Getting around · Puerto Vallarta · Mexico
Getting around Puerto Vallarta
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The Centro, the Malecón and the Zona Romántica are close together and best explored on foot. Local buses run cheaply along the coast road to the Hotel Zone, the marina and south to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán, and water taxis reach the beaches and villages with no road access. No for the town, where walking, buses, taxis and water taxis cover everything.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- PVR
- Need a car?
- No
Ways to get around
Walking
The Malecón, Isla Río Cuale and the Zona Romántica are all within a 20–30 minute walk, though side streets are steep and cobbled.
Bus
City buses run frequently along the main avenue between the Zona Romántica, the Centro, the Hotel Zone and the marina, and south to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán.
Carry small change; drivers take cash in pesos.
Taxi
Taxis are plentiful and charge by zone rather than meter.
Agree the fare before you get in, and check it against the zone price list.
Ride-hailing
Ride-hailing apps operate in the city and are convenient between the Hotel Zone, the marina and the Zona Romántica.
Boat
Water taxis leave Los Muertos pier and Boca de Tomatlán for Las Ánimas, Quimixto and Yelapa several times a day; schedules depend on the season.
Car
A rental car is useful for Sayulita, Punta de Mita and San Sebastián del Oeste, but parking in the old town is difficult.
From the airport
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is about 7 km north of the Centro, near Marina Vallarta, and the drive to the Zona Romántica takes about 20–30 minutes. Airport taxis charge fixed fares; cheaper city taxis and buses stop on the main road across the pedestrian bridge outside arrivals. Ignore timeshare sellers posing as information desks in the arrivals hall.
Do you need a car?
No for the town, where walking, buses, taxis and water taxis cover everything. A car helps for exploring the Riviera Nayarit towns and the mountains, though buses run to Sayulita and Bucerías.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Yelapa | About 30–45 minutes by water taxi | Water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán or Los Muertos pier |
| Marietas Islands | About 1 hour by boat from Nuevo Vallarta | Licensed boat tour from Nuevo Vallarta or Punta de Mita |
| Sayulita | About 1 hour by bus or car | Bus from the Hotel Zone, or car |
| San Sebastián del Oeste | About 1.5–2 hours by car | Car or tour |
| Punta de Mita | About 1 hour by car | Car, taxi or bus |
| Bucerías | About 30–40 minutes by bus or car | Bus from the Hotel Zone or car |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Puerto Vallarta?
No for the town, where walking, buses, taxis and water taxis cover everything. A car helps for exploring the Riviera Nayarit towns and the mountains, though buses run to Sayulita and Bucerías.
+How do you get from the airport to Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is about 7 km north of the Centro, near Marina Vallarta, and the drive to the Zona Romántica takes about 20–30 minutes. Airport taxis charge fixed fares; cheaper city taxis and buses stop on the main road across the pedestrian bridge outside arrivals. Ignore timeshare sellers posing as information desks in the arrivals hall.
+What is the best way to get around Puerto Vallarta?
Walking: The Malecón, Isla Río Cuale and the Zona Romántica are all within a 20–30 minute walk, though side streets are steep and cobbled.