For some reason, I was expecting Nuevo Vallarta to be like Waikiki. It wasn’t. Instead of a dense and compact tourist destination, I saw large resorts scattered along the coast, sometimes with large gaps between them. Even if you want to take an evening walk, there was no place to go. Seems incredible that large resorts can exist without tourist shops and restaurants nearby, but that was definitely my experience. You can see for yourself on Google Maps.

I thought I would be able to walk from Villa La Estancia to something nearby, but I didn’t see anything within walking distance outside of other resorts. I went to Puerto Vallarta once, but most of the time, I travelled back-and-forth between the hotel and Vallarta Adventures.

Where Should I Stay in Nuevo Vallarta

If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort and do not plan to leave the premises, then location should not make a big difference. However, if you want to take advantage of several of the journeys offered by Vallarta Adventures, then the cost of transportation may be a factor.

As you can see, a trip from Vallarta Adventures to Villa Del Palmar (which is next to Villa La Estancia) costs $110 for 1-4 passengers and $220 for 5-8 passengers. After a couple of trips, that taxi fare starts adding up quickly, so let this Nuevo Vallarta taxi rate sign be your guide. If you plan on joining some Vallarta Adventure tours, it would be smart to stay somewhere closer to them than at the northern end of Nuevo Vallarta, or even further away.