Riviera Nayarit is where I spent some time recently while photographing the new Riu Palace Pacifico.
This tourist corridor begins about 10 minutes north of the airport in Puerto Vallarta and stretches for about a 100 miles north taking in the regions of Nuevo Vallarta, Flamingos, Bucerias, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Destiladeras, Punta Mita, Litibú, Sayulita, San Pancho, Lo de Marcos, Punta Raza, Rincón de Guayabitos, El Capomo, Chacala, Boca de Chila, Punta Custodia, Bahia de Matanchen and San Blas. Quite a mouthful, but all charming areas you will find on your way northward.

You still fly into the airport at Puerto Vallarta but instead of heading south you head north.
You will find hotels such as the Paradise Village, Occidental Allegro Nuevo Vallarta, Grand Velas, 3 Riu Resorts, Riu Jalisco, Riu Vallarta and the latest  Riu Palace Pacifico,  the Royal Decameron Complex and further north a 4 Seasons Resort and the Palladium Vallarta Resort. plus numerous other small hotels.

I was staying at the new 445 room Riu Palace Pacifico. Great hotel with all the regular features you would expect from a Riu Palace. I found the hotel to be a little smaller than some other Riu Palaces, but this also makes for getting to the beach quicker.
Accommodations are all Junior Suites with a sitting area, liquor dispensers and a mini fridge with water soft drinks and beer that is replenished on a regular basis.

Upgrades are possible to Jacuzzi suites and these are sweet, no I didn't have one of those, just the regular Junior Suite.
Located right next door to the Playa Del Sol Grand and a short walk from the other two Riu Hotels, Riu Jalisco and the Riu Vallarta. Staying at the Palace you can visit and use the facilities of the other two properties if you wish.

The Palace Pacifico dining options are the Peninsula Dining Room (buffet) where you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Kyoto - Japanese Restaurant, The Krystal -Fusion, Guacamole-Mexican and the La Toscana, all of which require reservations for dinner. La Toscana is the poolside restaurant but becomes a steak house in the evening.
After all that eating you can work out in the decent size gym and then relax in the Renova Spa.
There is live entertainment in the evenings, with theme based shows. No disco but you can go over to the Riu Jalisco or the Riu Vallarta for this.

Beach here is a brown sand and you can walk for miles north or south. About a 10 minute walk south along the beach and you will reach the other two Riu properties.

Should you wish to go into Puerto Vallarta there is a local bus that will take you as far as the WalMart for 6 pesos or about 50 cents, and then you need to catch another bus directly into the Centro of Vallarta again for about another 50 cents. You can also take a taxi for about $20US one way. 

Feel like playing golf  there is the Flamingos Golf Course a short 5 min drive away.

The small town of Bucerias is about a 10 minute drive north of the hotel. Worth a visit buceriasmexico.com

If you don't feel like sitting on the beach or by the hotel pool all the time and you want to take an excursion, then Vallarta Adventures is your best bet.

They offer a wide range of excursions from Ziplines, Jeep Safaris, Whale Watching, Canopy Tours, Dolphin & Sea Lion experiences.
Best bet is to contact the representatives of your tour company in the hotel your staying at. They can book any of the excursions you decide on.