El Tigre Golf
At Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta, Robert von Hagge built a course with bite. El Tigre stretches to about 7,239 yards from the back tees, a par 72 laced with water and sand on flat coastal land just north of Puerto Vallarta. The tiger name is earned on the closing holes, where the resort's friendly face turns fierce.
Photo: El Tigre Club de Golf via Google.
The verdict
El Tigre is the muscle course of the Vallarta golf scene. Robert von Hagge, working with his Smelek and Baril partners, took a flat parcel of land at Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta and shaped it into a water heavy, sand splashed test that stretches past 7,200 yards from the tips. It is resort golf with an edge, designed to be playable from the forward tees yet genuinely demanding from the back, where the lakes and bunkers crowd the line.
The name is the marketing, but the closing stretch backs it up. El Tigre will not be confused with the cliffside drama of Punta Mita up the coast, and the land is plain rather than scenic, yet the conditioning is reliable and the shot values are strong. For a Vallarta base that wants a serious round between beach days, it is the local heavyweight, best taken on from a tee you can handle.
El Tigre at a glance
- Opened
- Early 2000s
- Designer
- Robert von Hagge
- Type
- Resort parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,239 yds
- Green fee
- From about $150
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from El Tigre Golf Club and leading course databases. The course was designed by Robert von Hagge with the von Hagge, Smelek and Baril team, a par 72 of about 7,239 yards from the back tees with five sets of tees down to about 5,159 yards. Indicative published green fees run roughly $150 to $210 for 18 holes with a cart, 2026, and vary by season and resort package. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
El Tigre is built on width and water. The fairways are generous enough to keep a holiday foursome moving, but von Hagge framed almost every approach with sand and lakes, so the second shot is where the course extracts its price. Five sets of tees mean it can be set up as a gentle resort round or stretched to a championship length test, and the right choice of tee makes or breaks the day.
The par 5s give the bigger hitter something to chew on, several reachable but guarded by water that turns a loose lay up into a card wrecker. The par 3s are well varied and mostly demand a carry over sand or lake to firm greens. It all builds toward a closing run that justifies the tiger, a finish where water tightens the landing areas and a comfortable round can unravel if you stop respecting the hazards.
This is target golf at heart, rewarding the player who picks a number, commits to the shot and accepts that El Tigre will punish the lazy miss. Take a cart, take enough tee from the front, and enjoy a test that has more teeth than most resort layouts on this coast.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to visitors and to guests of Paradise Village; tee times bookable in advance |
| Green fee | Indicative $150 to $210 for 18 holes including a cart (indicative, 2026); twilight and package rates lower |
| Booking | Reserve online, through Paradise Village or a Vallarta golf specialist, especially in the November to April high season |
| On the day | Cart golf is the norm; smart casual dress; bring sun protection and water for the coastal heat |
| Getting there | Nuevo Vallarta, about 15 minutes from Puerto Vallarta International Airport and central to the Riviera Nayarit hotels |
| Best months | November to April for the dry season; year round play with humid afternoons common in summer |
Access and fee guidance verified June 2026; resort rates and tee sheets change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit through the golf shop or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
El Tigre sits inside the Paradise Village resort, so the simplest base is the property itself, with the first tee, the marina and the beach all within walking distance. The wider Nuevo Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit strip is lined with all inclusive and luxury resorts that can bundle golf, transfers and dining, while Puerto Vallarta across the bay adds nightlife and dining choice.
For a golf focused stay, base yourself in Nuevo Vallarta and build a few days around El Tigre and the marquee courses to the north. It is an ideal region to plan a multi course trip, pairing El Tigre's water test with the oceanfront drama of Punta Mita and the resort variety of the Vallarta coast.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near El Tigre.
Build a Vallarta golf trip
We book the El Tigre tee times, pair them with the best of the Riviera Nayarit courses and arrange the resort around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
El Tigre questions
Who designed El Tigre Golf Club?
El Tigre was designed by Robert von Hagge with the von Hagge, Smelek and Baril team, opening in the early 2000s at Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit.
What is the par and length of El Tigre?
El Tigre is a par 72 of about 7,239 yards from the back tees, with five sets of tees ranging down to about 5,159 yards, a water heavy resort layout on flat coastal land.
Can visitors play El Tigre in Nuevo Vallarta?
Yes. El Tigre is a resort course open to visitors and to guests of Paradise Village. Tee times are bookable in advance and indicative rates include a cart. Always confirm directly before booking.
How much is a round at El Tigre?
Indicative published green fees run roughly $150 to $210 for 18 holes with a cart in 2026, with lower twilight and package rates. Fees vary by season, so confirm the current rate directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.