Nature has graced the Puerto Vallarta region with a microclimate tapestry. Although rainfall, winds, and mountains introduce pleasant local variations, elevation provides the broad brush. The entire coastal strip where frost never bites (including the mountain slopes and plateaus up to 4,000 or 5,000 feet/1,200 to 1,500 m) luxuriates in the tropics.

The seashore is a land of perpetual summer. Winter days are typically warm and rainless, peaking at 80–85°F (27–30°C) and dropping to 55–65°F (16–18°C) by midnight.

Increasing elevation gradually decreases both heat and humidity. In the valley of Tepic (elev. 3,000 ft/900 m), you can expect warm, dry winter days of 75–80°F (24–27°C) and cooler nights around 50–60°F (10–15°C). Days will usually be balmy and springlike, climbing to around 75°F (24°C) by noon, with nights dropping to a temperate 40–50°F (5–10°C); pack a sweater or light jacket.

May, before the rains, is often the warmest month in the entire Puerto Vallarta region. Summer days on Puerto Vallarta beaches are very warm, humid, and sometimes rainy. July, August, and September forenoons are typically bright, warming to the high 80s (around 32°C). By afternoon, however, clouds often gather and bring short, sometimes heavy, showers. By late afternoon the clouds part, the sun dries the pavements, and the tropical breeze is just right for enjoying a sparkling Puerto Vallarta sunset. Tepic summers are delightful, with afternoons in the 80s (27–32°C) and balmy evenings in the 70s (21–26°C), perfect for strolling.