Vamar Vallarta All Inclusive Marina & Beach Resort
Family-friendly resort in Puerto Vallarta.
Amenities
Traveler Insights(290 discussions)
Vamar Vallarta is one of those resorts that makes the most sense once you know exactly what it is. It's an older, moderately priced all-inclusive situated along Puerto Vallarta's marina rather than the conventional beach strip - which gives it a completely different visual atmosphere than any other AI property in the city. The marina views are genuinely beautiful: yachts, sailboats, cruise ships on the horizon, and the green mountains behind the bay. Two swim-up bars and four pools work this setting well, and the villa-side pool with its bay panoramas is legitimately memorable. If you've done the standard Cancun or Punta Cana beachfront all-inclusive and want to try something architecturally and visually different, Vamar offers that.
The practical experience requires calibrated expectations. The beach situation is the most important thing to understand before booking: this is not a beachfront resort despite the name and many photos suggesting otherwise. The rock sea walls mean you walk next door to access the public beach. This bothers some guests enormously and others not at all, depending on how important beach access was to their trip. Rooms are spacious but dated. Wi-Fi outside the lobby is essentially absent. The buffet breakfast is good and the staff in the restaurants are attentive and genuinely warm. Specialty dining (Italian restaurant) gets solid reviews. The evening amphitheater shows are a legitimate bright spot. Service overall exceeds what you'd expect from a property in this price range, which is the consistent theme across reviews.
This resort is best for budget-conscious travelers who want a full all-inclusive experience in Puerto Vallarta without paying the Zona Hotelera premium, couples and families who find marina views more interesting than another generic beachfront backdrop, and travelers using Puerto Vallarta as a base who plan to spend meaningful time exploring the city. If beach access is central to your vacation, the 'walking next door' solution will feel unsatisfying over a full week. But if you're drawn to the idea of a quieter, affordable AI property with unusual scenery and a staff that actually tries, Vamar delivers more than its price tag would suggest.
Pros
- +Marina-front location is genuinely unique among Puerto Vallarta all-inclusives - views of bobbing yachts, cruise ships, and the Sierra Madre mountains create a visual that no standard beachfront resort can match
- +Four pools across the property including two swim-up bars, with the villa-side pool offering panoramic views of Banderas Bay that guests call some of the best scenery they've experienced at any all-inclusive
- +Walking distance to Puerto Vallarta's Marina retail strip with restaurants, shops, and boat tour departure docks - no taxi needed to access a variety of dining and activity options
- +All-inclusive pricing is notably affordable compared to Puerto Vallarta's Hotel Zone properties, making it one of the better entry points for a full AI experience in the PV market
- +Spacious rooms with generous square footage, particularly in the villa wing, where travelers consistently say the space exceeded their expectations for the price paid
- +Staff service in the dining areas earns consistent praise - made-to-order omelettes and quesadillas at breakfast, attentive table service at specialty restaurants, and servers who learn guest names across multi-day stays
- +Evening amphitheater shows are family-friendly and genuinely well-produced for a property of this size, a bright spot in an otherwise modest entertainment calendar
- +Quieter, residential-feeling neighborhood near the Marina Norte area offers a calmer atmosphere than the packed Zona Hotelera or downtown Malecon area
Cons
- −The 'beach' access situation is a significant gotcha - the resort sits on Banderas Bay behind man-made rock walls, not actual sand, and guests who want beach access must walk next door to the adjacent public beach
- −Marketing photos and resort name create a misleading impression of direct beachfront access that multiple reviewers describe as one of their top frustrations after arrival
- −Property is older and showing its age in the rooms - guests consistently mention dated furniture, worn fixtures, and a general sense that a renovation is overdue
- −Wi-Fi is extremely poor outside the lobby - described as non-existent in most rooms and pool areas, which matters more than it used to for travelers who expect connectivity
- −Low occupancy rates are noticeable during slower periods, creating a somewhat empty resort feeling - thin crowd at the buffet and sparse pool deck energy that some guests find relaxing, others find eerie
- −The buffet for lunch and dinner is inconsistent - breakfast is the strongest meal, while the evening buffet draws mixed reviews and lacks the variety rotation that keeps longer stays interesting
- −Distance from central Puerto Vallarta is longer than the marina area makes it feel on a map - the Malecon, Romantic Zone restaurants, and main tourist district take 45+ minutes by bus or 20+ minutes by taxi
- −Some guests report that entertainment and activities aren't as consistently scheduled or well-staffed as advertised, with certain listed activities simply not happening during their stay
Common Questions
Google Rating
Google Reviews
“Raphael, Juan and Miguel are so so so awesome! Best service. Helped me find my key! Saved us from the mini alligator lol. We're always there with a smile. Juan made some bomb- really great coffee for me - and everyone else. When it was empty he made...”