Puerto Vallarta is located in the eastern coast of Mexico, and falls under the central time zone. According to the Coordinated Universal Time, it is GMT / UTC-5. Every year, the clock advances one hour from the spring months until autumn, changing to GMT / UTC -5, so we suggest verifying the dates assigned to such change.
To be able to use your phone and receive and make international calls, you have to get an international roaming service with your local service provider.
If you want to use your phone (or an additional one that you carry with you, unlocked) with local service, you can get a SIM card with an approximate cost of $200 pesos and hire a monthly plan with the Mexican cell company that suits you best.
Many establishments in town offer free Wi-Fi, so you can ask for their access codes and use services such as WhatsApp, email, and videoconferencing.
Of course! Most establishments such as hotels, restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions organized by tour operators will accept credit cards, Visa and MasterCard mainly. Although American Express is accepted by most of them, we suggest asking beforehand. Local markets and street stands mostly accept cash, so carrying some with you always comes in handy.
You’ll find ATMs that mainly accept credit and debit Visa and MasterCard in many parts of town. Some hotels have ATM machines inside their facilities for your convenience.
If you need to have continuous access to calls, it is recommended that you bring to Puerto Vallarta an unlocked phone with you, and get ahold of a SIM card with the local service providers.
Most hotels offer phone services from the comfort of your room. Costs might vary due to the add-on fees per service.
Steps to making international calls from Puerto Vallarta:
For international calls, dial 00, followed by the country code. Fro example, for the US and Canada, the code is 1, followed by the city’s code and phone number.
When calling any Puerto Vallarta number, you need to add 322, plus the number’s seven digits.
Steps to making calls to Puerto Vallarta from another country:
Whether you want to receive a call to the hotel you’re staying at, or to your unlocked cell phone with the local SIM card, you need to provide the seven-digit number, preceded by the country’s code (+52) and the city’s code (322).
Airlines
If you fly from the USA, airlines with frequent trips are: American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines.
If you fly from Canada, you’ll find direct flights on Air Canada and WestJet.
If you fly from Mexico, the main airlines to Puerto Vallarta are: Aeromexico, Interjet, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris.
Cruises
Many cruise ships that sail the Pacific arrive in Puerto Vallarta. Some of the cruise lines that arrive to this port are: Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Cunard Line, Disney Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International.
Roads
The highway system that connects Puerto Vallarta to the main cities in Mexico offers modern highways to travel by land in a safe and comfortable manner.
From Guadalajara, towards Compostela or Autlán, or take the Pilgrimage Route, via Ameca-Talpa-Mascota.
The approximate times between different cities are:
Guadalajara, Jalisco | 4 hr.
Tepic, Nayarit | 2 hr.
Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes | 5 hr.
León, Guanajuato | 5 hr.
Querétaro, Querétaro | 7 hr.
Mexico City | 8 hr.
The main bus lines that offer routes to and from Puerto Vallarta are:
ETN, Primera Plus, Futura, Vallarta Plus, and TAP
Public beaches have been opened, though it is still recommended to follow safety measures.
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) gave Puerto Vallarta the Safe Travels Stamp that recognizes safe protocols, meaning that Puerto Vallarta is a safe destination to travel to during these times. Tour operators, restaurants, hotels and main attractions in the destination have adopted the highest standards and protocols in safety and hygiene so you can travel safely.
Hotels and resorts in Puerto Vallarta started to open their doors to the public since June 2020.
Yes! As from the 15th of June 2020, restaurants started to operate again under strict safety and hygiene measures, as well as a maximum capacity.
They are! As from the 15th of June 2020, nightclubs started to operate again under strict measures and protocols established by the government. Within those measures, a maximum capacity was established for your safety.
Puerto Vallarta has implemented strict protocols for hotels, resorts, tour operators, service providers, restaurants, and main attractions in the destination in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Among them, is frequent cleaning with special attention to high-touch surfaces; disinfection of work areas at the beginning and at the end of every shift; use of protective equipment at all times. Puerto Vallarta has been certified with the Safe Travels Stamp given by the World Travel and Tourism Council, and the guidelines suggested by the World Health Organization and Mexican Secretariat of Tourism are being followed, as well as guidelines from the Secretariat of Labor and Social Welfare and the Mexican Institute of Social Security.
General health and safety measures recommend that residents and visitors wear masks in public places and practice social distancing.
Puerto Vallarta offers its visitors high security measures. Being a tourist destination, authorities place special attention to security, so you can feel confident when planning your next visit to Puerto Vallarta. Regarding safety and hygiene measures, this destination is following strict protocols for safe travels.
All the beaches in Puerto Vallarta have a unique charm to make your visit unforgettable. Whether they’re located downtown among countless restaurants, bars and shops, or surrounded by nature and accessible only by boat.
Being federal property, beaches in Puerto Vallarta are public. All the beaches along the coast in Puerto Vallarta are pretty safe. Being a tourist destination, the government pays special attention to taking good care of our visitors.
Puerto Vallarta has nice weather most of the year. During the summer months, from July till October, you can expect frequent tropical storms and temperatures between 77°F and 89°F (25°C and 32°C), while during the winter months you can enjoy temperatures between 62°F and 81°F (17°C and 27°C).
You can check out monthly temperatures here.
Puerto Vallarta has a nice, tropical climate year round, and rainy season is usually between June and September. During these months, you can expect frequent night storms, and are usually a fascinating show.
Summer months are hurricane months, but thanks to Puerto Vallarta’s privileged location, embraced by the bay and surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountain range, tropical storm formations detour into land. It is advised to check the weather reports from official sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAA, or Mexico’s National Weather Service.