Overall7.3/10Easier to reach than about 70% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Book airport transfers 24–48 hours ahead during high season (December–April) to guarantee availability and secure better rates.
- Public buses cost 10 MXN (≈$0.57 USD) and operate 5am–11pm; download the Moovit app for real-time schedules—printed route info is not distributed to tourists.
- Water taxis from Playa de los Muertos pier are the primary way to reach southern jungle-backed beaches (Yelapa, Las Ánimas, Quimixto); round-trip fares are fixed.
- Sayulita and San Pancho are popular 40–90 minute day trips by cheap bus from Walmart (opposite cruise terminal) or rental car.
- Downtown Puerto Vallarta is walkable; the city's efficient bus network and ferry connections make exploring Nuevo Vallarta and nearby beach towns straightforward.
- Taxis from the airport rank are pricier than pre-booked transfers; yellow cabs at the pedestrian bridge outside the terminal are often cheaper.
- San Sebastián del Oeste (mountain colonial town, 90 min by car) and Tequila (UNESCO agave landscape, 3 hours) are popular cultural day trips best accessed by organized tour or rental car.
Day Trip Destinations
Yelapa
- Access Method
- Water taxi from Los Muertos pier
- Duration Minutes
- 55
- Description
- Secluded fishing village, no roads in/out, waterfalls, car-free streets
Sayulita
- Access Method
- Bus or car from Walmart stop
- Duration Minutes
- 40
- Description
- Beach town, Pueblo Mágico, surfing, local markets
San Sebastián Del Oeste
- Access Method
- Rental car or organized tour
- Duration Minutes
- 90
- Description
- Colonial mountain town (1,480m), silver mining heritage, coffee, raicilla distillery
Los Arcos National Marine Park
- Access Method
- Boat tour from Puerto Vallarta
- Description
- Snorkeling, diving, granite rock formations, marine wildlife
Marietas Islands
- Distance Km
- 36
- Access Method
- Guided boat tour
- Description
- Uninhabited islands, UNESCO biosphere reserve, blue-footed boobies, whale watching
Mismaloya
- Access Method
- Bus from Romantic Zone
- Description
- Historic film location (Night of the Iguana), beach, zoo
Vallarta Botanical Gardens
- Cost
- MX$35
- Access Method
- Blue 'El Tuito' bus from corner of Carranza & Aguacate
- Description
- 64-acre botanical garden, tropical dry forest plants, orchid conservation
Tequila (UNESCO Town)
- Access Method
- Organized tour or rental car
- Travel time
- 3 hours
- Description
- Agave fields, distilleries, Pueblo Mágico, longest day trip from PV
Intercity Connections
Sayulita / San Pancho (Nayarit)
- Distance
- 40 km north
By Bus
- Cost
- MX$50
- Duration Minutes
- 60
- Notes
- Buses depart from Walmart stop (opposite cruise ship terminal). Popular day-trip destination
By Car
- Duration Minutes
- 90
- Notes
- Rental cars available; useful for day trips to Punta de Mita, Sayulita, San Francisco
Mazatlán Ferry Terminal
By Bus
- Cost
- MX$980
- Provider
- Omnibus de Mexico
- Frequency
- 3 times daily
- Travel time
- 8 hours
Guadalajara (for Onward Connections)
By Bus
- Notes
- Multiple first-class bus operators serve Puerto Vallarta region
Airport Ground Transport
Private Airport Transfer
- Typical Cost
- MX$800
- Typical Duration Minutes
- 30
- Notes
- Flight tracking, meet-and-greet service, complimentary water included. Cost varies by destination (Marina Vallarta, downtown, etc.)
- Provider Notes
- Multiple pre-booked services available; book 24–48 hours in advance, especially during high season (December–April)
Public Bus From Airport
- Typical Cost
- MX$10
- Typical Duration Minutes
- 30
- Notes
- Operates 5am–11pm. Cheapest option; less convenient. Yellow taxis also available at pedestrian bridge, often cheaper than airport rank taxis
- Provider Notes
- Buses marked 'Aeropuerto,' 'Hotelera,' or 'Juntas' depart from pedestrian bridge outside airport terminal
Taxi From Airport
- Typical Cost
- MX$500
- Typical Duration Minutes
- 30
- Notes
- More expensive than pre-booked transfer; yellow taxis at pedestrian bridge often cheaper
- Provider Notes
- Fixed rates from airport rank; negotiate or check official rate board
Ground Transport Within City
Local Public Buses
- Cost
- MX$10
- Operating Hours
- 5am–11pm most routes
- Notes
- Affordable, efficient. No transfers available (one ticket = one ride). No printed route info; ask locals or download Moovit app for schedules
Water Taxis (Southern Beaches)
- Cost
- MX$380
- Destinations
- Playa Las Ánimas (25 min), Quimixto (40 min), Yelapa (55 min)
- Service Routes
- Depart from Playa de los Muertos pier in downtown Romantic Zone
- Notes
- Round-trip fare listed. Private motorboats, sailboats, yachts also available for charter
Watertaxi Vallarta (Paradise Village Route)
- Cost
- MX$64
- Type
- Ferry to Nuevo Vallarta
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours daily
- Duration Minutes
- 15
ATM Medina, Compostela
- Cost
- MX$25
- Type
- Bus to Nuevo Vallarta
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Duration Minutes
- 20
Airport
- Code
- PVR
- Name
- Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport
- Description
- Puerto Vallarta's main international airport serving the Pacific coast region
Rail And Ferry
- Passenger Rail
- Limited service in Mexico; Copper Canyon route (scenic) requires bus/flight to Chihuahua first
- Long Distance Ferry
- From La Paz (Baja California): Baja Ferries offers vehicle + passenger crossings to Topolobampo/Los Mochis or Mazatlán; typically accessed after long overland journey
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Puerto Vallarta
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.