From Puerto Vallarta airport to La Peñita

Leaving the airport and heading north

Puerto Vallarta's international airport sits at the edge of Banderas Bay. Most arriving visitors head south into the city. To reach La Peñita de Jaltemba, you go the other way, north on Federal Highway 200 into the state of Nayarit.

Highway 200 is the main coastal road. Just north of the airport it crosses the Ameca River into Nayarit, runs through the growing towns around the bay, then turns inland through farmland and up into the green hills of the Sierra de Vallejo before dropping back toward the coast and the beach towns of the Riviera Nayarit.

How long the drive takes depends on traffic, road works and how many slow trucks you meet on the climbs. Plan on a comfortable margin rather than the shortest estimate on your phone, especially if someone is waiting to hand over keys.

Ways to make the trip

Bus

Buses are the cheapest option and work well if you are traveling light. Many travelers leave the terminal, cross the pedestrian bridge over the highway and wait on the northbound side.

Several kinds of bus use this road. Some are long-distance coaches with air conditioning and luggage holds; others are local buses that stop often and take longer. Ask the driver if the bus stops at La Peñita before you board, and keep pesos handy for the fare. Taxis usually wait near where buses drop passengers, so you can finish the trip to your door.

Rental car

A car gives you freedom to explore villages, markets and beaches along the coast. Rental desks are in or near the terminal, some with shuttles to off-site lots.

Driving here calls for some confidence on two-lane roads shared with trucks, buses and delivery vans. Inspect the car carefully and photograph any existing damage before you leave. Mexican third-party liability insurance is required, and policies from home are generally not accepted for it, so read the rental agreement closely and ask what is included.

Taxi or private transfer

Official airport taxis wait outside arrivals. You usually buy a ticket at an authorized booth inside the terminal before stepping out, with fares set by zone.

Taxis hailed on the street side of the pedestrian bridge are often cheaper, but agree on the price before you get in. A transfer booked in advance is the simplest option: a driver meets you outside baggage claim and takes you straight to La Peñita.

Crossing into Nayarit and the clock

The river crossing

A short way north of the airport, Highway 200 crosses the Ameca River. This is the state line between Jalisco and Nayarit. Beyond it the road passes through the busy towns of the Bahía de Banderas municipality, then gives way to orchards, palm groves and fruit stands as you head into the hills.

What time is it?

Time zones on this coast confuse plenty of visitors. Puerto Vallarta, in Jalisco, uses Central time. Bahía de Banderas, the Nayarit municipality right across the river, keeps the same Central time so that it stays in step with Puerto Vallarta. Most of the rest of Nayarit, including the Jaltemba Bay area, has used Mountain time (sometimes called Pacific time in Mexico), an hour behind.

In practice that means the clock may change somewhere along the drive rather than at the river. Phones usually update from the cell network, but signal can drop in the hills, and towers near the boundary sometimes give the wrong zone. Mexico has also changed its time rules in recent years. Confirm check-in times, tour pickups and bus departures with your host or operator, and say which time you mean.

Why daylight helps

Curves and hills

The stretch through the Sierra de Vallejo has narrow, winding sections with limited visibility and no street lighting. At night, especially if you do not know the road, it is far more tiring.

During the summer rainy season, heavy storms can leave water, mud or fallen debris on the road. Daylight gives you time to spot obstacles and slow down.

Topes and animals

Speed bumps, called topes, are everywhere in Mexico: at the edges of villages, near schools and at checkpoints. Some are painted and signed. Others are unmarked humps that blend into the asphalt, and hitting one at speed can damage a car.

Animals are the other reason to arrive in daylight. Dogs, cattle and horses sometimes wander onto the road in rural stretches.

On the road

The drive gives a good first look at everyday life on the coast. Small towns appear along the highway with fruit stalls, taco stands and corner shops.

Traffic slows through towns where topes force a near stop, and trucks build queues on the climbs. Be patient and pass only where it is legal and you can see well ahead. Never overtake across double solid lines or on blind curves.

Fill up before the hills rather than counting on a station along the way, and carry some cash in pesos for fruit stands, small shops and any tolls if your route uses a toll road.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Puerto Vallarta airport to La Peñita?

Allow somewhere around an hour and a half, and more by bus or in heavy traffic. Trucks on the hills, speed bumps through villages and road works can all add time.

Is there a time difference between Puerto Vallarta and La Peñita?

There can be. Puerto Vallarta and Nayarit's Bahía de Banderas municipality use Central time, while most of the rest of Nayarit, including La Peñita, has run an hour behind. Check your phone and confirm with your host.

Can I take a public bus from the airport?

Yes. Many travelers cross the pedestrian bridge outside the terminal to the highway and catch a northbound bus. Ask the driver whether it stops at La Peñita, and expect to pay in cash.

Is it better to drive in daylight?

Yes. The highway has hilly, winding sections without lighting, and speed bumps and animals on the road are much easier to see during the day.