The Grand Escape
Destinations · Head-to-head

Jamaica vs Puerto Vallarta

Jamaica 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.

Jamaica guide · Puerto Vallarta guide · How we score

By the numbers

JamaicaPuerto Vallarta
U.S. travel advisoryLevel 2: Exercise Increased CautionLevel 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Resorts in our catalog83
Average guest rating★ 4.6★ 4.5
Nightly rates$300–$800/night$500–$800/night
Adults-only resorts4 of 80 of 3
Hurricane exposureIn the hurricane beltLow hurricane risk
Rainy seasonMay–June and September–November, mostly short afternoon burstsJune–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
Jamaica — high °F828283848688888888878583
Puerto Vallarta — high °F828282848790929290898683
Jamaica — rain (in)0.90.60.61.14.03.52.43.55.17.13.01.5
Puerto Vallarta — rain (in)0.40.20.10.10.57.011.010.513.54.00.80.5

Approximate climate normals for Montego Bay and Banderas Bay — planning guidance, not a forecast.

Where you'd actually stay

Best of Jamaica

  1. 1.Excellence Oyster Bay — · ★ 4.9
  2. 2.Sandals Dunn's River — · ★ 4.8
  3. 3.Grand Palladium Jamaica Resort & Spa — · ★ 4.6

Chains here: Sandals Resorts · Excellence Resorts · Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts

Full Jamaica 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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