The newest resort community in Mexico, Riviera Nayarit was specially designed to offer a quieter, more luxurious experience than Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. In fact, though it's on the Pacific coast and one of its districts is called Nuevo Vallarta, anyone who works in tourism in the area will tell you that the region is "in Nayarit, not Jalisco," as though wishing to distance themselves from PV by an entire state.

As one of the first properties to open in the region, the Grand Velas helps anchor Nuevo Vallarta. It is a flagship of the Grand Velas chain—not the biggest, perhaps, but the best in terms of all-around quality. Even the lobby, for all that it's fashioned like a giant palapa, impresses people right away. It's indoor-outdoor, with lots of tropical trees and exotic plants; walk to the center and you can see the sky. Building codes don't allow high-rises in Riviera Nayarit, so the main building at Grand Velas is mid-rise, with its three gourmet restaurants

The newest resort community in Mexico, Riviera Nayarit was specially designed to offer a quieter, more luxurious experience than Cancun or Puerto Vallarta. In fact, though it's on the Pacific coast and one of its districts is called Nuevo Vallarta, anyone who works in tourism in the area will tell you that the region is "in Nayarit, not Jalisco," as though wishing to distance themselves from PV by an entire state.

As one of the first properties to open in the region, the Grand Velas helps anchor Nuevo Vallarta. It is a flagship of the Grand Velas chain—not the biggest, perhaps, but the best in terms of all-around quality. Even the lobby, for all that it's fashioned like a giant palapa, impresses people right away. It's indoor-outdoor, with lots of tropical trees and exotic plants; walk to the center and you can see the sky. Building codes don't allow high-rises in Riviera Nayarit, so the main building at Grand Velas is mid-rise, with its three gourmet restaurants off the lobby. All the guest suites are more than 1,000 square feet, with private terraces furnished with daybeds. No skimping on quality here: the amenities are by Gilchrist & Soames, and the pillow menu features eight different designs. Good linens and cloud-cozy white comforters lend a breezy touch. And the Jacuzzi suites' semi-open design allows you to bathe while chatting with someone elsewhere in the room.

Interiors here, however, are obviously not the main draw. That honor goes to the three-tiered infinity pool that is the centerpiece of the property. Each of the tiers is kept at a different temperature, so you can slip in the bathwater-warm upper pool just after digesting your breakfast, then move down to the lower levels as the day heats up. The poolside restaurant, Selva del Mar, is the favorite lunch spot, though the beachside buffet Azul is open straight through till 11 p.m. for people who want a heartier meal. Waiters service the beach and pool areas—and in an extra effort seldom seen in all-inclusive resorts, poolside attendants provide cold towels, misting service, and popsicles to sunbathers.

For those who don't mind incurring additional fees, the spa is highly recommended—one enthusiast lauds the Hydrotherapy Circuit (additional charge) as "to die for." Another signature is the "Four Hands" collection: a variety of different treatments requiring dual therapists.

Like many luxury all-inclusives these days, the Grand Velas strives for quality and diversity in its restaurants, which used to be a vacation black hole for any real foodie. While the property does have a buffet, it also features three formal restaurants offering multi-course meals and a choice of wine (some bottles complimentary, but special ones carry an additional charge). The people's choice seems to be Italian restaurant Lucca, where standout menu items range from gourmet (pan-roasted sea bass) to comfort-food staples (fried mozzarella).

Lena Katz is the author of the Travel Temptations series, published by Globe Pequot, including the recently published and SIP: California guides.