By Will Walker, Editor-in-Chief

When people hear “rainy season,” some picture a permanent curtain of water over Puerto Vallarta. That is a dramatic image. It is also a poor itinerary tool.

The official tourism guide places the rainy season roughly from June through October, with August and September usually the wettest months. Showers often show up later in the day. Weather is weather, of course: an individual storm can ignore the brochure entirely.

Use the morning

If the beach, a long walk or an outdoor excursion is the main event, give it the first part of the day. Check the forecast and the conditions again before you leave. Plan your afternoon with some room to move. A café, a gallery visit or a long lunch is a pleasant backup; standing under an awning resentfully watching a reservation time approach is less charming.

Pack for humidity, not just rain

Light clothes, comfortable footwear and a compact rain layer will do more for you than an enormous suitcase. Shoes that handle slick pavement matter. A dry bag or simple protective pouch for your phone is useful if a boat ride or open-air tour is on the agenda. Let your hotel or host tell you what works in their immediate neighborhood if heavy rain is forecast.

Keep water plans flexible

Do not assume a beach or boat outing will operate as planned during a storm. Ask the operator about conditions, rescheduling and cancellations before paying. If thunder is nearby, get off exposed beaches and out of the water. This is the part where common sense gets to be less glamorous than a photo, and much more useful.

Enjoy what the season does well

Rain changes the sound of the city. The hills turn greener. A short shower can make an evening street feel entirely different. You may end up giving lunch the attention it deserves while the weather passes. None of that requires pretending a downpour is convenient; it just means a flexible day can still be a very good day.

If your trip depends on a particular outdoor activity, leave yourself more than one possible date. That small bit of planning has saved many vacations from being held hostage by an afternoon cloud.

Weather sources: Official Puerto Vallarta weather guide · Official visitor FAQs.

Last updated September 29, 2026