Head-to-head on a budget
Cancun or Puerto Vallarta in March on a budget?
Budget travellers score Cancun 8.6 out of 10 in March against 8.1 for Puerto Vallarta, mainly on beaches and families.
The number that matters is the all-in cost: flights, room, food, drinks and the two or three things you actually want to do.
Quick verdict
Cancun for beaches, families, things to do. Puerto Vallarta for charming old town.
Cancun, Mexico
8.6/10
30C days, 26C sea, 45mm rain
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
8.1/10
29C days, 2mm rain
Rated on a budget
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 in March
| Factor | Cancun | Puerto Vallarta |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 30C | 29C |
| Rainfall | 45mm | 2mm |
| 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 | Highest rates of the year, so lock in early. | Mid range |
| Between beach days | Chichen Itza, Tulum, cenotes, Isla Mujeres, reef snorkelling | Charming old town, Great for West Coast flyers |
What is on in Cancun in March
- Spring equinox at Chichen Itza, when the serpent shadow descends the pyramid on 20 to 21 March
- Spring break energy along the Hotel Zone
- Almost no rain and glass-flat mornings
Crowds. Peak season. Book flights and restaurants well ahead.
Prices. Highest rates of the year, so lock in early.
Seaweed. Sargassum seaweed risk is low, so the sand is at its cleanest.
Storms. Outside hurricane season entirely.
Dated plans and community meetups are listed on the Cancun events calendar.
Book Cancun for March
- 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.