Vallarta To Explore

Long pants & a long sleeve shirt for cooler nights
Windbreaker or sweatshirt for the boat ride to Yelapa
A small flashlight to maneuver at night or in a mine
Zip lock bags for wet bathing suits & dirty clothing
Don’t overpack! Bring enough clothing to last a week
Remember all the Colonial Towns have laundry service!
Three-ounce containers for all carry-on liquids

After going through customs, speak to salespeople only if you want to buy a condo.
Put your passport, extra cash, and tourist card in the safety deposit box at your hotel.
Best exchange rate is at the local ATM.
Avoid taking too much sun the first two days — best times are 8–11 am and 2–6 pm, not midday.
Eating at taco and fruit stands? We’ve never experienced Montezuma’s Revenge.
If you have an AT&T cell phone, they provide free unlimited calling to and from Mexico.
Nicknames are very common in Mexico; ask if they have one: “Tiene un apodo?”
Having the same name as someone, like “Mary & Maria,” is called tocaya; for men, “John & Juan” is tocayo.
When crossing any street, look both ways, even on one-way streets.
Have a good meal before any long bus or boat trip to prevent motion sickness.
When traveling by car or bus, take a roll of toilet paper—you never know when you might need it.

🚨 To avoid scams, always book tours and drivers through a trusted platform like ours.

If you want the check, just say “La cuenta, por favor.”
Usually, they only bring you the check when you ask for it.
If you want to leave a tip, it’s best to leave cash in PESOS, not US dollars.
If you like Cabernet Sauvignon, try RESERVADO 2019 from Chile.
If you’d like some lemon for your seafood, ask for “limón” pronounced “Leemon,” please—it will be a lime, not the yellow lemon you see back home.
If you buy beans in bulk to cook yourself, chew slowly—occasionally, you might find a stone.

If you are a light sleeper, ask for a quiet room away from the street and families.
In Mexico and other Latin countries, small hotels are called Posadas.
When you see netting above the bed, use it—it’s not just for decoration.
If you’re traveling independently, pay one day at a time in case you get inspired to move on.
If your pillow is too hard or soft, roll up a towel and put it in the pillowcase to adjust height and softness as you like.

Always dress comfortably for the weather.
Light layers work best for changes from day to night.
Bring swimwear and quick-dry clothes if you plan to visit beaches or waterfalls.

Always settle on the price before getting in—ask a local or front desk what it costs.
Use small bills to pay. NEVER a $500 peso bill.
If the driver offers to wait or return for you, make sure you settle on the price.
Most cab drivers speak a little English, so asking their name, nickname (apodo), and where they’re from shows your interest in them and Mexico.
Drivers are very accommodating and will gladly adjust the music or A/C.
Official taxis (sedans) are always yellow and only take up to four passengers—it’s the law.
If you’re a group of five or more, they’ll call for a larger taxi or van taxi.

🚖 For guaranteed safe rides, use our trusted private drivers.

When renting a car, Mexican insurance is required.
The flashing green light appears just before the red light comes on.
To make a left turn on the road from Old Puerto Vallarta to the airport, go to the right lane and wait for the green left turn signal.
When you see the word “Tope” on a road sign, it indicates a speed bump ahead.
Never drive at night; animals love to cross roads after dark.
If you must drive at night, follow a car with brake lights on to get advance warning of upcoming obstacles and “Topes,” the silent police bumps in the road.
When traveling by car or bus, take a roll of toilet paper—you never know when you might need it.

🚙 Renting a car? We recommend booking with reliable providers only.

ATM Public Buses:
Depart to San Sebastian, Mascota, and Talpa from a small bus terminal on Calle Lucerna #128, near Plaza Las Glorias.
They leave Vallarta at 6:30 am, 9:00 am, 2:40 pm, 4:30 pm, and 6:30 pm.
Vallarta phone: 322-222-4816 (operators speak only Spanish).
To La Estancia: 1.5 hours for $100 pesos (nearest stop to San Sebastian, then taxi for $120 pesos about 5 miles or hitch a ride).
To Mascota: $165 pesos, 2.45 hours.
To Talpa: $190 pesos, 3.5 hours.
One-way fares and travel times.

⚠️ We only recommend this for experienced travelers with more than one week of vacation time, as we’ve had clients get confused and lost, and it’s not pleasant to have to pick them up late at night from far away.

LANUTRAN VAN Company:
Another way to/from San Sebastian, Mascota, or Talpa.
They use 10-14 passenger vans. The 6 am driver, Adan, speaks English and can arrange private charters (call 322-244-0416).
San Sebastian (nearest stop is La Estancia) for $120 pesos in 1.15 hours, then taxi $120 pesos or hitch a ride.
Mascota for $180 pesos in 2.15 hours, dropped off in main plaza.
Talpa for $200 pesos in 3.15 hours, drops off across from San Rafael Church; taxi $40 pesos to town.
Lanutran Vans leave Puerto Vallarta to Talpa at 6 am and 2 pm.
Leave Talpa to Puerto Vallarta at 6 am and 12:30 pm.
Call 322-244-0416 to reserve.
Pickup location in Puerto Vallarta: entrance to SAM’S CLUB near Cruise Ship Terminal.

⚠️ We recommend booking with us for a safe and easy reservation.

Public Buses:
Depart to San Pancho, Punta de Mita, Sayulita, and San Juan from the bus stop at HSBC Bank, across from the Coppel Store.
Buses run every half hour from 7 am to 8 pm, taking 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for $22 to $62 pesos depending on destination.
Return buses to Puerto Vallarta run until about 9 pm.
City buses in Puerto Vallarta cost $10 pesos per person (use $10 peso coin).
Front row seats marked in yellow are reserved for people over 60.
For scenic coastline views, sit on the right side facing forward when going south, and on the left side when going north.
Use the bathroom before boarding and have a good meal to prevent motion sickness.
Bus drivers provide receipts as proof of travel in case of accidents; insurance is included.

You can’t choose who is going to stop, but you can choose not to get in.
The smell of alcohol is a clue.
The only danger we’ve encountered in 10 years of hitching was climbing into the back of pickups.
Hitchhiking as a couple works best.
Hitch from a place where it’s safe for the driver to pull over — obvious and safe.
Take your sunglasses off and make eye contact.
Smile even if they pass you by.
People often turn around to pick us up.
When asked “Where are you going?” say “Wherever you are going” or name your destination town.
This guarantees a ride to that town and possibly further depending on the driver.
The best Spanish speaker should sit next to the driver to converse.
It’s common to get rides from women and families.

Every town has drop-off laundry services charging by load or weight.
Average cost: $3 to $4 US for washing, drying, and folding.
Laundry usually ready the same day if delivered before noon.
Know days and hours of operation to avoid inconvenience.
If sensitive to chemicals, request organic soap or bring your own.

If traveling to San Sebastian, Mascota, or Talpa:
Just before crossing the long Main Bridge before La Estancia, stop at Panadería Carmen’s Bakery.
Their relaxed garden atmosphere is just a few feet from a spectacular bridge.
Open 7 am – 3 pm weekdays (closed Tuesdays). Fridays-Sundays 6 am – noon.
For groups, call ahead to order muffins as they often sell out.
Ask for Carmen or Jesus at 322-132-0620.

• • Avoid buying from street vendors offering deals that are too good to be true ❌
• • Always confirm the tour name and provider ✅
• • If in doubt, write to us — we will gladly help you 💬 with your easy and safe booking