Samba Vallarta All Inclusive
Samba Vallarta, run by Hoteles Emporio, is the no-frills, low-chaos choice on the Nuevo Vallarta strip for families who want a real beach vacation without paying for amenities they will not use. It sits directly on Bahía de Banderas in Nayarit, about 17 km and roughly 25 minutes from Puerto Vallarta airport, with calm water and a simple, functional beach setup. The hotel now writes its own address as Nuevo Nayarit; it is the same spot travelers know as Nuevo Vallarta. Regulars choose it because the staff remember them, the evenings are quiet and the bill stays reasonable. It is unpretentious and reliably comfortable rather than glamorous.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Pool scene that rarely feels crowded, with separate areas for laps, families and toddlers, so you can usually find a lounger without the early-morning chair rush
- +Small scale gives it a real community feel: long-serving staff learn guests' names and preferences within a day or two
- +The kids' pool has a pirate ship with waterslides, which keeps younger children busy for hours while parents actually relax
- +Breakfast at La Hacienda is the standout meal, with eggs cooked to order in front of you, plenty of fresh fruit and Mexican staples; dinners there rotate nightly themes such as BBQ, seafood, Italian, Spanish and Mexican
- +Two a la carte dinners are included: El Mexicano, with sea views and sunsets, and Venezia, the Italian room, both bookable from your room by dialing 0
- +Directly on the beach on Bahía de Banderas, where the water is calmer and gentler than the open-ocean beaches around downtown Puerto Vallarta
- +Costs far less than Grand Velas and the bigger Nuevo Vallarta resorts on the same coastline, which makes it a strong value pick for budget-minded families
- +Low-key evenings: the nightly show is a short 40-minute set (magic, comedy, circus, Mexican folklore and similar), not a pool DJ running all afternoon
Cons
- −Rooms are noticeably dated, with popcorn ceilings, speckled tile floors, dark bathrooms and older fixtures that guests say have not seen a real renovation
- −Lunch and dinner at the buffet get more mixed reviews than breakfast and can feel repetitive across a week-long stay
- −Both a la carte restaurants run three fixed seatings a night and need a reservation, so if you book late in your stay you may get a bad time slot or no table
- −Evening show and activity noise can carry into rooms near the main areas
- −Towel-saving still happens at the pool and beach even though the resort is small enough that loungers are rarely truly scarce
- −Drinks are national brands only and the included bar service runs from 11am to 11pm, so it is neither top-shelf nor 24-hour
- −Checkout is at noon, and guests with evening flights report being steered toward a paid day pass (1,490 pesos per adult on the official site) rather than a free grace period, so ask about late checkout before you arrive
- −Grounds are compact and fairly plain, with little landscaping or exploring to fill time between swims on a longer stay
There are five places to eat and drink: the La Hacienda buffet for all three meals, two included a la carte restaurants (El Mexicano for Mexican food with an ocean view, Venezia for Italian), a snack bar and a lobby bar. Breakfast is the meal guests praise most, and La Hacienda runs a different theme each night at dinner, with two outdoor garden dinners a week from November to April. Both a la carte rooms run three fixed seatings and need a booking, which is why tables feel hard to get. Drinks are national brands from 11am to 11pm. The pools are clean and rarely packed, the pirate-ship splash zone wins over young kids, and rooms are honest about their age: comfortable but visibly dated.
Samba Vallarta suits budget-conscious families, first-time all-inclusive travelers and anyone who would rather have a smaller, quieter resort than a sprawling complex. Compared with Grand Velas and the bigger resorts nearby, it costs much less and offers far less on-site entertainment, which is exactly the point. If you plan to spend your days on the beach, at the pool or exploring the bay, the savings are hard to argue with. Downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Malecón, Sayulita, and whale watching from December to March are all easy trips from here.
Common Questions
Is Samba Vallarta actually in Puerto Vallarta?
How does Samba Vallarta compare to Grand Velas or the bigger Nuevo Vallarta resorts?
Are there good activities for kids at Samba Vallarta?
What is the beach like at Samba Vallarta?
Is the all-inclusive food and drink good enough for a week?
Restaurants (3)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | La Hacienda |
| Mexican | El Mexicano |
| Italian | Venezia |
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 · 15 mi
30 min drive · 15 mi
Marina Vallarta20 min drive · 9.9 mi
Conchas Chinas Beach30 min drive · 16 mi
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church30 min drive · 15 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching (December to March) · excursion20 min drive · 9.9 mi
- Sunset sail from Marina Vallarta · excursion20 min drive · 9.9 mi
- Splash Water Park · water park11 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Las Caletas beach day trip · excursion20 min drive · 9.9 mi
- Destiladeras Beach · beach25 min drive · 11 mi
- Camarones Beach · beach25 min drive · 14 mi
- Playa Litibú · beach35 min drive · 18 mi
- Puerto Vallarta Malecón · town25 min drive · 14 mi
- Paradise Village Marina · marina8 min drive · 3.4 mi
- Flamingos Golf Club · golf8 min drive · 2.7 mi
- Bucerías · town9 min drive · 3.7 mi
- Aquaventuras Park · water park13 min drive · 5.7 mi
- La Cruz de Huanacaxtle · town20 min drive · 7.5 mi
- La Manzanilla Beach (La Cruz) · beach20 min drive · 8.3 mi
- Marina Riviera Nayarit (La Cruz) · marina20 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Islas Marietas and Hidden Beach boat trip · excursion20 min drive · 8.1 mi
- Evening show and dinner at Las Caletas · excursion20 min drive · 9.9 mi
- Sport fishing charter · excursion20 min drive · 9.9 mi
- Playa de Oro · beach25 min drive · 12 mi
- Estero El Salado · nature25 min drive · 11 mi
- Boca de Tomates Beach · beach25 min drive · 8.8 mi
- Vidanta Greg Norman Golf Course · golf25 min drive · 8.7 mi
- Marina Vallarta Golf Club · golf25 min drive · 10 mi
- Playa Los Tules · beach25 min drive · 12 mi
Amenities
Google Reviews★ 4.2 · 4,905 reviews
“We just got back from a week at the resort and had a great stay. The location is up north about 20 minutes from the airport. It is a family friendly resort without too much of the homosexual scene. As noted, the resort is a little bit older. But the...”
“Key points for us: Fabian- server in the lobby bar- absolutely FANTASTIC. The last 2 days he made us a “special” drink (wish i knew about this drink sooner) told him to surprise us & he did that! he was super attentive. Jose- pool side server- (NEW!)...”
