Stay in Puerto Vallarta in April
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The single most important thing about April in Puerto Vallarta is timing. If Semana Santa falls in the first half of the month, the city fills with domestic vacationers from Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Los Muertos Beach goes shoulder-to-shoulder. Hotel availability across the Zona Romántica tightens overnight. But once Easter passes, the shift is fast. Within days, crowds thin, rates drop, and you get some of the best beach weather on Mexico's Pacific coast. Average highs reach 31°C (88°F) with 0mm of recorded rainfall.
The air carries a late-dry-season heat without the heavy moisture that June piles on. Humidity hovers around 78%, which you'll feel in the morning shade but not in the way that August's tropical blanket hits the skin the moment you step outside. Evenings tend to settle near 20°C (68°F), comfortable enough for open-air dining along the Malecón without needing a layer. Banderas Bay lies flat on most afternoons, a blue-green surface good for paddleboarding or watching pelicans work the shallows.
To be fair, April does carry one seasonal gap. Humpback whale season in Banderas Bay typically wraps up by mid-month, and most tour operators stop running dedicated whale trips by the second week. If seeing whales is the point of your trip, February or March is the better bet. The Zona Romántica's restaurants remain fully open through April, with walk-in tables available at places that needed reservations in February.
Why visit in April
- Bone-dry skies for the entire month, matching March as the driest stretch on Puerto Vallarta's annual calendar, with comfortable daytime warmth and cool evenings
- Post-Semana Santa shoulder pricing kicks in quickly, with Zona Romántica hotels dropping 20-30% below the February high-season peak within a week of Easter ending
- Banderas Bay water clarity reaches some of its best levels of the year before summer rains wash sediment into the bay, ideal conditions for snorkeling off the southern coast
- Early April still falls within whale season, with a chance to see humpback mothers and calves in Banderas Bay before the annual northward migration
Worth knowing
- Semana Santa week (when Easter falls in April) brings peak domestic crowds from Guadalajara and Mexico City, with beachfront hotels sold out and restaurants at capacity across Centro and the Zona Romántica
- Whale watching tours wind down partway through the month, limiting one of the city's headline wildlife draws for anyone arriving after the first two weeks
- The coastal humidity, while tempered by the Pacific breeze on the waterfront, sits heavier in sheltered inland spots like the Río Cuale valley, especially during still mornings
Best for
Think twice if
April is one of the two months when rain simply does not fall in Puerto Vallarta, sharing that distinction with March. Days are hot and reliably sunny, typically cloudless from dawn well past sunset. Pacific breezes off Banderas Bay temper the heat along the waterfront, keeping the coastal strip a few degrees cooler than inland neighborhoods near Pitillal. Mornings start warm and build steadily through the afternoon, with midday temperatures touching 31°C (88°F) or higher on still days. The moisture in the air is present but falls short of oppressive, more a warm coastal softness than the thick tropical air that descends in July and August. You might notice a light haze on the Sierra Madre foothills during the driest stretches, though it rarely drifts down to the beach or the bay.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26 | 17 | 6 |
| Feb | 26 | 17 | 9 |
| Mar | 26 | 16 | 0 |
| Apr | 27 | 18 | 0 |
| May | 30 | 20 | 2 |
| Jun | 30 | 24 | 128 |
| Jul | 31 | 25 | 201 |
| Aug | 31 | 25 | 212 |
| Sep | 30 | 25 | 214 |
| Oct | 30 | 24 | 112 |
| Nov | 30 | 21 | 6 |
| Dec | 28 | 19 | 8 |
Holidays and festivals in April
Public holidays
- Labour Day(Día del Trabajo)30 April 2027
Headline events
Semana Santa
Late March to mid-April (moveable, tied to Easter)
Mexico's most significant holiday week draws domestic tourists from Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey to Banderas Bay. Religious processions wind through Centro to the cathedral on Palm Sunday and Good Friday. The beachfront fills with food vendors, live music, and fireworks along the waterfront. It is the single busiest week of the year for many Puerto Vallarta businesses, and the energy is closer to a carnival than a somber observance.
Best things to do in April
Snorkeling at Los Arcos Marine Park
water sportsLos Arcos is a cluster of granite arches and small islands about 10 km (6 miles) south of central Puerto Vallarta, near the village of Mismaloya. The reef system around the arches hosts parrotfish, Moorish idols, sea fans, and the occasional sea turtle. Visibility can exceed 10-12 meters (33-39 feet) in the dry season.
No rainfall means no sediment runoff into the bay. April offers some of the clearest underwater conditions of the entire year, before June rains cloud the water.Booking tipMorning departures from Boca de Tomatlán tend to have calmer water than afternoon trips. Most operators run shared pangas (small boats).
Vallarta Botanical Gardens
natureThe gardens sit about 30 km (19 miles) south of town on Highway 200, in the Sierra Madre foothills at roughly 490 meters (1,600 feet) elevation. Founded in 2004, the 26-hectare property displays over 3,000 species including native orchids, agaves, and palms. The on-site restaurant overlooks a river gorge where the air cools noticeably.
The dry season showcases the succulent and agave collections at their structural best, and the hiking trails through the surrounding forest are dust-firm and easy to navigate before rains turn them to mud.Booking tipVisit on a weekday morning to avoid crowds. During Semana Santa week the garden fills more than usual.
Islas Marietas day trip
natureThe Islas Marietas are a pair of uninhabited volcanic islands about 35 km (22 miles) northwest in Banderas Bay, protected as a national park. The Hidden Beach (Playa del Amor), a sand beach inside a collapsed volcanic crater, is the headline draw. Access requires swimming through a short tunnel, and Mexico's CONANP limits daily visitors to protect the ecosystem.
Calm seas make the boat ride smoother and the swim through the tunnel to Hidden Beach more accessible. Park authorities tend to keep the beach open more consistently when ocean conditions are gentle.Booking tipBook with a licensed operator at least a week ahead. Daily permits are capped, and Semana Santa week sells out early.
Sunset sailing on Banderas Bay
experienceSeveral operators run catamaran and sailboat cruises from Marina Vallarta out into Banderas Bay, typically lasting 3-4 hours with snorkeling stops. The warm evening air, the smell of salt, and the slow rock of the hull make for a different texture than a beach afternoon.
April sunsets behind the Sierra Madre foothills happen around 19:30, with calm seas and no rainy-season cloud cover. The conditions are consistently clear.Booking tipBook 3-4 days ahead for weekend sailings. Midweek cruises often run half-full.
Sierra Madre foothill hikes
hikingTrails through the tropical dry forest above Puerto Vallarta, accessible from Boca de Tomatlán or the road toward El Jorullo, offer 2-4 hour hikes through dense vegetation with occasional waterfall pools. The air smells of dry leaves and warm earth.
Trails are at their driest and most navigable in April. After June, the same paths become slippery and some river crossings turn impassable. The cooler morning hours make the hike comfortable before the day's heat builds.Booking tipHire a local guide from Boca de Tomatlán. The trails lack consistent marking, and guides know which pools still hold water in the dry season.
Last-chance whale watching
wildlifeHumpback whales winter in Banderas Bay from roughly December onward, using the warm waters for breeding and calving. Tour operators run 2-3 hour excursions from Marina Vallarta. The animals that linger into April tend to be mothers with young calves, a quieter but sometimes more intimate encounter than the acrobatic breaching of February's peak.
The first two weeks are your last shot of the season. Sightings are less guaranteed than at the peak, but the calving pairs that remain can be memorable.Booking tipBook for the first week of April if whales are a priority. By mid-month, most operators switch to dolphin and snorkeling excursions.
Evening Malecón sculpture walk
culturalThe Malecón stretches about 1.5 km (1 mile) along the waterfront from Centro into the Zona Romántica, lined with public sculptures, street performers, and open-air bars. The 2011-era renovation turned it into a pedestrian-priority promenade where the sound of waves mixes with mariachi sets.
April evenings cool to a comfortable range that makes a 40-60 minute walk pleasant without the heavy humidity of summer. The post-Semana Santa lull means fewer crowds on the promenade than in January or February.What to eat in April
In season: fruit
Mango Ataulfo
Jalisco's golden, honey-sweet Ataulfo variety hits the street carts and markets starting in late March, with April representing peak availability. Vendors in the Zona Romántica sell them sliced with Tajín chili-lime seasoning, the sharp tang cutting through the fruit's almost custard-like sweetness.
On menus now
Ceviche de sierra
Sierra mackerel runs in Banderas Bay from roughly November through April. The firm white flesh is cured in lime with avocado, cilantro, and serrano chili at cevicherías along Olas Altas. April is the last month to find it fresh from the morning catch.
Pescado zarandeado
A Nayarit-born technique of butterflying whole red snapper and grilling it over wood coals, rubbed with a dark chile-based paste. The calm pre-rainy-season waters mean fresh snapper lands daily at the fishing pier in Boca de Tomatlán, about 17 km (10.5 miles) south of town. The wood-smoke scent drifting off the grill is half the experience.
What to drink
Tejuino
A fermented maize-dough drink specific to Jalisco, served cold with a scoop of lime sherbet and a salt rim. As April temperatures climb, the cart vendors near the Río Cuale bridges do brisk business with this tangy, slightly fizzy cooler that tastes like nothing you'll find outside western Mexico.
Festival food
Capirotada
A traditional Lenten bread pudding built from bolillo rolls soaked in piloncillo (unrefined cane sugar) syrup, layered with cinnamon, peanuts, raisins, and aged cheese. Bakeries in Pitillal and Centro prepare it through Semana Santa. The dish disappears from shelves once Easter passes.
Regular events in April
Viernes SantoFree
National public holiday marking Good Friday. Banks, post offices, and many shops close for the day. Religious processions through Centro draw large crowds in the morning and early afternoon.
The Friday before Easter Sunday (varies annually between late March and mid-April)Día del NiñoFree
Mexico's national Children's Day. Puerto Vallarta, which rates 7.8/10 for family friendliness (see the TTDI Family-Friendliness Index), marks the holiday with free activities for kids along the waterfront and in neighborhood parks across 5 de Diciembre and Marina Vallarta.
April 30Malecón ArtWalkFree
Weekly gallery walk along the waterfront and into the Zona Romántica. Open studios, sculptors, and local artists display new work. April's warm, dry evenings make this a comfortable 90-minute stroll.
Wednesday evenings, approximately 18:00 to 22:00Best places this April
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
landmarkPuerto Vallarta's most recognizable landmark, with its ornate crown tower visible from most of the Malecón. The interior offers cool, quiet stone relief from the afternoon sun. During Semana Santa, the cathedral becomes the focal point of processions that fill the surrounding streets with incense, palm fronds, and chanting.
CentroCostalegre
beachA 150 km (93-mile) stretch of Pacific coastline south of Puerto Vallarta along Highway 200, reaching past Barra de Navidad. The beaches along this route, including Playa Tenacatita and Playa Careyes, are uncrowded and accessible in April's dry weather. Some of the access roads become difficult during summer rains, making this a better dry-season day trip.
Isla del Río Cuale
parkA narrow island splitting the Río Cuale where it meets the bay, connected by pedestrian bridges to both Centro and the Zona Romántica. Shaded by massive tropical trees, the island holds a small archaeological museum, open-air restaurants, and craft stalls. The dappled light and the sound of the river make it one of the more peaceful corners of the city.
CentroPlaya Conchas Chinas
beachA series of small, rocky coves about 2 km (1.2 miles) south of the main beach. The rock formations create natural tide pools and semi-private sand pockets. In post-Semana Santa April, these coves empty out while the central beaches retain more foot traffic.
Conchas Chinas5 de Diciembre neighborhood
neighborhoodThe residential grid immediately north of Centro, quieter and less tourist-oriented than the Zona Romántica. April is a good month to wander its side streets, where local taquerías and corner tiendas still outnumber tourist bars. The morning light on the colored facades and the smell of fresh tortillas from corner kitchens give it a lived-in feel that the busier neighborhoods lack.
5 de Diciembre
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Insider tips
The second and third weeks of April, right after Semana Santa, might be the best-value window in the entire dry season. Hotels that were fully booked for Easter have sudden vacancy, and some drop rates to fill the gap before the summer exodus begins. Check Zona Romántica properties directly rather than through aggregators for unadvertised post-holiday reductions.
For the freshest ceviche de sierra, head to the fish vendors near Boca de Tomatlán rather than the tourist-oriented restaurants in the central neighborhoods. The sierra mackerel comes off the pangas in the morning, and the ceviche stands prepare it within hours of the catch. April is the tail end of the season, so ask whether they have sierra before ordering.
The Isla del Río Cuale has a handful of open-air restaurants shaded by tropical canopy, where local office workers eat comida corrida (set lunch). The food is standard but the setting, right on the river between the two main tourist neighborhoods, is genuinely peaceful. Most visitors walk across the bridge above without looking down.
If you visit Islas Marietas, the park permits sell out days ahead through licensed operators during Semana Santa. After Easter, same-week booking becomes realistic. Ask your operator which departure days have the lowest permit allocation, and aim for those. The island experience improves dramatically with fewer groups on the beach.
Avoid these mistakes
- Booking beachfront accommodation for Semana Santa week without reserving 2-3 months ahead. Domestic tourists from Guadalajara, a 4-5 hour drive, treat this as their annual beach trip, and the walkable properties in the Zona Romántica sell out first.
- Skipping sun protection on boat trips because the sea breeze makes the air feel cool. At tropical latitude with near-overhead April sun, 2 hours on a snorkeling panga without sunscreen leaves visible burns that takes days to fade.
- Renting a car to explore the Zona Romántica. Parking in the narrow streets south of the Río Cuale is painful, and the neighborhood is compact enough to walk end-to-end in 20 minutes. Save the car rental for day trips south along Highway 200.
Practical tips for April
Banks and government offices close on Jueves Santo and Viernes Santo during Semana Santa. ATMs along the waterfront stay operational, but lines build during the holiday week. After Easter, walk-in availability replaces advance booking for most tours and restaurants. For day trips south along Highway 200, rent a car since bus service past Boca de Tomatlán becomes infrequent. Pack a photocopy of your passport for beach days and leave the original locked at your accommodation. Tipping at sit-down restaurants follows the standard 10-15% convention. The local numbered bus routes connect Marina Vallarta, the Hotel Zone, Centro, and the Zona Romántica for affordable transit between neighborhoods.
FAQ
Is April a good time to visit Puerto Vallarta?
April is one of the better months, easily in the upper third of the annual calendar. The weather is dry and warm without the intense heat that builds in May and June. The main trade-off is that Semana Santa (when Easter falls in April) brings a short but intense surge of domestic visitors, and whale season ends before the month is half over. Outside that holiday week, the city settles into a pleasant shoulder-season rhythm with fewer crowds than the winter peak.
What is the weather like in Puerto Vallarta in April?
Dry and warm. Expect sunshine virtually every day with no measurable rainfall. Daytime highs sit around 31°C (upper 80s°F) and evenings cool to around 20°C (upper 60s°F). The humidity is moderate for a coastal tropical location, noticeable in sheltered spots but tempered by the Pacific breeze along the waterfront. Rain is not a concern in April.
Is Puerto Vallarta crowded in April?
It depends on whether Easter falls in April that year. During Semana Santa, Puerto Vallarta fills with domestic tourists, particularly families from Guadalajara, and the beaches, restaurants, and central hotels operate at capacity. Once Easter passes, the city clears out within days and the rest of April feels noticeably quieter, closer to low season than high. Plan around the holiday calendar and you can have either experience.
Can you still see whales in Puerto Vallarta in April?
Only in early April. The humpbacks that winter in Banderas Bay start their northward migration as the month begins, and most tour operators stop running dedicated whale trips by the second week. If whale watching matters to your trip, book for the first few days of April or visit in February or March instead. Late-April whale tours are typically dolphin-and-snorkel excursions marketed under the whale-watching name.
Is it safe to swim in Puerto Vallarta in April?
April is one of the safest months for swimming. The bay tends to be calm with no storm swell, and the beaches from the Zona Romántica south toward Mismaloya have gentle conditions. Open-ocean beaches north of Punta de Mita can carry stronger currents, but inside Banderas Bay the water is warm and manageable for most swimmers. Lifeguards are typically present at the main beaches through the dry season.
Things to Do in Puerto Vallarta in April
Free cancellation Puerto Vallarta Best Zipline Canopy + Tequila and Speed Boat Ride
Day trip: 5 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Mega Yacht ALL INCLUSIVE Yelapa Waterfall & Snorkeling Adventure
Outdoor experience: 6 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Ziplining, Waterfalls, and Speedboat Tour in Puerto Vallarta
Outdoor experience: 6.5 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Puerto Vallarta Rhythms of the Night: Gourmet Dinner & Alma Show
Cruise: 5 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Puerto Vallarta, Islas Marietas Tour with BBQ Lunch at Majahuitas
Cruise: 7 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Private Tour: Puerto Vallarta ATV Adventure
Outdoor experience: 3 hours, free cancellation.
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