Puerto Vallarta International Airport Guide

For most travelers, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport is their gateway to paradise, and thousands of passengers pass through here every day. As you book your flights to Puerto Vallarta, you’re probably dreaming of icy margaritas and jungle adventures, not about navigating the airport, but by reading through this quick airport guide, you’ll have seamless travels, getting you onto the beach quickly and easily.

Airport Location Map

When you arrive at the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, it’s important to understand where you are. The Puerto Vallarta airport is located at the north end of the city and south of Nuevo Vallarta. It’s close to the Marina Vallarta neighborhood, just along the Mexico 200 highway, and you’ll find several options for airport transportation here.

Puerto Vallarta Airport Code

To make booking flights quick and easy, type in the Puerto Vallarta airport code: PVR. The PVR airport is the only direct option for traveling to the Bay of Banderas, so with this code, you can quickly look up flights to Puerto Vallarta and check timetables as you travel.

Airline Arrivals and Departures

While hundreds of flights take off every day, the Puerto Vallarta airport is not big, and arrivals and departures are just around the corner from each other, both on ground level. For departures, you’ll check in at the south end of the terminal, and when you arrive, you’ll pass through gates just north of that.

Airport Transportation

There are several options for getting to and from the Puerto Vallarta airport. As soon as you land at airline arrivals, official airport transportation companies will offer you their services, ranging from large 15-passenger vans to private taxis. These options are quick and convenient, but they typically are the more expensive option. To catch an Uber, you’ll have to walk out of the airport to the bus stop along the main highway. While you could also take the public bus, this isn’t recommended if you checked large bags on your flights to Puerto Vallarta.

Shopping and Dining

Before you take off from the PVR airport, take some time to enjoy a final meal and pick up some souvenirs. There are several options for burgers, seafood, and subs before your flight, and you can also pop into a shop for chips and a drink to take with you. In the duty free shops, high-end tequilas, cigars, and chocolates fill the shelves. You’ll find everything from keychains to silver jewelry.

Airport Guide Tips

There are a few final things you should keep in mind at the PVR airport:

On flights to Puerto Vallarta, stewards will pass out immigration forms. Once you’re at airline arrivals, you’ll pass through immigration. They’ll keep part of the form and return the bottom section to you. Keep this to give them when you depart. If you lose it, you’ll have to pay a fine.
Be sure to arrive at least two hours before your flight, but you might want some extra time during the busy season when lines to check in can be long.
Remember to pack all liquids in your checked bag or in a TSA-approved clear bag.
Any final shopping you do can be carried with you on the plane, so buying tequila bottles and heavier items at the airport will keep your checked bag from being overweight.

Even though the Puerto Vallarta International Airport only has one terminal, becoming familiar with this airport guide gives you one less thing to worry about when you travel. From knowing the Puerto Vallarta airport code to feeling confident with immigration, you’ll have everything you need to escape to paradise.