There are many ways to get around the sister cities of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit when you get here. Besides the regular taxi service, some of the major platforms like Uber, DiDi, and InDriver operate in the area. However, for safety reasons, some people just choose to take the familiar (and easy to spot) yellow cab, since they have a special plate and assigned number. But due to the higher rates charged by regular taxis, a lot of the visitors request an Uber from the comfort of their phones. It is just easier and sometimes even cheaper.
Below we’ll go over the best transportation options for you to consider for your trip, including Puerto Vallarta taxis, ride-sharing apps, city buses, or maybe even bicycle rental!
Taxis
As with everything here in Mexico, we cannot generalize our comments or opinions regarding the local taxis. Some of them are brand new, in impeccable condition, and the drivers will speak great English. Others are the old Nissan Tsurus which was the brand’s top-selling model in Mexico for decades but has now been discontinued because it had one of the worst safety ratings on the planet. To see what I mean, just watch this crash video of a Nissan Tsuru vs. Nissan Versa.
Taxis are not usually metered; instead, you usually pay by zones. Be sure to establish the fare before you ride to avoid any surprises. Most trips should be reasonably affordable and you can probably negotiate a better price on slow days. Include a tip if you feel it is warranted.
Uber & Indriver
Uber has been available in Puerto Vallarta since 2017, and it is still very popular. Uber unfortunately does not exist once you go north into Nayarit, which includes the towns of Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Sayulita, etc. In these towns you’ll have to use the InDriver app which allows you to bid on a ride, depending on how far you want to go.
Car Rentals
The other option is to rent a vehicle during your stay from Hertz, Alamo, Budget, Mex Rent A Car, or any other well-known company. All of them have their offices at a very close distance from the airport, so you can literally walk straight to them. This is a really good idea if you come with a group of people or if you want to tour the bay at your own pace… especially if you want to do any day trips to the towns of Sayulita, San Sebastian, etc. It is also perhaps the best choice if you feel comfortable being behind the wheel in a foreign country.
Private Driver
The last option, which is what we want to talk about, is to hire a friendly, talkative, knowledgeable private driver. There are many local guys who have taken up this activity given the high demand for private transportation as a customized service. Yet we don’t want you to go blindfolded into hiring a private driver, we’ll actually give you some good recommendations and useful tips.
The community of ex-pats here in the bay has a large Facebook group where you can ask them to refer someone they trust. The name of the group is Puerto Vallarta Everything You Need Or Want To Know. We’re sure you’ll get plenty of names on that group from many of the members.
Here at Beach Please we like to recommend the following people who are very reliable drivers that you can trust to take you where you need to go. But we must let you know that during the high season (November-April) they get very busy, so it may be difficult to find availability:
- Kevin: +52 322 274 8727
Airport Transfer
If you only need airport transportation options, we recommend the airport shuttle option. When exiting the terminal, just look for your Puerto Vallarta airport transfer representative who will be holding a sign with your name and their logo. They’ll help you load your luggage and drive you to your hotel or vacation rental in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle. Round-trip PVR airport shuttle prices range between $25 – $40 USD, depending on the zone of your drop-off location (see map below to see if you are Zone 1-4).
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