Jalisco is Mexico's cultural heartland, birthplace of tequila, mariachi music, and the Mexican hat dance. Home to the vibrant metropolis of Guadalajara and the Pacific resort city of Puerto Vallarta, it offers a stunning blend of colonial heritage, indigenous traditions, and natural beauty.
- Public
- Guadalajara's light rail and Macrobus are excellent for city travel; Puerto Vallarta buses cover main routes but can be confusing
- Taxi
- Licensed taxis are available but Uber/Didi is safer and more transparent on pricing for tourists
- Rental
- Excellent for exploring rural Jalisco, Lake Chapala, Tequila, and the Pacific coastal towns
- Walking
- Guadalajara's historic center and Colonia Americana are very walkable; Puerto Vallarta's Zona Romántica and Malecón are best explored on foot
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Taxi
- $25-35, 25-35 min to central Guadalajara
- Taxi Info
- Use authorized taxi booths inside the terminal (prepaid rate). Never accept rides from touts. From Puerto Vallarta airport, authorized taxis cost $15-25.
- Shuttle
- $8-15, shared van service to Guadalajara hotels
- Shuttle Info
- Shared shuttle vans available from both airports; book through hotel or at airport counter. Puerto Vallarta airport shuttles run to major hotel zones.
- Bus
- $0.80, Guadalajara light rail Line 3 connects directly to airport
- Bus Info
- Line 3 station 'Aeropuerto GDL' is a 2-minute walk from Guadalajara terminal. Puerto Vallarta local bus Route 104 runs from airport to downtown for 40 cents.
- Private
- $35-60, pre-booked private car from Guadalajara airport
- Private Info
- Pre-book through hotel concierge or reputable local company for fixed price and meet-and-greet service
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Bus
Guadalajara city buses cover all major routes for 7 MXN per ride. Puerto Vallarta buses run north-south along the main road for $0.40.
Alternatives
Guadalajara light rail (Tren Ligero 3 lines), Macrobus BRT, bike-sharing (MiBici with 3,000 bicycles at 268 stations in Guadalajara), electric scooters (Lime)
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Regular
- $20-30 MXN base fare + $10 MXN/km
- Apps
- Uber, Didi, InDriver
- App Names
- Uber, Didi, InDriver
- Typical Fare
- $5-12 USD for average city ride; $15-25 to/from Guadalajara airport
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Bus
Primera Plus, ETN, and ADO buses from Guadalajara's Nueva Central Camionera; Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta $25-40 (4.5h); to Tequila $5 (1h) from Central Vieja
Shared
Shared taxis (combis) available for shorter routes like Guadalajara-Chapala $3 or Guadalajara-Tlaquepaque $2
Flights
Aeroméxico and Volaris connect Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta in 45 minutes from $40 one-way
Private
Private car hire from $80/day from Guadalajara; international car rental companies at both airports
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Jalisco has two major international airports — Guadalajara (GDL) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR) — providing direct connections to the US, Canada, and Mexico City. Guadalajara has an extensive public transport network including a 3-line light rail (Tren Ligero), BRT Macrobus system, and conventional buses. Uber and Didi are widely available in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta and are the recommended way for tourists to move around safely.
Airports
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport
Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Uber
Best for safe, trackable rides throughout Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta
Didi
Chinese ride-hailing app popular in Mexico, often slightly cheaper than Uber
InDriver
Negotiated-price rides, useful in smaller Jalisco towns where Uber has less coverage
Mi Transporte Guadalajara
Official app for Guadalajara public transit routes and real-time bus tracking
Rome2Rio
Useful for planning intercity transport between Jalisco towns and cities
Busbud / RedBus
Book intercity bus tickets online for routes between Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and other destinations
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Download Uber and/or Didi before arriving — these are the safest and most transparent transport options for tourists
The Guadalajara Tren Ligero Light Rail connects the airport (Line 3) directly to the city center — cheapest airport transfer at $0.80
For Tequila day trips, second-class buses depart from Guadalajara's Central Vieja (old bus station) every hour for about $5 round trip
For Lake Chapala, buses to Chapala and Ajijic depart from Guadalajara's Camionera Sur station every 30 minutes
Puerto Vallarta city buses ('Juntas', 'Pitillal' and others) run along Insurgentes and the main highway for 8 MXN
Rent a car if you plan to explore rural Jalisco, Sierra Madre towns, or the Pacific coast beyond Puerto Vallarta
Never accept rides from unofficial taxi touts at airports — use prepaid booths or Uber only
MiBici bike-sharing in Guadalajara is excellent for flat rides between neighborhoods — day pass costs $2 USD