UNICO Offers a Unique Stay on Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit
Explore this luxury beachfront adults-only, LGBTQ-welcoming property in Nuevo Nayarit, Mexico.
Puerto Vallarta and its neighbor to the north, the Riviera Nayarit, have been known for decades as being two of the safest and most welcoming destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers. PV, as it is affectionately known, has legal same-sex marriage (as does all of Mexico since 2022), vibrant nightlife, exceptional gastronomy, whale-watching, and, yes, beautiful wide beaches.
The three-property, family-owned UNICO group of hotels debuted its new adults-only luxury property on the Nuevo Nayarit beachfront in 2025. While countless mega-hotels and condominium complexes line the coast, the intimate UNICO 20º 105º offers just 141 rooms, each with outdoor jacuzzi tubs on private terraces overlooking the Pacific. In a whimsical touch, each property is named for its precise geographical coordinates. It is just 20 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport, on a wide sandy beach fronting Banderas Bay in Nuevo Nayarit.
“We love the UNICO brand,” says Patrick Gunn, Co-founder and CMO of VACAYA, an inclusive LGBT+ travel community launched in 2017. The company made two buyouts at UNICO Riviera Maya and followed them with a buyout in early November at the new UNICO Riviera Nayarit.
“The brand is higher-end luxury and does a wonderful job from staff to food and drinks, amazing rooms, and so much more. We always feel comfortable knowing that UNICO will take good care of our guests. In fact, the UNICO brand receives our highest guest satisfaction scores of all the resorts where we’ve had buyouts,” adds Gunn.
The UNICO concept was designed by travel advisors and tour operators who were brought into the AIC Hotel Group, UNICO’s sales and marketing company. Research showed that guests wanted more experiential immersion in the destinations they visit.
Indeed, during a stay last November, I was delighted when UNICO employees greeted me with “Buenos Días” rather than “Good Morning.” I was equally pleased that the property’s restaurant menus featured Spanish descriptions first, with English translations following.
The property is akin to a Mexican art museum, with exquisite tapestries, vases, sculptures, rugs, and furniture from all over Mexico throughout the common areas and guest rooms. Original works from celebrated Mexican artists such as Fidencio Benítez, Ismael Vargas, Sergio Bustamante, as well as Huichol (Wixárika) artisans, are exhibited. A special surprise is the gift of two straw hats and a woven straw purse in each guest room. Poolside, an artisan employee custom hand-paints the items at no charge. My artist, Sandra, did a lovely job with the hats, for which I chose a piñata motif.
Every room gets assigned a “Local Host,” akin to a butler, to help with dinner reservations, airport transfers, spa appointments, etc. My host sent me a text of the hotel’s events and activities each morning. One of my favorites was the“agave experience,” during which one of the bartenders taught us about tequila, mezcal, and the lesser-known raicilla. I relished the sunrise yoga class facing the ocean, listening to seagulls and crashing waves. One of the most fun things I did was float around the pool on giant inflatable rainbow unicorns.
UNICO 20°105° features three restaurants offering a diverse selection of cocktails and cuisine, prepared using locally sourced ingredients. Plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free dishes are offered at each establishment.
I was a regular at Agua Madre, the signature restaurant, with distinctive salsas, table-side guacamole and a hefty selection of tequilas. This is a place for authentic Mexican coastal cuisine – such as true Nayarit ceviche, smoked marlin pescadillas and much more, for lunch and dinner. I still savor the salsa macha from Agua Madre, months later.
Other venues include Kobo, a Japanese eatery that has teppanyaki tables on request and a large menu with sushi and other Japanese specialties. Lia is the property’s Italian specialty restaurant, which also serves as a breakfast buffet.
I couldn’t pass up my daily patisserie treat from Cafe Inez, the onsite coffee shop. A delectable passion fruit tart became my go-to with a side of cappuccino. Some folks never venture up to the 11th-floor Alto rooftop pool, bar, and restaurant. I was mesmerized by the views from there.
Yes, there is a spa, as in most hotels in the area. But this spa is distinct. The UNICO Esencia Wellness Spa’s hydrotherapy circuit is blissful, and the estheticians are well-trained and professional. The spa menu is expansive and creative. Treatments begin with a Muvieri Welcome Ritual, during which a muvieri (a sacred Wixarika prayer stick) and essential oils are used to greet guests.
While many resorts throughout Mexico are popular for weddings, the small UNICO is special. “We absolutely love the new UNICO 2105 for weddings and for general stays,” says Misti Marquette of Bohemia Wedding Travel. “It’s a great resort for adults-only groups looking for an intimate, higher-end, all-inclusive resort experience. The resort is small, so you won’t get lost or have trouble finding each other or the event locations. The UNICO brand is also very LGBTQ+ friendly, so a lot of our clients in that demographic feel very comfortable having their weddings here.”
Grab yourself a deal at UNICO Riviera Nayarit. Check the dates, read the reviews, and view prices here.
