Puerto Vallarta combines a walkable waterfront and restaurant scene with mountain-backed Pacific beaches. Resorts extend beyond the city toward Nuevo Vallarta and Punta Mita in Nayarit. Decide how often you want to go into town, then check your resort's beach and transfer route: the whole coast does not share the same swimming conditions.
- Airport
- Puerto Vallarta International
- PVR
- Choose your base
- Puerto Vallarta city or the Nayarit coast
- Best for
- Town outings, restaurants and a beach-resort stay
- Beach check
- Swimming conditions vary by beach and day
- Rainy season
- Usually June–October
- check your travel-week forecast
Where the Puerto Vallarta resorts are
13 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties
When to visit Puerto Vallarta
Climate normals for Banderas Bay, and our verdict on each month.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daily high | 82°F28°C | 82°F28°C | 82°F28°C | 84°F29°C | 87°F31°C | 90°F32°C | 92°F33°C | 92°F33°C | 90°F32°C | 89°F32°C | 86°F30°C | 83°F28°C |
| Rainfall | 0.4″ | 0.2″ | 0.1″ | 0.1″ | 0.5″ | 7″ | 11″ | 10.5″ | 13.5″ | 4″ | 0.8″ | 0.5″ |
| Verdict | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Shoulder | Off-peak | Off-peak | Off-peak | Shoulder | Prime | Prime |
For a trip outside the usual June–October rainy season, start by comparing November–May. Summer is hotter, and rainy-season showers and thunderstorms can change beach and excursion plans. No month guarantees dry weather.
The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs May 15–November 30, and storms can occasionally form outside it. Do not treat Banderas Bay as protection from storm disruption. Check official forecasts and local instructions before departure and during your stay.
Figures are long-term climate normals for Banderas Bay, good for planning. They are not a forecast.
Where on Banderas Bay?
Choose a city base if the Malecón, restaurants and evening outings are central to your trip. For a resort farther along the coast, check the road journey into Puerto Vallarta before booking. Nuevo Nayarit (also known as Nuevo Vallarta) and Punta Mita are in neighboring Nayarit, so a Puerto Vallarta flight does not mean your hotel is in the city.
Swimming is beach-specific. The tourism board describes usually gentle waves at Playa de Oro but advises against swimming at Boca de Tomates and the Malecón beach. Ask about conditions directly in front of your hotel, follow beach flags and lifeguard instructions, and use the pool when swimming is restricted.
Plan the journey from PVR
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is the arrival point to check for this resort region. Match the flight to the hotel's exact address, including whether it is in Puerto Vallarta or farther along the Nayarit coast.
Ask your transfer provider for a route-specific estimate, allowing for traffic and shared-shuttle stops rather than assuming every hotel is 10–40 minutes away. Confirm pickup instructions, child seats if needed and whether the transfer is included in your package. Immigration and baggage time are separate from the drive.
Beyond the resort
Make time for the Malecón, galleries and a meal in town if that is part of the appeal. Check the return journey from your resort before choosing an evening reservation.
For beach trips and boat outings, check local conditions and the operator's cancellation terms. Leave room to change plans when the weather does.
Puerto Vallarta tourism board: waterfront and nearby attractions
Guidance checked .
The best all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta
The Puerto Vallarta properties we would actually book. For the full numbered ranking, see the best all-inclusive resorts in Puerto Vallarta.
Resort chains in Puerto Vallarta
The brands operating here. The ones we rank in full link through to the chain, what its plan really covers, and every resort of theirs we track.
Where these companies came from
Almost nobody in this category publishes it. Read oldest first and the list is a short history of how Puerto Vallarta came to look the way it does.
Puerto Vallarta, head to head
Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.
Puerto Vallarta vs JamaicaDominican RepublicMaldivesGreeceSpainTurks & CaicosArubaBarbadosSt. LuciaItalyPortugalTurkeyAntiguaCuraçaoBrazilCosta RicaPhilippinesFrench PolynesiaMoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaMauritiusKenyaTanzaniaMozambiqueThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaPunta CanaCancúnRiviera MayaLos CabosMontego BayNegrilOcho RiosGuanacasteCreteBahiaBora BoraMalé AtollsRodney BayBarbados South CoastBarbados West CoastViti LevuVanua LevuCanary IslandsBalearic IslandsCosta del SolSharm el-SheikhHurghada & the Red Sea CoastBelekRhodesLara & AntalyaMaldives Outer AtollsCorfuHalkidikiKosSoufrière & South St. LuciaGrenadaFijiCroatiaU.S. Virgin IslandsSri LankaSeychellesBahamasChileArgentinaUnited States
Frequently asked questions
Puerto Vallarta or Cancún for an all-inclusive?
Start with the trip you want: Puerto Vallarta for a Pacific resort stay with town outings, or Cancún for a Caribbean base. Compare the specific hotel's beach, flight options and transfer. Neither destination name guarantees swimming conditions or seaweed-free sand.
Is the water swimmable at Puerto Vallarta resorts?
It depends on the beach and the day's conditions. Some beaches are used for swimming, but the tourism board advises against swimming at Boca de Tomates and the Malecón beach. Confirm your resort's own beachfront conditions and follow local flags and instructions.
How long is the transfer from Puerto Vallarta airport?
There is no single transfer time for this region. Give the provider your exact hotel and arrival time, especially for stays along the Nayarit coast, and ask about traffic and shared-shuttle stops. Allow separately for immigration and baggage.
When is the rainy season in Puerto Vallarta?
The usual rainy season is June–October. Eastern Pacific hurricane season is May 15–November 30; storms can occur outside those dates. The bay does not guarantee protection from disruption, so check forecasts and local advice.