So, you might be wondering how to get an Uber from Puerto Vallarta Airport. Well, it’s easy once you know how, but you should be ready ahead of time because Uber isn’t allowed to pick you up directly from the Puerto Vallarta airport. Don’t worry, it’s not that complicated, and we’ll show you step-by-step how to do it. Let’s get to it!
DOWNLOAD THE UBER APP BEFOREHAND
There is free wifi at the Puerto Vallarta airport, but it is only available for 30 minutes, so don’t spend that time looking at funny cat memes and then forget to schedule your ride.
You can also use the Airalo app, which lets you purchase a temporary eSIM mobile data plan when traveling abroad. This is a really easy way to stay connected when traveling abroad, and it’s a great way to make sure you’ll always have access to the internet when you need it. I have checked the current Airalo prices and found that you can get two data plans in Mexico: a 1GB plan for $9.50 or a 3GB plan for $27.
Tip: Whenever you travel abroad, always make sure to use a VPN to encrypt your online activity and hide your data from hackers who often lurk on public wifi networks. Our favorite choice is Surfshark, which is easy to download and an absolute must-have if you want to stay private and secure online.
PUERTO VALLARTA AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION + WARNING ⚠️
What is the Shark Tank, then? Well, as you pass through all of the immigration officers and pick up your bags, you will notice many people trying to wave you down and offer you things on your way towards the exit. They often try to offer you a free ride to your hotel if you listen to their “short” presentation. Do not accept this offer! Just smile and keep on going. Or don’t smile, but the best thing to do is still to keep on going. They’re trying to sell you a timeshare, so the best thing to do is put your horse blinders on and walk right past them.
TIP: Personally, I don't like to ignore people, so what we did to avoid being bothered by anyone was to follow a large group of people who looked as if they knew where they were going. It turned out that they were actually heading straight to the bus station and the Uber pick-up location! The drivers seemed to know that these people weren't even worth their time, so it appears that all you have to do is walk as if you know where you are going and they'll leave you alone.
GETTING AN UBER FROM THE PUERTO VALLARTA AIRPORT
DIRECTIONS: The first thing you will do after you walk outside the airport is turn left, pass all of the divers trying to offer you the much more expensive ride, and turn left again after you reach the end of the building. Following that, you will notice a pedestrian bridge that goes over the road; you want to cross that bridge, and once you are on the other side and see the bus stop, that is where your Uber will pick you up from. Well, right behind the bus stop.
Before you get picked up, your driver will most likely give you a call to coordinate the correct pickup location. It is usually behind this bus stop, which you can see in the picture below. All you have to do is walk a little further, and that’s where they’ll stop and pick you up to take you to your destination.
Tip: If you don't have an international data plan, you can use the Airalo app to purchase international data or the airport's 30 minutes of free wifi to call Uber. From there, it should take you about 5 minutes to get to the Uber pick-up location.
If that ever happens to you, I would strongly suggest that you don’t take this offer because you have no way of knowing if it is genuine and there are a lot of things that could go wrong. It’s definitely not worth it for a $1 savings, and unless you know and trust the driver, you should always use Uber through the app.
HOW MUCH DOES UBER COST IN PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO? 🇲🇽
We’ve decided to use Uber over a bus while exploring Puerto Vallarta because we love to get around on our own schedule, the prices are affordable, and it’s easy and comfortable to get around.
TIP: One time, we were in a hurry and Uber wasn't available for a long time due to the rush hours, so we decided to take a taxi, which, to our surprise, turned out to be much cheaper than Uber at that time. There are times when Uber prices go up (it is called "surge pricing"—meaning that the prices are higher during the rush hours). If you want to make sure you get the best price possible, you should check the Uber app often to see what the standard rate should be for a specific location.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT TO GET PICKED UP?
Often, your best bet may be to take a taxi back, which could end up costing a lot more than you would like to pay. The taxi drivers are well aware that there are no cheaper options available, so they will charge you higher prices to take you to your destination. You can always go with the cheapest option and take a bus, which should cost around 10-25 pesos.
A FEW IMPORTANT TIPS:
#1 We met a wonderful driver in Puerto Vallarta who was always available to pick us up from places where it was nearly impossible to get a ride back. If you're traveling to Puerto Vallarta and would like to know how to get in touch with our amazing driver, you can send us a message via our Instagram (@twosolesabroad), and we'll be happy to share his contact information.
#2 If you are going to visit Sayulita City, make sure to note that Uber does not operate there, so while getting to Sayulita is sure easy, getting back may be a bit challenging and definitely pricey if you do not have transportation figured out beforehand. Once again, we're happy to share our amazing Puerto Vallarta driver's contact information.
#3 If you are going to explore the Jorullo Bridge on your own, getting an Uber back is close to impossible. There are tours that leave back to the city quite often, so if they have some spots available, they may be able to help you out and take you back to the city.
#4 Don't worry too much. Even though it might seem challenging, it really isn't. We've never really had any trouble getting back from anywhere, and there are always a lot of friendly locals who will help you out if needed. No one will leave you stranded anywhere.
IS UBER CHEAPER THAN A TAXI IN MEXICO?
WHAT IS THE INDRIVER APP?
IS LYFT AVAILABLE IN PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO? 🇲🇽
No, Lyft is not available in Puerto Vallarta.
CAN UBER DROPP OFF AT THE PUERTO VALLARTA AIRPORT?
3 comments
I would love to have your PV driver information we are going to be there Sunday April 2 for 1 month so I could definitely use a trusted driver.
Hi Corina! Thanks for your comment! Just shoot us a message on Instagram at @twosolesabroad or via our contact page and we will share it right away. For privacy reasons, we prefer not to share our driver personal information publicly. Thanks 💕
Would like to have your driver’s info. I do not have an Instagram account. Please use my email. Thx.