Transportation

Air Travel

There are direct flights from 30 US and Canadian cities to Puerto Vallarta. Air travel costs, flying coach, average between USD $300 and $400 for a round trip. Travel times average between 2½ hours and less than 5 hours. There are more flights in the winter and fares tend to go up then. Travel during the winter holidays often requires booking your flight several months in advance. Otherwise, seats are usually readily available.

Travel Documents

Passports

• Travel to Mexico requires a passport
• Children need their own passports
• Your passport expiration date must be six months later than your return date
• Place a paperclip on one of the pages of your passport to hold your Immigration Form stub and bring a pen (see below)

International Travel Precautions

Consider the following precautions whenever you travel overseas:

1. Make copies of your passport, travel, and other critical documents and store them separately from the originals. Alternately, scan your documents and e-mail them to yourself. US and Canadian toll-free (800) numbers do not work in Mexico, so also take regular toll numbers for your credit card companies.
2. Consider purchasing a money belt or pouch to wear under your clothes. This is particularly relevant if you are mingling in crowds.
3. Take a primary and a back-up credit card, as well as some emergency cash.
4. Leave your Mexican itinerary and contact information with someone back home.
5. Dental Floss (hard to find in Mexico)
6. Two-prong to three-prong electric plug adapters (many electrical outlets are two-prong, so bring an adapter if you have three-prong devices)

Travel Insurance

Here are links for purchasing travel protection insurance (including medical). You may also wish to check with your regular property and health insurance companies.

Travel Insurance Center

AIG Travel Guard

Arrival at the Airport

You will need to fill out simple immigration and custom forms before you arrive (airline personnel will provide these during your flight).

Here are some tips on filling out the forms:

Immigration Form

Download Example Immigration Form JPG

• Bring a pen with you on the flight (flight attendants do not usually supply them). You will need to fill out a separate Immigration Form for each person.
• Item 8: Simply entering the name of your place of lodging is fine, you do not need the address. Flight attendants usually assume you are staying in Puerto Vallarta and instruct you to fill out the state as “Jalisco.” If you are staying in San Pancho, fill out the City name as “San Franci” (there are only ten spaces) and the State name as “Nayarit.”
• Item 13: The flight attendants will provide you with your “airline and flight number.”

Customs Form

Download Example Customs Form.pdf

• You only need to fill out one Customs Form per family.
• Item 5: Your “Transport Identification Number” is the same as Item 13 on the Immigration Form.
• Item 6: Be sure to take note of the import restrictions under this item and on the back of the Customs Form before you travel.

After debarking your plane, you will travel by bus to immigration. Passport and forms inspection usually goes quickly, except on peak travel days. The customs officer will return the bottom half of your Immigration Form. Put the stub in a safe place! Paper-clipping it inside your passport works well. You will need this form to check in at your airline when you depart. Replacing it will cost you USD $50 and some hassle.

After passing immigration, you will then collect your bags and proceed to customs inspection and approach a pedestrian traffic light. A friendly attendant will invite you to press a button, at which point the light will randomly flash red or green. If it flashes green you are done. ¡Bienvenidos a México!

If the light flashes red, you have won the luggage inspection prize. This usually goes quickly, unless there is something bogus in your bags. The penal system in Mexico is not a model of criminological enlightenment, so do not mess around with anything illegal.

From here you have one final hurdle. As you exit through a passageway into the main hall of the airport, you will be solicited by people offering you a free ride to your destination. Ignore them,unless you enjoy being hustled to buy time shares.

If you need pesos right away, there is an ATM in the airport that offers a fair exchange rate. Make a full turn to the right after you leave the customs inspection area and enter the main hall. Proceed down the corridor. The ATM is located on the south face of the airport building, just inside the doors that open onto the parking area.

Buy something at the airport so you have plenty of change. Small merchants are not always able to break large bills.

Return Flight From The Airport

If you are staying in San Pancho, note that the State of Nayarit is on Mountain Time, while the State of Jalisco and the Puerto Vallarta airport are on Central Time. Therefore, you will need to leave San Pancho an hour earlier to make your flight.

A couple of things can make this tricky. Cell phones in San Pancho often reset to Puerto Vallarta time after you turn them on. Also, so far Mexico has not followed the US in tweaking the dates for daylight savings time adjustments and still moves its clocks backwards and forwards on the traditional dates. This means that in the spring and fall the Mexican dates for “springing forward” or “falling back” may vary by a few days from those in the US. If you are traveling during these times, call your airline the day before you travel to verify that you have the correct temporal coordinates for your flight. You can also call the airport at (322) 221-1298.

Also, remember that Immigration Form stub (see above).

NOTE: Dial 011-52 first for phone access from Canada or the US to Mexico.

Ground Transportation

Buses

To ride the bus to San Pancho (San Francisco), take the local bus,or a taxi, 1 km north from the airport to Puerto Vallarta’s main bus terminal (Central Camionero). You can reach the Central Camionero at (322) 290-1008. Fares on local buses are about MXN $4 (US 40¢). Most local buses run approximately from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

On local buses, be prepared for musical performances, stand-up comedy, and shopping opportunities. Tip according to your level of amusement.

The regional buses are surprisingly nice and comfortable and the fares are modest. The bus to Tepic is the one that stops in San Pancho. They depart every 40 minutes starting very early until around 10:00 PM.

Taxis

Taxis in Puerto Vallarta generally operate on flat fees based on neighborhood zones. Find out the rate for your destination before you take the ride. Expect to pay between MXN $25 and $45 (USD $2-4) for most trips. Tipping taxi drivers is only done if you receive help with your luggage or other extra care.

Metered travel in the state of Jalisco has separate rates for day travel (6:00 AM to 10:00 PM), noted by a “1” on the left side of the meter, and night travel, which is noted by a “2”. The official day rate is MXN $7.54 to start, MXN $4.24 per kilometer, and MXN $1.06/min for idling. At night (10:00 PM to 6:00 AM), rates are MXN $9.68 to start, MXN $5.29 per kilometer, and MXN $1.33/min for idling.

Expect a 50% premium, above the metered rate, for highway travel out of town.

Normal (yellow) taxis are not allowed to operate on airport property. The airport-authorized taxis are considerably more expensive as they are required to pay hefty airport-use fees.

Shuttle Services

A taxi or van to San Pancho runs about USD $60 each way. This is the same regardless of the number of passengers, so this can be a good option if you are traveling with a family or group. If you are planning on staying in San Pancho for your vacation, a car is not really necessary. It is less than a mile from one side of San Pancho to the other.

Your best bet for shuttle service is the following company based in Sayulita and San Pancho. Call or e-mail them a day in advance and they will meet your flight at the airport.

Diva Tours & Transportation
Pedro Díaz and Marcos Plazola
(311) 258-4017
01 (800) 639-0002 (Toll free in Mexico)

Rental Cars

We have tried most of the major car rental companies in Puerto Vallarta and have found them to be consistently abysmal, with high fees for crummy vehicles, shameless add-on costs, reluctance to honor online contracts, long waits, and lousy customer service.

Then we discovered Gecko Rent a Car. These courteous gentlemen will pick you up at the airport and promptly drive you north to their office in Bucerias (on the way to San Pancho) and a rendezvous with a nice automobile. If you are heading south, ask them about picking up your vehicle at the airport.

A comprehensive insurance package is included in the standard rental agreement. There are no hassles or big delays. They are happy to hangout and tell you about the best recreational activities in the area and answer any other questions you might have about visiting or living in Mexico, acting unofficially as great tour guides and local hosts. You will enjoy working with these friendly, honest, and conscientious business people.

Gecko Rent a Car
Adam, Denis and Kaisa
(329) 298-0339

Driving In Mexico

Safety

There are a wide variety of driving conditions in Mexico, from modern interstate highways (mostly toll roads--be sure to have plenty of pesos) to cobblestone lanes. In general, traffic engineering and road construction is not as refined for safety as in the US and Canada. For this reason there are some extra precautions that you should definitely take:

1. Inspect your vehicle for safety and maintenance issues and always wear your seat belts.
2. On narrow, winding roads you will sometimes find a combination of slow commercial vehicles and impatient drivers of private vehicles making speedway passing moves. Resist the temptation to join the race and simply relax at the pace that is available without making risky moves. If this is hopelessly slow, pull off and get a bite to eat or visit a roadside attraction. Leave yourself lots of extra time; do not put yourself in the position of needing to hurry.
3. Watch out for hazards, such as potholes, animals, and pedestrians in the road. There are typically speed bumps (topes) in urban areas or as you pass through small villages, even on the highways. These are not always well-marked and can generate damaging jolts if you do not dramatically reduce your speed. Note that Mexican drivers go drive very slowly when crossing the topes.
4. Do not drive at night. With the exception of the interstate highways, road markings are often sketchy, hazards are harder to see, and the site distances that you are used to in the US and Canada do not exist here. You can come around a curve or over a hill at moderate speed and still not have time to react to an unexpected hazard, especially at night.
5. Slow down or avoid driving in the rain, especially at the beginning of a rain storm. The road surface can be very slick until the rain has a chance to wash away the oil and debris that collects on the road surface. Cobblestones are also extremely slippery when wet.

Left Turns

Left turns on highways are accomplished differently than in the US and Canada. Highways typically have frontage roads. To turn left, exit right on to the frontage road at an exit opportunity (note that people traveling along the frontage road have the right-of-way) or at an intersection prior to the intersection at which you wish to turn left.

When the green left arrow illuminates for you, all traffic in the highway will be stopped for cars in the side roads to cross over. As you make your move, be aware of vehicles making the same maneuver as you, but in the opposite direction. The illustration shows the blue car taking appropriate actions on a left turn arrow. Do not follow the example of the red car.

Interstates and Green Angels

Almost 300 green pick-up trucks patrol the interstate highways, looking for breakdowns and offering roadside assistance. These Angeles Verdes (Green Angels) trucks are staffed by bilingual crews of experienced mechanics. You can reach them at (800) 903-9200. Tip them if they help you out.

Buying Gas

Filling stations are all under contract to the state-owned oil company, Pemex. There is no point in shopping prices, as they are all the same. Although some stations take credit cards, many do not. In a pinch, you can pay with US dollars.

All stations are full service. Do tip the service attendant if you accept additional services. This can range from MXN $2-5 for a kid who cleans your windshield, up to 5-10% of your gas bill for a full check of engine fluids and tire pressure.

The nearest filling station to San Pancho is in Lo de Marcos, 10 km (6 mi) to the north, or in Bucerías, 23 km (14 mi) to the south. There are a variety of auto service and repair shops in San Pancho.

On The Way To San Pancho

You will find it very helpful to print the following documents to use as a reference, before reading the next section. The number codes in the following article, such as {12}, refer to these documents.

Puerto Vallarta to San Pancho Map.pdf

Puerto Vallarta to San Pancho Driving Guide.pdf

If you want to go directly to San Pancho from the airport, skip ahead to Traveling North to San Pancho.

Shopping In Puerto Vallarta

You may wish to shop on your way to San Pancho. San Pancho has:

• A wide selection of great restaurants for all three meals
• A variety of fresh fruit, and vegetables
• Fresh milk, eggs, fish, meat and bread
• A liquor store
• Pharmacies

While the following items are available in San Pancho, selection is definitely limited by US and Canadian standards:

• Packaged and gourmet groceries
• Household and personal care goods
• Clothing and beach wear
• Books and magazines
• Sporting goods
• Hardware supplies

Manufactured items tend to be expensive throughout Mexico and are not usually the latest models or best quality. These items are hard to find in Mexico:

• Dental floss
• Plastic wrap
• Three-way light bulbs

Therefore (especially if you are coming for longer than a short trip), you may wish to travel south from the airport {20} into Puerto Vallarta and do some shopping before you head back north to San Pancho.

For a fast supply and cash stop, go to the Plaza Marina {21}, immediately south of the airport on the west (right) side of MEX 200 (which has four different street names as you travel through Puerto Vallarta). This is a large shopping center with a wide selection of stores, including a big grocery store, places to eat (including excellent fish tacos), a Banamex ATM and a Lloyd currency exchange office.

If you want a wider selection of gringo-familiar items, there is a Wal-Mart and a Sam’s Club {24} a little farther south on the east (left) side. Sam’s Club is a godsend for office supplies (which are surprisingly expensive in Mexico), office equipment (which tends to be expensive and obsolete), furniture, appliances, hardware, and sundry household items. Bring your Sam’s Club card with you.

Visiting The Puerto Vallarta Entertainment District

If you choose to travel on into Puerto Vallarta, you will pass the naval yard and marina {23}, followed by the large beach front hotels (Fiesta Americana has an amazing palapa entrance). After that you will find several large Mexican grocery and general stores, a Gold’s Gym, sports complexes, and a wide variety of service establishments, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment.

As you approach the boardwalk (malecón) {26} the highway narrows to two lanes and traffic can get very congested. A good option is to park and walk at this point. You will also find a parking garage under a plaza on your left. The malecon hosts a phenomenal variety of entertainment, especially in the evening. You will find clowns and comedians, breath-taking aerial acts, musicians, artists, fire jugglers, and guys performing amazing balancing acts with large boulders, to mention only a few.

If you decide to travel on through the entertainment district, you can return via a bypass that avoids the bottleneck. Pass the malecon and the delightful architecture of the cathedral (it wears a huge crown) and you will come to the river (Rio Cuale) {27}. Stop and walk half a dozen blocks east (away from the ocean),along the north side of the river, and you will come to Liz Taylor’s house (she and Richard Burton fell in love here during the local filming of John Houston’s Night of the Iquana).

Continue across the bridge and in another half a dozen blocks turn left on Basilio Badillo (you will see signs for the Libramiento tunnel). This highway route will loop you back to the north via the east (hillside) edge of the city and you will rejoin MEX 200 north of the congested downtown area {25}. Or, if you continue south out of the city, you will come to the popular Los Muertos beach area and a stretch of wonderful cliff-side homes overlooking the ocean.

AgroGourmet
(322) 222-5357

While you are on Basilio Badillo, you may also wish to visit the AgroGourmet shop at 222 Basilio Badillo. AgroGourmet carries natural and organic fruits, vegetables, oils, grains, herbs, and juices. They also carry gourmet comfort foods, such as maple syrup, fine cheeses, homemade pasta, lox, sausages, and spices.

Traveling North to San Pancho

As you travel north from the airport, you will pass a small shopping and design center that house a number of wonderful art and interior design stores {18}. If this is of interest to you, stop in at Art by Design and ArtRel (say hello to Cristina de la Rosa at ArtRel).

If you speak Spanish, there is a tourist information center {14} on the right, immediately past the Jarretadera exit.

A little farther, you will come to an intersection with a large Super Farmacia {12} on the right, which is worth a stop if you need anything from a large pharmacy or drug store. If you are in the mood for exploring a little,a left turn here will take you out past the technical university to Nuevo Vallarta where you can check out some remarkable resorts.

In Bucerias, you will find a good HSBC Bank ATM {11}, the Gecko Rent a Car office {10}, and a Telcel store {9} where you can purchase a Mexican cell phone. There is also an excellent espresso and pastry shop in this block. The Gecko Rent a Car folks will be happy to give you directions, as well as excellent recreation suggestions and general guidance.

If you have the time, it is highly recommended to get off at the Punta Mita exit {8} and take the scenic drive up the coast. This will add about 18 km (11 mi) to your trip. You will pass scenic coastline views and some beautiful beach front developments. At {5}, note the entrance to the new Fonatur (the Mexican national agency for tourism development) project. You will travel through an ecological preserve and a small down before you reach the entrance to Sayulita on the left {3}. This neighboring village to San Pancho is a fun beach town with an active surf scene, night life, and a wide variety of excellent restaurants, including lovely health food fare at a local yoga center.

Continue on to MEX 200 {2}, turn left and travel a short 5 km to the lovely village of San Pancho {1}. If you have a minute, stop in at the Emerald Coast offices for a beverage! We are immediately on your left as you turn off MEX 200 to enter San Pancho.