Looking to go on vacation with my boyfriend. We're thinking Mexico but can't decide on PV or Cancun. Care to share your experience on either one of the two places? Thank you

Both aree amazing but puerto vallarta has always been our fav place. Lots to do and we always feel safe when we are out exploring.

If the beach is important to you, the Cancun area is experiencing a major seaweed problem. Check out Isla Mujeres because so far, it's not affected.

Marie Amaro i totally agree. Or just go tk Isla Mujeres for the entire time and do a day trip to Cancun

PV is beautiful,but if you love snorkeling do cancun.

PV is great, super friendly, very west coast layed back. Cancun a lot busier

Cancún! The soft white sandy beaches are there. I stayed at the mezcal hostel and it was AMAZING and soooo cheap!

Cancún is definitely more “touristy” if you are looking for a bit more authentic then definitely PV

Pv is my favorite place.

Sher mine too!!!

Cancún is by far the best as you get to do more tours and places to go. Nightlife is much better too, but quite expensive.... if you want to enjoy the beach you will have to go to isla mujeres since Cancún’s beaches are full of seaweed.

Check out Huatulco! Sooo beautiful and not affected by the seaweed.

Hutulco is awesome but their rainy season is may-Sept

Cancun is fun to party in, it’s my favourite for that, but pv is nicer for relaxation !

Raylene I loved PV’s party scene as well

Sargassum is not good

Yes Cancun was expecting a huge amount of of seaweed to hit its shores again.

Much prefer PV, more old mexico charm, easy to get around, lots to do

Barb agreed.

Barb same no comparison imo

Cancun is party central for college kids. high crime rate, lots of drunken 20 somethings. PVR is much less frantic, more mature. lots to do that doesn’t involve drinking yourself into a coma

PV . Not just hotel city . Safer and more authentic Mexico and cheaper . Love strolling the malecon

We’ve been to the Cancun side 8x and PV, Mazatlan and Cabo once ea. If you decide to do the Cancun side the ocean is nicer but I’d suggest going further down the coast towards Playa del Carmen area. It’s closer to Xel-Ha and Xcararet for excursions and you can take the ferry over to Cozumel. PV is nice too, more of pretty hilly terrain Bay Area. Personally I’d say you can’t beat the beautiful blue water and beaches on the Cancun side, but Cancun itself isn’t as nice as PV or Playa to stroll around. Have a great vacation!

PV has great beaches. A good authentic Mexican feel versus Cancun. So many options of large resorts to small boutiques. Also weather is a almost totally consistently nice. Cancun can be unpredictable. Winds, rain, washed out beaches.

PV is my favorite. Caribbean side is experiencing a seaweed (sargasso) issue which maybe offputting for some

If you are specifically a beach lover, Cancun has much prettier beaches (white sand, Caribbean blue water). But if you want more than just a nice beach I recommend PV. The beaches there are still nice for lounging and swimming, they just aren’t as picturesque (golden yellow sand, dark waters). Cancun is far too touristy. PV has a more local feel to it. It has a beautiful mountainous landscape, you can easily walk from any beach resort into town where shops and restaurants are. It’s less busy than Cancun IMO and more interesting

Melissa ditto!

If you are looking for a bit away from the party scene and explore a bit of Mexico, you can try Manzanillo. Beautiful places around and small islands you can have to yourselves. Explore volcanoes, ATV ride horse rides and hikes around the beautiful forests...many great things to do. PM for a great airbnb run by a Canadian couple right on the beach!

Try Ixtapa you won't regret it. Only a 4 hr trip fr Calgary.

PV hands down all the way!!!
Omg for me no comparison. Honestly walking the streets in Cancun near the nightlife I did not feel very safe. In PV on the other hand I felt so safe as a solo traveller. The only thing I really liked about Cancun was the beautiful beaches. But everything else can not even come close to comparing imo. PV...the food fricking delish and so cheap! The people wonderful. It’s authentic Mexico.
The jungle omg so gorgeous!! The close proximity to small cute little beach towns that have gorgeous beaches (not to mention PV has beautiful beaches as well) and amazing vibes are all there. I loved Sayulita so much as well ended up spending a night there. I highly recommend (Hotel Rio Malecon in PV Centro) if you are on a budget it’s an adorable clean hotel they make you feel so at home & it’s the heart of it all close walk to everything not beach front...but the beach is right around the corner few minutes walk (I would recommend not getting a basic room but a Deluxe Superior or also they have kitchenette rooms they look really nice make sure to ask for a newly renovated room if you book with them) and they have a restaurant with delish food!

PV is my favorite....besides the Mayan Riviera is having a lot of problems with sargassum.

PV all the way!! Too much seaweed on other side!

Definitely PV unless you're going an hour out of Cancun to Mayan Riviera.

West coast of Mexico has more predictable weather, safer walkability and shorter travel time. PV is good option if you want combination of resort & bit city. Huatulco is a great option for warmer weather & great beaches

PV!! Look at Nueva Vallarta as well. Pretty there and good prices!!
Cancun is so commercialized and they are having drug territory wars there. This is coming from friends living in Mexico. They usually never say anything about the dangers of Mexico.

PV would be my choice. Authentic, culture is wonderful, food amazing. Mayan - very Americanized, expensive and just not the true Mexico.

PV Americana Fiesta

PV every time. Cancun side has a lot of seaweed on their beaches and we found Cancun airport a nightmare compared to PV. The fiesta americana in PV is a fabulous hôtel, food, staff everything. There is a mall across the road with a bowling alley and small casino, shops, supermarket etc. X x

PV hands down. People are nicer. I've been 4 times and never stayed on a resort. Walked alone, partied with locals and always had an amazing time and no issues. Last year my hubby and I went together and had a blast too!!

Check out El Cuyo on the Yucatán, 2 hour drive from Cancun

PV for sure. I didn't like Cancun - it was like going to any southern beach place in the USA, not Mexican. PV has lots of tourists, but is also a city for Mexicans so lots more charm, especially in the old city. I also found more Canadians seemed to go to PV if that means anything to you.

You guys are all the opposite of me - that water on the Cancun side is beautiful and there are less vendors to harass you however I prefer down the coast a bit in Mayan Riviera

PV 100%. The weather is always sunny. Cancun side is more unpredictable with the weather for sure.

Just read an article that Cancun beaches have a terrible seaweed problem - also beware of hurricane season starting shortly which brings rainy weather

Cabo has changed a lot for the better. Having been to PV, Cancun and Cabo, Cabo would be my pick. A very close second would be PV and Cancun not at all.

Wanda same im not a fan of Cancun

We are in Playa del Carmen right now and I have to tell you that the seaweed is absolutely disgusting! It’s literally piled up about 5’ high on the beaches. There are tractors taking it away every day but they are not winning. The stench is terrible, YOU CANNOT WALK ON THE BEACHES ITS THAT BAD.

Omg

Love PV!

Literally just went to puerto Vallarta 2 weeks ago. Amaaaazing!

I love PV, we’ve been there many times. I love walking to the Malecon. And it is not as commercial as Cancun. We went to Cancun and didn’t like the vibes - lots of bars around.

PV has very consistent beautiful weather. Cancun has beautiful beaches but it is often windy!

Cancun puerto Vallarta sucks been there !

Anything on the Carribean side.

Tracy
Loved cancun area- playa del Carmen, Cozumel,isla mujeres have been there in January November and March and the weather has always been hot

Cancun waters are beautiful

Puerto Vallarta

PV and Riviera Nayarit is even better!!! North of PV!

Great place !

PV 110% Love it there. Quicker to get to. Lots of charm. Stunning sunsets. Beautiful water on the Cancun side, but I was in Playa Del Carmen in February & the beaches are all full of terrible sea weed. I’m sure you’ll enjoy wherever you go!

I love both and each are unique.

Go to Asia

Have you considered Zihuatanejo? Its close to Ixtapa but much nicer in our opinion. Again, unique.

PV without a doubt. I’ve never had good weather on the east coast I’ve been 4x and I’ve been 8x to PV with sunshine all the time. You can get around via city is really easy

PV it was great and felt safe while walking down the streets. It was beautiful and the beach was lovely

I have been to both many times....I would say that I felt safer in Puerto Vallarta. Even better is to head up North of PV (30 min) and stay in Nuevo Vallarta. Quieter and less crowded...also the water is easier to swim in. Cancun water us definitely the most beautiful (clear and warm) but the beaches were full of sea weed. My favourite part of Cancun was a day trip to the "island of women"....however I have heard the past year that the drugs have turned it into a less desirable place to visit.

Patti I just returned from a week in Isla Mujeres and had no issues at all. We were out late every night and felt completely safe every where we went. And, North Beach....breathtaking!

Lori great to know...we loved it there but that was 3 years ago. I had heard that there were some "drug war issues" from a few people. ...which made me so sad as it was the highlight of our last visit to Cancun.

Just don't go to Sayalita! 1 hr North of PV.....it is the only beach unswimable in Mexico...do to fecal matter...and you will get sick.

Patti omg thanks! That would really be shitty

Lol

Sayalita is a really amazing surfing town...but raw sewage is dumped just past the breakpoint of the surf. It was the only time I have been sick in Mexico.

That has been fixed, modern water treatment plant as of may and they fixed the dirty river.
https://wildmex.com/water-quality-in-sayulita-vs-punta-mita/
Sayulita now that the gross sewage issues has been fixed combined with proper garbage disposal sayulita is nothing short of wonderful.
WILDMEX.COM
Water quality in Sayulita VS Punta Mita - Wildmex

Lester Brayham good to know! We were there in March and everyone was very sick. I knew they were working on the problem.

Patti we are here now, game changer for sure.
No fun getting sick from other people's poop!

I preferred the white sand of Cancun and the morning sunrises!!

If it's on hot season avoid the Caribbean. Lost of sargasum until the end of August.

I hear the seaweed in the Cancun area is currently excessive and rotting, so you can’t go in the ocean and it smells. PV May be a better option at this time. Such a shame though, because the myan riviera is beautiful.

If you’re going for beautiful beaches, Cancun hands down. Then you can take a short trip over to isla mujeras while you’re there.

Go to huatulco!

PV side for sure. I like being just north of town - either Nuevo Vallarta or Punta di Mita. If you are after all inclusive I’d recommend RIU Palace or Iberostar. The east coast is changing - lots of seaweed in the water, crime, etc.