Making the most of Puerto Vallarta
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Marina Vallarta Maritime and Cruise Terminal, about three miles north of downtown, can dock three ships. Others anchor and tender to the same terminal. A short taxi journey typically lasts 10-15 minutes, depending on traffic. Resorts offering day passes vary by ship dock; Hotel Krystall, near the terminal, lets passengers showing a cruisecard use its pool and beach when they buy food and drinks there.
For city transport, taxis and buses are available just outside the Terminal area. Buses cost 10 pesos per ticket and, because there are no transfers, require a new ticket on every boarding. Exact fare is unnecessary; US$ are often accepted for 10 pesos, with change given in Pesos. Southbound "Centro" buses go downtown, but avoid "Tunel" because they bypass it. Return on buses marked "Marina" or "Walmart".
An open top bus now serves this port of call. It is not a HoHo bus, but travels from the port through the main town and along the coastal road before turning round and returning. The round trip takes approximately 2.5 hours and is well worth it. Find the stop easily in the car park opposite the petrol (gas) station, just outside the terminal building exit.
Taxi fares into downtown are negotiable but should be about US$5-7.
When weather is agreeable, walking is a good option too.
Yellow taxis outside the port gates cost less than drivers walking inside, who operate the more expensive Federal Zone cabs.
Take a printable map with you.
Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's, and indeed the world's, most beautiful, cultured and luxurious vacation spots. It combines traditional Mexican culture, from bullfights to beachside grilled marlin, with resort living from spectacular sportfishing to all-inclusive resorts catering to every whim. Live concerts, beachfront sculpture displays and hundreds of other large and intimate exhibitions and performances bring art and music to the city. Local Indian culture is prominent, with an abundance of crafts and wares available for…
Getting around
Take a "Centro" city bus, walk the Malecon and old town center, then pass the Rio Cuale bridge to the south side for a drink, meal or more on the beach.
Nearby places
A short drive leads to Tequila, where the agave plants that produce the liquor named after the area are grown. Hidden treasures like this abound, and many last-generation moviegoers saw the area in Richard Burton and Ava Gardner's "Night of the Iguana" masterpiece.
Los Veranos Canopy Tours are popular with families.
Food and shopping
Across the main boulevard from the ship docking areas, about a 10-minute walk away, are smaller Mexican stores plus Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Galeria, a pleasant shopping mall, is next to Walmart, and a fleamarket is near the cruise terminal.
Money
Mexico's currency is the peso (MXN), whose symbol is the same as the US dollar sign and can be slightly confusing. Tourist-area dollar prices are labelled "US$" or use an S with a double stroke. There are about 17 peso to 1US$.
In the far north and elsewhere in tourist locales, US dollars are widely accepted.
Compared with Europe or the USA, credit cards are less commonly accepted, and some businesses add about 5% to those transactions.
Staying connected
Spanish is the main language, while English is largely spoken in United States border cities and tourist destinations.
Cyber cafes are everywhere in Puerto Vallarta, with reasonable rates of $10 to $50 pesos per hour. Several cafes in the Marine Terminal area, across the street from ship docks, provide customer free WiFi.
Opening Hours and
Hours in big towns and cities are Mon-Sun 1000/1100-2000/2200; across the remaining country they are Mon-Fri 0900-1400/1600.