Nayarit is Mexico's rising Pacific-coast star, home to the glamorous Riviera Nayarit beach towns of Sayulita, Punta de Mita, and Nuevo Vallarta, the colonial surf port of San Blas, and the Wixárika (Huichol) heartland of the Sierra Madre Occidental. It blends barefoot-luxury resorts, world-class surf breaks, mangrove wildlife, and small-town Mexican culture within a couple of hours of Puerto Vallarta's international airport.
Riviera Nayarit's coastal towns are well connected by colectivo and Uber/Didi, but San Blas, Chacala, and the Sierra interior around Tepic require a rental car for independent, schedule-driven travel.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Overview
- From PVR, official airport taxis, pre-booked shuttles, and Uber/Didi (pickup from the departures level, not arrivals, due to local taxi union restrictions) all serve Riviera Nayarit hotels.
- Items
- {'type': 'Official airport taxi', 'route': 'PVR to Nuevo Vallarta/Bucerías', 'cost': '$25-35 USD (430-600 MXN)', 'duration': '15-25 minutes'}, {'type': 'Official airport taxi', 'route': 'PVR to Punta de Mita/Sayulita', 'cost': '$45-65 USD (770-1,120 MXN)', 'duration': '40-55 minutes'}, {'type': 'Uber/Didi', 'route': 'PVR to Bucerías/Nuevo Vallarta', 'cost': '$12-20 USD (200-345 MXN)', 'duration': '15-25 minutes', 'note': 'Order from the departures/upper level curb; drivers cannot pick up at arrivals'}, {'type': 'Pre-booked private shuttle', 'route': 'PVR to any Riviera Nayarit hotel', 'cost': '$35-90 USD (600-1,550 MXN) depending on distance', 'duration': 'Varies', 'note': 'Book through operators like Amstar or Cabo Travel Connections in advance'}
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Overview
Colectivo vans are the backbone of coastal Nayarit transport, cheap and frequent along Highway 200 between Puerto Vallarta and San Pancho/Sayulita. Uber/Didi cover Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, and Sayulita reliably but thin out further north.
Items
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Metered taxis are uncommon; agree on a price before getting in, or use official hotel taxi stands which post fixed-rate cards.
- Items
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Overview
First-class ETN and Vallarta Plus coaches connect Tepic, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara; second-class buses and colectivos cover shorter coastal hops.
Items
- Route
- Puerto Vallarta bus terminal to Tepic
- Operator
- ETN / Vallarta Plus / Elite
- Cost
- $8-14 USD (140-240 MXN)
- Duration
- 2.5-3 hours
- Frequency
- Hourly departures
- Route
- Puerto Vallarta to San Blas
- Operator
- Transportes Norte de Sonora / local second-class lines (via Tepic connection or coastal route)
- Cost
- $10-16 USD (170-275 MXN)
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Frequency
- Several daily
- Route
- Tepic to Guadalajara
- Operator
- ETN / Primera Plus
- Cost
- $18-28 USD (310-480 MXN)
- Duration
- 3.5-4 hours
- Frequency
- Frequent, roughly hourly
- Route
- Sayulita/Bucerías colectivo to Puerto Vallarta
- Operator
- Local white colectivo vans
- Cost
- $1.50-3 USD (25-50 MXN)
- Duration
- 40-60 minutes
- Frequency
- Every 10-20 minutes, 6AM-10PM
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) in neighboring Jalisco, 10-40 minutes from Bucerías, Nuevo Vallarta, and Punta de Mita, is the real-world gateway to Riviera Nayarit. Nayarit's own Amado Nervo International Airport (TPQ) in Tepic has limited domestic service. Along the coastal corridor, colectivo vans, city buses, ETN/Vallarta Plus intercity coaches, and Uber/Didi cover most needs; a rental car is the only practical way to reach San Blas, Chacala, and inland Tepic independently on a fixed schedule.
Airports
Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR)
Amado Nervo International Airport (TPQ)
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Uber
Didi
Moovit
Google Maps
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Confirm which time zone you are working with: Nayarit runs on America/Mazatlan (Mountain Time), one hour behind Puerto Vallarta/Jalisco across the state line
Order Uber/Didi from the departures level at PVR airport, not arrivals, due to local taxi union restrictions
Carry small peso bills for colectivos and taxis — drivers often cannot break large notes
Rent a car in Puerto Vallarta or Nuevo Vallarta rather than at the airport curb to avoid airport surcharges
Confirm your rental car insurance explicitly covers driving in Nayarit and Jalisco