Best time to visit Puerto Vallarta
In this guide, we will explore the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta is a stunning destination along Mexico’s Pacific Coast.
Known for its incredible sunsets, beautiful beaches, and built-up hotel zones, it continues to be one of the most popular visits for tourists in the country.
Puerto Vallarta is also a great place to come for its varied nightlife, and also with some incredible day trips to take to places such as the Marieta Islands.
Best time to visit Puerto Vallarta
In this guide, we’ll explore Puerto Vallarta by each month, which includes what weather to expect as well as any popular cultural events.
We’ll also cover the overall best month to visit, as well as the cheapest month too.
Before we do, remember to read this guide in conjunction with our 5 days in Puerto Vallarta itinerary which covers some of the things you can do during your time here.
When is the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
Having explored each month in Puerto Vallarta, we have concluded that April and May are the overall best months to visit.
These months are off-season, which means hotel and flight prices will be lower than usual, and it will also be much easier to find deals too.
April and May are still within the dry season, so rainfall is very low meaning you can head out and about without having to worry about getting drenched. Definitely a great time to head on this all-inclusive yacht ride to Yelapa Falls!
Whilst not the absolute hottest months of the year, temperatures are still pretty hot and great for heading to the beach and getting your tan on.
These months are also popular times to visit with many different events on such as the annual Festival de Vino Mexicano y Maridaje.
The Cheapest time To visit Puerto Vallarta
Quick answer: April and May are the best months to go to get the best prices. Puerto Vallarta has high touristy seasons, which are around Christmas and also in the Summer months.
These times will be the most expensive, with both hotels and flight companies stepping up their prices (a return ticket from London will cost around £500-600, and a moderate hotel around £60).
The months of April and May are a great alternative time to visit, where a return flight from the UK will cost between £400-500, and hotel prices slightly lower at between £45-55.
Another good shoulder month to visit is November, when the winter crowds have not yet arrived meaning prices are still low.
Overall the shoulder months are your best bet to keep costs low, but also to be able to find deals that are much more likely here than in the popular seasons.
Puerto Vallarta Weather By Month
Now we’ll go more in-depth into the weather in Puerto Vallarta. By reading this, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what to expect and can then decide which month is best for you and what you plan to do on your visit.
January/February In Puerto Vallarta
Kicking off in the winter season, these two months are the overall coolest times to visit Puerto Vallarta.
Average temperatures in January and February hover between 70-72°F, with highs of 81°F and lows of down to 62°F. Despite being labeled the coldest months, it’s still a pretty decent time to visit for warm weather!
These months fall well within the dry season, and as such rainfall is low during these months. You can expect anything between 0.5-1 inch of rainfall in each of these months.
There are some interesting cultural events to visit around this time, such as the Festival de Ceviche y el Aguachile.
Here many restaurants from the region showcase their very best dishes, which give you the opportunity to try some new exotic foods.
Due to the New Year’s break, January tends to be a more expensive month to visit Puerto Vallarta, whereas February is much cheaper.
March/April In Puerto Vallarta
Heading into spring, we now arrive at the overall driest time to visit Puerto Vallarta.
During March and April, the temperatures increase ever so slightly from the last period, with a daily average of between 73-75°F, highs of up to 83°F and lows of down to 63°F.
For those who hate the rain – well this is your time to come! During March and April, there’s only a small trickle of 0.1-0.3 inches of rainfall throughout the entirety of each month.
Food lovers will also want to head here in March, where the annual Festival de Vino Mexicano y Maridaje takes place.
Here you can try some of the best dishes and wines of the region, which is a must as Puerto Vallarta is often declared Mexico’s top gastronomic destination.
March and April are great times to visit if you want to keep the costs down and get some of the best weather. It’s the perfect time to visit the stunning Marieta Islands, where you can head on this snorkelling tour which includes all national park entrance fees
May/June In Puerto Vallarta
Now we enter May and June, which marks the shoulder season before we head into Puerto Vallarta’s wet season.
Temperatures here jump up a little more, with daily averages reaching between 79-83°F. Highs can reach up to 89°F, with lows of down to around 71°F.
May is still the shoulder season, so rainfall is low with around 0.4 inches falling this month. June marks the beginning of the heavier rain, with around 5 inches falling throughout.
Vallarta Pride takes place at the end of May, and celebrates the diverse LGBT+ community with a festival and many other events happening during this time.
May and June are still fantastic months to visit, as temperatures are hotter than the previous two, with the very heavy rain yet to arrive.
If you’ll be backpacking Mexico on a budget, now is also a cheap time to visit Puerto Vallarta because we’re still just about off-season (although June may be a little more costly than May).
July/August In Puerto Vallarta
This period overall marks the wettest, wildest and hottest time to visit Puerto Vallarta, which may suit you if that’s what you’re looking for.
Average temperatures in July and August reach their peak here at 83°F, with highs of a nice and toasty 90°F, and lows of down to 76°F.
The heavy summer rain also reaches its peaks at this time, with between 9.5-10 inches of downpour each month. July marks the start of the turtle hatching season, which runs up until December.
Puerto Vallarta is safe for the most part but these months are when hurricanes can possibly begin to form. Make sure you stay in safe accommodation in the event that one may pass by.
During this time you can head to the beach and take part in a turtle release, assisting the baby turtles towards the sea and giving them a good farewell as they begin their lives!
Visiting in these months will be much more expensive as we begin to enter the popular summer vacation season, although you may be able to find some deals if visiting in the beginning of July.
September/October In Puerto Vallarta
Now we enter September and October, which whilst still part of the wet season, is also considered the shoulder season too as rainfall begins to drop quite sharply.
Temperatures are still at their hottest with an average of 82°F, with highs of up to 90°F and lows of down to 74°F.
Rainfall in September is still pretty high with around 9.5 inches falling, whilst October sees a sharp drop to 3.5 inches as we begin to move toward the dry season.
These months are the most likely that hurricanes can occur along the Pacific Coast, which may or may not bring a few storms your way (the season is actually from July until October, however, they’re much more likely to come nearer the end).
If heading in October then you can experience a more unique cultural event. The Centenary of our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (a mouthful we know) is a celebration of the Vallartan community. There you’ll find lots of local foods, music and religious displays on show.
November/December In Puerto Vallarta
Coming to the end of the year, we have November and December.
These two months mark the end of the uncertain weather that the wet season brings, as we now head into Puerto Vallarta’s dry season.
Average temperatures dip quite a bit from the previous months, with between 73-77°F being the norm here. Highs can reach up to 86°F, with lows of down to around 64°F.
Rainfall sees a nice drop, with between 0.5-1 inches falling within each of these months, making it a much more predictable time to visit and to get consistent beach time. Aside from the usual Christmas and New Year’s festivities, these months are also an excellent time to spot Humpback Whales as they begin their migration.
You can see them with this boat tour, which includes lunch as well as an expert marine biologist on hand to teach you everything you need to know.
December is one of the most expensive months to visit as it coincides with the Christmas period, so expect a hike up in both flight and hotel prices if heading during this time.
But it is worth knowing that some of Mexico’s best hostels are located in this region, so you can save money on accommodation depending on your preferred style of travel.
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Best time to visit Puerto Vallarta
That’s all for this guide on the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta!
One of the most popular destinations to visit in Mexico, this beach-side city has an increasing number of visitors year after year.
And with its superb beaches, cultural scenes, and events annually, it’s easy to see why.
This guide has covered what to expect every month here, including the weather as well as any events happening. It has also covered the cheapest time to visit, as well as the overall best, recommended months.
It is worth noting that we have covered Puerto Vallarta as part of our EPIC 2 weeks in Mexico itinerary so be sure to see what else on offer in this region while you’re here.
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