Head-to-head for groups
Cancun or Puerto Vallarta for groups?
Groups score Cancun 8.9 out of 10 across the year against 8 for Puerto Vallarta, mainly on beaches and families.
Ten people, ten opinions. You need volume: big villas or resorts, plenty of bars, and day trips that take a whole minibus.
Quick verdict
Cancun for beaches, families, things to do. Puerto Vallarta for charming old town.
Cancun, Mexico
8.9/10
28C to 33C all year, sea 26C to 29C
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
8/10
Cobbled old town, mountain backdrop, big LGBTQ+ scene.
Rated for groups
Out of five on each criterion. Highlighted rows are the ones that matter most to you.
| What matters | Cancun | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| NightlifeBars, clubs and late-night energy | ||
| BeachesSand quality, water clarity and swimming | ||
| Food sceneRange, quality and local character | ||
| FamiliesKid-friendly resorts, pools and day trips | ||
| RomanceCouples, honeymoons and adults-only stays | ||
| Things to doExcursions, culture and day trips | ||
| All-inclusiveChoice and value of all-inclusive resorts | ||
| Value for moneyWhat a typical day actually costs | ||
| Easy and safeComfort for first-time visitors | ||
| Exploring soloHow easy it is to get out on your own | ||
| Flight accessDirect routes and flight time from North America |
Side by side
| Factor | Cancun | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 29C | 29C |
| Rainfall | 60mm | 5mm |
| Sea temperature | 26C, swimmable | Varies by season |
| Beach quality | Wide white sand, calm Caribbean | 3 out of 5 |
| Getting there | under 5 hours from most of North America | 3h 30m from Los Angeles |
| Typical cost | All-inclusive value most of the year | Mid range |
| Between beach days | Chichen Itza, Tulum, cenotes, Isla Mujeres, reef snorkelling | Charming old town, Great for West Coast flyers |
Book your Cancun trip
- Check Cancun hotel ratesLive all-inclusive and boutique pricesOpen
- Browse Cancun toursChichen Itza, cenotes, Isla Mujeres and moreOpen
- Get an airport transfer quoteFixed price, 20 minutes to the Hotel ZoneOpen
Prefer a plan first? Build a free day-by-day Cancun itinerary.
Where Puerto Vallarta genuinely wins
- Charming old town
- Great for West Coast flyers
- Excellent food
Pick Puerto Vallarta if charming old town is the single thing you care most about on this trip.
What catches people out
- Pacific water is darker and cooler
- Heavy summer rain
- Fewer archaeological sites
The Cancun edge
Cancun has warmer, clearer Caribbean water year round plus Chichen Itza, Tulum and the cenote network.
Cancun is the rare beach destination that also works as a base. The airport is one of the busiest in Latin America, the transfer to your hotel takes twenty minutes, and within two hours you can be swimming in a cenote, climbing a Mayan pyramid, snorkelling the second largest reef on the planet, or eating cochinita pibil in a downtown market for the price of a coffee elsewhere. That combination is why we keep building these comparisons and keep reaching the same conclusion.
Cancun wins for you? Start here.