Comparison · Cabo San Lucas vs Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Cabo San Lucas vs Puerto Vallarta
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Cabo San Lucas for El Arco at Land's End and Sportfishing; choose Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica and lower day-to-day costs. Puerto Vallarta is generally less expensive, and the two are about 545 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 545 km
- Less expensive
- Puerto Vallarta
- Best time for Cabo San Lucas
- November–April
- Best time for Puerto Vallarta
- November–April
Side by side
| Cabo San Lucas | Puerto Vallarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | El Arco at Land's End, Sportfishing and Whale watching | The Malecón, Zona Romántica and Humpback whales |
| Best time to visit | November–April | November–April |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $200–$350 | $100–$200 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 33°C (91°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 26°C (79°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 4 | 6 |
| Beaches | Médano Beach | Playa Los Muertos |
| Airports | SJD | PVR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cabo San Lucas for…
El Arco at Land's End and Sportfishing. Cabo San Lucas sits at the very tip of the Baja California peninsula, where granite headlands end at El Arco and the Pacific meets the Sea of Cortez. The town wraps around a marina packed with sportfishing boats, with Médano Beach as its main swimming strand…
Choose Puerto Vallarta for…
The Malecón, Zona Romántica and lower day-to-day costs. Puerto Vallarta sits on the Bahía de Banderas, one of Mexico's largest bays, where the forested Sierra Madre drops straight to the Pacific. The old town keeps cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with red-tile roofs and the crown-topped Guadalupe church…
Top sights compared
| # | Cabo San Lucas | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Arco at Land's End | The Malecón |
| 2 | Lover's Beach (Playa del Amor) | Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe |
| 3 | Glass-bottom boat to Land's End | Isla Río Cuale |
| 4 | Médano Beach | Playa Los Muertos and the pier |
| 5 | Marina boardwalk | Mirador de la Cruz |
Food compared
| Cabo San Lucas | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|
| Baja-style fish tacos | Pescado zarandeado |
| Smoked marlin tacos | Smoked marlin tacos |
| Chocolate clams | Aguachile |
| Ceviche and seafood tostadas | Birria |
Which is cheaper?
Puerto Vallarta is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $100–$200 per person there, against $200–$350 in Cabo San Lucas (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Puerto Vallarta on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta are about 545 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 5 days in Cabo San Lucas and 6 in Puerto Vallarta.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta cheaper?
Puerto Vallarta is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $200–$350 (estimates).
+Is Cabo San Lucas or Puerto Vallarta better for a first trip?
Pick Cabo San Lucas for El Arco at Land's End and Sportfishing, or Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Cabo San Lucas from Puerto Vallarta?
About 545 km in a straight line.