I booked this trip on a whim and was very pleased. It was within my budget for a last minute trip and had everything on my to do list: beach, beach, and oh! the beach! Puerto Vallarta is a tourist driven town. Keep to yourself and you won’t have anything to worry about.

How to Get Around (To and From the Airport)

• Car Service- There are various car services you can arrange to pick you up from the airport. The one I used was Superior Tours Vallarta. Dependent on the size of your party and the location of your hotel, the trip will cost $25-$145 per vehicle.
• Taxi- Ask your hotel how much it should cost to reach your destination by taxi and confirm with the driver before jumping in. If they over quote you, move on to the next one. For the few times I used the taxi, these are price points:
  • Centro to Marina- 70 pesos
  • Centro to the Airport ~135 pesos
• Bus- If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the city bus for 7.50 pesos. There are no bus maps nor websites. Look on the left side of the front window to know where the bus is headed.

Where to Stay

Puerto Vallarta is broken up by the following neighborhoods:

• Nuevo Vallarta- The newest area of Vallarta. This is where the all inclusive resorts are located. About 45 minutes away from the heart of Vallarta.
• Centro- Right above the bustle of Malecon. The beaches here are rockier but cleaner.
• Malecon- The heart of Vallarta. Lots of tourists attractions on the streets and the beaches. I found the beaches here to be crowded and dirty.
• Conchas Chinas- South of Malecon
• Mismaloya

Things to Do

• Walk down Malecon for food and souvenirs.

• Los Muertos Pier on Los Muertos Beach- The beach here is dirty.

• Las Marietas Island
• Los Arcos, Animas y Quimixto
• Rent a jet ski. The going rate is $50 USD. I asked for a discount and got it for 600 pesos.

Things to Eat

• Pancho’s Takos
• Raspados- Mexican version of shaved ice topped with a syrup of your choice. I chose guava.

• Dirty dog- Bacon wrapped hot dog topped with everything. Mmmm good.