BlaakLane.com books Puerto Vallarta airport transfers and chauffeur trips from PVR to the Hotel Zone, the Zona Romántica, Conchas Chinas, Nuevo Vallarta, Sayulita and Punta Mita, and from the cruise terminal. The engine shows a fixed fare for your address, time and vehicle before you confirm. A vetted local affiliate drives, and the confirmation names the operator and chauffeur.
Booking a Puerto Vallarta transfer, step by step
- Enter your flight number; the engine reads the arrival time and terminal.
- Add your hotel, villa or condo address, including the building or gate name.
- Give the passenger and bag count, including golf bags or a stroller.
- Choose a vehicle and review the fixed fare, which includes the chauffeur, fuel and waiting time.
- Confirm at /book/. You receive the operator, chauffeur and vehicle details.
The 24/7 dispatch desk in Toronto assigns a vetted affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network working to the BlaakLane.com written standard. Villa weekends, weddings and incentive groups with several vehicles are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing.
PVR airport: terminals, the exit and your pickup point
Puerto Vallarta International Airport, officially Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, sits on Highway 200 at the north end of the city, across the road from Marina Vallarta. It is operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, which has been expanding it with a new terminal building, so check the terminal shown on your confirmation. After customs, arrivals pass an exit area where timeshare and tour sellers work hard for attention; you do not need to stop.
The airport is federal ground, and loading passengers at the terminal requires a federal airport permit, so pre-arranged transport is sent to designated meeting and pickup areas. Your chauffeur waits there and messages you on landing. That curbside pickup is standard; a meet and greet with a name board is an add-on, and add-ons are only available in selected locations. Flights are tracked, and waiting is included for 60 minutes after an international landing, 30 after a domestic one and 15 at other pickups, then charged in 15-minute blocks.
Drive times from PVR
| From PVR to | Approximate distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Marina Vallarta | 2-4 km | 5-10 min |
| Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera) | 5 km | 10-15 min |
| Downtown and the Malecón | 9 km | 20-30 min |
| Zona Romántica | 11 km | 25-35 min |
| Conchas Chinas and Mismaloya | 14-19 km | 30-45 min |
| Nuevo Vallarta | 12 km | 15-25 min |
| Bucerías | 20 km | 25-35 min |
| Punta Mita | 45 km | 45 min - 1 h |
| Sayulita | 40 km | 45 min - 1 h |
Traffic builds on the Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio and at the Ameca River bridge at rush hour and on high-season Saturdays; the fare is fixed regardless.
Two states, one bay: Jalisco and Riviera Nayarit
The Ameca River, just north of the airport, is the border between Jalisco and Nayarit. Puerto Vallarta itself is in Jalisco; Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Punta Mita and Sayulita are in the Bahía de Banderas municipality of Nayarit, marketed as the Riviera Nayarit. The two sides keep the same clock for most practical purposes, but hotel confirmations sometimes list different states, which causes confusion over addresses. Give us the resort name and we route correctly.
Neighbourhoods and resorts around the bay
- Marina Vallarta has the marina, the golf course and large resorts, and sits next to the cruise terminal.
- The Hotel Zone runs along the beach between the marina and downtown.
- Centro and the Malecón are the historic heart, with the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the seafront promenade and sculptures.
- The Zona Romántica (Old Town), south of the Río Cuale, has Los Muertos beach, the pier and cobbled streets where larger vehicles struggle; the chauffeur stops at the nearest wide street.
- Conchas Chinas, Amapas and Mismaloya climb the hills to the south, with villas on steep driveways. An SUV is the better choice there.
- Punta Mita is a gated peninsula at the north tip of the bay with the Four Seasons and St. Regis resorts and private estates. Security gates check guest names.
The cruise terminal at Marina Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta's maritime terminal, run by the port authority and part of Mexico's national port system, faces Marina Vallarta a few minutes from the airport. Ships call mostly from October to April. Passengers disembarking at the end of a cruise, or crew changing over, can be collected at the designated transport area outside the terminal and driven to PVR or a hotel in 5 to 20 minutes. For day visits, a car with an hourly booking can cover the Malecón, Mismaloya and a return in time for all-aboard. Crew movements go through shipping crew change, and cruise groups through cruise lines and ports.
Vehicles: from sedans to Sprinters
A Standard Sedan is enough for two people and luggage heading to the Hotel Zone. Families and anyone going to the hillside villas south of town usually choose an executive SUV. Standard Black SUVs carry golf groups bound for the courses at Vista Vallarta or Punta Mita, and Sprinter Vans take wedding parties to venues in Sayulita or on the south shore. Every car in the affiliate network is four model years old or younger, with a seven-year allowance only for Rolls-Royce, Maybach and Bentley. See the fleet and rates.
Events and seasons in Puerto Vallarta
- November to April: high season, with snowbirds from the US and Canada and the busiest cruise months.
- November: Día de Muertos altars and the city's gourmet festival are usually held early to mid month.
- 1 to 12 December: the Fiestas de la Virgen de Guadalupe, with nightly pilgrimages to the downtown church that close central streets.
- March and Holy Week: Mexican holidaymakers fill the beaches.
- Late May: the Vallarta Pride week usually takes over the Zona Romántica.
- June to October: the rainy and hurricane season, with lower prices and afternoon storms.
Check the Visit Puerto Vallarta tourism board for current dates.
Intercity and day-trip routes
Guadalajara lies about 330 km inland, typically 4 h 30 to 5 h 30 by road, and is bookable as an intercity transfer; see Guadalajara. Day trips go north to Sayulita and San Pancho, south to Yelapa by water taxi from Boca de Tomatlán, or up into the mountains to San Sebastián del Oeste, a former mining town about 1 h 30 to 2 h away.
Arrival paperwork: FMM and customs
Flying in, you are not handed a paper tourist card in most cases. Immigration scans your passport and records the permitted stay, creating a digital FMM, and the fee is included in the air fare. Cruise passengers in port for the day are handled through the ship. Those who sail or drive in may need to complete the FMM, available online at INM. US, Canadian, UK and EU passport holders do not need a visa for tourism. Customs uses the push-button red or green light to pick bags for inspection.
Driving and practical notes
Mexico drives on the right. Highway 200 is the only road along the bay, so an accident can hold up traffic between the airport and Nayarit. Streets in the Old Town are cobbled, steep and often one-way. Child seats are free on request.
Cancellation terms and nearby cities
Nothing is charged if you cancel more than 72 hours before pickup. Within 72 hours the charge is 10 %, within 48 hours 50 %, and within 24 hours or for a no-show 100 %. Other Pacific and western pages: Los Cabos, Acapulco and Guadalajara. Villa managers and hotels use hotels and concierge accounts, and local operators can register.
