Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta: 4 Absolute Best Ways to Travel
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Are you looking for the most efficient way to travel from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta? Read on for all your options, including flights, buses, and driving!
If you’re hoping to pair a trip to one of Mexico’s premier beach towns with your stay in the capital city, you’re in the right place. This is one of the least expensive areas in Mexico to rent a car in!
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Traveling from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta can be an exciting adventure that combines city life with beautiful beaches. The journey from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta offers stunning landscapes and a chance to experience the diverse culture of the region.
Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta are complementary destinations that will give you a sense of just how diverse and dynamic Mexico truly is.
Mexico City’s proximity to the country’s geographic center makes it a popular entry point and a convenient starting point for exploring various regions in all directions of Mexico.
The best way to get from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta is by flight, but you can also use Mexico’s bus system or make the 10-hour drive to get there directly.
Keep reading, and I’ll explain the details of each transportation option to help you choose the right one for you. I’ve traveled this route myself several times, so you’re in excellent hands!
Flights: Best way to get from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta
Flying is by far the most comfortable and best way to get to Puerto Vallarta from Mexico City.
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The flight takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes. You can find direct flights leaving Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX) on a daily basis. There are also multiple nonstop daily flights from Mexico City’s new Felipe Angeles International Airport (NLU).
Note: The Felipe Angeles airport is located outside of Mexico City, making it less convenient to get to (the best way is Uber). Instead, consider choosing flights that arrive at and depart from Benito Juarez Airport.
All flights to Puerto Vallarta will land at the Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport (PVR).
There may be more flights during peak travel seasons, such as the winter high season, and holidays like Semana Santa when more travelers escape the city and head to the beach. But this is a popular route all year.
Which Airlines fly from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta?
The Mexican airlines VivaAerobus, Volaris, and AeroMexico all offer flights from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta.
I’ve flown with both of these airlines and had positive experiences every time, but I would recommend Volaris over VivaAerobus. Volaris has slightly nicer planes and better customer service, in my experience.
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AeroMexico is a fantastic airline, and I’ve always had positive experiences flying with them. The tickets will inevitably cost more, but you’ll have a more comfortable trip. It’s my favorite Airline in Mexico.
A HUGE benefit is you can use your SkyMiles, which Delta Airlines participates in as well, allowing you to book AeroMexico flights through the Delta website.
The Skymiles loyalty program, which both Delta Airlines and AeroMexico participate in, allows you to combine points from each carrier for your benefit.
How much does it cost to fly from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta?
I’ve seen one-way flights from CDMX to PVR for as little as $640 MXN, but on average, they range from $1200 to $2800 MXN.
Keep in mind that flight prices to Puerto Vallarta vary depending on seasonality, demand, and the day of the week you choose to travel.
Expedia.com is an excellent tool for finding cheap flights based on locating the most affordable months and days for travel.
You can use the monthly view to identify the least expensive month to travel and then analyze the flight prices on different days of the month. This feature makes it easy to spot price trends and plan your travels accordingly!
Airport transportation in Puerto Vallarta
It’s important to know that Uber is not permitted to pick passengers up right at the airport in Puerto Vallarta, though you can catch an Uber by walking across a pedestrian bridge just outside the airport.
It’s perfectly safe to take a registered taxi from the airport to your accommodation. I take a taxi every time I arrive at the airport in Puerto Vallarta and have never had issues.
Fares are predetermined based on your destination, and you can purchase a ticket from the taxi booth inside the terminal (they accept credit cards!).
A taxi to Puerto Vallarta’s Centro or Romantic Zone will cost about $250 – $300 MXN.
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Or, book an airport transfer in advance with GetTransfer, which is a very dependable and highly rated service. A driver will meet you at arrivals to take you to your accommodation.
Driving from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta
Mexico has a robust toll-road system. I’ve traveled the entirety of Mexico in a cost-effective rental car. Even though the journey will be long, you can rent an inexpensive rental car in Mexico City and travel all the way to Puerto Vallarta.
The journey from CDMX to Vallarta is about 850km, and the bus trip will take 12 to 14 hours.
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You can travel directly from Mexico City’s Central Norte to Puerto Vallarta’s bus station with the Futura or ETN bus lines. Both companies offer evening departure times, so you’ll travel overnight and arrive in Vallarta in the morning.
A ticket with Futura will cost about $100 USD, while a ticket with ETN runs about $140 USD.
If you’re willing to spend the extra money, I encourage you to travel with ETN as it’s a much more luxurious bus line. You’ll be far more comfortable onboard their coaches.
Futura buses are great for shorter journeys, but they’re not nearly as spacious or comfortable as ETN.
Flying will almost always be more convenient and comfortable than a 12-hour bus journey, but buses are a safe and reliable way to travel throughout Mexico.
Bus tickets don’t face the same price volatility as flights do, so they may be a more affordable option during high season.
Busbud.com is my favorite site for booking bus tickets in Mexico because it’s in English, and they accept foreign credit cards.
Driving: Best for experienced travelers
The drive from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta takes about 11 hours, depending on traffic. It covers approximately 850km and crosses through several different states in central Mexico.
There are two main routes from CDMX to Vallarta. One goes through the state of Michoacan, and the other goes around it, traveling slightly North through the states of Queretaro and Guanajuato before entering the state of Jalisco.
Both Guanajuato and Michoacan have occasional flare-ups due to cartel activity, so it’s crucial to research your route in advance based on current information.
I’ve included a map below for your reference:
When driving in Mexico, it’s advisable to stick to toll roads, known as cuotas, because they are well-maintained and patrolled. Of course, tolls do add to your overall trip costs.
According to Toll Guru, the toll costs from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta for the route through Michoacan would be about $2232 MXN.
To stay safe on the roads in Mexico, keep the following tips in mind:
- Always drive during the day as it can be unpredictable on the roads at night
- Keep cash on hand to cover tolls and cash-only gas stations
- Keep your gas tank full and plan your refueling stops, as there can be long distances between fill stations in rural areas
Booking.com is a great platform for finding affordable rates on rental cars in Mexico. It’s a price aggregator that compares rates across many different companies.
Just be sure to read reviews of the individual companies to ensure they’re reputable before renting.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is it safe to fly to Puerto Vallarta right now?
Absolutely! Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico’s most popular travel destinations, and it’s a very safe place to visit, even for solo travelers.
Naturally, it’s crucial to exercise caution wherever you go. I also advise monitoring hurricane warnings, given that Puerto Vallarta experiences hurricane seasons from June to October.
Click here for tips on the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta.
How far is Puerto Vallarta from the airport?
The Puerto Vallarta airport is located just north of the town. It’s about 8 km from the airport to Puerto Vallarta’s Centro neighborhood. Traveling that distance in an Uber or taxi typically takes about 20 minutes.
What’s the safest way to travel around Puerto Vallarta?
Taxis, Ubers, and buses are all perfectly safe in Puerto Vallarta. Just be sure to confirm the taxi price before you get in the vehicle.
I recently spent a month in Puerto Vallarta and used Uber almost exclusively. I like Uber for its cashless payments and in-app navigation.
Check out my guide to Uber in Puerto Vallarta for more details.
What months are the best time to visit Puerto Vallarta? Why?
The best months to visit Puerto Vallarta are December to March. This period offers pleasant weather, less humidity, and lower chances of rain, making it ideal for outdoor activities and enjoying the beaches.
Does ADO bus have routes from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta?
Yes, ADO buses have routes from Mexico City to Puerto Vallarta.
What is the most luxurious hotel in Puerto Vallarta?
The most luxurious hotel in Puerto Vallarta is the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita.
