Comparison · Cancún vs Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Cancún 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
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Quick answer
Choose Cancún for Caribbean beaches and All-inclusive resorts; choose Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Puerto Vallarta is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,908 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,908 km
- Less expensive
- Puerto Vallarta
- Best time for Cancún
- December–April
- Best time for Puerto Vallarta
- November–April
Side by side
| Cancún | Puerto Vallarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Caribbean beaches, All-inclusive resorts and Isla Mujeres | The Malecón, Zona Romántica and Humpback whales |
| Best time to visit | December–April | November–April |
| Ideal stay | 7 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$320 | $100–$200 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 33°C (91°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 28°C (82°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Playa Delfines | Playa Los Muertos |
| Airports | CUN | PVR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cancún for…
Caribbean beaches and All-inclusive resorts. Cancún is two places: the Hotel Zone, a 22-km sandbar shaped like a figure 7 between the turquoise Caribbean and the Nichupté Lagoon, lined with resorts, public beaches and nightclubs; and downtown, a working Mexican city of markets, taquerías and the main…
Choose Puerto Vallarta for…
The Malecón, Zona Romántica, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. 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
| # | Cancún | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Playa Delfines (El Mirador) | The Malecón |
| 2 | Playa Langosta and Playa Tortugas | Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe |
| 3 | Museo Maya de Cancún and San Miguelito | Isla Río Cuale |
| 4 | El Rey archaeological site | Playa Los Muertos and the pier |
| 5 | MUSA Underwater Museum of Art | Mirador de la Cruz |
Food compared
| Cancún | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|
| Cochinita pibil | Pescado zarandeado |
| Sopa de lima | Smoked marlin tacos |
| Poc chuc | Aguachile |
| Panuchos and salbutes | 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 $180–$320 in Cancún (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Puerto Vallarta on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,908 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 14 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Cancún or Puerto Vallarta cheaper?
Puerto Vallarta is usually less expensive: about $100–$200 a day mid-range against $180–$320 (estimates).
+Is Cancún or Puerto Vallarta better for a first trip?
Pick Cancún for Caribbean beaches and All-inclusive resorts, or Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Cancún from Puerto Vallarta?
About 1,908 km in a straight line.