Puerto Vallarta Travel Guide

Puerto Vallarta, long known as the exotic, oft-visited destination of cruise ships, is found on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Its golden beaches and deep blue waters beckon lazy visitors and eco tourists alike. Love to snorkel? Puerto Vallarta offers certain treasures as its pristine waters teem with a wide variety of sea life. Prefer your sea life on the plate, freshly prepared? A Puerto Vallarta vacation promises healthy and deliciously prepared meals, from a simple repast of chips and guacamole to the more upscale grilled sea bass. From its red tiled roofs to the whitewashed buildings decorated with curling necklaces of bright bougainvillea, a Puerto Vallarta vacation is sure to enchant you.

Airports and Ground Transportation

Many visitors arrive on cruise ships, but another popular option is to fly in to Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) with one of many discount airfares to Puerto Vallarta. A sleek, modern airport, more than 3 million visitors pass through its terminal each year. From the west coast of the United States, cheap flights to Puerto Vallarta are available from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) via Alaska Airlines for as little as $300. If you choose to fly from Chicago (ORD) you’re likely to see a discount airfare to Puerto Vallarta of about $425 round trip on Delta.  Coming from New York (JKF) expect to find a discount air fare of $525 round trip on American. Off season, of course, you’ll find the cheapest flights to Puerto Vallarta.

The airport is located north of town, just past the Marina Vallarta section. Taxis and the upscale Aeromovils are the best way to get from where you are to where you want to be during your Puerto Vallarta vacation. Expect to pay from $12 to $21 US for a coche, a private taxi car, or $24 to $42 for a Suburban or van. The colectivos, the combination taxis in which you share rides with others, are less well regulated. It’s best to go with one from the Taxi Syndicate or an Aeromovil. Be sure to negotiate your fare before getting into the taxi, and don’t let the driver take you anywhere but the place you’ve chosen. Writing the address down on a piece of paper helps bridge the Spanish-English language gap with some drivers.

Best Times to Go, Best Things to Do

During the high season of November through June there is rarely a rain drop, and the temperatures fluctuate little. A perfect daytime high of 80 to 90 degrees falls only 10 degrees in the evening, making dinner outdoors a pleasure. The summer months, and early autumn, are considered the low season. The weather is humid, and rain often makes an unwelcome appearance.

As a town built for tourism, Puerto Vallarta offers a wealth of activities. If you’re adventurous, slip into a safe, fool-proof harness and sip through the local flora and fauna on a canopy tour. A more relaxed way to enjoy the town would be to visit wildlife connection and whale or dolphin watch. Take a land or sea tour. Of course, there are plenty of beaches for everyone – singles, couples, teens and kiddos. If you’re hungry and on a budget, drop by the Cheeky Monkey for a $1 taco and a $1 beer. 

Hotels and Lodging

While cruise ship visitors return on board for their overnight stay, visitors who arrived via airplane have a wide variety of delightful accommodations to choose from. You may choose to stay in a casa or hacienda, the Mexican version of a B & B. Several, such as the Casa Isobel and Hacienda Alemana come well-recommended. Prefer a hotel for your Puerto Vallarta vacation? Choose from a spa-like atmosphere, such as that found at the Casa Magna Marriott, or perhaps something more peso-friendly, Vista del Mar. Whichever you choose, you’re certain to find a comfortable place for your afternoon siesta.