Over half a million people visit Puerto Vallarta every year as part of a cruise. If you’re planning on taking a cruise that includes PV as a port of call, this is the page for you. We realize you’ll only have one day to enjoy our city, and you’ll be visiting other cities as well, so we’ve gathered all the information you’ll need to make the most of your visit.
Basic Information
Puerto Vallarta was founded in 1851, and today it has a population of almost 300,000. Situated in the middle of Banderas Bay, it’s nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre mountains. The climate is tropical, with a dry season (November through May) and a rainy season (June through October). For more basic information, click here.
Getting Around on City Buses
Cheap and convenient, taking the bus is an excellent way to see town. Rides are 6.5 pesos, and it’s rare to wait more than five or ten minutes for the appropriate bus. Bus stops are sometimes marked with blue and white signs, but not always. (For a detailed map of the downtown bus route and stops, click here.) Major destinations will be written on the windshield of the bus; some common examples are Wal-Mart, Centro (Downtown), Marina, and Aeropuerto (Airport). Also, you can always ask the driver if he’s going past your destination.
Pay the driver as soon as you get on the bus. Of course, giving smaller amounts of money is best, but many drivers will make change for 50 or even 100 pesos if you’re in a pinch. Along with your change, you’ll usually be given a ticket – hold onto this until you get off, as inspectors occasionally get on the bus and check passengers’ tickets.
When you’re ready to get off the bus, either push one of the red buttons marked “timbre,” or pull the cord. Both are located above the windows. The driver will let you off at the next stop.
Dining
Puerto Vallarta has become a culinary center of Mexico, with hundreds of restaurants catering to every taste and budget. To make the most of your meals in Vallarta, please see our Featured Restaurants and our Dining Map.
Shopping
If you know where to look, PV is home to countless small boutiques offering unique crafts, jewelry, and clothes. Check out our Featured Stores, Typical Products, and Shopping Map so you can take home something you truly cherish.
Things to Do
There’s a wealth of activities in Vallarta; the hard part will be choosing which to do! Spend the day on one of our many beaches, take a tour, check out some local music, or explore our renowned art scene. Take a look at our suggested itineraries for some ideas, or to see a condensed list of the best PV has to offer, see our Must Do List.
Exchanging Money
U.S. dollars are accepted in many stores and restaurants, but you’ll almost always save money by exchanging money yourself and paying for everything in pesos. There are a number of options for exchanging.
You’ll usually get the best exchange rate at an ATM (cajero automático), especially if you take out larger amounts to make up for the transaction fee. Banks are also a good option, but not as convenient since most banks are closed on the weekends. Exchange houses (casas de cambio) have good rates, and usually have longer business hours than banks.
