Marina Vallarta was created in the 1980s on reclaimed land near the airport.  It consists of two main areas: the larger Marina Vallarta, and the smaller Isla Iguana that it's connected to.

Marina Vallarta has a mixture of luxury hotels and timeshares that line the ocean as well as condominiums and houses that are intemixed among and around a Jack Nicahaon 18-hole golf course or around the marina promenade overlooking the moored boats.

Isla Iguana provides a variety of townhouses including some with their own boat slip and/or pool.