grants one specialty dinner per two nights stayed, by advance reservation, and each a la carte venue requires a two-night minimum stay, so a one-week guest gets about three a la carte dinners and eats at the buffet the rest of the time; Mar & Tierra, the steak and seafood venue, is only open December to April
- −Some travelers report food quality control problems, including improperly prepared proteins and a few cases of food-related illness
- −Gym is small and equipment-limited; weight selection and cardio machines fall short of what fitness-focused travelers expect
- −Timeshare and vacation club sales approaches are persistent; check-in sometimes involves a pitch, and 'invitation breakfasts' are a known upsell tactic
- −The resort's own site warns that, because of how the property is laid out, it is not recommended for guests with limited mobility
The food story is good on variety and tight on access. Seven venues means you are not repeating the same buffet every night: El Pescador is the international buffet, Mi Morenita does Mexican, Il Cantico Italian, Akita Asian, Mar & Tierra steaks and seafood (December to April only), with Los Peces snacks and the Cevicheria for lunch. The catch is the plan's rule: one specialty dinner per two nights stayed, reserved in advance, with a two-night minimum stay for each venue, so a week buys roughly three a la carte dinners. Restaurant service is the most consistent bright spot in traveler reviews. The pools are heated and have a children's area, and the spa and wellness center is there as an optional paid extra. Rooms are where things get complicated: the property has not renovated evenly, and older blocks are noticeably basic, so requesting a recently refurbished room at check-in is worth pushing for. The beach is secondary; Puerto Vallarta's Pacific-facing shore here has a rocky entry and rougher water, so pool-focused travelers will be happier than beach-focused ones. One more note from the resort itself: the layout is not recommended for guests with limited mobility.
Canto del Sol makes the most sense for families and travelers who want to stay active, with the Kids Club for ages 5 to 12 and children-stay-free promotions doing a lot of the work. The location is a genuine bonus: downtown, with its restaurants, bars, galleries and the Malecon boardwalk, is 10 minutes away. Day trips to the Marietas Islands (blue-footed boobies, snorkeling), the pueblo magico of San Sebastian, whale watching from December through March, and jungle zip-lining are all easy. Price-wise, the resort's own site was publishing direct rates in October 2026 from roughly 3,900 to 4,650 pesos a night for standard rooms and up to about 6,500 pesos for a two-bedroom Luxury suite, which keeps it well below the Westin or Dreams resorts in Puerto Vallarta while offering a more activity-rich stay.
Common Questions
How much tennis is actually included at Canto del Sol?
How does the food compare to other Puerto Vallarta all-inclusives at this price?
Is the beach actually usable for swimming?
How are the room categories, and is it worth paying for a better one?
What are the best day trips from Canto del Sol?
Is Canto del Sol good for families with young children?
Restaurants (5)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | El pescador |
| Mexican | Mi Morenita |
| Italian | Il Cantico |
| Asian | Akita |
| Seafood | Cevichería |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.
What's nearby
Zona Romántica5 min drive · 2.5 mi
Los Muertos Beach7 min drive · 3.0 mi
6 min drive · 2.8 mi
Marina Vallarta6 min drive · 3.0 mi
Conchas Chinas Beach9 min drive · 3.8 mi
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church5 min drive · 2.2 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching (December to March) · excursion6 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Sunset sail from Marina Vallarta · excursion6 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Las Caletas beach day trip · excursion6 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Splash Water Park · water park14 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Camarones Beach · beach3 min drive · 1.3 mi
- Playa Palmares · beach12 min drive · 6.3 mi
- Mismaloya Beach · beach20 min drive · 9.9 mi
- Boca de Tomatlán · town25 min drive · 13 mi
- Puerto Vallarta Malecón · town4 min drive · 1.9 mi
- Playa Las Glorias · beach2 min walk · 0.1 mi
- Playa Los Tules · beach11 min walk · 0.6 mi
- Playa de Oro · beach4 min drive · 1.6 mi
- Museo Histórico Naval · museum5 min drive · 2.1 mi
- Mirador La Cruz · viewpoint5 min drive · 2.1 mi
- Faro de Matamoros · viewpoint6 min drive · 2.4 mi
- Evening show and dinner at Las Caletas · excursion6 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Sport fishing charter · excursion6 min drive · 3.0 mi
- Isla Río Cuale · nature6 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Olas Altas Beach · beach6 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Estero El Salado · nature6 min drive · 2.7 mi
- Los Arcos snorkel trip · excursion6 min drive · 2.8 mi
- Amapas Beach · beach8 min drive · 3.7 mi
- Marina Vallarta Golf Club · golf9 min drive · 4.2 mi
- Jardín Mágico Butterfly Garden · wildlife14 min drive · 5.5 mi
