Is Puerto Vallarta easy to get around?
Puerto Vallarta is a small and quaint beach town, so it is very easy to walk to just about anywhere you need… but if you are looking for all the transportation options to get around town or to check out other areas of the bay, below we cover all the best ways for getting around town, including Puerto Vallarta taxis, ...
The best way to get around Puerto Vallarta is by bus – there are plenty of stops and the fares are cheap. If you're looking for a less bumpy ride (though not by much) you can also take a taxi or an Uber.
Puerto Vallarta is a very walkable destination. We stayed at the Villa Premiere, which was roughly 20 minutes from the Malecon, the downtown ocean-side boardwalk that's a hive of activity both day and night. And once in the city, many of the streets are lined with shops, side-walk restaurants, bars and hotels.
Website: Puerto Vallarta Airport
Since Puerto Vallarta is such a well-known destination in Mexico. Because of the high volume of passengers it is listed as the 8th busiest airport in Mexico. It is well connected to airports in Mexico and also to other major hubs in the U.S and Canada.
Inevitably, Caribbean beaches have a bit of an edge over Pacific beaches. If you want flawless beach photos for Instagram, then Cancun is the place to be. The beaches around Puerto Vallarta are smaller and some are rockier. But there are excellent beaches in PV: Los Muertos and Playa Camarones are the most popular.
- Tip #1: Know When to Travel. ...
- Tip #2: Book Early and Build an Itinerary. ...
- Tip #3: Pack for the Outdoors. ...
- Tip #4: Check Exchange Rates. ...
- Tip #5: Get Familiar With Puerto Vallarta Transportation. ...
- Learn More and Book Your Puerto Vallarta Adventures Here.
If you want to use your phone (or an additional one that you carry with you, unlocked) with local service, you can get a SIM card with an approximate cost of $200 pesos and hire a monthly plan with the Mexican cell company that suits you best.
Uber is a great option because you know how much you'll pay before accepting the ride. In addition, Uber is generally cheaper than the taxi rates, except during peak times. Keep in mind, however, that Uber is available everywhere except in the Nuevo Vallarta area where many of the all-inclusive resorts are located.
Complete your plans today by reserving a ride with Uber in Puerto Vallarta. Request a ride up to 30 days in advance, at any time and on any day of the year.
Travelers can expect to pay roughly $1,500 for a weeklong vacation in Puerto Vallarta. Families should bump that price to around $4,800, including lodging, meals, and activities. You can find a whole range of different accommodation prices in Puerto Vallarta, from about $10 per night to $300 per night.
Should I take cash to Puerto Vallarta?
Credit cards are accepted in Puerto Vallarta and at major hotels and restaurants in outlying areas. Smaller, less expensive restaurants and shops tend to take only cash. In general, credit cards aren't accepted in small towns and villages, except in some hotels. The most widely accepted cards are MasterCard and Visa.
The nicest part of Puerto Vallarta is Zona Romantic, or the Romantic Zone, where many of the best restaurants, boutiques, and attractions are located. With that said, Puerto Vallarta has many nice parts, with other nice areas including Conchas Chinas, Centro Puerto Vallarta, and Marina Vallarta.
3.5 hours prior to scheduled departure. 3 hours prior to scheduled departure. A valid boarding pass must be issued and all baggage received by the airline prior to the cut-off times for that airport. Guests traveling with pets in the baggage compartment have an earlier check-in cut-off time.
The month with the most rain in Puerto Vallarta is August, with an average rainfall of 9.9 inches. The rainless period of the year lasts for 3.0 months, from February 20 to May 18.
It has eight gates. There is a duty-free store there and a few restaurants and fast-food stands. Most domestic flights depart from gates located at a level below.
Puerto Vallarta is a stunning resort town located on Mexico's Pacific coast in Jalisco state. Known for its spectacular beaches, marine life, water sports, and local resorts, Puerto Vallarta is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world.
We'd have to say Puerto Vallarta has better beaches if you want to swim in the ocean. Many of the beaches in Cabo are unsafe for swimming because of strong currents and rip tides. But both have numerous beautiful beaches to walk along or to spend a lazy chillax day, feeling blessed you're on holiday in Mexico.
The best time to visit Puerto Vallarta is between April and June when the weather is pleasant and the room rates are affordable. During these months, rain is scarce and there are fewer tourists compared to the winter high season. If you're interested in whale watching, however, visit from December to March.
Do you need a jacket in Puerto Vallarta? During the winter, Puerto Vallarta can become cool at night, so you will want to bring a light jacket. In the wet season, you will want to bring a rain jacket.
Puerto Vallarta is the safest place for international tourists visiting Mexico. In fact, it's regularly featured as one of the Friendliest cities in the World by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Can you brush your teeth with the water in Puerto Vallarta?
Puerto Vallarta's tap water has been declared potable for over 15 years and while you can use it to brush your teeth and for cooking, we do recommend that you drink bottled water.
Wait staff at restaurants, bars and other establishments in Puerto Vallarta typically provide world-class service, and should be always recognized for their efforts with a small gratuity.
Puerto Vallarta taxi tips
Taxis in Puerto Vallarta don't have the machines to accept credit card payments, so be sure to carry change in Mexican Pesos with you. You can pay for your ride in USD, but this usually results in overcharging as they choose the exchange rate they wish to use.
It is best to tip in pesos and a 20 pesos bill is equivalent to a $1. What I would do is try to work with your bank and get $100 USD in 20 peso bills or, what might be easier, it just to tip your waiters at the beginning and end of the day at the pool rather than every drink.
While many establishments in the Puerto Vallarta area accept American or Canadian dollars, there's no denying that tourists can receive the best exchange rate by converting their money to pesos.
You do not need to rent a car in Puerto Vallarta thanks to Mexico's expansive bus system—the best way to get around the Puerto Vallarta area. The public bus system in this walkable coastal city is efficient and affordable, with one-way fares starting at 10 pesos (equivalent to about 50 cents).
In the Spring and Summer months, it's highly recommended that Vallarta visitors spray ankles before venturing to the beach for sunset vistas. It's a particularly opportunistic time for feasting insects. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - We have found it astonishing how a tiny insect can cause so much misery and woe.
The Uber Driver
You can tip through the app at the end of your ride or you can just pass them some cash, $1 USD or $20 pesos for any ride that is up to $150 pesos, which will get you from the Puerto Vallarta Marina all the way to Old Town Puerto Vallarta, even during surge pricing.
Yes, taxi service in the Puerto Vallarta and Marina Vallarta hotel zones are generally safe and reliable. To arrange for taxi service through trusted providers, please contact the concierge.
| (Rates in USD) | Zona 1-A Marina Vallarta | Zona 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan (01-03 Pax) | $17.00 | $25.00 |
| Van (01-05 Pax) | $33.00 | $49.00 |
| Colective Service (Extra Pax) | $7.00 | $10.00 |
How much is a co*ke in Puerto Vallarta?
| Restaurants | Edit |
|---|---|
| co*ke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) | 17.75MXN |
| Water (12 oz small bottle) | 14.42MXN |
| Markets | Edit |
| Milk (regular), (1 gallon) | 77.64MXN |
| Meal in a cheap restaurant | 125 MXN (50-300) |
|---|---|
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 850 MXN (500-1,400) |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 120 MXN (100-120) |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 40 MXN (20-50) |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 73 MXN (40-100) |
The short answer is use pesos! Most businesses will take U.S. dollars, but it's better to convert your currency to pesos. You'll get better deals and it is the currency of Mexico. Many people get pesos from their bank at home before travel.
Outside of a few purchases like transportation fare or local shops, a credit card will be your best bet for everyday purchases. A card that waives foreign transaction fees like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card can help you save on extraneous fees.
It's recommended that you buy pesos before you land in Mexico, just in case you need the cash. According to this USA Today article, the most economical way to do this is to buy pesos from your bank in the U.S. Most banks will do this for free, especially if you're not withdrawing a significant amount of money.
You should plan to spend around M$1,527 ($78) per day on your vacation in Puerto Vallarta, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, M$491 ($25) on meals for one day and M$256 ($13) on local transportation.
Yes! Puerto Vallarta beaches are swimmable, most of them offer crystalline freshwaters without seaweed.
If you want a hot tropical climate, head to Cancun. If not, make Puerto Vallarta your holiday haven. We've found PV in winter to be less humid than Cancun, so it feels milder. (Cancun feels hotter in winter.)
Guide to One Week in Puerto Vallarta: Everything You Need to Know. Puerto Vallarta is a stunning, tropical destination on the Pacific side of Mexico. With sandy beaches, lush forests, and a vibrant town, one week in Puerto Vallarta is a perfect for girl's trips, family vacations or spring break.
Winter temperatures at Puerto Vallarta are quite comfortable with daily highs averaging 79 degrees Fahrenheit (26 °C) and lows of 55 °F (13 °C). Summers are several degrees higher, as days typically heat up to 86 °F (30 °C) and nights cool off to 69 °F (21 °C).
Do you really need to get to the airport 2 hours early?
"The two-hour recommendation is fairly standard across the industry," says Heather Lissner, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport spokesperson. "We recommend the two hours so that travelers have enough time to get dropped off or park their cars, check their bags and get through security to their gates."
Mosquitoes are a common culprit for bug bites in and around Puerto Vallarta, especially in the warmer, more humid months of the summer season. These tiny terrorists should be handled with caution as they can carry the Dengue and the Zika viruses.
The rainy season runs from June through Mid-October, with virtually no precipitation the rest of the year. Even in rainy season, the rain normally falls in short bursts, most often at night, with most days being hot and dry. Tours and fishing trips are seldom affected by the weather in Puerto Vallarta, it's very rare.
Hurricane season in Puerto Vallarta lasts from July to October. Most precipitation falls in September, with a monthly average of 340 mm (13.4 in) of rainfall. Heavy rains can cause problems, but the natural geography of the city protects it from the most active hurricane season weather.
Traffic in Mexico City can be brutal. Be sure your layover is at least eight hours to give yourself three hours or so to explore the city. It's always advisable to calculate one hour each way to/from the airport, even if you might be lucky that day and get to downtown in under 40 minutes.
You do not need to rent a car in Puerto Vallarta thanks to Mexico's expansive bus system—the best way to get around the Puerto Vallarta area. The public bus system in this walkable coastal city is efficient and affordable, with one-way fares starting at 10 pesos (equivalent to about 50 cents).
Complete your plans today by reserving a ride with Uber in Puerto Vallarta. Request a ride up to 30 days in advance, at any time and on any day of the year.
Yes, taxi service in the Puerto Vallarta and Marina Vallarta hotel zones are generally safe and reliable. To arrange for taxi service through trusted providers, please contact the concierge.
If you are coming to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we highly suggest you exchange your US dollars for pesos. Although most places around town do indeed accept US dollars, the exchange rate is much less favorable at these places than at a bank.
Almost all servers make minimum wage in Mexico (about $5 USD per day…that's right…. not per hour, per day), so you do right by these people and tip your server in Puerto Vallarta. For breakfast and lunch, or in a super casual place, 15% of the total bill is about right. For dinner and fine dining, 20%.
