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When To Go

Weather is usually always comfortable in Puerto Vallarta with a semi-tropical climate averaging a daily temperature of 75 degrees. Honeymooners and beach bums descend in droves during the winter but the summer months aren’t half bad, as the dramatic spurts of thunderous rain typically dissipate almost as fast as they begin. Temperatures in July through August are about 10-15 degrees warmer than the rest of the year, but cool breezes flowing down from the mountains provide a refreshing reprieve. November through April is the prime tourist season, when the cobblestone streets get clogged and beaches crowded. To get the best bang for your buck, and fewer crowds to boot, we recommend visiting in shoulder season, and particularly October and May. As November rolls around, there’s no shortage of fêtes to kick off the tourist season. Although the events draw hordes of visitors, making these periods a busy and often more expensive time to go, they’re worth the trip to experience some of Mexico’s time-honored traditions and rich culture. A few of the season’s top draws include the annual Sailfish & Marlin International Tournament, Puerto Vallarta Gourmet Festival, and the Fiesta de las Artes, all in November; the most important and widely celebrated religious and social holiday, the Feast of the Virgen de Guadalupe on December 12, when, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to an Aztec Indian outside Mexico City in 1531 (it’s also a special date for Puerto Vallarta in particular since it’s the day the city was founded in 1851); and the International Festival of Tequila, which showcases some 200 kinds of Tequila, as well as international liquors and wines, also in December.

When To Go

High season:
November–April

Low season:
June–September

Best bang for your buck:
May & October

See Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide