In Mexico only authorized taxi companies are able to pick up customers at airports. In Puerto Vallarta there are three companies and they all charge almost identical rates. If you wish to find cheaper transportation, it is possible but will require more work on your end. You must decide, at this point in your travels, is it worth it to save ten or twenty dollars. If you want to take an Uber, inDriver, local taxi or bus, you’ll need to walk off of the airport property.
After you clear through immigration and customs, you will be fresh meat for the vendors who try to sell time shares, taxis and tours. I apologize for that. Please ignore all these people and proceed through the gauntlet until you are in the large open air area where families await the return of their loved ones.
If you don’t have Pesos at this point, get some. There are reliable ATM’s just to your right of the people waiting to meet arrivals. You can see the machines in the background of this picture.
On the other side of this large area, adjacent to the glass exit doors, is the kiosks where those three companies sell tickets for the taxi. You’ll need those pesos at this point because they give a disgusting exchange rate for USD or CAD money. Let them know where you are going and they will charge you correctly. Afterwards exit the glass doors to the left and the staff will whisk you away to the correct taxi. If you ordered a larger taxi for a big group, there may be a delay while it drives over from the waiting lot. Mexican taxi drivers do not use GPS so be prepared to help them find your location if it is not a regular stop.
If you plan to take alternative paid transportation you’ll need to walk off the airport grounds. When you exit the big glass exit doors, turn left and walk to the end of the building, approximately 100 meters. Turn left at the end of the building and you will see the bridge and the ramp to get up to it. When you come down on the other side there will be many taxi drivers offering to take you where you’d like to go. If you checked the price on the taxi kiosks in the airport, you’ll have an idea what you want to pay at this point. This entire walk is about 300 meters plus going up and down from the bridge. You can also catch a bus here and hail an Uber or inDriver.
