Puerto Vallarta has two very different halves of the year: a warm, sunny dry season from November through May, and a lush, hot, storm-washed green season from June through October. Because Banderas Bay also runs on school holidays in Mexico and winter escape flights from the US and Canada, picking the right month comes down to rain tolerance, whale watching, ocean warmth, and room prices.
12-month weather, ocean & season comparison
Figures below combine WMO station climate normals and Open-Meteo 2023–2025 bay data from our month-by-month climate guide.
| Month | Avg High / Low | Rain & Rain Days | Sea Temp | Daylight | Key Season Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28.8°C / 16.7°C (84 / 62°F) | 33.8 mm · 2.2 d | 24.9°C (77°F) | 11.0h | Peak whales, snowbird high season |
| February | 29.0°C / 16.3°C (84 / 61°F) | 5.3 mm · 0.7 d | 25.1°C (77°F) | 11.5h | Dry, breezy, active mother-calf whales |
| March | 29.2°C / 16.9°C (85 / 62°F) | 2.0 mm · 0.6 d | 24.6°C (76°F) | 12.0h | Late whale departures, Juárez weekend |
| April | 29.9°C / 17.2°C (86 / 63°F) | 1.5 mm · 0.2 d | 24.5°C (76°F) | 12.6h | Driest month; Semana Santa crowds shift yearly |
| May | 31.0°C / 20.2°C (88 / 68°F) | 15.4 mm · 1.0 d | 27.2°C (81°F) | 13.1h | Shoulder value, warm water, Pride week |
| June | 32.3°C / 22.8°C (90 / 73°F) | 187.6 mm · 10.8 d | 29.3°C (85°F) | 13.4h | Rains start, mountains turn emerald |
| July | 33.3°C / 22.9°C (92 / 73°F) | 328.1 mm · 16.4 d | 30.5°C (87°F) | 13.2h | Summer family holidays, afternoon storms |
| August | 33.7°C / 23.0°C (93 / 73°F) | 312.4 mm · 15.2 d | 31.2°C (88°F) | 12.8h | Hottest air, calm morning snorkeling |
| September | 33.6°C / 22.9°C (92 / 73°F) | 370.0 mm · 15.6 d | 31.4°C (89°F) | 12.2h | Quietest hotels, warmest sea, Independence Day |
| October | 33.6°C / 22.2°C (92 / 72°F) | 93.8 mm · 5.1 d | 30.9°C (88°F) | 11.7h | Rain fades fast late month; storm watch ends |
| November | 32.3°C / 19.7°C (90 / 67°F) | 19.8 mm · 1.4 d | 28.7°C (84°F) | 11.2h | Día de Muertos, Gourmet Fest, snowbirds arrive |
| December | 29.9°C / 18.0°C (86 / 64°F) | 22.5 mm · 1.9 d | 26.9°C (80°F) | 10.9h | Guadalupe Dec 1–12, whales arrive, NYE |
Best windows by trip style
- Best sweet-spot weather & hotel value (Nov 1–Dec 15 & late April–May): You get 90–99% dry days without peak Christmas or President's Day room rates. November adds Día de Muertos (Nov 1–2), Festival Gourmet International (Nov 12–22, 2026), and Virgin of Guadalupe pilgrimages (Dec 1–12), while May keeps dry sunshine and warms the bay to 27.2°C (81°F).
- Best for whales & mild evenings (Jan–Mar): Humpback mothers and calves crowd Banderas Bay under regulated SEMARNAT permits through late March. Evenings dip to 16–17°C (61–63°F) — pack a light sweater for waterfront dining and early boat launches.
- Best for scuba, Marietas & underwater visibility (May–Jun & Oct–Nov): Water warms to 27–31°C and afternoon storm runoff fades by late October, creating clear morning diving before holiday swells ramp up.
- Peak crowd weeks to book early (Dec 20–Jan 4, Feb–Mar, and Semana Santa): Mexican domestic holiday travelers pack hotels during Navidad/Año Nuevo and Holy Week (Semana Santa), while US/Canadian snowbirds book Zona Romántica, 5 de Diciembre, and Bucerías months ahead.
Booking lead time & crowd pressure by season
| Season window | Hotel & condo demand | How far ahead to book | Typical trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas & New Year's (Dec 20–Jan 4) | Extreme peak | 4–6 months ahead | Top restaurants require set-menu deposits; max nightly rates |
| Core Winter / Snowbirds (Jan 5–Mar) | Very high | 2–4 months ahead | Walkable Zona Romántica & 5 de Diciembre suites sell out first |
| Semana Santa & Pascua (Mar/Apr) | High domestic surge | 2–3 months ahead | Crowded daytime beaches & busier highways into Nayarit |
| Dry Shoulder (Nov 1–Dec 15 & late Apr–May) | Balanced | 3–6 weeks ahead | Warm bay water + low rain without peak holiday surcharge |
| Green Season (Jun–Oct) | Quietest | 1–3 weeks ahead | Biggest resort discounts (40%+ drops), afternoon storm flexibility needed |
Understanding the rainy & hurricane season (June–October)
Don't picture five months of non-stop grey drizzle. Most summer rain falls in dramatic late-afternoon and overnight downpours, leaving sunny humid mornings with bathtub-warm water (29–31°C). Two genuine risks remain worth respecting:
- Ocean swell & red flags: NOAA's eastern Pacific hurricane window runs May 15 to November 30 (peaking late August–early October). Even distant offshore hurricanes push multi-day high surf into Banderas Bay, prompting Navy port closures (bandera roja) that halt water taxis and boat excursions.
- Water runoff after heavy storms: Heavy summer rain washes river sediment into central beaches; check our rainy-season and beach safety guides before swimming right at river mouths like Río Cuale.
Seasonal tours to book before they fill
Whale Watching Tour
★ 4.7 · 190 reviews · from $79 USD · 3 h
🐋 Whale season starts in about 4 weeks
✓ Free cancellation
Check availability →
Marietas Islands & Hidden Beach
★ 4.8 · 1,038 reviews · from $99 USD · 7 h
⚡ Limited daily access — Book ahead
✓ Free cancellation
Check availability →
