Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa Riviera Nayarit

There’s a variety of lodging options in Nuevo Vallarta, ranging from cheap room rentals to sprawling luxury resorts. Villa La Estancia falls on the upmarket side of the spectrum, and appeals to travelers who are looking for spacious, condo-style units in a resort setting. Villa La Estancia isn’t an all-inclusive, so it lacks the constant activities schedules and wild atmosphere of some of its neighbors. The property is also significantly quieter than its sister, Villa del Palmar Flamingos, next door. While Flamingos attracts lots of families with kids, Estancia caters to an older crowd -- mostly couples and retirees -- with its relaxed vibe and traditionally elegant design. 

Villa La Estancia is a beachfront property in Nuevo Vallarta, a popular resort town about 30 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta (20 minutes north of the airport). The hotel is located on the resort community’s northern end, which is quieter and less crowded than points farther south. Nuevo Vallarta was developed in the ‘80s as a resort community, and hasn’t stopped growing since. The beach is lined with numerous mega-resorts, as well as large shopping complexes with restaurants, supermarkets, and American fast-food outlets such as 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. Travelers who want to spend significant time in Puerto Vallarta might want to consider renting a car, since taxis can be pricey and public transportation isn’t always reliable.  

Rooms have similar decor that can be described as upscale Mediterranean with Mexican flair. Travertine floors, dark-wood furniture, and wrought-iron accents are distinctly Mediterranean, while hand-painted tile back splashes and colorful wall art allude to the hotel’s locality. There are two basic room types at Villa La Estancia: standard hotel rooms and apartment-style units. The standard guest rooms are known as Deluxe Superior Rooms, and are the smallest units, though measuring 481 square feet, they’re still spacious enough for four people. Deluxe Superior Rooms have two queen size beds, ensuite bathrooms, and private balconies. They do not have kitchens, but minibars and coffeemakers are provided. Villa La Estancia also has one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites that range in size from 1,7000 to 3,000 square feet. These apartment-style units feature kitchens with full-size stainless-steel refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers, in-unit laundry, large living rooms, and bedrooms with private bathrooms. Plus, massive outdoor balconies provide even more living space. Most rooms overlook the pool complex, and some offer better views of the ocean than others. Oceanfront units, including 4,00-square-foot, three-bedroom penthouses, are available. 

Villa La Estancia’s massive multi-level pool is a property highlight. It’s surrounded by hundreds of lounge chairs and umbrellas, and is attended to by a dedicated pool concierge, who are always on hand to retrieve towels, deliver drinks, and offer sunscreen. The pool has several different areas, including a shallow zero-entry point, a splash zone with fountains, a swim-up bar, and an infinity edge. There are also several jetted hot tubs that overlook the beach. The pool area remains quiet throughout the day, so travelers looking for water aerobics and swim-up movies should head next door to Villa del Palmar.  Beyond the pool, the property opens up onto the beach, where cushioned loungers and umbrellas are lined up in neat rows along the sand. Hammocks strung between palm trees create the quintessential beach vacation vibe. Villa La Estancia has a privileged location on the northernmost end of Nuevo Vallarta’s beach, which means there’s significantly less foot traffic than points farther south. The ocean water is calm, perfect for swimming, kayaking, or boogie boarding. La Estancia has two on-site restaurants. La Casona is the hotel’s signature restaurant that serves all three meals in an upscale grand dining room setting. In the morning guests can choose from buffet and a la carte breakfast options, but La Casona is exclusively a la carte for lunch and dinner. For more casual fare, the poolside La Parilla Grill serves burgers, sandwiches, salads, and pizzas for lunch and dinner. Guests also have access to all of the restaurants next door at Villa del Palmar. The on-site fitness center feature modern LifeFitness equipment, including treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, and a variety of weight machines. The gym at Villa del Palmar is nicer, and has a separate studio for group exercise classes, so serious exercise buffs should head next door if they want to work out. The hotel’s 17,000-square-foot Tatewari Spa (shared with Villa del Palmar), is a beautiful Mediterranean-inspired oasis with 15 treatment rooms and a varied menu of massages, facials, and body wraps. The spa has indoor and outdoor components, and a hydrotherapy circuit with a sauna, steam room, pressure shower, and immersion fountain.  Wi-Fi is free for all guests and works well across the property. 

Though Villa La Estancia is not a traditional all-inclusive resort, it offers all-inclusive rates. Guests who elect the all-inclusive package are entitled to three meals at any of the sister properties’ on-site restaurants. The all-inclusive package also includes unlimited beverages and wines by the glass, non-motorized water sports at the beach, and day passes for spa facilities (treatment prices not included). Speciality menu items such as angus beef, jumbo shrimp, and lobster are discounted, but not included.