Comparison · Guadalajara vs Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Guadalajara 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: Isacdaavid, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Guadalajara for Mariachi, Tequila and a short break; choose Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica and beaches. Guadalajara is generally less expensive, and the two are about 195 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 195 km
- Less expensive
- Guadalajara
- Best time for Guadalajara
- October–March
- Best time for Puerto Vallarta
- November–April
Side by side
| Guadalajara | Puerto Vallarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Mariachi, Tequila and Orozco murals | The Malecón, Zona Romántica and Humpback whales |
| Best time to visit | October–March | November–April |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $100–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | May, 33°C (91°F) | July, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 25°C (77°F) | January, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Playa Los Muertos |
| Airports | GDL | PVR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Guadalajara for…
Mariachi, Tequila and a short break. Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest metropolitan area and the capital of Jalisco, is the home ground of mariachi, tequila, birria and the charreada. Its historic centre is a run of linked plazas around the twin-spired cathedral, the Teatro Degollado and the…
Choose Puerto Vallarta for…
The Malecón, Zona Romántica and beaches. 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
| # | Guadalajara | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guadalajara Cathedral | The Malecón |
| 2 | Hospicio Cabañas | Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe |
| 3 | Palacio de Gobierno | Isla Río Cuale |
| 4 | Teatro Degollado | Playa Los Muertos and the pier |
| 5 | Plaza Tapatía | Mirador de la Cruz |
Food compared
| Guadalajara | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|
| Torta ahogada | Pescado zarandeado |
| Birria | Smoked marlin tacos |
| Carne en su jugo | Aguachile |
| Pozole rojo | Birria |
Which is cheaper?
Guadalajara is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $90–$170 per person there, against $100–$200 in Puerto Vallarta (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Guadalajara on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta are about 195 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Guadalajara and 6 in Puerto Vallarta.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta cheaper?
Guadalajara is usually less expensive: about $90–$170 a day mid-range against $100–$200 (estimates).
+Is Guadalajara or Puerto Vallarta better for a first trip?
Pick Guadalajara for Mariachi, Tequila and a short break, or Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica and beaches.
+How far is Guadalajara from Puerto Vallarta?
About 195 km in a straight line.