Puerto Vallarta, the World’s No. 2 Small City
Readers ranked Puerto Vallarta the best small city in Latin America and second in the world. With 16 Canadian routes, it is the easiest prize-winner to reach this winter.
For the second year running, Condé Nast Traveler readers have put Puerto Vallarta second among the world’s small cities. It is behind only Victoria, B.C., and ahead of Florence, San Miguel de Allende and Lucerne. It was also named the best small city in Latin America. Almost 800,000 readers voted, according to the Jalisco Tourism Board.
For Canadians, that comes with a practical bonus: the airport has 16 routes to Canada.
Why readers rate it
The release lists what voters liked: the cobbled Historic Centre, the Romantic Zone, the food scene, art and nightlife, and easy access to nature. Its beach also made a second list: Puerto Vallarta ranked 15th among the best beaches in the Americas.
Where to eat
The food is the newest part of the city’s story.
- ICÚ received a Bib Gourmand in the MICHELIN Guide Mexico 2026, for good cooking at good value.
- Pancho’s Takos is a MICHELIN-recommended taco stop.
- A day trip inland adds Guadalajara, where Xokol and Alcalde each hold one MICHELIN Star.
What to do
- Walk the Malecón, the seafront promenade named among Mexico’s top attractions in Tripadvisor’s 2026 awards.
- Spend an evening in the Romantic Zone, the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene. GayCities named Puerto Vallarta the best LGBTQ+ destination of 2026.
- Take to the water: boats run to Yelapa and around Banderas Bay, and the Marietas Islands’ Playa del Amor ranked 16th among the Americas’ beaches.
- Go up: the Sierra Madre Occidental rises behind the town.
Where to stay
The city has 27,504 hotel rooms across 456 properties, from boutique places in the old town to big resorts on the bay.
Plan it
- From Canada: 16 routes connect Puerto Vallarta to Canadian cities; check current nonstops from your nearest airport.
- When: November to April is the dry season.
- Official info: Visit Puerto Vallarta.
For advisors
- Who to pitch: repeat Mexico clients who want a real town with the beach, food-led couples, and LGBTQ+ travellers.
- Pair it: a Puerto Vallarta week with two nights in Guadalajara for the MICHELIN-starred dinners.
- Use the ranking: “second-best small city in the world” is an easy hook for winter campaigns, and Victoria’s win makes a neat Canadian comparison.
Sources
Alicia Loveday is Senior Editor at Not An Atlas. She's a mom who works in fashion and AI, which means she can style a look, prompt a model and pack a carry-on for the whole family before the coffee's done. She leads our travel guides and bigger stories, and firmly believes every itinerary needs one more outfit than strictly necessary.