By Plane
Puerto Vallarta has its own international airport (Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, or PVR), which makes flying a cheap, fast, and convenient way to get here. Located about four miles (seven kilometers) north of downtown, the airport handles about 3,000,000 passengers per year.
There are direct flights available from many cities, especially during the high season: Dallas/Fort Worth (2 ½ hours), Houston (2 ½ hours), Phoenix (2 ½ hours), Denver (3 hours), Los Angeles (3 hours), Kansas City (3 ½ hours), San Francisco (3 ½ hours), Chicago (4 ½ hours), Seattle (4 ½ hours), Toronto (5 hours), and Newark (6 hours).
Upon your arrival, you’ll be given a small card called an FMT. Make sure you keep this; it allows you to be a tourist in Mexico for 180 days. When you leave the country, you will be asked to return the FMT. If you’ve lost it, you may be required to pay a fine.
By Cruise Ship
A number of cruise lines include Puerto Vallarta as a port of call, including Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Cruises that include PV are often called “Mexican Riviera” cruises, which is the term used to describe the west coast of Mexico. In general, these cruises depart from San Diego, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, and last from one to two weeks. The ships usually stop in Vallarta for one day, arriving in the morning (between 7 and 10 AM) and departing in the afternoon or evening (between 4 and 11 PM).
Organized tours doing just about anything in Puerto Vallarta are easily purchased through the cruise lines: hiking, biking, horseback riding, swimming with dolphins, scuba diving, sailing the bay, and golfing, as well as ATV, 4x4, canopy, beach, and tequila tours.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to make your own path, Puerto Vallarta’s Maritime Terminal is only a ten minute taxi or bus ride from downtown. See our Must-do List for suggestions on how to make the most of your day.
By Bus
If you’re already in Mexico, a long-distance bus is a comfortable and relatively inexpensive way to get to Puerto Vallarta. It’s also a great way to see the country’s diverse and beautiful scenery.
Estrella Blanca, ETN, Primera Plus, TAP, and Transportes Cihuatlán are among the bus companies with lines to Puerto Vallarta. Direct lines are available between PV and the following cities: Aguascalientes, Atlacomulco, Autlan, Barre de Navidad, Campo Acosta, Celaya, Chamela, Cihuatlán, El Super, El Tuito, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Irapuato, La Huerta, La Peñita, Leon, Manzanillo, Melaque, Mexico City North, Morelia, Morelos, Periferico, Pino Suarez, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Santiago, Tecolotlan, Tepotzotlán, Toluca, Tomatlan, Tren Ligero, Zamora, and Zapopan.
Buses often have amenities such as air conditioning, movies, snacks, reclining seats, and restrooms. Departures from major cities are numerous, but tickets can also be bought in advance, which is a good idea around holidays.
Puerto Vallarta’s bus station is located just north of the airport, about five miles (8 kilometers) north of downtown.
