It is very easy to get around Puerto Vallarta. There is a network of public buses, with their destinations marked, that run daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Here’s a brief summary of the main routes and stops:
BUSES
Buses marked CENTRO
Go through different neighborhoods of the city on their way towards downtown. They go along the Hotel Zone, then calle Morelos, which is parallel to the Malecon, and end up in Olas Altas (Old town).
Buses marked TUNNEL
Go through different neighborhoods of the city and arrive downtown by way of the tunnels, ending up in Olas Altas/Viejo Vallarta (Old town).
Buses marked IXTAPA, LAS PALMAS OR MOJONERAS
Go through downtown and the Hotel Zone, past the Airport and the Bus Terminal and on to Ixtapa, Las Palmas and Mojoneras.
Buses marked MISMALOYA
On their way to Mismaloya stopping along the main beaches to the south of the city such as: Conchas Chinas, Punta Negra and Playa Gemelas, they arrive in Mismaloya and on to Boca de Tomatlan. Departure point: Calle Constitucion and Basilio Badillo in Emiliano Zapata neighborhood.
Buses marked MARINA VALLARTA
Start at Olas Altas, go through downtown and the Hotel Zone until they arrive at Marina Vallarta and stop along all that zone from the Golf course to the Marina hotels, and loop back to its point of origin.
Grey or ATM Buses
There are different routes headed to various locations of Riviera Nayarit such as Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Punta de Mita, Sayulita and others. Its departure point is on Calle Brasil 1410, in the Colonia 5 de Diciembre and its main stops are: The HSBC Bank in the Hotel Zone, the Walmart bus stop in front of the Marine Terminal, and across the street from the Airport.
Frequency: Every 5 or 10 min max.
Hours of service: From 6am to 11pm.
For more information on bus routes click here
NIGHT TIME TRANSPORTATION
There are buses that run all night known as “servicio BUHO” (Owl).They go through the downtown area and out to the different colonias in the city and run from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
TAXIS
Local taxis are yellow and can be taken in almost any point of the city. Fares vary depending on distance travelled and the zone as they have no meters.
At the airport taxis are white (often Vans) and are the only mode of transport within the grounds of the Airport and will take you wherever you need to go. Off the airport grounds one can take other public transportation.
CAR RENTAL
There are different companies that have car rentals, which make getting around easier.
- Advantage Car Rental: (322) 222 7220
- Alamo: (322) 221 3030
- Avis: (322) 221 1112
- Budget Car Rental: (322) 221 1210
- Dollar Rent a Car: (322) 221 2985
- Eurocar: (322) 209 0921
- Hertz Rent a Car: (322) 223 1700
- Marina Rent a Car: (322) 224 6969
- Nacional Tapatía SA de CV: (322) 221 6364
- National Car Rental: (322) 209 0390
- Thrifty Car Rental: (322) 221 2984
- Mexico Car Rental: 01 800 080 53 96