When you travel with kids, the checklist changes fast: a pool with a waterslide, a kids' club the children actually enjoy, and a suite with room to spread out. Banderas Bay delivers on all three. From Marina Vallarta to Nuevo Vallarta and Punta de Mita, these are some of the most popular family-friendly resorts in the area, with the story behind each one and what to know before you book.
How Banderas Bay Became a Family Destination
Long before the waterslides, Puerto Vallarta began on December 12, 1851, as Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe, a small landing that shipped salt to the silver mines in the mountains. We cover that story in our Puerto Vallarta history guide.
On the Nayarit side of the bay, the big shift came in the early 1970s, when the federal government created the Bahía de Banderas trust on more than 5,000 hectares (over 12,000 acres) of communal farmland. That project produced Nuevo Vallarta, a resort zone planned from scratch with streets, canals and a marina. Back in Jalisco, construction of Marina Vallarta next to the airport began in 1986.
Mexican hotel companies such as Velas and Vidanta grew up alongside the bay, and international luxury brands later arrived in Punta de Mita, increasingly with kids in mind.
Quick Timeline
- 1851: Las Peñas de Santa María de Guadalupe, today's Puerto Vallarta, is founded.
- 1970–1971: the Bahía de Banderas trust is created, the origin of Nuevo Vallarta.
- 1986: work begins on Marina Vallarta.
- 1989: the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, is created.
- 1990: Velas Vallarta opens as the Vela family's first hotel.
- 2002: Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit opens in Nuevo Vallarta.
- 2020: Conrad Punta de Mita opens on Litibú beach.
- 2022: Nuevo Vallarta is officially renamed Nuevo Nayarit.
Where to Stay with Kids: Three Areas to Know
- Marina Vallarta (Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco): minutes from the airport and about 20 minutes from downtown and the Malecón. More in our Marina Vallarta guide.
- Nuevo Vallarta (Nayarit): long, flat beaches and big resorts with plenty of space. See our Nuevo Vallarta guide and Nuevo Vallarta resorts.
- Punta de Mita area: quieter and farther out, roughly 45 minutes from the airport. Details in Punta Mita luxury hotels.
Good to know: Nuevo Vallarta and Punta de Mita share Puerto Vallarta's time zone, so there's no clock change when you cross the river into Nayarit.
The Best Family Resorts in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit
Velas Vallarta (Marina Vallarta)
An all-inclusive resort right on Banderas Bay, set on about ten acres of tropical gardens and roughly 10 minutes from the airport. Suites come with a private terrace, a roomy living area and a fully equipped kitchen, a real plus with little ones. The Kids' Club, for ages 4 to 12, runs sandcastle contests, arts and crafts, tennis lessons, scavenger hunts and movie nights.
The backstory: it opened in November 1990 as the first hotel of Velas Resorts, the company run by the Vela brothers and led today by president Eduardo Vela Ruiz. The collection that grew from it now reaches the Riviera Maya and Los Cabos.
Family favorites: three pools, tennis, a golf course within walking distance and, in season, Easter egg hunts and Christmas crafts. Foodies Cantina serves coastal Mexican flavors, and parents can slip away to AMET Spa.
Best for: families who want to be close to the airport and town, with condo-style space.
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit (Nuevo Vallarta)
Grand Velas' luxury all-inclusive on the Pacific describes itself as family-friendly, with a Kids' Club and a Teens' Club, spacious ocean-view suites and activities for every age, including a family cinema with popcorn and snacks. Condé Nast Traveler has recognized its spa, so parents get their own downtime too.
The backstory: it opened in November 2002, and the company bills it as Mexico's first luxury all-inclusive resort. All 267 suites measure at least 1,000 square feet and have balconies.
What sets it apart: according to Forbes Travel Guide, the Teens' Club welcomes ages 13 to 18, which is rare in the area. The style is contemporary Mexican set among gardens, with restaurants such as Frida, Lucca, Piaf and Sen Lin, and the spa's "Water Ceremony" hydrotherapy circuit takes you from steam to ice.
Best for: families who want top-tier luxury and service plus real programs for kids and teens.
Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa (Nuevo Vallarta)
This resort sits on a private 12-acre peninsula between the bay and a marina, about 15 minutes from the airport, with 681 suites in four buildings. Kids remember the two lagoon-style pools with two giant alligator-shaped waterslides and a rope suspension bridge. There's a Kids Club play area, daily activities for the whole family and nanny service for a fee.
Maya-inspired design: the resort draws on ancient Maya architecture, and the names give it away: the Tikal and Uxmal towers, the Tulum, Mayapan and Kabah restaurants, and Palenque Spa. It's a fun way to start a conversation with kids about those real Maya cities.
Beyond the pool: water sports, bikes, tennis with a resident pro, beach volleyball and the El Tigre golf course, designed by Robert von Hagge.
Best for: pool-loving kids who never want to get out of the water.
Pools and beach seen from a room at Sea Garden, Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta.
Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta
A large resort complex with several hotels, three golf courses, spas, cooking classes and plenty of pool and beach activities. Its Kid's Club, for ages 5 to 12, is next to The Grand Mayan wave pool and offers supervised activities, including water play. Weekly theme nights, such as Pirate Night or a Pajama Party, are available for an extra fee, and Grand Luxxe guests have their own exclusive kids' club.
The backstory: the group was founded in 1974 by Daniel Chávez Morán, a native of Delicias, Chihuahua. It has gone by other names, including Mayan Resorts, and today brings together nine hotels in Nuevo Vallarta.
Fun for everyone: a water park, a lazy river, guacamole-making and Spanish classes, treasure hunts and iguana-spotting walks around the grounds. Since December 2025 it has hosted LUDÕ, a Cirque du Soleil aquatic dinner show for ages 3 and up.
Best for: big or multigenerational families who want lots of options without leaving the resort.
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta (Nuevo Vallarta)
This music-themed all-inclusive features the Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club and newly renovated spaces designed for families to play and splash together. Dining, drinks and entertainment are all part of the stay.
A brand with rock 'n' roll roots: it all started with the Hard Rock Cafe that Peter Morton and Isaac Tigrett opened in London in 1971; since 2007 the brand has been owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. In Vallarta, the hotel recently unveiled a renovation with new family experiences and its Rock Spa.
Best for: families who like a lively vibe and nonstop activities.
Grand Palladium Vallarta Resort & Spa (Riviera Nayarit)
On the road to Punta de Mita, facing a golden-sand beach, this all-inclusive has a well-rounded program split by age: Baby Club (1 to 3), Mini Club (4 to 12) with crafts, nature outings and a kids' pool, and Junior Club (13 to 18) with video games, a pool table and social activities. There's also a small children's water park and a saltwater pool.
Who's behind it: Palladium Hotel Group is a Spanish company based in Ibiza and part of the Matutes family's group of businesses. This resort has 416 rooms, restaurants such as La Adelita and Portofino, a Family Selection area and EarthCheck sustainable-tourism certification.
Best for: families with kids of very different ages, from babies to teens.
Conrad Punta de Mita
Opened in 2020 on Litibú beach inside a gated community, the Conrad displays a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star award for 2026. Its Turi Kids Club welcomes ages 4 to 12 at no charge for guests (subject to availability), with activities like making a traditional Ojo de Dios. There's a family pool with a waterslide and splash pad, a shallow pool for toddlers, a game room and two-bedroom suites with kitchens.
The backstory: it was Hilton's first Conrad in Mexico. Barron Hilton launched the brand in 1985 and named it after his father, Conrad Hilton. The resort has 324 rooms, three pools and a traditional temazcal.
A souvenir with meaning: the Ojo de Dios ("God's eye") is a wooden cross woven with colored yarn. Among the Wixárika (Huichol) people, when a baby is born the father weaves the central eye and adds one color for each year of the child's life, up to age five. Learn more in our Huichol art guide.
Dining: Codex, with ancestral Mexican cuisine, plus Mezquite, Árbol and Paleta; kids 12 and under get one complimentary kids' dish with each adult main course.
Best for: families after a calm luxury resort with a long beach for sandcastles.
Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection (Punta de Mita)
Between La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and Punta Mita, this hotel blends contemporary design with Mexican craftsmanship, and its three infinity pools cascade down to the beach. It has the Morritos Kids Club and, for larger groups, cliffside residences and casas with four to seven bedrooms. Experiences include a pescado zarandeado cooking class and trips to the Marietas Islands.
Who's behind it: Auberge Resorts began in 1981 with Auberge du Soleil in California's Napa Valley. At Susurros, the design celebrates natural materials and Mexican craft. The kids' club name plays on "morritos," an affectionate Mexican slang word for kids.
For families: casas with names like Luna, Nido and Pacífico, a Surf Safari, a whale-listening outing and snorkeling in the bay. The resort's website highlights Michelin Keys in 2025.
Best for: families who want relaxed luxury with plenty of local flavor.
We recommend confirming hours, rates and availability directly with each hotel; kids' club ages and policies can change.
Gardens and pool at Velas Vallarta (photo from 2014).
Kids' Clubs at a Glance
| Resort | Area | Published club ages | Teens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velas Vallarta | Marina Vallarta | 4–12 | Not published |
| Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit | Nuevo Vallarta | Kids' Club (ages to confirm) | Teens' Club 13–18 |
| Paradise Village | Nuevo Vallarta | Not published | Not published |
| Vidanta | Nuevo Vallarta | 5–12 | Not published |
| Hard Rock Vallarta | Nuevo Vallarta | Not published | Not published |
| Grand Palladium Vallarta | Punta de Mita road | 1–3 and 4–12 | Junior Club 13–18 |
| Conrad Punta de Mita | Litibú | 4–12 | Not published |
| Susurros del Corazón | Punta de Mita | Not published | Not published |
"Not published" means the resort doesn't list it online; ask when you book.
Nature and Seasons: When to Visit with Kids
Puerto Vallarta is warm year-round. From November through May it barely rains and daytime highs run around 80–86°F (27–30°C), though January and February mornings can feel cool. The rainy season runs roughly mid-June to mid-October, with heavy storms and highs near 90°F (32°C). The ocean ranges from about 75°F (24°C) in winter to 86°F (30°C) in late summer. Pacific hurricane season officially runs May 15 to November 30, so check official advisories if you travel then.
Each season has its own wildlife moment for kids:
- Humpback whales (roughly December to March): they come to the bay to breed. For the 2025–2026 season, Mexico's environment ministry set the dates as December 8 to March 23; confirm the current season. Read more in whale watching in Puerto Vallarta.
- Sea turtles (summer and fall): olive ridley turtles nest on Nuevo Vallarta's beaches; about 6,000 nests were counted along that coast in 2010. Some authorized turtle camps open hatchling releases to the public. See sea turtles in Riviera Nayarit.
- Birds and mangroves: the El Quelele estuary near Nuevo Vallarta has mangroves and is a good spot for birdwatching.
Heads-up: American crocodiles, a native and protected species, live around the mouth of the Ameca River and in the estuaries. Heed the signs and don't let kids play alone along river or lagoon banks.
A Family Day Out: Vallarta City Tour with Riviera Tours & Transfers
Our tours aren't tied to these resorts, but if you'd like your kids to see the real Puerto Vallarta beyond the pool, you can also join our Vallarta City Tour. It runs every day, lasts about 7 hours and is offered in English and Spanish. It includes:
- A guided walk through downtown Puerto Vallarta
- A visit to a traditional jewelry workshop
- Free time for shopping
- A tequila stop
- A visit to a regional-cuisine restaurant (meal not included)
Prefer lunch included plus a distillery tour and tequila tasting? Check out the Vallarta Plus City Tour. Ask us about the pickup point for your hotel.
See dates and book the Vallarta City Tour →
For more ideas, see things to do in Puerto Vallarta.
A Sample Family Week
- Day 1: arrive and hit the pool; let the kids check out the club at their own pace.
- Day 2: kids' club in the morning, beach in the afternoon, a show at night.
- Day 3: the Malecón and downtown, on your own or with the City Tour.
- Day 4: a slow day; alternating outings with downtime helps with kids.
- Day 5: whales in winter or turtles in summer and fall, with authorized operators and camps.
- Day 6: a different beach town, such as Bucerías or Sayulita. To skip the driving, our Sayulita and San Pancho tour includes round-trip transportation, a guided walk in Sayulita and San Pancho's beach (lunch not included).
- Day 7: one last swim and home.
Tips for Choosing a Family Resort in Puerto Vallarta
- Check kids' club ages. They vary: some start at 4, others at 5, and only a few have clubs for babies or teens.
- Ask whether the club costs extra and if you need to reserve a spot; some resorts cap the number of kids per session.
- A suite with a kitchen makes life easier with small children.
- Mind the airport distance: Marina Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta are close; Punta de Mita is farther.
- Book early for Christmas, Easter week and summer break.
- What to pack: hats, long-sleeve swim shirts, water shoes, bug spray and a light jacket for winter mornings.
- Budget: all-inclusive keeps costs simple, but babysitting, theme nights and spa visits usually cost extra.
Sunset by a pool in Nuevo Vallarta.
FAQ
Which Puerto Vallarta resorts have a teens' club? Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit has a Teens' Club, and Grand Palladium Vallarta has a Junior Club for ages 13 to 18.
Are there resorts with a club for babies or toddlers? Grand Palladium Vallarta lists a Baby Club for ages 1 to 3. At Conrad Punta de Mita, kids under 4 can join the club with an adult.
Is Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta better for families? It depends on your plans. Nuevo Vallarta has long beaches and full-service resorts; Marina Vallarta keeps you close to the airport and the city. For more ideas, see things to do in Puerto Vallarta.
Are kids' clubs free? It varies. At Conrad Punta de Mita it's complimentary for guests ages 4 to 12, subject to availability; at Vidanta some theme nights cost extra. Always confirm with your resort.
What's the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta with kids? November through May brings less rain and milder heat, and from December to March you can see whales. Summer is hotter and rainier but lines up with sea turtle season.
Is the ocean safe for kids to swim? Conditions change by day and by beach. Follow the resort's flags and staff advice, and never leave kids alone in the water.
Photos: Another Believer / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons (2 photos) · Ferfive / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons · Netzaa / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
