"Rainy season" sounds like a warning. In Puerto Vallarta it's a trade-off — and for some travelers it's the better half of the year.
The numbers, month by month
These are the official station normals (World Meteorological Organization) plus the average sea temperature in the bay:
- June: about 11 days with rain, 188 mm. Highs 32°C, sea 29°C. The rains start.
- July: about 16 days with rain, 328 mm. Highs 33°C, sea 31°C.
- August: about 15 days with rain, 312 mm. Highs 34°C, sea 31°C.
- September: about 16 days with rain, 370 mm — the wettest month. Highs 34°C, sea 31°C.
- October: about 5 days with rain, 94 mm. The rains fade.
Compare that with the dry season: from November to May, the station records one or two days with rain a month.
Weather month by month, with a chart→What it's like on the ground
Expect heat and humidity, with nights around 23°C. Rain tends to come as storms rather than all-day drizzle, but some days stay grey and wet. The hills turn green, and the rivers and waterfalls run full.
The upside is a warm sea — the warmest of the year — and fewer visitors, since most people come in the dry season.
The things to plan around
- Hurricane season. The eastern Pacific season officially runs May 15 to November 30 (NOAA). Most days are unaffected, but storms can bring heavy rain and big swell that cancel boat trips. Check the forecast close to your trip and prefer refundable bookings.
- River mouths after rain. Rivers carry runoff into the bay. In summer 2026, federal health testing (COFEPRIS) found Playa del Cuale, at the mouth of the Cuale River, unsuitable for swimming; the other Puerto Vallarta beaches tested passed. River mouths are also where crocodiles move in the rainy season.
- Afternoons. Keep the water and the outdoor plans for the morning, and have an indoor plan ready.
Who the rainy season suits
- Good fit: travelers who love warm water, don't mind heat, want quieter beaches and restaurants, and keep plans flexible.
- Not ideal: anyone with a fixed boat-tour itinerary, a once-in-a-lifetime event date, or a low tolerance for humidity.
Short version: it's hotter, wetter and quieter — and the water's never better. Just don't plan your trip around a single boat day.
