Inside Look: VidantaWorld Nuevo Vallarta’s New Hotel and Upcoming Luxury Theme Park

At this moment in time, it’s quite possible that the VidantaWorld brand isn’t on many travel advisors’ radars — while they might know the name of this sprawling Mexico resort operator, they may mainly associate it with timeshares, which has made up the bulk of its business offerings until now.

All that is changing, however, with the opening of two luxury hotels: The 54-suite Jungala, which debuted at VidantaWorld Riviera Maya in November 2024, and the 79-suite BON (Beauty of Nature) Hotel VidantaWorld Nuevo Vallarta, which welcomed its first guests this past December (both are commissionable). And that’s just the beginning of the brand’s big plans to appeal to a wider pool of travelers — and the travel advisors who serve them.

Following the launch of the two hotels, VidantaWorld is set to open a luxury theme park in Riviera Nayarit this fall (complete with a Cirque du Soleil show, which is already hosting performances). The brand will also enter the cruise market in April with its Elegant ship — a “luxury resort that sails,” according to VidantaWorld.

Last month, I was one of the first guests at BON Hotel as part of a fam trip with a group of travel advisors, and we got a sneak peek at the upcoming luxury theme park. Here’s what I learned and experienced while there. 

BON Hotel 

The all-suite BON Hotel opened its doors to guests last month. Eventually, the hotel will serve as an ideal base of operations for BON Luxury Theme Park visitors, as it’s located within walking distance of the park, which will initially only be open to VidantaWorld resort guests.

For now, hotel guests can take advantage of wider access to most of the 2,500-acre VidantaWorld Nuevo Vallarta property. This includes more than 35 restaurants and bars; three golf courses, including one by Greg Norman and another from Jack Nicklaus; a golf center with various ways to learn, practice and play the sport; two spas (one with a complimentary outdoor hydrotherapy space); a mile-long beachfront; an absolutely enormous fitness center with state-of-the-art-equipment; and a wide variety of pools. Families benefit from kids’ clubs, a lazy river, two wave pools and rotating special activities such as movie nights and painting classes. There are a few spaces reserved exclusively for high-tier timeshare owners, but BON guests have the run of the majority of the resort. 

In fact, the property is so expansive that clients could easily have entirely different experiences every day, bouncing between all the offerings via the resort’s tram system. (Pro tip: Advise clients to download the Vidanta app to help them understand and choose between the full range of the resort’s myriad dining and entertainment options.)

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While the transportation generally operates very well, shuttles to and from BON were not quite as seamless as those across the rest of the resort as of my December stay — instead of coming regularly, transfers needed to be specially requested. During my visit, it tended to be quick and easy to get a shuttle from the hotel out to the rest of the resort, but a little longer to get one when headed back. With this in mind, potential clients for this property should be comfortable with the idea of allocating some extra time and effort to get to the beach, pools, restaurants and other activities. 

Travelers can also get between some resort points (and, eventually, the theme park) using the SkyDream gondola, which Vidanta touts as the world’s first beach-resort aerial gondola.

BON Hotel itself is simple, but upscale: Extremely spacious suites range from 915-square-foot one-bedroom options to 2,142-square-foot two-bedroom accommodations and 2,863-square-foot two-bedroom lofts. Both the two-bedroom options come with private plunge pools and Jacuzzis. 

My sleek and modern one-bedroom suite impressed me with all its offerings. A separate living and dining area housed plenty of sofa space and a kitchenette for in-suite meals (made easy thanks to VidantaWorld’s on-site grocery store, complete with a cheese counter, a butcher and a full array of other fresh products and pantry items). The bedroom featured a king-size bed (options are available with two double beds, too) and a large bathroom with a double vanity, a walk-in shower and a soaking tub — outfitted with a set of bath bubbles, salt and oil, an amenity that I find is often overlooked. I even had a second bathroom; while smaller, it still included its own shower, making the room even more appealing for family groups of up to four. 

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Outside of the suites, BON Hotel doesn’t have too many dedicated amenities; guests are mostly required to head out onto the wider property for meals and activities. That said, there’s a lovely pool within a five-minute walk. While not exclusive to BON guests, it’s rather removed from the rest of the property and was always sparsely populated — and very peaceful — during my visit. The closest restaurant is also here, serving up poolside cocktails and Mexican-inspired fare such as nachos, fish tacos and more.

BON Luxury Theme Park and Cirque du Soleil

BON Luxury Theme Park (as with the hotel, the name stands for “Beauty of Nature”) is slated to open this fall with a low-density concept for visitation, following a similar setup as the Jungala Aqua Experience waterpark at VidantaWorld Riviera Maya, which opened in June 2019. 

Because access to the park will be limited to VidantaWorld guests for the first year, visitors will enjoy fewer crowds, shorter lines and a more relaxed pace than at traditional theme parks. After the first year, the company will decide whether or not to expand access beyond resort guests, though either way, Vidanta says capacity control will continue to be a hallmark of the luxury park experience.

The 150-acre park is comparable in size to major global theme parks, but with fewer visitors it is bound to feel much more open and accessible, according to Vidanta. Plans call for 23 attractions, 25 restaurants and 16 shops across six themed lands, in addition to nighttime shows, parades and more entertainment. According to company representatives who accompanied my fam trip group, former Disney Imagineers and consultants on the newly opened Universal Epic Universe were tapped for the project, so visitors can expect a high-level experience that competes with U.S. theme parks. 

And one of BON’s standout attractions is already open: Cirque du Soleil’s “Ludo,” an aquatic-themed, dinner-and-a-show experience housed in a $200 million custom-built theater. Shows began in December, and I was treated to an early performance of the stunning spectacle. 

Without giving too much away, I can say that the show has some serious wow factor thanks to its purpose-made space; the performance is a 360-degree experience with elements of Cirque du Soleil magic from floor to ceiling (and even within the walls themselves). While the dinner portion is optional, it’s a worthy investment. Three tasty courses — an appetizer, a choice between two entrees and a dessert — are playfully plated to surprise and delight diners, incorporating elements of the show they are about to see. The ticket also came with a welcome drink and a bottle of Champagne for the table, which we enjoyed throughout the show. (Vidanta also hosts a Cirque du Soleil show, “Joya,” at its Riviera Maya property.)

RELATED: Review: Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Auana’ at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel 

Travel advisors who want to start booking VidantaWorld experiences for their clients can take advantage of a new advisor portal for booking, earning commission and educational opportunities. The brand also launched its Travel Advisor Academy on Jan. 12 via the portal. The company is eager to work with agents — and earn their trust — and plans to roll out additional packages and tools to further engage with the trade.

Editor’s Note: My visit to VidantaWorld Nuevo Vallarta was part of a sponsored fam trip organized in partnership with Northstar Travel Group, the parent company of TravelAge West. This story is editorial and reflects my own experiences and observations.