A frequently asked question on the Forum is "How much to take a Taxi from the Airport to a particular Hotel?”
At the Puerto Vallarta airport, taxi fares are quoted in pesos, federally regulated and non- negotiable. One can pay either in dollars (American) or Mexican currency but the exchange rate may not be the best available. Taxi and Van rates are per vehicle, not per person. A taxi can accommodate 1-3 people plus luggage. Otherwise you will need a larger vehicle (small children excepted). (Fares for vans are approximately the cost of 2 cabs).
Puerto Vallarta has white taxis and yellow taxis. The white taxis are the federally regulated airport taxis with a monopoly on outgoing transfers. From the airport, the white taxi to your hotel will be at least 100 pesos more (airport tax) which for a short distance could be more than double the return taxi.
If your reservation does not include hotel transfers, you can either take a white taxi or a a yellow cab. Many people have found they can get a better fare by walking across the bridge to take a yellow cab. To do this, walk from the front of the airport to the highway – a hundred yards or so – and notice that there is a walkway on your left that goes over the highway. Cross that walkway and you’ll see a line of yellow taxis waiting for you. Of course this will be quite inconvenient if you have lots of checked luggage. But if you travel light enough to negotiate the walk, you can usually save money.
To reach the white taxis, turn left after you exit customs and keep walking through both sets of sliding doors and straight ahead to the official taxi booth where you will buy a ticket. Do NOT talk to the official-looking people in these areas, before you exit the sliding doors. They are Timeshare Salespeople . (Note it's ok to get a porter in the luggage area if you need one. They are official)
When you are through the second set of sliding doors, proceed straight to an official (white) Taxi Booth. The easiest to see is the one located between two tall doors leading to the outside. Here is a map (courtesy of bzy1)
http://todopuertovallarta.homestead.c...
For example, if you are going to a Hotel or address in Zone 1, you can either pay 179 pesos or 18 $ (U.S.) for your ticket. At the Taxi Booth (inside the Airport) you will tell them where you are going and how many you are. At the moment, fares are by Zone. In other words, you will pay the same fare to go to any hotel in a particular Zone. Below is a list of hotels in each Zone and the fare for each. If your hotel is not listed, or you are staying at a private condo, check out the great Maps at http://www.vallartainfo.com. And by all means, when you return, please edit this page to update the list to include your Hotel or B&B.
When you pay the appropriate fare (see below) you will be issued a receipt. This is the total payment to your destination. As your cab exits the airport, the driver will pull off and stop briefly at a kiosk to show your receipt. If, on the offchance, the taxi driver says you must pay some additional charge, do not pay. You have paid in full and the clerk at the kiosk is simply there to check the receipt.
And remember, the good news is every other Taxi you will take while in Puerto Vallarta will be a much cheaper yellow taxi. Your return fare should be approx. 100 pesos less.
ZONE 1A (all rates updated to current as of June 3, 2009 )
MARINA VALLARTA
Cab: (1-3 people) $180.00 Van: $345.00 Pesos
Bay View Grand
Flamingos Vallarta
Los Caracoles
Marina del Rey
Marina Golf
Marriott C. Magna Mayan Palace
Melia
Nautilus
Quinta Real
Velas Vallarta
Villas Pacifico
Westin Regina
ZONE 1
HOTEL ZONE / DOWNTOWN
Cab: (1-3 people) $195.00 Van: $390.00 Pesos
Buenaventura
Buganvilias
Canto del Sol
Crown Paradise
Downtown Hotels
Encino
Fiesta Americana
Holiday Inn
Hotel Rosita
Los Tules
NH Krystal Vallarta
Pescador
Plaza Iguana
Plaza Pelicanos
Villa Premiere
Puerto de Luna
Qualton
Royal Holiday Club
Sheraton
Suites La Siesta
Sun Getaway
Villa del Palmar
ZONE 2
OLD TOWN / ROMANTIC ZONE
Cab: (1-3 people) $260.00 Van: $520.00 Pesos
Conchas Chinas
Costa Sur
Costa Vida
Dreams
Lindo Mar
Los Arcos Hotel
Mercurio
Meza del Mar
Playa Los Arcos
San Marino
Tropicana
Playa del Sol
Posada de Roger
The Abbey
Villa Vista
ZONE 2
SOUTHERN NUEVO VALLARTA See above Zone 2 rates
Costa Vallarta
Dreams Villa Magna Grand Velas
Marina Fiesta
Marival
Mayan Palace
Mayan Sea Garden Occidental Grand
Occidental Allegro
Paradise Village
Solare
Sierra Nuevo
Villa Varadero
ZONE 3
NORTHERN NUEVO VALLARTA
Cab (1-3 people) $310.00 Van: $610.00 Pesos
Playa del. Sol Grand
Royal Decameron
Riu Jalisco
Samba
Villa del Palmar Flamingos
ZONE 3
MISMALOYA
(please see above for Zone 3 Fares)
Condo. Las Penas
Gemelas
Girasol Sur
Barcelo La Jolla Mismaloya Playa Esmeralda
Playa Fiesta
Presidente Intercontinental
Pto. Vallarta Zoo
ZONE 4 PUNTA MITA
Four Seasons, St. Regis, Porta Fortuna, Hacienda de Mita (plus anything inside the Punta Mita Development ) as well as any condos or hotels in the town outside (El Faro, Punta Vista, El Anclote Condos, Hotel des Artistes).
Casa de Mita
Taxi (1-3 passengers): 800 pesos
