Month guide · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Puerto Vallarta in May
What May is really like in Puerto Vallarta: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andy Blackledge, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
May is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 30°C (86°F), lows of 20°C (68°F), about 0 rainy days and roughly 13.1 hours of daylight. Hot and dry, with humidity rising late in the month and lower prices.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 30°C (86°F) / 20°C (68°F)
- Rainy days
- About 0
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea temperature
- 26°C (79°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 7th-warmest month in Puerto Vallarta: days average 30°C (86°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 20°C (68°F). Rain falls on roughly 0 of its 31 days. Compared with April (29°C (84°F)), May is about as warm; by June highs climb to around 32°C (90°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 06:24
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:30
- Daylight
- About 13.1 hours
- Sea
- 26°C (79°F)
Dry season (November–April). Sunny, dry and pleasant, with cool evenings, whale watching from about December to March and peak prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is January at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in January). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
- Vallarta Pride — week of LGBTQ+ events and a parade (usually May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Beach · Mismaloya
Mismaloya
Take the local bus marked 'Mismaloya' from the Zona Romántica for a cheap ride along the coast road.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Outdoors
Beach · Boca de Tomatlán
Boca de Tomatlán and Playa Colomitos
From the fishing village of Boca de Tomatlán, a jungle footpath of about 30–45 minutes leads to Colomitos, a tiny emerald cove surrounded by rocks.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Beach · South Bay
Playa Las Ánimas
Catch a water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán, which is shorter and cheaper than from Los Muertos pier.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Food
- Outdoors
Experience · Marina Vallarta
Whale watching in the bay
Humpback whales arrive in the Bahía de Banderas to breed and calve from about December to March, and boats from Marina Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Los Muertos pier go out to watch them breach and sing.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Nature
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
The sea averages 26°C (79°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Puerto Vallarta.
What to pack
For highs near 30°C, lows near 20°C and 0 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
A shoulder-season month, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, November–April are better overall. Compare every month.
Puerto Vallarta in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot and dry, with humidity rising late in the month and lower prices.
+How warm is Puerto Vallarta in May?
Average highs are around 30°C (86°F) and lows around 20°C (68°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Puerto Vallarta in May?
Expect rain on about 0 days of the month, so it is usually dry.