La Tranquila Breathtaking Resort & Spa

Quiet La Tranquila is located in Litibu, in a gated community shared with a Greg Norman golf course and a few hotels still under construction. Despite the grand entrance, the construction sites around it make it feel a little desolate -- but once inside guests might feel like they've arrived in South Beach. The lobby is huge, with high ceilings and oversized furniture, and the grounds behind the building are as stunning as it gets: Six huge pools crisscross at the center, and a seventh pool has an infinity edge and gorgeous views of the Pacific. The gardens are equally striking, with manicured lawns planted with dozens of palm trees and local plants.

The hotel is a little light on features and services, but there’s a spa in the works, tag:revisit 9/1/2013a fitness room, a superb restaurant, a poolside snack bar, and a lobby bar with a great selection of drinks.

The beautiful rooms are one of the main draws here. They start at 810 square feet and feature contemporary decor and open bathrooms with deep standalone jetted tubs. All rooms have terraces with plunge pools and ocean views.

La Tranquila is located in a quiet area known as Litibu, inside a gated community shared with the Greg Norman-designed golf course and a couple of hotels still under construction. The surroundings are not particularly pretty due to the construction sites, but the jungle covers large untouched lots, adding some appeal to the scene. The links are just across the street, and there’s a virgin, mile-long beach behind the hotel with great sunsets.

There’s virtually nothing within walking distance but the golf course, but exclusive Punta Mita is just a 15-minute drive away, and Sayulita, a fun, quaint little town east of Litibu is just about the same distance away.

• 40-minute drive to Puerto Vallarta airport
• Across the road from Litubu Golf Club
• 15-minute drive to Punta Mita
• 15-minute drive to Sayulita
• 28-minute drive to Bucerias
• 25-minute drive to San Pancho
• 35-minute drive to Nuevo Vallarta
• 50-minute drive to Puerto Vallarta

The rooms are one of the main draws here -- they’re huge (starting at 810 square feet), upscale, and sexy. There are three room types, all equally stunning and well-equipped: Tranquila Suites -- the standard room type; two-bedroom suites, complete with a kitchen and a living room; and the three-bedroom suites, which are the largest. They all have contemporary decor, top-notch amenities, and feature balconies or terraces with ocean views and plunge pools.

• King bed with crisp white linens
• Suites have a king bed in the master room, plus two queens or a queen and two twins in the other rooms.
• Large bathrooms with glass-enclosed showers with double rain showerheads, double sinks, and stand-alone jetted tubs; a smaller second bathroom with a walk-in shower in the multi-room suites
• Suites have fully stocked kitchens with washer/dryers and granite countertops.
• Private terraces or balconies with plunge pools and ocean views
• Flat-screen TVs with DVD players and satellite channels; smaller flat-screen TVs in the bathroom
• Bose sound systems and iPod docks
• Stocked minibars
• Free Wi-Fi
• Large closets

La Tranquila is home to seven stunning pools, all but the infinity-edge one crisscrossing in the central area of the resort. It’s arguably one of the most striking pool complexes in the area, and is surrounded by manicured grounds.

The most beautiful of the seven is the infinity-edge pool, which offers ocean views and nine whirlpools lining the beach. However, they’re all lovely, with sunken round lunges in most of them, two areas for water activities, and an adults-only section. Bar service is available, and there’s a snack bar serving food and drinks by the infinity-edge pool.

The fitness center is actually a small room with a dozen machines and a plunge pool. The equipment is modern and there’s a little bit of everything, but those who expect to find a large gym with a wide variety of machines and classes will be disappointed. Still, it gets natural light and offers free use of towels.

The resort offers large suites with up to three bedrooms and plenty of space for families. All multi-room suites have fully equipped kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, and terraces with plunge pools (plus loungers or a dining table for four). However, bathroom privacy may be an issue, as the master bedroom bathrooms in suites as well as bathrooms in standard rooms have glass-enclosed showers visible from the room.

Aside from the huge rooms, the hotel offers few other family-friendly amenities, and there is no kids’ club or kiddy pool. Families with older kids can hit the links or enjoy the beach and the activities by the pools.

• Green Bistro serves tasty Mexican and international cuisine in a trendy space off the lobby; outdoor seating available
• The snack bar is open for breakfast and lunch, and offers food and drinks by the pool and the beach.
• The lobby bar is a quiet place to enjoy a nightcap. The bar also offers free morning coffee and aguas (flavored waters) throughout the day.
• Room service is not 24-hour.
• Multi-room suites have kitchens; private chefs for in-room dining available

• Concierge
• Taxi and car rental service
• Room service (not 24-hour)
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
• Free valet parking
• Discounted rates at the adjacent Greg Norman-designed golf course for guests
• Private chefs for in-suite dining
• Free use of beach towels
• Babysitting services (for a fee)
• Welcome cocktail
• Poolside bar service

The hotel was built directly on a virgin beach between Punta Mita and Sayulita. It’s not a postcard-perfect stretch of sand, but it is sandy and quite pretty. Part of it has a slope too steep to place a towel, but the area closest to the lifeguard’s tower is flat and there are a couple of straw umbrellas that provide shade.

• Loungers and straw umbrellas
• Nine whirlpools and underwater loungers looking out onto the ocean
• Bar service available

La Tranquila is located right across the street from a great 18-hole, par 72 golf course. It was designed by Greg Norman and offers beautiful ocean views from the last three runs, as well as putting greens surrounded by virgin jungle and views of Monkey Mountain. Guests get discounted rates when reserving through the concierge.