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How safe is Puerto Vallarta during hurricane season?

Tropical storms such as hurricanes should certainly be given major respect, considering their ability to cause a great deal of damage when they are seriously strong.

With that being said, however, hurricane season should not be a deterrent to enjoying a well-deserved getaway in Mexico, especially in a destination like Puerto Vallarta!

Puerto Vallarta is situated along the glittering waters of Banderas Bay, this charming city is fortunate to remain relatively unscathed when most hurricanes threaten the region’s coastline.

Banderas Bay is a natural barrier to hurricanes and storms

The Banderas Bay, as well as the lush mountains that envelop Puerto Vallarta, provides an extra barrier of natural protection that makes the city one of the safest places to visit on the Mexican Pacific coastline during hurricane season.

Hurricanes typically run in this area from June through November. Storms in the area should always be taken seriously, but they generally do not pose any major risks for tourists.

For example, when Hurricane Kenna struck the Pacific coast in 2002, the powerful storm did cause flooding in Puerto Vallarta which led to some structure and vehicle damage.

However, the hurricane was not dangerous for visitors who were cautious and did what was asked of them to stay safe.

Benefits of traveling during hurricane season

Many tourists who visit Puerto Vallarta frequently actually base their vacations around hurricane season because they can usually score amazing travel deals.

Most resorts have lower occupancy rates during these times, so they are often happy to give travelers room upgrades, free nights, or discounts around their property on everything from dining to SPA treatments.

With fewer people around, travelers can look forward to a relaxing atmosphere where they can truly unwind.

Although this time of the year does bring a lot of rain to the area, there are noticeable patterns in the rainfall, making it possible to plan most activities in advance, most days see sunshine until mid-afternoon when scattered showers often pass through.

Taking proper precautions

Due to the incredibly advanced technology now available to help meteorologists predict and track storms, locals and tourists alike have plenty of warning long before any storm activity could actually strike land.

Although Puerto Vallarta is rarely affected by hurricanes in a major sense, local officials always like to err on the side of caution and make sure that everyone in the area is safe and sound.

This can lead to mandatory evacuations to ensure that both residents and visitors are out of harm’s way, although these occasions are infrequent.

As tropical storms and hurricanes build over the Pacific and move towards land, Puerto Vallarta can receive significant rainfall and high wind speeds, which sometimes leads to flooding.

However, these situations are normally not dangerous as long as the proper precautions are taken.

Hurricane Nora in Puerto Vallarta 2021

On August 28th, 2021, Puerto Vallarta was put to the test once again with Nora, a level 1 type of hurricane. Nora hit the shores of Puerto Vallarta that night, causing heavy rains, winds, electrical and water problems, as well as floods.

However, its citizens, their homes, and touristic areas are mostly safe.

Mother Nature truly did her part in protecting Puerto Vallarta again. Local citizens and tourists visiting the area followed the guidelines, rules, and recommendations of the government, which also helped to avoid a bigger disaster.

Downtown Puerto Vallarta was closed because it was the most damaged part of the city along with the area surrounding Río Cuale. But soon both places were already open to the public again.

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