Delta Hotels Riviera Nayarit, An All-Inclusive Resort
Delta Hotels by Marriott Riviera Nayarit fills a gap no other Marriott all-inclusive in Mexico quite covers: a family resort with serious water facilities, set on a jungle hillside above La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, that also takes pets. The water complex is the crown feature, with an adults-focused natural pool, a heated adults-only infinity pool, and the heated Aqua Jungle & River with a lazy river, a water slide and a lifeguarded children's pool. The Zafiro tower, unveiled in March 2025, added 100 rooms and suites (312 in all) and five dining venues, so the resort of today is noticeably bigger than the one many older reviews describe.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +The water complex is the headline: the adults-focused Natural Pool, the heated, adults-only infinity-edge Media Luna Pool, and the heated Aqua Jungle & River with a lifeguarded children's pool, a whirlpool, a lazy river and a water slide, all included. Families say the lazy river gets as much adult use as kid use
- +Dining grew a lot with the Zafiro tower in March 2025: Marriott now lists eight outlets, including two full dinner restaurants (Huichol Cocina Artesanal for Mexican, Salt & Thyme for international), Komorebi Teppanyaki, a food truck doing quesadillas at lunch and tacos at night, and Organic & Co for coffee and grab-and-go
- +Pet-friendly, which almost no all-inclusive in Mexico is. Marriott confirms the hotel accepts pets; check the current weight limit and fee with the resort before booking, since those terms are not published on its all-inclusive pages
- +Delta Camp is a real, free kids club for ages 4 to 12, open 10:00 to 18:30 daily, with a ball pit, arts and crafts, and activities like cupcake decorating and iguana keychain crafting. Meals are included during its hours, so parents get a genuine afternoon at the adults-only pool or Tzicuri Spa
- +Marriott Bonvoy points earn and redeem here, and the all-inclusive package rides along on award stays, which makes it one of the few places on the Pacific side to spend a points balance on an all-inclusive
- +The jungle hillside above La Cruz de Huanacaxtle feels like a nature retreat rather than a beach compound, and the Manolo rooftop bar looks out over Banderas Bay. Recent guests describe it as staying in the forest
- +Golf carts run guests around the steep, spread-out property, so the hills are less of an issue than the map suggests
Cons
- −There is no beach at the hotel. The beach is the resort's own Tonati Beach Club, reached by shuttle, and the club closes at 18:00, so sunset swims and spontaneous ocean dips are not part of the deal
- −Food is the most divisive part of the stay. The handmade tortillas, the taco truck and the teppanyaki draw praise; the buffet-style meals draw the complaints, with summer 2026 guests citing stale bread, old food and flies at the salsa bar
- −No room service at all, which Marriott states plainly. The substitute is Delta Pantry, a self-serve deli open 22:30 to 06:00, which is thin for a Marriott all-inclusive at this price
- −Morning maintenance starts around 9:00 and the noise from cleaning and leaf blowers carries through the front door and balcony, according to a June 2026 guest
- −Pool lounge chairs are wearing out; a June 2026 review described them as mostly falling apart
- −Walls are thin, and guests also report light leaking round the room door and bedside light buttons that brighten the whole room, so light sleepers should pack a mask and earplugs
- −Everything off property needs transport: the resort is not walkable to La Cruz's restaurants or marina, and the golf on offer is a 15 percent green-fee discount at Higuera Golf Club, not a course on site
Day to day, the trade-offs are the beach and the food. The beach is real but separate: the resort's own Tonati Beach Club, with cabanas and a seafood grill, sits a shuttle ride away and closes at 18:00. Dining is wider than it used to be, with Huichol Cocina Artesanal, Salt & Thyme, Komorebi Teppanyaki, a food truck, a pool snack bar and a coffee house, plus five bars including the Manolo rooftop over Banderas Bay and the Press Start sports bar. Verdicts are sharply split: tortillas, tacos and teppanyaki earn praise while the buffet takes the blame, and recent scores swing from terrible to perfect. There is no room service, morning maintenance noise is a repeat complaint, and pool loungers are showing their age. Staff warmth, the Delta Camp kids club and the Tzicuri Spa are consistent bright spots.
It suits families who want a pool complex to anchor the trip, travelers bringing a pet, and Bonvoy members who want to spend points on an all-inclusive without flying to Cancun. Couples chasing a romantic beachfront dinner scene will do better at Marival Distinct or Hotel Mousai nearby. Puerto Vallarta's airport is about 15 miles away, and Sayulita, Punta Mita, the Marietas Islands, the La Cruz Sunday market and December to March whale watching are all within easy reach.
Common Questions
Does this resort really allow pets?
How far is the beach, and is it worth the shuttle?
How many restaurants are there now?
Is there room service?
Can you use Marriott Bonvoy points here?
What is there for kids?
Restaurants (4)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Mexican | Huichol Cocina Artesanal |
| Teppanyaki / hibachi | Komorebi Teppanyaki |
| Seafood | Tonati Beach Club |
| International & fusion | Salt & Thyme |
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
Sayulita Beach25 min drive · 12 mi
San Pancho Beach30 min drive · 14 mi
Marina Vallarta30 min drive · 15 mi
Puerto Vallarta Malecón40 min drive · 19 mi
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle6 min drive · 1.9 mi
9 min drive · 2.5 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching (December to March) · excursion30 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa de los Muertos (Sayulita) · beach25 min drive · 12 mi
- Sunset sail from Marina Vallarta · excursion30 min drive · 15 mi
- Playa Monterrey · beach50 min drive · 25 mi
- Splash Water Park · water park25 min drive · 10 mi
- San Francisco (San Pancho) · town30 min drive · 14 mi
- Las Caletas beach day trip · excursion30 min drive · 15 mi
- Destiladeras Beach · beach12 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Playa Litibú · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
- Camarones Beach · beach40 min drive · 19 mi
- La Manzanilla Beach (La Cruz) · beach7 min drive · 2.7 mi
- Marina Riviera Nayarit (La Cruz) · marina9 min drive · 2.5 mi
- Bucerías · town10 min drive · 3.5 mi
- Flamingos Golf Club · golf20 min drive · 6.6 mi
- Playa La Lancha · beach20 min drive · 10 mi
- Punta de Mita · town20 min drive · 11 mi
- Paradise Village Marina · marina25 min drive · 9.7 mi
- Aquaventuras Park · water park25 min drive · 11 mi
- Playa Careyeros · beach25 min drive · 12 mi
- Las Huertas Golf Club · golf30 min drive · 14 mi
- Playa Patzcuarito · beach30 min drive · 13 mi
- Playa Malpaso · beach30 min drive · 12 mi
- Evening show and dinner at Las Caletas · excursion30 min drive · 15 mi
- Sport fishing charter · excursion30 min drive · 15 mi
Amenities
Show 4 more amenitiesShow fewer
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Google Reviews★ 4.3 · 1,622 reviews
“The buffet is pretty standard and good. Raul gave 5 star service and was very kind. Media luna and the food truck are both excellent, and having the 24/7 pantry was great with our 4 year old for early breakfasts and snacks. There pools are lovely...”
“Before I get into my stay, let me address the review section real fast 😂 Some reviewers are coming in hot like they booked the Four Seasons or the Ritz-Carlton. I saw people calling the food mid, the rooms outdated or too loud with thin walls, the h...”
“Absolutely! Here’s a more enthusiastic and concise version: We’ve stayed at the Delta Marriott several times and absolutely love it! It’s an amazing family-friendly resort with fantastic water slides—one perfect for kids and another fast and fun for...”
