Puerto Vallarta or Los Cabos: safety and hurricanes

Summary: Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco) and Los Cabos (Baja California Sur) are the two big beach destinations on Mexico's Pacific coast and are often compared when planning a couples' trip. This guide organises the official information available as of 10 November 2026: which areas the tourism portals present, what British safety advice says, when the Pacific hurricane season runs and how to prepare transfers, drinks and excursions.

Two destinations, two states

Puerto Vallarta is in the state of Jalisco; Los Cabos is in Baja California Sur. This matters because travel advice is issued by area. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to certain areas of Jalisco: those south and southwest of Lake Chapala up to the border with Colima and several northern municipalities (Bolaños, Chimaltitán, Colotlán, Hostotipaquillo, Huejúcar, Huejuquilla el Alto, Mezquitic, San Martín de Bolaños, Santa María de los Ángeles, Totatiche and Villa Guerrero). Puerto Vallarta is not among them. As for Baja California Sur, the FCDO says the state is unaffected by those warnings.

Which areas the official portals present

The Los Cabos portal organises its offer around Cabo San Lucas (dining, places to stay, tours and water activities, whale watching and The Arch), San José del Cabo (hotels, art galleries, restaurants and farm-to-table experiences), Cabo Pulmo and Sol de Mayo (sea turtles underwater and a waterfall itinerary) and nearby places such as Todos Santos and El Triunfo. It also includes a section on resorts and hotels with swimmable beaches, useful information because not every beach in the area is swimmable: always check sea conditions and signage.

The Puerto Vallarta portal, for its part, structures its content around beaches, nearby towns, nightlife, shopping and weather, and highlights seasonal events, such as the Day of the Dead celebrations from 31 October to 2 November. Check its beach and weather sections before choosing dates.

Safety: what the FCDO says

• Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta are among the major tourist destinations where the Mexican government makes efforts to protect visitors, but the warnings about assaults in tourist resorts also apply to them.
• Crimes against tourists, including sexual assaults, have been reported, and in some cases hotel staff, taxi drivers or security personnel were involved. Order transfers through your accommodation.
• Do not leave drinks unattended: travellers have been drugged and robbed, and methanol in alcoholic drinks has caused deaths.
• Crocodile warnings apply on the Pacific coast, including Puerto Vallarta: stay away from the water in lagoons and estuaries with warning signs.
• On the Pacific Highway violent carjackings and robberies occur; if you drive, use toll roads where possible, keep doors locked and windows up, and avoid isolated roads.

The Pacific hurricane season

The FCDO says the season normally runs from June to November and that storms can cause flooding, landslides and transport disruption. The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) sets the eastern Pacific season from 15 May to 30 November, with a peak in late August and most activity from late June to early October. A trip in November falls at the end of the season, but keep watching official alerts until your last day.

How to prepare a couples' trip

1. Choose a base: Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta are far apart; do not chain them without a domestic flight.
2. Book your transfer with the hotel or an authorised service, especially if you arrive at night.
3. Plan excursions with licensed operators and check that your insurance covers water activities.
4. Carry limited cash and withdraw money in daylight from ATMs inside establishments.
5. Agree a signal for leaving a place without arguing.

Entry and health

British tourists need no visa; the stamp shows the days allowed (180 at most) and the passport must be valid for the stay. The FCDO mentions dengue, Zika, chikungunya and air pollution, and recommends boiled or bottled water. Outside state capitals and larger urban areas, medical and emergency services may be limited: insurance with evacuation is strongly advisable.

Sources

• Visit Los Cabos, official portal, accessed 10 November 2026.
• Visit Puerto Vallarta, official portal, accessed 10 November 2026.
• GOV.UK (FCDO), Mexico: warnings and insurance, accessed 10 November 2026.
• GOV.UK (FCDO), Mexico: safety and security, accessed 10 November 2026.
• GOV.UK (FCDO), Mexico: health, accessed 10 November 2026.
• NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Climatology, accessed 10 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is Puerto Vallarta in an area with a travel warning?

The FCDO does not name it among the Jalisco areas it advises against; always check the current advice before leaving.

Is Los Cabos affected by the Jalisco warnings?

No: it is a different state, and the FCDO says Baja California Sur is unaffected by those warnings.

When is the hurricane season on Mexico's Pacific coast?

The NHC puts it from 15 May to 30 November, peaking in late August.

How do I get around safely?

With authorised taxis or hotel transfers, and if you drive, on toll roads and without stopping on isolated stretches.