Puerto Vallarta in December
Dry, warm and festive: Guadalupe processions, the return of the whales, and the busiest fortnight of the year.
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December is Puerto Vallarta at its most festive. The weather settles into the dry season proper — warm days, cooler evenings, almost no rain — the humpback whales return to the bay, and the month runs from twelve days of processions for the Virgin of Guadalupe to fireworks over the Malecón on New Year's Eve. It's also when the crowds and prices peak.
December at a glance
| Weather | Average high 28 °C (82 °F), low 18 °C (64 °F) |
|---|---|
| Rain | About 22 mm, on roughly two days |
| Sea | About 26 °C (79 °F) |
| Humidity | Low |
| Crowds and prices | Very high from mid-month; Christmas to New Year is the most expensive fortnight of the year |
| Whales | Season opens on 8 December |
Weather in December
Warm, dry and comfortable: highs around 28 °C and nights down to about 18 °C, low humidity and only about two days with rain in the month. The hurricane season is over by now, having ended on 30 November. Evenings by the sea can feel cool after a day in the sun. See the weather guide for every month.
The sea, beaches and wildlife
The sea is about 26 °C — refreshing rather than bath-warm — and clear, as it is through the dry season. The whale-watching season opens on 8 December; numbers build through the month, and early December can be quiet. The turtle nesting season ends on 31 December.
What's on in December 2026
Crowds and prices
The first two weeks are busy but manageable; from the middle of the month, with the Mexican school holidays and the Christmas and New Year peak, hotels fill and prices are at their highest. Book rooms, flights, airport transfers, whale trips and New Year's Eve dinners well ahead. Banks also close on 12 December, the feast of Guadalupe, which falls on a Saturday in 2026. More in Christmas and New Year.
Sunrise and sunset
Puerto Vallarta keeps UTC−6 all year (see time zone), so these are the times on the clock. The bay faces west: the sun sets over the water, best watched from the Malecón.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December | 7:21 | 18:19 | 10 h 58 |
| 15 December | 7:30 | 18:23 | 10 h 53 |
| 31 December | 7:37 | 18:31 | 10 h 54 |
What to pack
Summer clothes for the day, a sweater or light jacket for the evenings and boat trips, a swimsuit and sun protection. Something a little smarter for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinners. See what to pack.
Ideas for a December trip
- An early-December trip that combines the Guadalupe processions with the first whale trips.
- Christmas and New Year in town: what's on, and our week-long itinerary.
- A family stay in the resorts: Puerto Vallarta with kids.
← November · January → — or see every month at a glance in our weather guide.
Frequently asked
What is the weather like in Puerto Vallarta in December?
Dry and warm: about 28 °C by day and 18 °C at night, with rain on only about two days. The sea is around 26 °C.
Can you see whales in Puerto Vallarta in December?
Yes, from 8 December, when the season opens. Numbers build through the month; the peak is from late January to early March.
Is Puerto Vallarta busy in December?
From mid-December, very: the Mexican school holidays run from 21 December to 5 January, and Christmas to New Year is the most expensive fortnight of the year. Book early.
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