Best Time to Visit Puerto Vallarta In 2024

Puerto Vallarta is located between the turquoise seas of the Pacific Ocean and the verdant Sierra Madre mountains. In 2022, the airports of this gorgeous Mexican destination welcomed a whooping 1.7 million tourists.

So, how can you pick the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta? Should you choose summer when it’s hot but rainy or winter when it’s cool but crowded? What about the hurricane season — is that a dealbreaker?

We’re going to help you figure out exactly when to visit this amazing place. We’ll also discuss the climate, peak season, cheap deals, and the different activities you can do based on the season when you plan to visit.

The Best Time to Visit Puerto Vallarta if You Want Picture-Perfect Weather

The best weather in Puerto Vallarta is during the dry season, from December to May — with the absolute pinnacle of perfect weather during the months of March to May.

The spring months, March to May, are the driest months of the year. The average temperature is 75.2 to 89.6°F (24 to 32°C), so it’s just perfect for visiting Playa de los Muertos and Playa Gemelas.

The water temperature in springtime is spot-on, reaching up to 32.6°C, inviting tourists to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, kayak, paddleboard, jet ski, and witness humpback whales on their migration — which can add a touch of magic to your vacation.

The winter months also offer ideal weather — the average daily highs are from 71.6 to 82.4°F (22 to 28°C), so you can always partake in a beach day, soak up the sun’s rays without sunburns, and leisurely explore the city without heat exhaustion.

However, as the sun sets, the nights do take a slightly cooler turn, hovering around 59°F (15°C), as opposed to the springtime night temperatures of up to 66.7°F (19.3°C). So, don’t forget to pack something warm.

Dipping into the ocean during this period is a delightful experience as well. The water temperature ranges from 69.8 to 78.8°F (21 to 26°C) — so it’s warm, but it doesn’t quite reach the warmth of the late spring and summer days.

The Best Time to Visit Puerto Vallarta to Avoid the Big Flocks of Tourists

The months with the lowest number of tourist visits are in the peak hurricane season, particularly in September and October.

This is when Puerto Vallarta is at its quietest. The bars and restaurants aren’t crowded, the beaches feel like they’re all yours — it’s all-around chill vibes. Plus, because there are fewer tourists, hotel and air flight prices go down, resulting in a vacation that’s also less expensive.

However, keep in mind that you are visiting during the peak hurricane season in Mexico. The good news is that no hurricane has made direct landfall in Puerto Vallarta, however, those that have happened nearby, like hurricane Roslyn in 2022, brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and floods to Puerto Vallarta.

The temperatures in September and October are warm, reaching an ultimate daily high of 88.7°F (31.5°C) and a nightly low of 68°F (20°C). However, the rain is also here to ruin a beach day or two — the total number of rainy days in September is 20 as opposed to 15 in October.

If it’s raining, you have a few amazing options for things you can do indoors, though. For instance, go museum hopping — visit the Cuale Archaeological Museum or the Manuel Lepe House Museum. Better yet, visit art galleries like the Galería Dante or Galería Pacifico. Once done with your explorations, take time to sit at a local cafe and savor some traditional Mexican food overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

The Best Time to Visit Puerto Vallarta if You Want to Score a Money-Saving Deal

There’s nothing like stumbling upon a good vacation deal — so, to make your search easier, the best months for budget-friendly trips to Puerto Vallarta are May and June.

After the buzz of the Spring break parties, which draw huge crowds and higher prices, May and June step in with quieter vibes and super-cheap deals, giving you an excellent opportunity to enjoy a more affordable getaway.

The cherry on top? May and June have spectacular weather. The average daytime temperature ranges from 26 to 32.6°C, with night temperatures dropping as low as 21°C. Perfect!

The sea temperature ranges from 25 and 30°C, making it ideal for a dip in the turquoise Pacific Ocean. May is also one of the driest months of the year, but June, being the first month of the wet season, may surprise you with a few afternoon showers. But nothing too serious — take it as just a little refreshment from the heat.

May and June also are the months with the longest sunshine hours, a striking 11.5 hours. Now, that’s what we call plenty of time to fully soak up what the city has to offer. You can go zip-lining through the rainforest at the El Eden Canopy tour, or explore the Vallarta Botanical Gardens with its display of plant species.

When It’s not Ideal to Explore Puerto Vallarta

There are a couple of months in Puerto Vallarta that tourists might want to avoid, each one falling in a different season.

In spring there are the Spring break parties, beginning in March and ending in early April. Spring break is when students visit Mexico on school trips, so this is the time when the beaches, bars, and clubs will be the most crowded, with potentially the biggest number of intoxicated visitors. If you want to have a more relaxed vacation, you should avoid the Spring break craziness.

The two rainiest months are July and August. July has 22 wet days with an average precipitation of 367mm, while August has 25 rainy days with an average precipitation of 418mm. Although the rainfall in Puerto Vallarta is tropical, which means there is sunshine all day and rain only in the afternoon or evening, it’s best to skip these months if rain sets you in a gloomy mood.

In the fall, it’s likely there’ll be a hurricane warning, specifically in September and October. The hurricane season lasts from June to November, with September and October being the most active months. While Puerto Vallarta has been hurricane-free for 18 years up to 2023, if the idea of facing a natural disaster affects your travel mindset, these months might not be the best time to enjoy the beauty of this city.

Winter has the most expensive prices, most particularly in December and January. Winter is all about New Year’s Eve and Christmas celebrations, so prices naturally rise as thousands of tourists and residents flock to coastal destinations to celebrate these special days. Skip these months if you don’t want to splurge on your trip to Puerto Vallarta.

All in all, every season in Puerto Vallarta has its pros and cons. But here’s the thing: no month can ruin your mood unless you let it. So, accept flexibility, plan properly, and you’ll discover that there is no bad time to visit Puerto Vallarta!

Conclusion

Alright, time to wrap things up and send you off on your Puerto Vallarta adventure.

The pleasantly warm and dry winter and spring months can be pricey, but an epic whale-watching adventure may be worth the peak-season spend. Summer, on the other hand, is a bargain hunter’s paradise, as long as you are okay with hotter temperatures and the occasional rainy day. Autumn may bring storms, but also great prices and a relaxed mood.