Last checked: 25 October 2026. Lia edits this guide. Sources: UNIBUS and Jalisco transport fare notices (April 2026); CONANP Islas Marietas visitor page; SEMARNAT whale-watching season notice (DOF, October 2025); US State Department Mexico advisory (checked October 2026).
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Puerto Vallarta at a glance
Puerto Vallarta is a real Mexican town with cobbled streets and a seafront promenade, on Banderas Bay, with resort strips to the north and jungle coves to the south. Treat it as a town first. The resort coast is a different holiday.
| Airport | Puerto Vallarta International (PVR), next to Marina Vallarta |
| Currency | Mexican peso (MXN) |
| City bus | 11 MXN flat cash fare (since April 2026) |
| Time zone | Central Mexico time, UTC−6 all year; Nuevo Vallarta (Nayarit) keeps the same time |
| Best weather | November to April |
| Whale season | 8 December 2025 – 23 March 2026 (last official season) |
| Tourist fee | None in force: a planned foreign-visitor fee was struck down by Mexico’s Supreme Court in 2026 |
Where to stay
- Zona Romántica: the old town south of the Río Cuale, with Los Muertos beach and the most restaurants and bars.
- Centro and the Malecón: downtown, the seafront promenade and the church.
- Hotel Zone: beach resorts between downtown and the marina.
- Marina Vallarta: marina, golf and cruise port, next to the airport.
- Nuevo Vallarta: big all-inclusives on a long beach in Nayarit.
- South Shore: hillside resorts and coves toward Mismaloya.
See where to stay in Puerto Vallarta.
Getting in and around
Official airport taxis sell fixed-price tickets by zone inside the terminal. Cheaper street taxis, app rides and buses are across the pedestrian bridge over the highway. I would buy the official ticket if it is late or you have kids and bags. Otherwise walk the bridge. See airport transfers and getting around.
What to do
- Walk the Malecón at sunset. If you like a morning run, this is the flat bit.
- Take a boat to the Marietas Islands, a national park with Playa del Amor, the beach inside the crater.
- Ride a water taxi to Yelapa, a village with no road access.
- Spend a day in Sayulita, a surf town to the north.
- Watch humpback whales in winter.
Safety
The US State Department rates Jalisco at Level 3, “reconsider travel”, but says there are no travel restrictions for its staff in Puerto Vallarta and neighbouring Riviera Nayarit. See is Puerto Vallarta safe.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Puerto Vallarta?
Four to five days covers the town, a beach day, the Marietas Islands and Yelapa or Sayulita.
Is Puerto Vallarta walkable?
The Zona Romántica and Centro are; the resort areas are not.
Do I need pesos?
Yes, for buses, street food, water taxis and small shops. Cards work in hotels and most restaurants.
Is there a tourist tax in Puerto Vallarta?
Not as of October 2026. The city’s planned fee for foreign visitors was declared unconstitutional and has been dropped from the 2027 revenue law.
