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Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) |
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Puerto Vallarta's International Airport (Gustavo Díaz Ordaz [Code: PVR]) is well connected to North America's major
airports hubs both in the US and in Canada. Scheduled flights operate from several U.S.
cities: Chicago, Dallas/ Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Los
Angeles, and more (see airline routes section) and some of Canada's main cities (Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton).
- View airlines that travel to PVR
- View Airlines with non-stop routes to PVR
- Airline information (websites & phones)
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Air travel time from Puerto Vallarta to select destinations in USA and Canada. You can also use Travel Calculator. |
Within Mexico there are regular flights to and from Guadalajara, Tijuana, Toluca, Mexico City, Cabo San Lucas and others (see complete list).
From Canada many direct flights are operated by charter services. Otherwise flights can be booked through Air Canada or USA-based airlines.
The airport is served by many major airlines and countless charter companies: Aeromexico, Air Transat (Charter), Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Canada 3000 (Charter), United, Delta Airlines, among others.
PVR Airport Data:
- Single runway (10700 ft - 3300m: length. 150 ft - 46m wide).
- Distances:
Downtown Puerto Vallarta: 10 to 15 minutes, 8.5 km or 5 miles.
Marina Vallarta: 5 minutes, 2.2 km or 1.4 miles (can be shorter)..
Nuevo Vallarta: 15 to 20 minutes, 13 km or 8 miles (varies).
- FlightStats code: PVR
IATA code: PVR
ICAO code: MMPR
- Latitude / Longitude:
20.678297 / -105.24898
- Time Zone:
-6:00 hours from UTC/GMT (see the current time)
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The main level (street level with free access) of
the Puerto Vallarta Airport offers several small shops
and small fast food restaurants and bars. A post office, bank, currency
exchange and several magazine book stores are also located on
the main level. It is here that you'll find the check-in counters for the various airlines that serve this city.
Telephones at the airport
accept credit cards, but we recommend you use the Telmex public
phones, these give a better rate, go into one of the airport
shops and buy a "Ladatel" telephone card (30, 50
or 100 pesos depending on your needs - for international the
minimum amount left on the card must normally be 20 pesos).
Flight check-in, plus domestic and international flights arrivals are all on the main level. International and national departure passengers
must all go to the upper level to get to the departure gates, you go through security and than have access to stores, restaurant-bars,
duty free shops and the gates themselves.
The second level of
the Airport, before entering the security checkpoint, offers a few fast food restaurants and shops, including souvenirs. You'll find better food and drink prices here than past security. You get to the second level by elevator, mechanical stairs on the SW side or normal stairs at various points within the main level.
Once past the passport and security check-in area, there
is a large lounge / waiting area with duty free shops (liquor
and perfumes), this is Hall A. There are some bars, cafés and restaurants in the
lounge area as well. You can wait for your boarding call here, check the arrival and departure screens from time to time and to confirm your gate.
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Airport Panorama from the parking lot (click image to enlarge) |
Passengers on flights to most destinations within Mexico depart from a small group of gates
on a level below (down a short flight of stairs from the main lounge), there's a small waiting area with seats, that you can use before boarding your flight, sometimes it's stuffed, so you can wait above and go down in due time.
Passengers on International flights depart from the newer gates in Hall B that are positioned after a long passageway that goes NE and then NW, with gates in the last area.
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Puerto Vallarta International Airport Diagram |
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Airport hall |
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Entering customs |
Note to visitors arriving to Puerto Vallarta: In customs you'll put your luggage through a scan and will be asked to press a button, one person per family, if you get a green light (I always have) you pass without a review, if you get red, all your luggage will be checked.
Once you are on your way out of customs you'll go through an area full of timeshare salesmen/women before you are able to get to the airport hall outside. Unless you want to waste your time, try to get out as soon as possible, you'll be offered free taxis, tours and maybe even money, it's all TS BS if you ask me... so better keep your sight ahead, on your goal, to get out of there ASAP! Once you are out, go to the taxi stands by the door out to the parking lot and pay your taxi fee there, unless you're being picked up, or you want to go take the local bus/normal taxi to the left by the highway.
The step by step process out from the airport would be:
- Get off the airplane, into the terminal
- or on to the tarmac into the bus and then into the terminal.
- Go to the immigration desks, choose the one for tourists or Mexican national depending on which category you are in.
- Go to the baggage claim carousel, get your bags, if any.
- Go to customs, pass luggage through X-Ray machine and press the stop/go button when asked to.
- If green walk straight out, do not stop to talk to the TS sellers (unless you are very brave).
- Walk out the automatic glass doors to the main lobby (a large open hall).
- Go to the Taxi counters, buy your ticket.
- Head outside and someone will point you to your taxi.
- Enjoy your stay in Puerto Vallarta!
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View from the hall into
customs |
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View going out from customs |
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Puerto Vallarta International Airport Gustavo Díaz Ordaz is located in the northern section of town, just North the Marina Vallarta area.
Transportation to and from the airport is mostly done by taxi (Aeromovil) or combi bus (Colectivo minivan). Taxi and combi bus charge rates based on zones of travel. Taxi and combi minivan's are paid for before entering the vehicle at a small kiosk located just before leaving the terminal building exit. Once you have obtained your ticket, you'll be escorted or directed to your vehicle. The ticket is then handed to the parking attendant at the parking lot exit and you are on your way.
Charges for taxis at the airport are more expensive than regular taxis as it is a Federal zone with extra taxes and higher rates. If you are adventurous, or on a strict budget, you can walk some 150 yards to the pedestrian bridge over the highway, cross to the other side and flag down a normal taxi (there are some there already), that'll save you about $5-10 dollars US. For those that are traveling light, you can even catch a local bus for 0.50 dollars US (6.50 pesos), airport side for Marina and Downtown Vallarta, cross the bridge for the ones heading to Nuevo Vallarta and further north. |
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Additional Information |
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PVR Airport location on Google Maps:
View Areas or Zones in a larger map
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