Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico
Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico is the adults-only member of Riu's cluster on Playa Flamingos in Nuevo Vallarta, renovated and converted to adults-only in late 2023. Minimum check-in age is 18, and the mood is calmer and more polished than the family Rius next door. The beach is soft sand on the Pacific, with none of the sargassum that troubles the Caribbean coast, and travelers describe the whole place as relaxed rather than rowdy.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Renovated and converted to adults-only in late 2023, so rooms, pools and restaurants still feel modern next to older Palace properties along the bay
- +Sits right on Playa Flamingos with soft sand and none of the sargassum that hits the Caribbean side of Mexico
- +Staff go out of their way to make your stay memorable, and travelers consistently describe the service as warm and attentive, with waiters coming to you at the pool and the shows
- +Minibar restocked daily plus an in-room liquor dispenser, and Riu's 24-hour all-inclusive means you are never hunting for an open bar
- +Nine restaurants including the La Península buffet, with Krystal for gourmet dinners, Kyoto for Asian, Guacamole for Mexican, La Toscana for Italian and a steakhouse, plus Pepe's Food grill and Tiko Tako tacos at lunch
- +Exchange privileges with the two neighboring Rius, Riu Vallarta and Riu Jalisco, give you more pools, bars and the RIU Party nights held at Riu Jalisco
- +Three pools with sea-facing sun terraces, including one with a swim-up bar, plus seven bars across the resort
Cons
- −Mattress quality divides guests sharply, some say too firm and others too soft, and it is hard to predict which room you will land in
- −Specialty restaurant menus are short, and several travelers found the a la carte food blander than the buffet
- −The crowd skews toward guests 50 and older, so younger couples hoping for a pool-party scene may feel out of place
- −Frozen pre-made blended drinks at some outdoor bars disappoint guests expecting fresh margaritas and daiquiris
- −Restrooms are spread thin around the grounds, and travelers report long walks when they are caught at the pool or beach
- −Beach shade is limited, and some guests found themselves renting an umbrella from beach vendors
- −Nuevo Vallarta is a resort strip, and downtown Puerto Vallarta's Malecón is roughly a 25 to 35 minute drive, so every trip into town needs a taxi or tour
Day to day, the resort delivers without drama. There are nine restaurants in all, the La Península buffet among them, with themed nights three times a week; dinner options include Krystal for gourmet plates, Kyoto for Asian, Guacamole for Mexican, La Toscana for Italian and a steakhouse, while Pepe's Food and Tiko Tako cover casual lunches and the Capuchino patisserie handles coffee. The specialty menus are short, so many guests lean on the buffet. The in-room liquor dispenser and daily minibar restock are the small details guests love, and service earns the strongest praise of all. Three pools, one with a swim-up bar, seven bars, a spa and RIU Fit classes round it out, and Elite Club rooms add a private breakfast and extra perks.
This resort is best for couples and solo travelers who want a no-kids beach week at Riu prices rather than a boutique splurge. Entertainment is more than it first looks: there are nightly shows on site, and the exchange privileges with Riu Vallarta and Riu Jalisco open up the RIU Party nights next door. The airport is about 7.5 miles away, and downtown Puerto Vallarta, whale watching from December through March, Los Arcos boat trips and Sierra Madre zip-lining are all easy day trips.
Common Questions
Is the adults-only policy strictly enforced?
How does this compare to other Riu Palace properties in Mexico?
Is the beach swimmable and seaweed-free?
Can I use the neighboring Riu resorts?
How far is the resort from the airport and downtown Puerto Vallarta?
Are there enough restaurants to avoid repeating meals over a week?
Restaurants (8)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | La Península |
| Mexican | Guacamole, Tiki Taco |
| Italian | La Toscana |
| Asian | Kyoto |
| Steakhouse | Steak House |
| American & grill | Pepe’s Food |
| International & fusion | Krystal |
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 Romántica30 min drive · 15 mi
Los Muertos Beach30 min drive · 16 mi
30 min drive · 16 mi
Marina Vallarta20 min drive · 10 mi
Conchas Chinas Beach30 min drive · 17 mi
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church30 min drive · 15 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching (December to March) · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
- Sunset sail from Marina Vallarta · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
- Splash Water Park · water park11 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Las Caletas beach day trip · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
- Destiladeras Beach · beach20 min drive · 11 mi
- Camarones Beach · beach25 min drive · 14 mi
- Playa Litibú · beach35 min drive · 18 mi
- Puerto Vallarta Malecón · town30 min drive · 15 mi
- Flamingos Golf Club · golf7 min drive · 2.2 mi
- Bucerías · town7 min drive · 3.2 mi
- Paradise Village Marina · marina8 min drive · 3.8 mi
- Aquaventuras Park · water park13 min drive · 6.1 mi
- La Cruz de Huanacaxtle · town15 min drive · 7.0 mi
- La Manzanilla Beach (La Cruz) · beach20 min drive · 7.8 mi
- Marina Riviera Nayarit (La Cruz) · marina20 min drive · 7.6 mi
- Islas Marietas and Hidden Beach boat trip · excursion20 min drive · 7.6 mi
- Evening show and dinner at Las Caletas · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
- Sport fishing charter · excursion20 min drive · 10 mi
- Playa de Oro · beach25 min drive · 12 mi
- Estero El Salado · nature25 min drive · 12 mi
- Boca de Tomates Beach · beach25 min drive · 9.1 mi
- Vidanta Greg Norman Golf Course · golf25 min drive · 9.0 mi
- Marina Vallarta Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 11 mi
- Playa Los Tules · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
Amenities
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Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Google Reviews★ 4.5 · 5,774 reviews
“We really enjoyed our stay with our 2 adult kids. They needed 2 beds so reception accommodated us by finding them a room on first floor and then were able to move them to a room on the 5th floor the next night so our 2 rooms were close together. Room...”
“10/10 — I would absolutely recommend staying here if you ever get the chance! The cleanliness, the staff, and the resort itself truly stand out. The team is incredibly kind and consistently maintains the property, which makes the entire experience fe...”
“This was our first experience at an all-inclusive resort, and it couldn't have been better. The check-in process was seamless, and our room was both spacious and spotless. I was particularly impressed by the variety of dining options; whether we ate...”
