Puerto Vallarta is located on Mexico’s Pacific Coast and is one of the country’s top tourist destinations. Thanks to its ideal location in the middle of Banderas Bay, which is the largest bay in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is generally quite protected from hurricanes. In addition to being located in Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta is also surrounded on all sides by the Sierra Madre Mountains which is an added barrier against serious storms. Although hurricanes do pass through the area at times, the damage isn’t usually very serious. If you’d like to take a trip to PV this summer, you can rest assured it is very unlikely you will have to deal with a hurricane. For help planning a trip, call Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573. They are a genuine travel agency that has insider deals to stay at Mexico’s top resorts. Meanwhile, keep reading below about Hurricanes in Banderas Bay. 

Hurricane Season in Puerto Vallarta 

While some people believe that PV is magically safe from hurricanes and their effects, Puerto Vallarta has been hit by a few major hurricanes over the years. For example, Puerto Vallarta has only been hit by a serious hurricane 3 times over the past 50 years.  Hurricane Lily (Category 1) in 1971, Hurricane Kenna (Category 4) in 2002, and Hurricane Nora (Category 1) in 2021. The hurricane season in Puerto Vallarta typically lasts from July to October. The rainy season also occurs from July to October, but it’s still a nice time to visit Puerto Vallarta. During the summer, airfare and hotel rates are more affordable, and tropical storms tend to only occur in the afternoons. Plus, the beautiful lighting displays over Banderas Bay are truly magnificent to view in person.  

Has a Major Hurricane Hit PV? 

Hurricane Kenna hit close to Puerto Vallarta on October 25, 2002, as a category 5 hurricane. Later, it made landfall close to San Blas north of PV in the neighboring state of Riviera Nayarit. Heavy rain and winds up to 140 miles per hour (225 km/h) hit PV and huge waves up to 20 feet tall battered the Malecon boardwalk and the city’s coastline. Thankfully, no deaths were reported in PV, although 40 people were injured and property damage to local homes and businesses was estimated at 10 million dollars. Three important hotels were severely damaged, along with many restaurants and shops along the Malecon and on Los Muertos beach. In addition, the arches in downtown Vallarta were swept away, along with a few of the iron statues on the boardwalk. Since the Malecon was badly damaged, the city decided to renovate and improve the Malecon/boardwalk during rebuilding. 

 

While it isn’t impossible that hurricanes will never hit Puerto Vallarta, it is very unlikely due to the protection offered by the bay and mountains. If you’d like to plan a trip to PV this summer, you will be amazed by the vibrant greenery of the jungle that comes alive after much-needed precipitation returns to the area during the rainy season. In terms of where to stay, call Amazing Mexico at (866) 883-0573 if you’d like help finding a great travel package for your family. They are a reputable online travel agency that only works with the country’s top resorts that have luxurious accommodations, world-class amenities, and the best services. In addition to PV, Amazing Mexico also has deals to visit Cancun, Islands of Loreto, and Cabo San Lucas. Contact them today to book a vacation to PV and surprise your family with an unforgettable getaway to paradise!