Comparison · Playa del Carmen vs Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Playa del Carmen 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: FeldBum, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Playa del Carmen for Quinta Avenida and Caribbean beaches; choose Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 1,888 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,888 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Playa del Carmen
- November–April
- Best time for Puerto Vallarta
- November–April
Side by side
| Playa del Carmen | Puerto Vallarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Mexico | Mexico |
| Known for | Quinta Avenida, Caribbean beaches and Cozumel ferry | The Malecón, Zona Romántica and Humpback whales |
| Best time to visit | November–April | November–April |
| Ideal stay | 6 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $110–$220 | $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 | Mamitas Beach | Playa Los Muertos |
| Airports | CUN, CZM | PVR |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Playa del Carmen for…
Quinta Avenida and Caribbean beaches. Playa del Carmen grew from a fishing village into the Riviera Maya's main town, strung along a white-sand coast about 55 km south of Cancún airport. Its spine is Quinta Avenida, a pedestrian street of shops, restaurants and bars running parallel to the beach…
Choose Puerto Vallarta for…
The Malecón, Zona Romántica 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
| # | Playa del Carmen | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quinta Avenida | The Malecón |
| 2 | Parque Fundadores and Portal Maya | Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe |
| 3 | Mamitas Beach | Isla Río Cuale |
| 4 | Punta Esmeralda | Playa Los Muertos and the pier |
| 5 | Xcaret | Mirador de la Cruz |
Food compared
| Playa del Carmen | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|
| Tacos al pastor | Pescado zarandeado |
| Cochinita pibil torta | Smoked marlin tacos |
| Fish and shrimp tacos | Aguachile |
| Ceviche | Birria |
Which is cheaper?
Playa del Carmen and Puerto Vallarta cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $110–$220 in Playa del Carmen and $100–$200 in Puerto Vallarta (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Puerto Vallarta on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,888 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Playa del Carmen or Puerto Vallarta cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $110–$220 in Playa del Carmen and $100–$200 in Puerto Vallarta (estimates).
+Is Playa del Carmen or Puerto Vallarta better for a first trip?
Pick Playa del Carmen for Quinta Avenida and Caribbean beaches, or Puerto Vallarta for The Malecón, Zona Romántica and free sights.
+How far is Playa del Carmen from Puerto Vallarta?
About 1,888 km in a straight line.