A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico Acapulco de Juarez vs. Puerto Vallarta for Nightlife, Resorts, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Acapulco de Juarez

Acapulco de Juarez is a vibrant, built-up, and well-known city. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a colorful, laid-back, and cultural town. Other popular activities here include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Acapulco de Juarez and Puerto Vallarta: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Puerto Vallarta than Acapulco de Juarez. While Acapulco de Juarez is larger than Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Puerto Vallarta is very popular for its museums, food, and shopping, while Acapulco de Juarez attracts visitors for its nightlife. Acapulco de Juarez is famous for its large hotels, golf courses, and lively bars and clubs. Puerto Vallarta is famous for its natural beauty and vibrant nightlife. It is also well known for the Malecon.

How is Acapulco de Juarez different from Puerto Vallarta?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco de Juarez. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Puerto Vallarta. There are a number of historical sights around town like Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

While most people don't head to Acapulco de Juarez specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of history and cultural museums in the city that can be a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Is the Food Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Puerto Vallarta is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Puerto Vallarta is an experience not to be missed. The charming character combined with the authentic local cuisine makes for a wonderful culinary experience. There's everything from taco stands to romantic restaurants that you can try.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Acapulco de Juarez. The local cuisine is influenced by the area's indigenous cultures combined with Hispanic influences. Seafood is common as well.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Nightlife?

Acapulco de Juarez is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Puerto Vallarta is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife.

Acapulco de Juarez is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The nightlife scene is part of what originally put this city on the map. Spring break is a prime time for partying and you'll find many bars along Costera Street, with the liveliest around Condesa Beach.

Puerto Vallarta has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a mix of active clubs, cozy bars, and cosmopolitan cafes. Head to the Romantic Zone or Los Muertos Beach for some of the best places.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Resorts?

Acapulco de Juarez and Puerto Vallarta offer a relatively similar set of world-class luxury resort options.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Acapulco de Juarez is a great choice. You'll find no shortage of resorts in the city, most with large pools and beachfront views.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Puerto Vallarta is a perfect choice. There are many different places to stay from all-inclusive resorts to high end hotels or beachfront properties.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

There's great scuba diving or snorkeling available in both Acapulco de Juarez and Puerto Vallarta.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Acapulco de Juarez. There are plenty of dive shops that offer snorkeling and scuba diving trips to premier spots.

There is a nice variety of marine life that makes scuba diving and snorkeling great in Puerto Vallarta. Divers in the area may get to experience once in a lifetime opportunities like diving with manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks, hammerheads, or schools of jacks.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Acapulco de Juarez and Puerto Vallarta are great choices.

Acapulco de Juarez is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are well developed with restaurants, hotels and bars lining the long stretches of sand. You'll find all kinds of water sports and activities nearby and several of the most popular beaches include Condesa Beach, Caleta Beach, and Icacos Beach.

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are many beaches spread out around town that have soft sand and blue water. Most have all of the amenities you could need. Popular beaches include Playa de los Muertos, Playa Mismaloya, and Playa Conchas Chinas.

Is the Shopping Better in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

Puerto Vallarta is a great destination for its shopping areas. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Puerto Vallarta. There's a mix of shopping malls, open-air markets, boutiques, and international brands.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find tons of beachside shops where you can pick up any beach supplies you may need as well as souvenirs from your trip. The city also has retail outlets and shopping centers.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta.

Acapulco de Juarez is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It may have been made famous by spring breakers, but families with kids will find plenty to do as well. There are water parks, playgrounds, museums and, of course, the beach.

Puerto Vallarta is a very family-friendly destination. Kids will love the water parks and thrilling activities, such as Aquaventuras Water Park or Los Veranos Canopy Tour. There's rock climbing and ropes courses at Las Animas Aventura Park. You'll also find horseback riding and even pirate boat tours in the area.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Couples?

Acapulco de Juarez is renowned for couples. Also, Puerto Vallarta is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

For those traveling as a couple, Acapulco de Juarez has plenty to offer. Whether you're looking for an active nightlife scene, or romantic sunset walks, then this city has it all. The beach is active and beautiful, there are also botanical gardens and wonderful restaurants to experience.

Puerto Vallarta makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples looking for a romantic getaway will enjoy sunset boat trips, horseback riding, and adventure sports. There are also many restaurants where you can enjoy a romantic dinner or a refreshing drink.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Vallarta is a great destination for backpackers. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. There are hostels around, as well as many adventure sports or thrilling activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Acapulco de Juarez is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are more hotels and resorts than hostels, so most backpackers head elsewhere. There is a young crowd during the spring break season.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Acapulco de Juarez and Puerto Vallarta.

You'll find some public transit in Acapulco de Juarez, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's an elaborate and fun bus system that travels around the city.

While Puerto Vallarta offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are blue, green or orange buses that travel around town.

Is Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta a more walkable city?

Puerto Vallarta is a great destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Puerto Vallarta is a very walkable destination. There are several walkable neighborhoods in town such as 5 de Diciembre, el Centro, and Zona Romantica.

Acapulco de Juarez is somewhat walkable. The downtown and beachfront areas are the most walkable and many sights are within a short distance of each other.

For even more information, also check out Is Acapulco de Juarez Worth Visiting? and Is Puerto Vallarta Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Puerto Vallarta or Acapulco de Juarez?

How long in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

In either Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. In our opinion, Puerto Vallarta has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Puerto Vallarta than Acapulco de Juarez. However, 3-5 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Acapulco de Juarez. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Puerto Vallarta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than Puerto Vallarta. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Acapulco de Juarez that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Acapulco de Juarez if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Puerto Vallarta.

One day in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

The built-up destination of Acapulco de Juarez offers nightlife and food. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the cultural destination of Puerto Vallarta. This town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

The city of Acapulco de Juarez offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Puerto Vallarta is a popular place to visit. Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid-back town of Puerto Vallarta. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

Acapulco de Juarez is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. This city offers something for everyone. It is common to spend five days here. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Puerto Vallarta. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Most people come for the beaches. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Puerto Vallarta has to offer.

A week in Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Acapulco de Juarez. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Puerto Vallarta is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico, The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Acapulco de Juarez and Puerto Vallarta, we can see that Puerto Vallarta is more expensive. And not only is Acapulco de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Acapulco de Juarez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Acapulco de Juarez and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Puerto Vallarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Puerto Vallarta than you might in Acapulco de Juarez.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive? and Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Acapulco de Juarez or Puerto Vallarta?

Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Puerto Vallarta. When comparing the sizes of Acapulco de Juarez and Puerto Vallarta, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.