A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Puerto Vallarta vs. Santa Cruz for Food, Nightlife, Beaches, and Families

Should you visit Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Puerto Vallarta and Santa Cruz can help you decide which place is right for you.

Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta is a cultural, coastal, and colorful town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Puerto Vallarta travel costs.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a laid back, coastal, and scenic town. Other popular activities here include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Puerto Vallarta and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

You'll generally find more things to do in Puerto Vallarta than Santa Cruz. Puerto Vallarta is bigger than Santa Cruz, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Puerto Vallarta is better known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and shopping, while Santa Cruz is more popular for its hiking. Puerto Vallarta is well known for its natural beauty and vibrant nightlife. Also, Puerto Vallarta is famous for the Malecon. Santa Cruz is well known for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches.

How is Puerto Vallarta different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Cruz and Puerto Vallarta. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Puerto Vallarta. There are a number of historical sights around town like Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

Santa Cruz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

Is the Food Better in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Puerto Vallarta is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Puerto Vallarta makes for a great culinary experience. The charming character combined with the authentic local cuisine makes for a wonderful culinary experience. There's everything from taco stands to romantic restaurants that you can try.

Santa Cruz has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Nightlife?

Both Puerto Vallarta and Santa Cruz are great when it comes to partying.

Puerto Vallarta offers plenty to do in the evening. You'll find a mix of active clubs, cozy bars, and cosmopolitan cafes. Head to the Romantic Zone or Los Muertos Beach for some of the best places.

Santa Cruz has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Resorts?

Puerto Vallarta is very popular for its resorts. However, Santa Cruz is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Puerto Vallarta is a great choice. There are many different places to stay from all-inclusive resorts to high end hotels or beachfront properties.

Santa Cruz is not a resort destination.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Puerto Vallarta is notable for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Santa Cruz is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Puerto Vallarta. Divers in the area may get to experience once in a lifetime opportunities like diving with manta rays, dolphins, whale sharks, hammerheads, or schools of jacks.

Santa Cruz is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Puerto Vallarta and Santa Cruz are great choices for a beach vacation.

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. There are many beaches spread out around town that have soft sand and blue water. Most have all of the amenities you could need. Popular beaches include Playa de los Muertos, Playa Mismaloya, and Playa Conchas Chinas.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Santa Cruz. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Puerto Vallarta is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Santa Cruz. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Puerto Vallarta is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

Puerto Vallarta is notable for shopping. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Puerto Vallarta is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There's a mix of shopping malls, open-air markets, boutiques, and international brands.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Cruz. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

You'll find great kid-friendly activities in either Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz.

Puerto Vallarta is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the water parks and thrilling activities, such as Aquaventuras Water Park or Los Veranos Canopy Tour. There's rock climbing and ropes courses at Las Animas Aventura Park. You'll also find horseback riding and even pirate boat tours in the area.

Santa Cruz is a very family-friendly destination. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

Both Puerto Vallarta and Santa Cruz are great destinations to visit as a couple.

Puerto Vallarta is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples looking for a romantic getaway will enjoy sunset boat trips, horseback riding, and adventure sports. There are also many restaurants where you can enjoy a romantic dinner or a refreshing drink.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Puerto Vallarta is notable for backpackers. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Puerto Vallarta. There are hostels around, as well as many adventure sports or thrilling activities that backpackers will enjoy.

Santa Cruz is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Puerto Vallarta is a popular place for its public transit. However, Santa Cruz is a mediocre town for times when you don't have a car.

Puerto Vallarta has a few public transit options. There are blue, green or orange buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is renowned for its ease of walking around. Also, Puerto Vallarta is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Santa Cruz on foot. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

Puerto Vallarta is very walkable. There are several walkable neighborhoods in town such as 5 de Diciembre, el Centro, and Zona Romantica.

For even more information, also check out Is Puerto Vallarta Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or Puerto Vallarta?

How long in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Puerto Vallarta than Santa Cruz because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Puerto Vallarta, and 1-2 days is enough time in Santa Cruz.

Families should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Santa Cruz. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Puerto Vallarta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Santa Cruz. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Puerto Vallarta that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Puerto Vallarta than Santa Cruz if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Puerto Vallarta.

One day in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the laid-back town of Puerto Vallarta, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The laid back destination of Santa Cruz offers nightlife and food. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Puerto Vallarta, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

The town of Santa Cruz offers food and shopping. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

Puerto Vallarta, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. This town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

Puerto Vallarta is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico, The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Puerto Vallarta and Santa Cruz, we can see that Santa Cruz is more expensive. And not only is Puerto Vallarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Puerto Vallarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Puerto Vallarta and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Santa Cruz would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Cruz than you might in Puerto Vallarta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Puerto Vallarta Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Puerto Vallarta or Santa Cruz?

Puerto Vallarta has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Puerto Vallarta and Santa Cruz, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.