Puerto Vallarta Travel Tips

If you're planning your trip to Mexico from the US or Canada, the best way to get here is by air, arriving to Puerto Vallarta's Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, which is just less than 6 miles from downtown Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco. It is also about the same distance from downtown Nuevo Vallarta, in the neighboring state of Nayarit. Prior to your departure, remember to contact your customs office for additional information about the migratory documents you may need to enter Mexico.

If you're already in Mexico and you'd rather drive to this beautiful coastal region, there are highways to get to Vallarta. From Guadalajara, Jalisco's capital city, it takes three hours and 45 minutes. From Mexico City, it takes 9 hours, while from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon's capital city, it's about a 12-hour drive.

Hitting the road is a great option if you have enough time to make the drive. A road trip is an excellent way to explore all the elements that define the cultural identity of Mexico: music, dance, architecture, the weather and vegetation, and of course, the traditional cuisine of each region. If you prefer to get to Vallarta fast and easy, remember there are regular flights arriving from almost every major city in Mexico.

Once you've arrived to Puerto Vallarta, you'll see that the best bars and restaurants in Nuevo Vallarta are less than half an hour away, while most of the traditional towns and other attractions in Riviera Nayarit are less than an hour drive: Rincon de Guayabitos (54 minutes), Punta Mita-Bucerias (32 minutes) and Sayulita (30 minutes).

The distinctive tropical weather has always been one of the most important attractions of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit because all throughout the year, the temperature reaches an average estimate that ranges from 20 to 25 Cº, only reaching 30 Cº in summer.

In any season of the year, spending the morning on a beach in Vallarta, taking part in exciting aquatic activities or simply relaxing on the soft sand is a memorable experience. Even during the hottest days (from July and October), the summer rains help cool down the temperature and invite visitors to enjoy the dance clubs in Puerto Vallarta, the much calmer nightlife in Nuevo Vallarta and, of course, the bohemian bars in Costalegre.