Sunscape Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa

A fresh face was put on this Puerto Vallarta resort hotel when Sunscape took it over from Holiday Inn in late 2015. Common spaces and guest rooms were remodeled, though a few areas could still use a touch-up. Decor is simple and contemporary with a dash of Mexican flair, relying on natural materials like wood and stone and a color palette of browns, rust oranges, and reds. Stucco walls and stone floors are common, the latter sometimes featuring inset stone medallions. The property is made up of mostly connected stucco buildings (and “towers”) with terra-cotta roofs that surround the massive main pool accented with palm trees, games (like giant chess), and thatch-roofed watering holes and dining spots. From the pool area, it’s onward toward the beach, where a cordoned off Sunscape area protects guests from pesky hawkers—but your on your own for the walk to the waterline. It’s certainly not a luxury property, but it’s well-maintained, exceptionally staffed, and there’s plenty to do, attracting lots of families with children with kid-friendly features, like kids' and teens' clubs.

This part of Puerto Vallarta—about halfway between the airport to the north and downtown to the south—is busy, with cars, buses, and people bustling about, a hectic scene that continues on the hotel property where it’s common to see buses loading and unloading crowds of guests. But that’s to be expected in this Hotel Zone location, where the beach is lined with other resorts, apartments, shopping centers, and commercial buildings. The upscale Marina Vallarta golf community and the airport are about a 12-minute drive north, while bustling downtown Puerto Vallarata is about a 15-minute drive south. There’s a mall right across the street, and many guests appreciate the convenience of having a Walmart and a Sam's Club in the area, about a five-minute drive away.

Fresh, vibrant, and spacious, guest rooms were included in the hotel’s extensive remodeling in late 2015. Decor is contemporary with a traditional edge, featuring marbled flooring, stucco walls, bright red accent walls behind the beds, and stylish wood furnishings, like wishbone chairs with woven seats. Vibrant bed runners and artwork give a nod to Mexican handicrafts. Bathrooms are contemporary, too, with mosaic-tiled accent walls, and walk-in showers with half-glass partitions. All rooms have either terraces or balconies, and many feature ocean views.

Rooms have sitting areas, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, minibars (restocked daily with free drinks, including a few beers), and bathrooms with hairdryers and decent-sized individual toiletries. Wardrobes are outfitted with robes, electronic safes, irons, and ironing boards.

Entry-level Deluxe Ocean View Rooms measure a roomy 340 square feet and feature two double or one king-sized bed, sleeping up to four with adults and children. Upgraded rooms add more space or extra features and may have sofas, stereo-sound iPhone docking stations, sitting areas, or other extras. Deluxe Family Rooms feature bunkbeds, private terraces, and TVs with video games. The largest Sun Club Two-Story Suite is a whopping 1,200 square feet for up to six guests. Guests staying in upgraded Sun Club rooms enjoy special privileges, such as premium minibar selections and room service during limited hours. 

Like many all-inclusive resorts, Sunscape's rates include meals, drinks, wellness facilities, entertainment, kids’ clubs, and access to the beach and pool (no wristband required). Some amenities, though, are saved for Sun Club members (those staying in certain upgraded rooms), who get premium minibar items, in-room newspapers, access to a private beach area, and other bonuses. Sun Club members also get room service, not available to other guests, though the menu is limited. 

The heart of the property is the main pool, impressively sized, with water volleyball, a swim-up bar, and a separate pool bar/grill island, connected to the lounge-chair-filled pool deck by two bridges. Beyond the pool, there’s a stretch of beach, but Sunscape only controls the portion close to the resort, where loungers and thatched umbrellas (palapas) are packed in to a cordoned-off area. There, you’re protected from hawkers and vendors, but going to the water’s edge sometimes means fighting them off. Waiting staff service both the beach and the pool.

The property offers food and drink at 10 restaurants and bars. The biggest dining facility is the World Cafe, an open-air, wood-floored buffet set under a thatched roof, serving from morning until late. The Barefoot Grill, on an island in the middle of the pool, serves causal fare for lunch, while the Seaside Grill is open for lunch and dinner. For a fancier night, there’s the dinner-only, no-kids-allowed Mexican restaurant, Tiki Taco, and the rustic-chic Da Mario, serving Italian cuisine. (Dress code at these is “casual elegant” such as blouses, collared shirts; at most other facilities the dress code is casual, with swimsuits covered up.) 

Drinks are also covered in nightly rates, and watering holes include a poolside bar, swim-up bar, lobby lounge, and veranda bar. There’s also a small, 24-hour cafe serving coffee, tea, and treats, like cakes and pastries. Dining venues may not be open all days or for all meals, so some guests (especially those with little ones who can’t dine at the Tiki Taco and Da Mario), feel like the grill and buffet restaurant are really the only choices. 

There’s plenty to do at the resort besides eat and swim. Guests can take part in tequila tastings, movie nights, or—if you’re there during a hatching—the sea turtle release program. The hotel also has ping-pong, foosball, bean bag toss, shuffleboard, giant chess, beach volleyball, board games, on-site shopping, Zumba and yoga lessons, and two lit tennis courts. The current fitness area is dated, but it was slated for renovations during our 2017 review. A new spa was also slated to re-open in 2018, where a full range of treatments will be offered, including hair styling, manicures, massages, and facials. (Guests are also hoping for a whirlpool.) In the meantime, guests can book treatments at the sister resort, Secrets Vallarta Bay; free transport is included. 

Supervised activities are offered for kids all day in two different clubs, the Explorer’s Club is for 3 to 12 year olds or the Core Zone Teens Club for 13 to 17 year olds. Arts and craft projects, movie nights, games, and tournaments are regular activities. For little ones, there’s also a kiddy pool with a small water slide, surrounded by a handful of loungers for adults. The buffet also has a special kids’ corner. 

The hotel has meeting, event, and wedding venues, plus a business center with computers, printers, and fax service. Wi-Fi is free in the lobby, but costs an extra fee—and tends to be spotty—in rooms.