Puerto Vallarta's December holiday season creates something rare in travel: multiple experiences converging at the optimal time to witness them. While many destinations offer either cultural celebrations or natural phenomena, Puerto Vallarta delivers both simultaneously, along with the weather conditions that make outdoor exploration ideal.
The city's location, where mountains meet the ocean, creates a natural stage for this convergence. December through early January represents the region's most distinctive period, when centuries-old traditions unfold in the streets while nature's rhythms bring marine wildlife to the bay's protected waters.
This timing isn't coincidental. The same seasonal conditions that draw visitors—comfortable temperatures, minimal rainfall, calm seas—also attract wildlife and enable the outdoor celebrations that define the region's cultural heritage. Understanding what happens during this period helps explain why December stands apart from other travel seasons.
Here's what to expect during Puerto Vallarta's December holiday season:
Festival of Guadalupe (December 1-12)
Puerto Vallarta's most significant cultural celebration spans 12 days with hundreds of processions featuring decorated carriages, folkloric dancers, and Mariachi bands moving through downtown streets.
These processions build toward December 12's Great Pilgrimage of the Favored when 20,000 devotees fill the streets. Since 2018, this celebration has been recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Jalisco, representing Puerto Vallarta's community identity through religious devotion and neighborhood traditions.
Processions move from 31 de Octubre Street through the centro histórico to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Neighborhoods, businesses, and families organize their own processions throughout the period. Dancers perform traditional indigenous and folk choreography while pilgrims in ceremonial dress accompany floats bearing images of Mexico's patron saint.
The culminating procession begins at 11:00 AM on December 12, drawing an estimated 20,000 devotees, with fireworks lighting Banderas Bay as the finale.
Where to Experience the Celebrations:
- Watch processions from Juarez Street or areas surrounding the Cathedral
- Arrive early on December 12, given the large crowds
- Experience the blend of solemn religious devotion and community celebration with food stalls, music, and street energy
Las Posadas and Christmas Traditions (December 16-24)
Nine consecutive nights of candlelit processions begin December 16th, reenacting Mary and Joseph's search for shelter through Puerto Vallarta's neighborhoods. Las Posadas moves through streets as participants carry candles, singing traditional carols while moving from house to house requesting lodging.
The celebration concludes through Christmas Eve on December 24th. We guide travelers to processions that stop at designated homes where hosts initially refuse entry, maintaining the reenactment until eventually welcoming everyone inside for celebrations.
Community gatherings follow with piñata-breaking for children, hot ponche (spiced fruit punch), and tables laden with tamales, pozole, and buñuelos. These aren't resort-organized events: You're joining authentic neighborhood celebrations where families have gathered for generations.
Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) on December 24th marks the culmination of Las Posadas. Traditional Christmas feasts feature tamales, pozole, and romeritos, a distinctive herb dish prepared specifically for this occasion.
The spiritual heart of the celebration occurs at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where the Misa de Gallo (Midnight Mass) draws locals and tourists alike. Families gather for extended dinners starting late evening, building toward midnight celebrations and the traditional practice of attending midnight Mass.
Where to Find Posadas Celebrations:
The most authentic posadas celebrations happen throughout the city's historic neighborhoods:
- Throughout Puerto Vallarta's residential neighborhoods, particularly in Olas Altas and Centro
- Evening processions move through streets during the nine nights of December 16-24
- Hotels also organize posadas for guests wanting structured participation
For the most authentic experience, visit residential neighborhoods where families continue these traditions as they have for generations.
December Weather and Whale Watching Season
December brings Puerto Vallarta's ideal conditions: warm daytime temperatures, minimal rainfall, and approximately 10 hours of daily sunshine. This dry season weather creates perfect conditions for both cultural celebrations and outdoor activities.
The official whale watching season opens December 8th, regulated by Mexico's federal environmental authority. Hundreds of humpback whales migrate from Alaska to Banderas Bay for breeding and calving, remaining throughout the season rather than briefly passing through.
Christmas travelers arrive when whales actively establish breeding territories and engage in courtship behaviors. Our whale watching tour includes hydrophone technology to hear underwater whale communication, with catamaran and speedboat platforms ensuring close encounters while maintaining regulated approach distances.
New Year's Eve and Banderas Bay Celebrations
Puerto Vallarta's Malecón waterfront boardwalk becomes the epicenter of New Year's Eve celebrations with free public festivities drawing thousands to welcome the new year. The city organizes live music performances along the boardwalk, and nearby areas like Olas Altas are known for their vibrant nightlife and spontaneous musical entertainment throughout the evening.
Fireworks light up the sky all along Banderas Bay precisely at midnight, with choreographed displays visible from vantage points along the Malecón waterfront. Sky lanterns drift upward as fireworks cascade over the Pacific, with crowds gathered along the entire waterfront to celebrate the New Year.
The Mexican tradition of las doce uvas de la suerte (The Twelve Lucky Grapes) happens at midnight. Successfully eating 12 grapes (one with each clock chime) represents wishes for good fortune in the corresponding months of the coming year.
During Puerto Vallarta's New Year's Eve celebrations on the Malecón, both locals and visitors participate in this Spanish-inherited custom that's become integral to Mexican New Year's festivities.
Elevated Bay-Side Viewing Options:
For a different perspective on the bay-wide celebration, we offer premium viewing experiences:
ALMA, Rhythms of the Night provides an evening at Las Caletas beach hideaway accessible only by sea, featuring the ALMA cultural performance, dining, and sunset cruise timing. With over 8,000 five-star reviews, this remains Puerto Vallarta's #1 rated evening tour.
Alternatively, luxury sailing offers a small-group New Year's on Banderas Bay, maintaining connection to the bay-wide celebration while providing a different vantage point.
Majahuitas New Year’s Eve delivers a high-energy beachfront celebration at an exclusive jungle cove. Guests arrive by boat to enjoy open bar, live DJs, oceanfront dancing, and a midnight countdown under the stars—one of the most iconic New Year’s parties in the bay.
The Pilgrimage Trail to Talpa de Allende
The Ruta del Peregrino (Pilgrim's Route) winds 117 kilometers through the mountains from Ameca to Talpa de Allende over three days of hiking. Thousands walk this trail annually seeking the Basilica de Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Talpa, one of Mexico's most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations.
The trail descends through terrain passing mountain communities including Cuautla and Lagunillas before reaching Talpa de Allende, a pueblos mágicos (Magic Village) designated for its cultural significance as a former mining community. Nine contemporary structures including shelters, chapels, and lookout points punctuate the route.
While the trail remains active throughout the year as individual pilgrims and hiking groups traverse the mountainous path, it's worth noting that the primary pilgrimage season to Talpa de Allende centers on the October 7 feast day of Our Lady of the Rosary, rather than the Christmas period.
Our San Sebastian tour explores a preserved mountain village in the same Sierra Madre region where coffee cultivation, colonial architecture, and centuries-old traditions remain intact. Our guides share stories of how these mountain communities maintain their heritage, the same force that makes traditions in this region endure as living customs rather than historical artifacts.
Three Kings Day and Extended Celebrations (January 6)
Día de los Reyes (Three Kings Day) on January 6th represents the traditional gift-giving celebration for Mexican children, honoring Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltazar's journey to visit baby Jesus.
On the night of January 5th, children leave clean shoes out overnight to be filled with sweets, small toys, or money from the Three Kings. This celebration marks the conclusion of Mexico's extended Maratón Guadalupe-Reyes festive period, which runs from December 12 through January 6.
Traditional Three Kings Day Elements:
- Rosca de Reyes: A wreath-shaped sweet bread decorated with candied fruits
- Small Baby Jesus figurines hide throughout the bread
- Whoever finds one must host a party on February 2nd and provide tamales
- Families share the rosca with hot chocolate or atole
Holiday Activities Beyond the Celebrations
December's weather perfection and calm seas create ideal conditions for outdoor adventures between cultural celebrations. Whale watching season begins in December and reaches its peak in January and February, when active breeding and calving behaviors are most visible. Our guides explain why over 1,000 humpback whales choose Banderas Bay for calving, providing conservation context that transforms wildlife viewing into education about marine sanctuaries.
Las Caletas offers a secluded beach accessible only by sea, with December's dry season ensuring optimal conditions for kayaking, snorkeling, and beach exploration without rain concerns.
The protected cove's calm waters suit all ages, making this ideal for multi-generational groups traveling during the holiday season.
Luxury sailing takes advantage of December's clear skies and consistent winds for daytime sailing on Banderas Bay. The combination of reliable weather, comfortable temperatures, and smaller holiday season group sizes creates optimal conditions for this small-group sailing tour.
Holiday Season Shopping and Activities
The Malecón's Christmas decorations and public art installations create scenic evening walks between celebrations. The official Puerto Vallarta Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony takes place annually at 8 p.m. at the Malecón near the Los Arcos Amphitheater, though the exact date varies each year.
For authentic artisan shopping:
- Olas Altas Farmers Market every Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Lázaro Cárdenas Park
- Features handmade textiles, leather goods, and local pottery (occasionally including Huichol artwork)
- Art & Market Marina Vallarta operates Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM along the Marina Vallarta boardwalk
These venues offer local artisan crafts perfect for holiday gifts reflecting genuine Mexican artistry.
Experience Puerto Vallarta's Holiday Season
Puerto Vallarta's December holiday season offers a rare combination of authentic cultural celebrations, optimal whale watching conditions, and ideal weather that creates unforgettable vacation experiences.
Whether you're drawn to the religious processions, marine wildlife encounters, or simply enjoying perfect beach weather, the convergence of these elements makes December special.
Our tours and activities provide guided access to these experiences, led by expert guides. December dates tend to fill quickly as travelers discover this unique season, so planning ahead ensures availability for your preferred activities and dates.
