Puerto Vallarta in December: Guadalupe Festivities, Holiday Lights and the Malecón
December is when Puerto Vallarta feels most like itself. The days are warm and dry, the evenings are cool enough for a walk along the bay, and the whole month is filled with street celebrations that locals have kept for more than a century. From the first pilgrimages on December 1 to fireworks over Banderas Bay on New Year’s Eve, here is what’s happening and how to enjoy it from your villa.
December at a Glance
- December 1–12: Fiestas Guadalupanas, with daily pilgrimages through downtown.
- December 12: Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the biggest procession of the year.
- December 16–24: Posadas, the nine nights leading up to Christmas.
- Mid-December to January 1: The city’s holiday program, with a giant tree at Los Muertos Pier and nightly music on the Malecón.
- December 24: Nochebuena, the main Christmas celebration in Mexico.
- December 31: New Year’s Eve festival and fireworks on the Malecón.
The Guadalupe Festivities (December 1–12)
For the first twelve days of December, processions make their way through downtown Puerto Vallarta to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the church with the crown-topped tower you can see from the Malecón. The tradition dates back to 1921, and today hundreds of groups take part: schools, businesses, unions, neighborhoods and families, each walking with banners, floats, folkloric dancers and mariachi music.
Most processions come down Calle Juárez toward the church, starting in the afternoon and continuing into the night. Street vendors line the route with snacks and sweets, and the atmosphere is joyful and very local. It is free and open to everyone.
December 12
The festivities peak on December 12, the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Celebrations start at midnight with Las Mañanitas sung to the Virgin, and during the day the Peregrinación de los Favorecidos, the largest procession of the season, brings tens of thousands of people into the streets. A torch carried in relays from the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City also arrives at the church that day.
Tips for Watching
- Go in the late afternoon: the light is softer, and the processions are building up.
- Stand along Calle Juárez near the church: it’s the best spot to see the groups arrive.
- Skip the car: downtown streets slow down or close in the evenings, so take a taxi or driver and walk the last few blocks.
- Be respectful: it’s a religious celebration first and a show second.
Holiday Lights and the Malecón
Puerto Vallarta’s municipal holiday program usually starts in mid-December. Last year it ran from December 18 to January 1 and opened with the lighting of a giant Christmas tree at Los Muertos Pier, billed as the tallest in Mexico. Every evening from around 6 or 7 p.m., the pier, Los Arcos on the Malecón, Parque Hidalgo and Lázaro Cárdenas Park hosted free events: DJs, saxophone sets, carols, Christmas movies and, between Christmas and New Year’s, live concerts.
Even without a specific event, the Malecón is at its best in December: lights along the boardwalk, street performers and one of the best sunsets on the Pacific coast. The city usually publishes the new program in early December, so check the dates before planning a particular night.
Posadas and Christmas Eve
From December 16 to 24, neighborhoods celebrate posadas, which recreate Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter with candlelit processions, carols, piñatas and warm ponche (a fruit punch). If you are invited to one, go.
In Mexico, the main celebration is Christmas Eve (Nochebuena), with a late family dinner that runs past midnight. Many restaurants offer special menus on December 24 and 25 and fill up early. With a villa, you can also host Nochebuena at home: a private chef cooking a traditional dinner on your terrace is one of the best ways to spend the night. Book early, because December dates go fast.
New Year’s Eve on the Malecón
On December 31, the Malecón becomes one big free party. Last year the city set up a stage near the lighthouse (El Faro) with a drone show, an international DJ and fireworks over the bay at midnight. Join the local tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight, one for each wish for the new year.
The crowds are large, so many guests prefer to watch the fireworks from a villa with a bay view or from a dinner cruise, then head downtown afterward.
Planning Your December Stay
- Book early: the weeks from mid-December through New Year’s are the busiest of the year, and the best villas go first.
- Pack light layers: daytime temperatures are around 28°C (82°F), with cooler evenings and almost no rain.
- Reserve the big dinners now: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve tables book up weeks ahead.
- Plan around downtown traffic: festivities slow the center in the evenings, especially December 1–12.
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