Puerto Vallarta offers a mix of transportation options, featuring a highly walkable central core and expansive coastal areas. Navigating the city and the surrounding Bay of Banderas requires understanding the best method for each distance and destination. Travel options range from walking the cobblestone streets of the old town to using water taxis for secluded beaches.
Navigating the Central Zones on Foot
The main tourist areas of Puerto Vallarta are pedestrian-friendly, making walking the primary way to travel short distances. Key neighborhoods like El Centro, the Malecón boardwalk, and the Zona Romántica are all easily connected and best explored on foot. These areas feature narrow, traditional streets, often paved with uneven cobblestones that require appropriate footwear for stability.
While the central zones are flat along the coastline, many streets leading away from the ocean quickly become steep hills. Walking during the midday hours (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) can be demanding due to high temperatures and humidity. Planning walks for the cooler morning or evening hours allows for a more comfortable experience.
Utilizing Public Bus Routes
The public bus system provides an inexpensive way to travel across the city and to nearby coastal towns. Puerto Vallarta’s buses are easily identifiable, often being blue and white or green and white, and they display their route names on the front windshield. For instance, buses marked “Centro” head downtown, while those marked “Túnel” bypass the core area to reach the Romantic Zone faster.
The fare for most city routes is a fixed price, typically around 10 pesos, paid directly to the driver upon boarding. It is important to have the exact change ready, as bus drivers may not carry sufficient change for larger bills. Key long-distance routes include those heading north toward the Marina or south to Mismaloya and Boca de Tomatlán, which serves as a gateway to more remote southern beaches.
Private Hired Vehicles
For convenience and direct transportation, private hired vehicles are available, though the rules differ between traditional taxis and ride-share services. Traditional taxis in Puerto Vallarta do not use meters; instead, fares are based on a zone system determined by official rate charts. Before beginning any journey, it is standard practice to confirm and negotiate the price with the driver, ensuring you agree on the fare in Mexican pesos.
Ride-share services, such as Uber and DiDi, are widely available and accessed through their apps, providing transparent, upfront pricing. However, a specific restriction applies to the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR), which is considered a federal zone. Ride-share vehicles are prohibited from picking up passengers directly from the arrivals area. To use a ride-share service from the airport, travelers must walk across the pedestrian bridge over the highway to a designated pickup zone outside of the federal jurisdiction.
Accessing Southern Beaches via Water Taxi
Destinations south of Puerto Vallarta are best reached by sea, making water taxis a necessity for coastal exploration. These boats, locally known as pangas, depart from two main locations to access beaches like Las Ánimas, Quimixto, and Yelapa. The Los Muertos Pier, located in the Romantic Zone, offers direct, longer routes across the Bay of Banderas.
The second primary departure point is the fishing village of Boca de Tomatlán, which provides a shorter, more frequent route to the southern coves. Fares are set per person, and it is advisable to purchase a round-trip ticket when possible, with prices varying based on distance. Departure times can be subject to change depending on weather and sea conditions, so confirming the schedule upon arrival at the pier is recommended.