January

Throughout January:
Pilot and grey whales bear their young in Banderas Bay. This is also the season for sailfish, blue marlin and black marlin fishing.

January 1:
New Year's Day (Año Nuevo), national holiday.

January 6:
Day of the Kings (Dia de los Reyes). Traditional Mexican gift giving day for children, in honor of the Three Kings' visit to the baby Jesus. A sweet roll with a plastic miniature of Baby Jesus hidden inside is shared by family and friends. Whoever gets the baby miniature hosts the party on February 2.

February

Throughout February:
Pilot and grey whales bear their young in Banderas Bay.

February 2:
Candlemass—a time of purification. Celebrated with Tamale parties.

February 5:
Constitution Day: Official speeches and ceremonies take place nationwide on this national holiday.

February 14:
Friendship Day (Dia de Amistad). Love and friendship is celebrated.

February through March:
As Lent approaches, Mexican towns celebrate this lively event with colorful parades, cockfights, food, dancing, fireworks and live outdoor music.

Throughout February and March:
In Banderas Bay during February and March you might encounter what looks like stretches of filth and foam along the coastline. It is NOT sewage or filth. Professor Fabio Cupul explains (in the PVTribune) : A word about 'Sea Foam'........ For a couple of months, usually February and March, Vallarta has a strange ocean phenomenon which appears as, well, filth floating near the the tides of the beaches. This foam is due to the presence in the water of an infinite number of acorn barnacles or sacabocados (animals related to shrimp that live attached to rocks). These organisms shed their skin every time they increase in size. There are also small fragments of plants and animals within it, that complicate matters.

These elements gather along the coastline of the bay and on the surface of the water to form a net that catches small films of sea water as the waves break on the beach, creating a dirty looking color, a situation that makes many think of contamination. A fraction of the material is generated by the acorn barnacles and the rest comes from the mechanism of an action known as upwelling. Cold water, rich in organic matter, upwells from the ocean's depth to its surface. As the temperature on the bottom is lesser and it receives the waste and offal of plants and animals that live along that area of water, that precipitate and accumulate on the ocean floor, thus enriching it. This results in important economic benefits, maintaining the health of the biological ecosystems. This dirty looking sea foam offers an infallible indication of the beginning and continuation of life within the natural environment.

March

Throughout March:
As Lent approaches, Mexican towns celebrate this lively event with colorful parades, cockfights, food, dancing, fireworks and live outdoor music.

Throughout March:
Pilot and grey whales bear their young in Banderas Bay.

March 21:
Benito Juarez's Birthday: Mexico observes a national holiday to honor one of the country's most loved presidents, and leader of the 19th-century Reform movement.

Throughout March:
In Banderas Bay during February and March you might encounter what looks like stretches of filth and foam along the coastline. It is NOT sewage or filth. Professor Fabio Cupul explains (in the PVTribune) : A word about 'Sea Foam'........ For a couple of months, usually February and March, Vallarta has a strange ocean phenomenon which appears as, well, filth floating near the the tides of the beaches. This foam is due to the presence in the water of an infinite number of acorn barnacles or sacabocados (animals related to shrimp that live attached to rocks). These organisms shed their skin every time they increase in size. There are also small fragments of plants and animals within it, that complicate matters.

These elements gather along the coastline of the bay and on the surface of the water to form a net that catches small films of sea water as the waves break on the beach, creating a dirty looking color, a situation that makes many think of contamination. A fraction of the material is generated by the acorn barnacles and the rest comes from the mechanism of an action known as upwelling. Cold water, rich in organic matter, upwells from the ocean's depth to its surface. As the temperature on the bottom is lesser and it receives the waste and offal of plants and animals that live along that area of water, that precipitate and accumulate on the ocean floor, thus enriching it. This results in important economic benefits, maintaining the health of the biological ecosystems. This dirty looking sea foam offers an infallible indication of the beginning and continuation of life within the natural environment.

March through April:
Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Easter Sunday (Domingo Santa). During the days leading up to and including Easter, Mexicans hold celebrations and somber processions in observance of Christ's resurrection.

April

March through April:
Holy Week (Semana Santa) and Easter Sunday (Domingo Santa). During the days leading up to and including Easter, Mexicans hold celebrations and somber processions in observance of Christ's resurrection.

Throughout April:
Pilot and grey whales bear their young in Banderas Bay. Also, the mating season of the giant manta rays takes place throughout April and May. You can sometimes see them from the Malecon, breaking the surface as they leap into the air.

April 30:
Children's Day

May

Throughout May:
The mating season of the giant manta rays takes place throughout May. You can sometimes see them from the Malecon, breaking the surface as they leap into the air.

Fiestas de Mayo:
During the entire month of May the residents honor their city with the Festivals of May, which include parades in the downtown area, bullfights, soccer games, dancing, street music, and a gala featuring amusement park rides, children's performances, exhibits and foods.

Many activities take place at the main square by the main Cathedral of Guadalupe and the Los Arcos stage area.

The final day of Fiestas de Mayo, May 31st, is Puerto Vallarta's birthday. This event crowns the month with a grand celebration. There is awesome mariachi music and a phenomenal fireworks display.

May 1:
Labor Day

May 3:
Construction Workers Day

May 5:
Cinco de Mayo. French defeated at Pueblo in 1862. (Not a big holiday here.)

May 10:
Mother's Day

May 15:
Teacher's Day

Late May through June:
World Jazz Festival, formerly know as the Cancun Jazz Festival takes place. This event attracts great jazz musicians like Oleta Adams and Arturo Sandoval. This is a world-wide music lovers festival, yet sometimes turns out to be a non-event. However, there are musical and dance events at Los Arcos.

June

Throughout June:
World Jazz Festival, formerly know as the Cancun Jazz Festival takes place. This event attracts great jazz musicians like Oleta Adams and Arturo Sandoval. This is a world-wide music lovers festival, yet sometimes turns out to be a non-event. However, there are musical and dance events at Los Arcos.

June through October:
Turtle Preservation Program. Puerto Vallarta's beaches are an important breeding grounds for the sea turtle. The city of Puerto Vallarta—along with several hotels and other businesses—manages a sea turtle protection program that collects and protects turtle eggs during the summer, and further supports the newly-hatched young to enter the sea. Some of the hatcheries are open to visitors. These and other strategies are contributing to advance Puerto Vallarta to the forefront of ecologically minded destinations in Mexico.

July

Throughout July:
Turtle Preservation Program. Puerto Vallarta's beaches are an important breeding grounds for the sea turtle. The city of Puerto Vallarta—along with several hotels and other businesses—manages a sea turtle protection program that collects and protects turtle eggs during the summer, and further supports the newly-hatched young to enter the sea. Some of the hatcheries are open to visitors. These and other strategies are contributing to advance Puerto Vallarta to the forefront of ecologically minded destinations in Mexico.

August

Throughout August:
Turtle Preservation Program. Puerto Vallarta's beaches are an important breeding grounds for the sea turtle. The city of Puerto Vallarta—along with several hotels and other businesses—manages a sea turtle protection program that collects and protects turtle eggs during the summer, and further supports the newly-hatched young to enter the sea. Some of the hatcheries are open to visitors. These and other strategies are contributing to advance Puerto Vallarta to the forefront of ecologically minded destinations in Mexico.

September

Throughout September:
Turtle Preservation Program. Puerto Vallarta's beaches are an important breeding grounds for the sea turtle. The city of Puerto Vallarta—along with several hotels and other businesses—manages a sea turtle protection program that collects and protects turtle eggs during the summer, and further supports the newly-hatched young to enter the sea. Some of the hatcheries are open to visitors. These and other strategies are contributing to advance Puerto Vallarta to the forefront of ecologically minded destinations in Mexico.

September 15 - 17:
Independence Eve is on the 15th. The entire central plaza is full in expectation of the traditional "¡Grito Viva Mexico!" at 11PM from the City Hall balcony. Independence Day is the 16th, when Mexico observes its 1821 independence from Spain with speech making, flag waving, fireworks, horse races, folk dances, mariachi bands and flourishes with decorations in red, white and green—Mexico's national colors.

October

Throughout October:
Turtle Preservation Program. Puerto Vallarta's beaches are an important breeding grounds for the sea turtle. The city of Puerto Vallarta—along with several hotels and other businesses—manages a sea turtle protection program that collects and protects turtle eggs during the summer, and further supports the newly-hatched young to enter the sea. Some of the hatcheries are open to visitors. These and other strategies are contributing to advance Puerto Vallarta to the forefront of ecologically minded destinations in Mexico.

Throughout October:
Prime season for sailfish. Also available is blue marlin and black marlin fishing.

November

Throughout November:
Prime season for sailfish, blue marlin and black marlin fishing.

November 1 - 2:
Todos Santos, or All Souls' Day. Deceased friends, relatives, and ancestors are remembered and honored in a traditional Mexican celebration that includes graveside picnics, skeleton shaped candy and dolls, with a festive atmosphere. It is traditionally believed that the spirits of the dead return to earth on this day. If you are driving along the highways, you'll see many decorations, and possibly food on gravesites, and crosses to honor the departed.

On November 1st, homage is paid to the souls of the departed children. This day is also known as All Saints Day. On November 2nd, homage is paid for entire families. This day is known as the Day of the Dead.

November 5 - 28:
Fine Arts Festival. Includes music, dancing, poetry and ballets.

November 11 - 14:
The Mexican Boat Show. This is the largest nautical boat show in Mexico. (The Marina here is considered one of the best in the world!)

Fiesta del Mar. Includes numerous art walks at the Marina, downtown and south of town.

November 12 - 20:
Annual Gourmet Festival. International and local chefs create special menus.

November 18 - 20:
International Sailfish and Marlin Fishing Tournament. This annual event attracts fishing fanatics from around the world, and is the beginning of the great fishing season.

November 20:
Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. Includes parades, speeches and patriotic events which recall the Mexican Revolution of 1910 - 1917.

December

Throughout December:
Pilot and grey whales bear their young in Banderas Bay. This is also the season for sailfish, blue marlin and black marlin fishing.

December 1 - 12:
Virgin of Guadalupe Procession and Festival. This is a major event with music, colorful parades, fireworks and feasting on great food. On December 12th is the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a day which honors the anniversary of her miraculous appearance to a peasant in Mexico.

December 12:
Anniversary of the founding of Puerto Vallarta by Don Guadalupe Sánchez Torres in 1851. This is also the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe (Dia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe).

December 16 - 24:
Christmas Week celebrations which include a two-day feast commemorating the Virgin de la Soledad, nightly posadas (re-enactments of Joseph and Mary's search for lodging), the breaking of piñatas and candlelight processions.

December 25:
Christmas Day (Navidad)

December 31:
New Year's Eve. Festivities throughout the city of Puerto Vallarta.

The warmth and hospitality of Mexico welcomes you. Come and enjoy!

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