Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa

A gigantic Mayan temple marks the entrance of Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa, an all-inclusive-optional resort on the southern end of Nuevo Vallarta’s hotel strip. Behind the temple, the expansive property unfolds. A mishmash of buildings crowd either side of the long driveway that runs across the property. Registration can be confusing if you don’t know which building you’re checking into. Most check-ins (expect long lines) take place in the Tikal lobby in the resort’s main building, all the way at the end of the central driveway. The Tikal lobby is a massive 1980s atrium, with dated furniture and more cheesy thematic elements, like faux-stone archways and Mayan carvings. Grounds are more attractive, with multiple pools, palm trees, and a wide stretch of beach. The majority of hotel guests are American and Canadian families, many of whom own Paradise Village timeshares.  

Paradise Village is located on the beach in Nuevo Vallarta, a popular resort town about 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta (20 minutes north of the airport). Nuevo Vallarta was developed in the 1980s as a resort community, and hasn’t stopped growing since. The beach is lined with mega-resort after mega-resort, and large shopping complexes house restaurants, supermarkets, and American fast-food outlets like Starbucks and Subway. Nuevo Vallarta doesn’t have the same authentic Mexican feel as Puerto Vallarta, and is known more for family-friendliness than nightlife. From the hotel, guests can easily walk to coffee shops, restaurants, additional hotels, a large mall, supermarket, and casino. Parking is free.

Like the rest of the property, rooms at Paradise Village are dated, but they’re clean, well-maintained, and incredibly spacious. The hotel has studio and one- and two-bedroom units, all of which have full kitchens that feature nice upgrades, like stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops. Unattractive orange bedspreads and patterned linens atop wicker furniture show signs of age, and geometric-patterned headboards and valences feel like an unnecessary iteration of the hotel’s kitschy Mayan theme. Age and ugly decor aside, rooms are equipped with sufficient amenities, consisting of flat-screen TVs, iHome docks, electronic safes, and ironing facilities. Bathrooms have the same beige granite countertops as the kitchens, as well as glass-enclosed shower/tub combos with dated sliding shower doors. All rooms have private furnished outdoor balconies; some overlook the pools and beach, while others overlook the property’s front entrance.  

Paradise Village has a handful of nice amenities, including three pools, direct beach access, six restaurants and bars, a spa, and a modern fitness center. It also offers free garage parking and Wi-Fi. Guests should note that the hotel keeps two caged tigers on property. Many guests like to visit the tiger cage to see the animals and take pictures of them, while other guests find the conditions upsetting.

There are three pools at Paradise Village: a family-friendly activities pool, a quiet pool, and a lap pool. The activities pool is the hotel’s most exciting aquatic space, with its own Mayan temple, two alligator waterslides, and a suspension bridge. It also has a shallow area for kids, and a separate kiddy pool. Throughout the day, staff members entertain guests with dance competitions, trivia games, and pool races, and the atmosphere is always upbeat and noisy. Guests seeking a calmer swimming experience can head over to the smaller quiet pool. However, the quiet rule isn’t always enforced, and kids are still allowed in the pool, so the area isn’t completely serene. In the rear of the property, behind the tennis courts, there’s also a lap pool. 

The beach in front of Paradise Village is lined with tons of lounge chairs and palapa style umbrellas. The wide expanse of sand provides plenty of room for playing soccer, building sandcastles, and taking leisurely strolls along the ocean. The water is generally calm -- better for swimming than surfing. The beach extends northwards for about four miles, but guests should note that the southern tip of the beach culminates in a rocky seawall, built to accommodate the local marina. 

Paradise Village has a variety of on-site restaurants, from upscale eateries to poolside grills and convenient delis, though food overall receives mixed reviews. El Faro de Tulum is the signature buffet restaurant, serving buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offering both indoor and outdoor seating. El Faro de Tulum is typically crowded during meal times, so guests looking for something quick may prefer Tikal Cafe and Deli. Located off the main lobby, Tikal Cafe and Deli serves grab-and-go grub from morning until night, including coffee, muffins, and cereal in the mornings, sandwiches and salads at lunch, and sushi and desserts at dinnertime. There are also two outdoor bar and grills that serve lunch and snacks around the pool and beach. Mayapan, a Mexican restaurant open for dinner, is the hotel’s only upscale a la carte option. The Xcaret Sports Bar and Game Hall is only open for special occasions (like the Super Bowl or World Series). 

The Palenque Spa at Paradise Village is housed in a Mayan-like temple. The spa has a salon, several treatments rooms, a lackluster relaxation room (wicker furniture and some candles around a coffee table), and a small sauna with a hydrotherapy pool. It’s not the most luxurious spa we’ve ever seen, but it’s incredibly popular with guests, and advanced reservations are strongly recommended. The spa is also home to the fitness center. Though drop ceilings give the space a dark, basement-like feel, large windows let in lots of natural light, and there’s tons of modern LifeFitness cardio and weight-training machines. 

Technically, Paradise Village is a timeshare property, but it also offers all-inclusive rates. The all-inclusive plan includes all meals at on-site restaurants, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and non-motorized water sports. Guests who elect the all-inclusive plan must wear bracelets to identify their meal plans.