The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Barbados vs Puerto Vallarta

Barbados 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.

Barbados guide · Puerto Vallarta guide · How we score

By the numbers

BarbadosPuerto Vallarta
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 1: Exercise Normal PrecautionsLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog83
Average guest rating★ 4.2★ 4.5
Nightly rates$500–$800+/night$500–$800/night
Adults-only resorts3 of 80 of 3
Hurricane exposureLow hurricane riskLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonJune–November, typically short heavy showersJune–October — dramatic afternoon storms, lush green hills
Sweet spotDecember–AprilNovember–May; whales in the bay 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
Barbados — high °F838384868787878888878684
Puerto Vallarta — high °F828282848790929290898683
Barbados — rain (in)2.61.61.31.42.34.45.85.86.77.06.13.8
Puerto Vallarta — rain (in)0.40.20.10.10.57.011.010.513.54.00.80.5

Approximate climate normals for West & south coasts and Banderas Bay — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Barbados

  1. 1.Sugar Bay Barbados — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Mango Bay Hotel — · ★ 4.4
  3. 3.Waves Resort & Spa, Barbados, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort — · ★ 4.4

Chains here: Sandals · Sugar Bay · Mango Bay

Full Barbados 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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