Planning Puerto Vallarta raises the same handful of questions every time. Is it safe? When should you go? Do you need a car? All-inclusive on the beach, or a room in the old town?
Here are straight answers — grouped by topic, with real prices in Mexican pesos (MXN) and USD where it helps. Figure roughly 18-20 pesos to the dollar.
A: November through April. That's the dry season — sunny, warm days around 24-32°C, low humidity, and the gorgeous golden evenings the bay is famous for. It overlaps with whale season, too. The trade-off is it's peak season, so prices climb and the old town fills up.
Q: What about summer?
A: May to October is hot, humid, and the rainy season — short dramatic afternoon downpours, then it clears. Prices drop hard and the jungle goes electric green. If you don't mind sweating and the odd storm, it's a genuine bargain. Just know September is the wettest, quietest month.
Q: When can you see the whales?
A: Mid-December to late March. Humpbacks migrate into the Bay of Banderas to calve in the warm water. A certified small-boat tour runs US$50-80 (about 900-1,500 pesos) for 3-4 hours. Go in the morning — calmer seas.
Q: Is Puerto Vallarta safe?
A: Yes — it's rated one of Mexico's safer resort cities (Level 1-2), and it leans on tourism, so the bay area is well-policed. Take normal precautions: registered taxis or Uber at night, don't flash valuables, keep an eye on your drink. Solo travelers and LGBTQ visitors find PV especially welcoming.
Q: Can you drink the tap water?
A: No — drink bottled or filtered water, and that's standard across Mexico, not a PV problem. Most hotels provide purified water, restaurants use it for ice, and a large bottle costs a few pesos at any OXXO. Don't overthink it; just don't drink from the tap.
Q: What's the most common scam?
A: The timeshare hustle. Friendly people near the Malecón, the airport, and the marina offer free tours, free breakfasts, or discounted activities — then trap you in a high-pressure sales presentation for hours. A firm "no, gracias" and keep walking. Skip the "free" anything from a stranger and book activities through a proper operator instead.
Q: Are the beaches safe to swim?
A: The bay beaches are calm, but open Pacific stretches can have strong rip currents and undertow. Heed the flag warnings — green is fine, yellow is caution, red means stay out. Los Muertos and the south-shore coves are generally gentle.
Q: Do you need a rental car?
A: No, and you probably don't want one in town. Central PV is walkable, parking is a headache, and everything connects by cheap bus, Uber, or boat. Rent a car only if you're chasing mountain towns like San Sebastián del Oeste on your own schedule.
Q: Does Uber work in Puerto Vallarta?
A: Yes — Uber operates and Google Maps works fine for navigation. One wrinkle: Uber can have friction with taxi drivers right at the PVR airport, so on arrival use the official taxi booths inside the terminal (around 250-350 pesos to the Zona Romántica) and switch to Uber once you're settled.
Q: How do the local buses work?
A: They're the cheapest thing going — about 10 pesos — and run constantly along the bay to the airport, the marina, and the southern beaches. Just flag one down. The destination is painted on the windshield. Skip the pricey hotel shuttle and ride the bus like a local instead.
Q: Which beach should you go to?
A: Playa Los Muertos for the social scene and the iconic pier. Conchas Chinas just south for quieter rocky coves and clearer water. For the roadless southern villages — Las Ánimas, Quimixto, Yelapa — you catch a water taxi from the Los Muertos pier or, cheaper, from Boca de Tomatlán — all of them in our roundup of the best things to do.
Q: Is Yelapa worth the trip?
A: Absolutely. It's a roadless bohemian village reachable only by boat (US$20-25 / 350-450 pesos round trip). Hike to its jungle waterfall, eat fresh fish on the sand, and buy a slice of the famous beach pie. Take the morning boat out and the early-afternoon boat back — seas get choppy late.
Q: How do you visit the Marietas hidden beach?
A: By licensed boat tour only (US$90-120 / 1,600-2,200 pesos), about an hour out. Access to Playa Escondida — the beach inside a collapsed crater — is capped by daily federal permits to protect the reef, so book ahead and bring reef-safe sunscreen, which is required there. The snorkelling rivals the reefs off Belize.
Q: Should you pay in pesos or dollars?
A: Pesos, always. Businesses quote USD to skim a margin on the exchange rate. When a card machine asks if you want to be charged in your home currency, decline — you get a better rate in pesos. Withdraw from bank ATMs (BBVA, Santander), not the blue cash kiosks, which charge poor rates and high fees.
Q: How much should you tip?
A: Around 15% in restaurants (check it isn't already added), 10-20 pesos per bag for porters, a few pesos to the grocery baggers, and 100-200 pesos for a half-day tour guide. Tipping in pesos is appreciated. Round up generously — it goes a long way here.
Q: Is Puerto Vallarta expensive?
A: It can be either. Tacos at 30-50 pesos and 10-peso buses keep it cheap; beachfront splurge dinners and boat tours add up fast. A comfortable mid-range day — meals, a couple of drinks, transport, one activity — lands around US$60-90 per person.
Q: All-inclusive resort or a room in the old town?
A: Depends what you came for. An all-inclusive in the Hotel Zone or Marina is easy, fixed-price, and great for families or pure relaxation — but it can wall you off from the actual city. A room in the Zona Romántica puts you in the walkable old town, steps from real restaurants, the Malecón, and the beach. Our pick for a first visit: skip the all-inclusive bubble and stay in the Romántica — you'll eat better, spend less, and actually meet Puerto Vallarta.
Q: Do you need to speak Spanish?
A: No. Spanish is the language, but English is widely spoken across the tourist zones. A few words — gracias, por favor, la cuenta — go a long way and locals appreciate the effort.
| Topic | The short answer |
|---|---|
| Best months | November-April (dry, sunny, whale season) |
| Whale season | Mid-December to late March |
| Airport | PVR, ~7 km north; use the in-terminal taxi booth on arrival |
| Taxi to old town | ~250-350 MXN (official booth) |
| Local bus | ~10 MXN, runs constantly along the bay |
| Currency | Mexican peso — always pay in pesos, decline USD billing |
| ATMs | Bank ATMs (BBVA, Santander), not blue cash kiosks |
| Tipping | ~15% restaurants, 10-20 MXN/bag, ~pesos for guides |
| Tap water | Don't drink it — bottled/filtered only |
| Top scam | "Free tour" timeshare pitch — say no, gracias and walk |
| Yelapa boat | US$20-25 / 350-450 MXN round trip, boat-only village |
| Marietas hidden beach | US$90-120, permit-capped, book ahead, reef-safe sunscreen |
| Whale tour | US$50-80, 3-4 hrs, go in the calmer morning |
| Where to stay |
Plan around the dry season, base yourself in the old town, pay in pesos, and ride the boats. Do that and Puerto Vallarta is one of the easiest, most rewarding trips on the Pacific coast.
| Zona Romántica for a first visit |
| Safety level | Generally safe (Level 1-2); normal precautions |
