Traveling to Puerto Vallarta

Mostly, people fly into Puerto Vallarta. There are direct flights from cities in the U.S., many of them stopping in Mexico City enroute. Or you might fly into the capital and then change planes for Puerto Vallarta. Flying to PV from another city in Mexico is generally easy as well.

Some of the airlines that fly into Puerto Vallarta include Aeromexico, Alaska, American, America West, Continental, Delta, and Mexicana. If you are flying, consider a vacation package to Puerto Vallarta, which includes your airfare and your hotel, perhaps with some nice amenities included at the hotel. These packages can offer excellent value.

The Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport is about four miles north of the downtown area of Puerto Vallarta. It services over 400 flights a week, welcoming travelers from all over the world. The airport has two levels: the main one is the ticketing and arrival area, and the upper level is for departures and includes duty-free shops, restaurants, and flight gates.

If you are driving, Puerto Vallarta is only two or three hours from Guadalajara, on Toll Road 15. As with other large cities in Mexico, Puerto Valerie is also well served by first-class and deluxe buses that leave frequently.

Cruises from Los Angeles are popular as well during the tourist season, mainly the winter.

Once you're in Puerto Vallarta

The airport is less than five miles north of PV. City buses and combis (minivans) run from the airport south through the hotel zone, into downtown, and on to the beaches south of the city, for about 50 cents. There are plenty of taxis -- the usual kind and also "water taxis" which go to various interesting spots along the bay that Puerto Vallarta is located on.

Tours of the city and the surrounding attractions are easily arranged, often through your hotel.

You can rent a car, but with the heavy traffic especially during tourist season, it may be more relaxing not to.