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The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit

Mexico, Mexico
4.5(1,504 reviews)
Family

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The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit is a family-friendly all-inclusive resort in Mexico with 789 rooms. Amenities include Beach, Golf Course, Lazy River, Spa and Water Slides. Travelers rate it 4.5/5 across 1,504 Google reviews.

Price Range
$$$ est.
Rooms
789

Things to Know

Timeshare Pressure

Amenities

Beach
Golf Course
Lazy River
Spa
Water Slides
Water Sports Rentals
Family Vacation

Quick answers

Is The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit adults only?
No — The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit is a family-friendly resort that accepts children of all ages.
Where is The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit?
The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit is in Mexico. Its address is Blvrd Riviera Nayarit 254, 63735 Nuevo Vallarta, Nay., Mexico.
How many rooms does The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit have?
The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit has 789 rooms.
Is The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit all-inclusive?
Yes — The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Nayarit is an all-inclusive resort, so meals, drinks and most on-site activities are covered by the rate.

Traveler Insights(1,180 discussions)

The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta is best understood as a full-scale resort city rather than a traditional hotel. Sprawling across a ¾-mile beach on Banderas Bay, the property is part of the larger Vidanta complex and gives guests access to a staggering breadth of pools, restaurants, and activities. The centerpiece Aqua Park with its wave pool, Mayan Pyramid slide, and lazy river is a genuine highlight that families and adults both return for. And the complex keeps escalating: Cirque du Soleil's resident show Ludõ premiered in December 2025 in a $200-million custom theater with a 360-degree aquatic stage, and VidantaWorld's BON - marketed as the world's first luxury theme park, with 23 attractions, 25 restaurants, 16 shops, and five themed lands including a Cirque du Soleil zone - opens in fall 2026, exclusive to resort guests for its first year.

The experience differs significantly depending on whether you're a timeshare member or a paying guest. Members tend to love it; paying guests often feel the sales apparatus is built around converting them into members. The timeshare pressure starts at check-in and is the single most consistent complaint across traveler accounts. One important expectation-setter: despite showing up in all-inclusive searches, Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta does not offer a true all-inclusive plan - food and drinks are charged to the room, with only optional coupon-based meal plans (breakfast-only or bundled breakfast-plus-dinner packages) sold at check-in. Food quality is praised when guests stick to the property's dining options - the teppanyaki experience at Gong and the street food at Mercado Mexicano get specific call-outs - but costs add up fast, and the resort does little to encourage exploring Nuevo Nayarit or Puerto Vallarta independently.


This resort is ideal for families or groups who want a self-contained, activity-dense vacation and aren't bothered by a timeshare pitch at the start. If you're a couple looking for intimate service and a boutique feel, you'll likely find the scale impersonal. The property is comparable in scope to a Barcelo or Hard Rock mega-resort, but the suite accommodations, on-site golf course, and the arriving Cirque du Soleil and theme-park entertainment push it toward a higher tier. Puerto Vallarta's old town, the Malecon, and the Marietas Islands are all within reach for day trips if the resort itself starts to feel like a bubble.

Pros

  • +Massive Aqua Park with a wave pool, lazy river, and the iconic Mayan Pyramid water slide that families and adults alike rave about
  • +Access to 40+ restaurants and bars across the entire Vidanta complex - from authentic Mexican street food at Mercado Mexicano to theatrical teppanyaki at Gong
  • +Suites are genuinely spacious with full kitchens, living rooms, and marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs - nothing like a standard hotel room
  • +A full ¾-mile stretch of beachfront on Banderas Bay with abundant chairs and palapas, rarely feeling overcrowded
  • +The pool complex is enormous - guests regularly report sitting in a completely different pool area each day of a week-long stay
  • +On-site Jim Lipe golf course and full-service spa mean you can fill an entire week without leaving the property
  • +The 'Joy Squad' entertainment staff at the pool are genuinely enthusiastic and make kids and adults feel engaged throughout the day
  • +VidantaWorld's BON, billed as the world's first luxury theme park, opens at the complex in fall 2026 with 23 attractions, 25 restaurants, and five themed lands - exclusive to resort guests in its first year - and Cirque du Soleil's resident show Ludõ premiered in December 2025 in a purpose-built theater with a 360-degree aquatic stage

Cons

  • Aggressive timeshare sales presentations are the most consistent complaint - staff offer 'deals' for attending a 3-5 hour sales pitch starting at check-in
  • Guests who decline timeshare presentations report receiving worse room assignments - sometimes rooms facing trees instead of ocean
  • Check-in lines can stretch to 90 minutes with no clear direction system, particularly rough after a long travel day
  • The resort app is unreliable and the property is so large that first-time guests feel lost without better orientation at check-in
  • Dining out of the resort complex is actively discouraged - staff provide little information about local options and transportation is difficult to arrange
  • There is no true all-inclusive plan despite the resort often appearing in all-inclusive searches - food and drinks are charged to the room, with only optional coupon-based meal plans sold at check-in, and a dinner for a family of four at the on-site restaurants can run $400-500 USD
  • Wi-Fi and parking carry additional fees that catch non-member guests off guard
  • Service quality is inconsistent compared to smaller, staff-attentive resorts - the scale of the property makes personalized attention difficult

Common Questions

Do I have to attend a timeshare presentation to stay here?
No, but the pressure to attend one starts at check-in. Staff will offer incentives like dining credits or activity packages for a '90-minute' presentation that often runs 3-5 hours. Many travelers report that declining politely but firmly at the start of the trip makes the rest of the stay much more enjoyable. Some guests who declined the pitch received less desirable room assignments, so it's worth being aware of that dynamic.
Is the Aqua Park included in the room rate or is it extra?
Access to the Aqua Park is generally included for guests staying at the Grand Mayan, though this can vary depending on your booking type and package. Timeshare members have full access. If you're booking as a paying hotel guest rather than through the timeshare program, confirm what's included at the time of booking - some amenities at the broader Vidanta complex require additional fees. Note that the new BON theme park opening in fall 2026 is a separate VidantaWorld attraction that will be exclusive to resort guests during its first year.
Is the Grand Mayan all-inclusive?
No - and this catches a lot of travelers off guard since the resort often appears in all-inclusive searches. Food and drinks at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta are charged to your room as you go. The only bundled-dining option is an optional coupon-based meal plan purchased at check-in - for example, a breakfast-only plan around $2,120 MXN per person or a package of 6 breakfasts plus 6 lunches/dinners around $6,530 MXN per person. Budget accordingly: a family dinner at the on-site restaurants can easily run $400-500 USD.
What's the difference between the Grand Mayan, Grand Luxxe, and Grand Bliss on the same property?
The Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta complex includes several branded towers at different tiers. The Grand Luxxe is the highest-end tier with the largest suites and rooftop access. The Grand Mayan sits in the middle with spacious suites and full kitchen setups. The Grand Bliss is a step below. Guests in higher-tier buildings generally have access to more exclusive pool areas. All guests share the beach and the main Aqua Park.
Is this resort good for couples without kids?
It can be, but the resort is heavily family-oriented by design. The Aqua Park, pool entertainment, and suite layouts with multiple rooms are all built for families. Couples looking for a romantic, quiet adults-only vibe will find it harder to find at the Grand Mayan than at properties like Secrets or Sandals. That said, the on-site spa and the golf course give couples good options, the Cirque du Soleil show Ludõ makes for a genuinely special evening out, and the property is large enough to find quieter corners.
Is it easy to get to Puerto Vallarta from the resort?
Puerto Vallarta's old town (Zona Romántica) is roughly 30-40 minutes away by taxi. The resort doesn't actively facilitate trips out - some travelers note that getting transportation information requires effort. Uber works in the area and is generally more affordable than resort-arranged taxis. If exploring Puerto Vallarta is a priority, book at least one full day for the Malecon, the local markets, and the old town restaurants.

Google Rating

4.5(1,504 Google reviews)

Google Reviews

Dustin S.
a month ago

Cristian and his team at Joy squad made us feel very welcome and our vacation amazing. They kept us busy with lots of fun events. We were smiling the whole time because of their team. He is a huge asset to Vidanta resorts. I’d also like to throw out...

irisseabrook
a month ago

The best resort I have ever been to! Wonderful and kind employees made it feel like home and we never want to leave thank you to whole joy squad teams for showing my family a fun time!! Cristian was so helpful getting us started when we were wanderi...

Kendall M.
3 months ago

What a wonderful week! This is specifically for the Jungle Bay (kids club) Halloween adventure. Massive thanks to Yara, Caro, Kim, Dulce, Moni, and Naty. The experience was top notch for our little one. Anyone who can keep 30+ kids entertained for 2+...