A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Vallarta vs. Bar Harbor for Resorts, Food, Beaches, and Families

Should you visit Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor can help you decide which place is right for you.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a cultural, coastal, and colorful town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a relaxed, quaint, and charming coastal town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and hiking.

Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Puerto Vallarta than Bar Harbor, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Puerto Vallarta is better known for its museums, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches, while Bar Harbor is more popular for its hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Puerto Vallarta is well known for its natural beauty and vibrant nightlife. Also, Puerto Vallarta is famous for the Malecon. Bar Harbor is well known for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park.

How is Puerto Vallarta different from Bar Harbor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

Puerto Vallarta is a town with good options for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Puerto Vallarta is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a number of historical sights around town like Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at superb restaurants in both Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor.

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.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Bar Harbor. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Nightlife?

Puerto Vallarta is a well-known place for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

Puerto Vallarta offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

Bar Harbor doesn't offer many options. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Resorts?

Puerto Vallarta is terrific for its resorts. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its luxury resorts.

Puerto Vallarta is a world class resort vacation destination. There are many different places to stay from all-inclusive resorts to high end hotels or beachfront properties.

With a selection of resorts, Bar Harbor makes a nice vacation spot. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Vallarta is a well-known place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Bar Harbor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Puerto Vallarta is an extremely popular place to visit for scuba diving and snorkeling. 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.

Bar Harbor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Beaches?

Puerto Vallarta is a well-known place for its beaches. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for the beache.

The beaches at Puerto Vallarta attract visitors from all over. 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.

Bar Harbor offers a nice beach destination. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Puerto Vallarta is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Bar Harbor. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Puerto Vallarta is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

Both Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor are superb shopping destinations.

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

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Families?

Puerto Vallarta is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Puerto Vallarta is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly town. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Couples?

Both Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor are superb destinations to visit as a couple.

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Bar Harbor makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Vallarta is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Puerto Vallarta. There are hostels around, as well as many adventure sports or thrilling activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Bar Harbor is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It's a small town with mostly high end accommodation so budget travelers and backpackers will struggle to find a place to stay.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Puerto Vallarta is a town with good options for its public transit. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for times when you don't have a car.

Puerto Vallarta has a few public transit options. There are blue, green or orange buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor a more walkable city?

Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor both are superb when exploring on foot.

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

Bar Harbor is very walkable. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Puerto Vallarta Worth Visiting? and Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bar Harbor or Puerto Vallarta?

How long in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than in Bar Harbor. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Puerto Vallarta, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bar Harbor.

Families should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Bar Harbor. 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 Puerto Vallarta than Bar Harbor. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Vallarta 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 Bar Harbor 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 Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the laid-back town of Puerto Vallarta, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Bar Harbor is a small town with plenty to do. 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.

A weekend in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Puerto Vallarta, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Bar Harbor might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

Puerto Vallarta, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bar Harbor is a great place to explore. This coastal town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

Puerto Vallarta is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Since Bar Harbor is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor, we can see that Bar Harbor is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Vallarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Vallarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Vallarta 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 Bar Harbor would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bar Harbor than you might in Puerto Vallarta.

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

Which is Bigger, Puerto Vallarta or Bar Harbor?

Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Vallarta and Bar Harbor, 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.