The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Cancún vs Puerto Vallarta

Cancún 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.

Cancún guide · Puerto Vallarta guide · How we score

By the numbers

CancúnPuerto Vallarta
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog73
Average guest rating★ 4.5★ 4.5
Nightly rates$300–$800+/night$500–$800/night
Adults-only resorts3 of 70 of 3
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonJune–October, heaviest September–OctoberJune–October — dramatic afternoon storms, lush green hills
Sweet spotDecember–AprilNovember–May; whales in the bay December–March
AirportCancún (CUN) — Hotel Zone 20–30 min, Costa Mujeres ~40 minPuerto Vallarta (PVR) — most resorts 10–40 min
Best forFirst trips, nightlife + beach combos, nonstop-flight convenienceCalm swimmable water, town culture with your resort, LGBTQ+-friendly scene

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
Cancún — high °F828385878990909189878482
Puerto Vallarta — high °F828282848790929290898683
Cancún — rain (in)3.52.01.51.54.06.54.04.58.58.54.03.5
Puerto Vallarta — rain (in)0.40.20.10.10.57.011.010.513.54.00.80.5

Approximate climate normals for Cancún hotel zone and Banderas Bay — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Cancún

  1. 1.Hotel Mousai Cancun — · ★ 4.5
  2. 2.Excellence Playa Mujeres — Playa Mujeres, Mexico · ★ 4.9
  3. 3.Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancún — Cancun, Mexico · ★ 4.6

Chains here: TAFER Hotels & Resorts · Excellence Resorts · Live Aqua

Full Cancún 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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