Step into the Golden Zone with the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta

When it comes to getting acquainted with the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, some people like to take it slow. They dip their toe in the water. They sip their tequila. They stroll along the breezy beach and ease their way into the tranquil spirit of food, sea, and fun.

My experience felt – in the best possible way - more like a face-plant in the sand. From the moment I arrived, I was all at once covered in the warmth from the sun, a sense of being far away, and the overwhelming instinct not to blink. When I finally came up for air, four days had passed and the world somehow seemed slightly different.

The Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, formerly a Dreams Resort and one of six all-inclusive properties resulting from an agreement between Playa Hotels & Resorts and an affiliate of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, has been in operation since December 2014, recently celebrating its official grand opening and an American Automobile Association (AAA) Four-Diamond designation on Feb. 24.

Located along the southern coast of the Bahia de Banderas, the all-ages resort property is five minutes from the colonial town of Puerto Vallarta, set in a sequestered cove along the immaculately sandy Las Estacas Beach, also known as the Golden Zone.

Recent renovations have brought an air of modernity and splendour to the resort’s 335 accommodations, all of which include walk-in rain showers, spacious double vanities, and dramatic ocean views. In addition to a variety of rooms featuring both double and king-size beds, there are also 14 swim-up suites and two presidential suites. The resort’s main lobby has been rebuilt from the ground up to include elegantly styled bar and lounge areas, an expansive exercise facility and a Zen-inspired spa with a beauty salon, massage suites and oceanfront hydrotherapy pools.

It also boasts a number of unique dining options made possible by its creative culinary team, led by acclaimed Executive Chef, Maximo Garcia Lopez. I was consistently delighted and surprised by the sheer variety of atmospheres available, be it dining on an à la carte breakfast on a patio over the ocean at Blaze, or enjoying a dinner of Vietnamese and Thai cuisine in the open-air at Pureza. Even Vivaz, the resort buffet, offered broad and ever-changing menus with flare, most of its selection being made-to-order while somehow, keeping lines brief.

The secret, I was told, to the resort’s singularly unique dining experiences is that unlike many resort restaurants (which are usually all helmed by one large kitchen), restaurants at the Hyatt Ziva all have their own, allowing each to be significantly different, right down to the chefs and their operational practices.

This culinary individuality extends to the resort’s placement of food carts throughout the resort, where staff can be heard singing the daily specials of ceviche, burgers and freshly fried churros as they wheel around the pool area.

Recreation at Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta aims to keep with the all-inclusive vibe by making jungle, snorkeling and kayaking tours, as well as use of the spa’s hydrotherapy circuit, all complimentary for guests. As a person who enjoys an exhaustive balance of beach bumming, surf, and exploration, I can honestly say I was sufficiently occupied throughout my stay. 

Being there as a media guest for the Hyatt Ziva’s grand opening, I also had the opportunity to make use of the conference facilities. In addition to its 9,900 square feet of special event space, the resort also has newly renovated meeting rooms with catering options.

For the marrying kind, the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta has two celebration areas: a stylish and contemporary beachfront gazebo, and a rooftop wedding lounge with a private kitchen, bar, and bridal salon.

High speed Internet is complimentary, and available quite reliably throughout the property – I for one had no problem using it to send gratuitous photos of myself to friends, whether I was standing on the beach or in the jungle.

Despite remaining digitally connected to the outside world, the Hyatt Ziva’s location, situated between two formidable cliffs and backed by a mountainous wall of green, provided me with a period of ethereal seclusion that – although it was only for four days - seemed almost timeless. When at last the day came where I had to return to my own snow-filled world, I found myself feeling more than a little reluctant to wipe the beach from my eyes. Given the choice, I’d say most of us would rather stick with sand.

For more information about the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta, visit www.puertovallarta.ziva.hyatt.com.