La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
Rating8.0
Rating8.1
Rating8.1Above Average
Based on 3.1k reviews
Stunning Natural Beauty
Guests consistently rave about the resort's breathtaking mountain and Banderas Bay views, set amidst a pristine natural reserve, offering a truly unique and tranquil environment.
Exceptional Service
The staff receives widespread praise for their friendliness, attentiveness, and dedication to providing excellent service, significantly enhancing the guest experience.
Eva Mandarina Beach Club
The exclusive beach club is a major highlight, offering a fantastic and private seaside escape with great food and service, just a short shuttle ride away.
Pools & Relaxation
The resort's infinity pools and dedicated adult-only pool areas, complete with hot tubs, are highly appreciated for their beauty and tranquil ambiance.
Spacious & Clean Rooms
Guests generally find the accommodations to be beautiful, generously sized, and well-maintained, contributing to a comfortable stay.
Inconsistent Dining Quality
While specialty restaurants are well-received, guests frequently express disappointment with the overall quality and variety of the buffet offerings, often describing them as ordinary.
Resort Layout & Accessibility
The hilly and expansive nature of the property means significant walking is often required, and reliance on internal shuttles is necessary, which can impact convenience.
Beach Access & Remoteness
The beach is not directly on-site and requires a shuttle, with some guests finding the limited shuttle hours and distance from other amenities a minor inconvenience.
Value for Money
Some guests feel the resort is overpriced, citing concerns about food quality and occasional maintenance issues that do not align with their expectations for a 4.5-star property.
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Acclaimed as one of the best hotels in Puerto Vallarta
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The hillside setting is what separates Grand Sirenis Matlali Hills from every other all-inclusive on the Riviera Nayarit. Most resorts in this area are flat beachfront compounds; this one is built into the Sierra Madre slopes above La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, meaning the infinity pools and rooms look down over Banderas Bay from an elevation most coastal hotels can't replicate. Bird watching through the property's ecological reserve, trekking trails through jungle, and the genuine sense of natural immersion set the mood here.
This resort skews clearly adult. Most a la carte restaurants are adults-only. The two adults-only pool areas with hot tubs in the trees are the most desirable pool sections. Families are accommodated with a kids club (ages 4-12) and a designated family pool area, but parents with young children should know the overall energy is oriented toward couples. The Trattoria Italian restaurant is consistently cited by guests as the best on the property — book it first.
The practical downside of the hillside setting is mobility. The resort's terraced layout means walking between facilities involves significant incline and stair navigation. Shuttles run internally but the frequency varies. The other trade-off: there's no beach at the resort itself. The Eva Mandarina Beach Club — a private beach club on Banderas Bay — is a 10-minute shuttle ride away, with service running on a schedule. Guests who want beach access without planning their day around a shuttle departure should know this before booking.
Practical details: 134 rooms and suites (expanded to that number after a 2021 renovation adding 100 rooms across five towers). Makawe Spa has six palm-hut treatment rooms in an Asian-inspired setting with a Zen plunge pool. Puerto Vallarta airport is 25-30 minutes away. The Hikuri ancestral ceremony at the spa is one of the few culturally distinctive spa offerings in the region.