Vamar Vallarta All Inclusive Marina & Beach Resort
Vamar Vallarta is one of those resorts that makes the most sense once you know exactly what it is. It is an older, moderately priced all-inclusive on Puerto Vallarta's marina rather than the conventional beach strip, which gives it a completely different visual atmosphere from any other all-inclusive in the city: yachts and sailboats on the main canal of Marina Vallarta, cruise ships on the horizon, and the green mountains behind Banderas Bay. Three pools work this setting well. Piscina Marina is the family pool, Piscina Caracol is reserved for adults and has what the hotel calls the best view of the bay, and the heated Piscina La Villa sits on the seafront where the sunsets are; all three have pool-bar service and open 9am to 9pm. If you have done the standard Cancun or Punta Cana beachfront all-inclusive and want something architecturally and visually different, Vamar offers that.
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Marina-front location is genuinely unique among Puerto Vallarta all-inclusives: the rooms look over the main canal of Marina Vallarta, which the hotel calls the largest marina in Mexico, and across Banderas Bay to the Sierra Madre, in a quieter residential-feeling neighborhood than the packed Zona Hotelera or the Malecon
- +Three pools, each with pool-bar service and open 9am to 9pm: Piscina Marina for families, Piscina Caracol reserved for adults with what the hotel calls the best view of the bay, and the heated Piscina La Villa on the seafront, which is where the sunsets are
- +Walking distance to the Marina Vallarta retail strip, the boat-tour docks and the Marina Vallarta golf course, and by the operator's own figures 5 minutes from the airport, 10 from the convention center and 15 from downtown and the Malecon
- +Notably affordable: the hotel's own booking engine was quoting lead-in rates from about 2,855 pesos a night for a standard room in October 2026, around 150 US dollars, well under Puerto Vallarta's Hotel Zone all-inclusives
- +The villa wing is where the space is: one-, two- and three-bedroom villas and master suites come with kitchens, fridges, microwaves, living areas and terraces or balconies, and travelers consistently say the square footage beat their expectations for the price
- +Dining-room staff earn consistent praise, from made-to-order omelettes and quesadillas at breakfast to attentive table service at Magallanes and servers who learn guest names over a multi-day stay
- +The Teatro Nocturno programme of shows, karaoke, Latin and Mexican theme nights and live music is family-friendly and well produced for a property this size, with its own Bar Teatro open 8:30pm to 10:30pm, and the included daytime list runs to kayaks, paddleboards, aquarobics, dance classes, bike tours, football and basketball tournaments and a games area
Cons
- −The beach is the big gotcha: the hotel sits on Banderas Bay behind manmade rock walls that block direct access to the water, so there is no sand on the property and guests walk next door to the public beach, a detail confirmed by a hotel inspection and repeated by guests
- −The name and the marketing photos imply a beachfront resort, and the hotel's own tagline is 'the only resort with marina and beach', which is why the walk-next-door reality ranks among arriving guests' top frustrations
- −The property is older and the rooms show it, with dated furniture such as olive-green sectional sofas and beige drapes noted by an inspection, and the operator has announced no renovation
- −Wi-Fi is essentially a lobby-only amenity: the operator does not mention internet anywhere on its own site, a tour-operator fact sheet lists it for public areas only, and a 2026 review title still reads 'no internet'
- −Noise and housekeeping are the complaints that recur in recent reviews: rooms near the amphitheater get the evening show, and cleaning is inconsistent from day to day
- −The buffet at Cafe Marina is inconsistent after breakfast: lunch and the themed dinners draw mixed reviews and lack the variety rotation that keeps a longer stay interesting
- −Both specialty restaurants are 'subject to availability with a minimum stay of 2 nights': Magallanes, the Italian a la carte with a formal dress code, opens only 6:30pm to 10pm, and La Villa, the seafood restaurant, only 1pm to 4pm by reservation, so short-stay guests may never get into either
- −Low occupancy in slower periods leaves the resort feeling empty, with a thin crowd at the buffet and a sparse pool deck, and some guests report that listed activities simply did not run during their stay
The practical experience requires calibrated expectations. The beach is the most important thing to understand before booking: despite the name, the tagline and many of the photos, the hotel sits behind manmade rock walls on the bay, there is no sand on the property, and the public beach is a short walk next door. This bothers some guests enormously and others not at all. Rooms are spacious but dated. Wi-Fi outside the lobby is essentially absent, and the operator does not mention internet anywhere on its own site. Dining is a buffet at Cafe Marina from 7am to 10:30pm with themed dinners, Snack Bar Caracol for burgers, tacos and pizza from 11am to 7pm, Ocean Grill on the second floor, and two specialty restaurants that both require a two-night minimum stay and are subject to availability: Magallanes for Italian a la carte with a formal dress code, and La Villa for seafood at lunch only, by reservation. Breakfast is the strongest meal, the restaurant staff are attentive and warm, and the evening theatre programme is a legitimate bright spot. Noise from the amphitheater and inconsistent housekeeping are the complaints recent reviews repeat.
This resort is best for budget-conscious travelers who want a full all-inclusive in Puerto Vallarta without 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: by the operator's own figures it is 5 minutes from the airport and 15 from downtown and the Malecon. If beach access is central to your vacation, the walk next door will feel unsatisfying over a full week. But if you are drawn to a quieter, affordable property with unusual scenery and a staff that actually tries, Vamar delivers more than its price tag suggests.
Common Questions
Is the beach access situation actually a problem?
How far is the resort from downtown Puerto Vallarta and the Romantic Zone?
What are the pools actually like?
How does the all-inclusive food and drink compare to competitors?
What boat tours and activities can you book from the marina?
Is the Wi-Fi situation really that bad?
Restaurants (3)
| Type | Restaurants |
|---|---|
| Buffet | Cafe Marina |
| Italian | Magallanes Restaurant |
| Seafood | Restaurant La Villa |
From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown.
What's nearby
Zona Romántica11 min drive · 6.0 mi
Los Muertos Beach12 min drive · 6.5 mi
11 min drive · 6.2 mi
Marina Vallarta3 min drive · 0.8 mi
Conchas Chinas Beach14 min drive · 7.2 mi
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church10 min drive · 5.7 mi
More things to do (24)
- Whale watching (December to March) · excursion3 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Sunset sail from Marina Vallarta · excursion3 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Las Caletas beach day trip · excursion3 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Splash Water Park · water park12 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Camarones Beach · beach8 min drive · 4.7 mi
- Playa Palmares · beach20 min drive · 9.8 mi
- Mismaloya Beach · beach25 min drive · 13 mi
- Puerto Vallarta Malecón · town9 min drive · 5.3 mi
- Evening show and dinner at Las Caletas · excursion3 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Sport fishing charter · excursion3 min drive · 0.8 mi
- Marina Vallarta Golf Club · golf5 min drive · 1.4 mi
- Playa de Oro · beach6 min drive · 2.6 mi
- Estero El Salado · nature6 min drive · 2.2 mi
- Playa Los Tules · beach7 min drive · 3.4 mi
- Playa Las Glorias · beach7 min drive · 3.6 mi
- Museo Histórico Naval · museum10 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Mirador La Cruz · viewpoint10 min drive · 5.5 mi
- Faro de Matamoros · viewpoint11 min drive · 5.8 mi
- Isla Río Cuale · nature11 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Olas Altas Beach · beach11 min drive · 6.0 mi
- Los Arcos snorkel trip · excursion11 min drive · 6.2 mi
- Jardín Mágico Butterfly Garden · wildlife13 min drive · 5.2 mi
- Amapas Beach · beach13 min drive · 7.1 mi
- Aquaventuras Park · water park14 min drive · 6.8 mi
Amenities
Google Reviews★ 4 · 6,101 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...”
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