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Destinations · Head-to-head

Bahia vs Puerto Vallarta

Bahia and Puerto Vallarta, side by side: live travel advisories, our resort catalog's real guest data, and each destination's honest weather picture — everything you need to break the tie.

Bahia guide · Puerto Vallarta guide · How we score

By the numbers

BahiaPuerto Vallarta
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog33
Average guest rating★ 4.8★ 4.5
Nightly rates$300–$800/night$500–$800/night
Adults-only resorts0 of 30 of 3
Hurricane exposureNo hurricane seasonLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonApril–JulyJune–October — dramatic afternoon storms, lush green hills
Sweet spotSeptember–March (southern-hemisphere spring and summer)November–May; whales in the bay December–March
AirportSalvador (SSA) — resort zone ~1–1.5h northPuerto Vallarta (PVR) — most resorts 10–40 min
Best forCulture-rich beach trips; hurricane-free southern summersCalm swimmable water, town culture with your resort, LGBTQ+-friendly scene
SignatureTAMAR turtle project; Salvador's Pelourinho; moquecaBanderas Bay sunsets; whales December–March

Advisory levels sync from travel.state.gov; catalog figures reflect the resorts we've researched, not every hotel in the country.

Weather, month by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Bahia — high °F868786848280797981838485
Puerto Vallarta — high °F828282848790929290898683
Bahia — rain (in)2.73.96.110.910.58.56.94.43.33.94.14.9
Puerto Vallarta — rain (in)0.40.20.10.10.57.011.010.513.54.00.80.5

Approximate climate normals for Bahia coast (Salvador) and Banderas Bay — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Bahia

  1. 1.Grand Palladium Imbassaí Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.8
  2. 2.Iberostar Selection Praia do Forte — · ★ 4.8
  3. 3.Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte — Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brazil · ★ 4.7

Chains here: Palladium Hotel Group · Iberostar · Tivoli

Full Bahia guide

Best of Puerto Vallarta

  1. 1.Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta All Inclusive & Spa — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Hilton Vallarta Riviera All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.5
  3. 3.The Westin Playa Vallarta, an All-Inclusive Resort — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico · ★ 4.5

Chains here: Fiesta Americana · Hilton · Westin

Full Puerto Vallarta guide

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