Though Puerto Vallarta has grown immensely, you can still get around easily. You may opt to rent a car. The main road, which parallels the sea, runs south through town from Nueva Vallarta to the north (in the state of Nayarit), changing names several times along the way. The multilane section going north to the airport is called Búlevar Francisco Medina Ascencio, more commonly known as Carretera Aeropuerto (Airport Highway). The ten-block cobbled section along the malecón is Paseo Díaz Odraz, and finally, as it passes through town, the road is called Avenida Morelos. A new libramiento (bypass) helps you avoid the congested city traffic if you're driving. But for forty cents you can hop on a bus to take you anywhere along this route. To go north, look for buses marked “Ixtapa.” To go south, look for those marked “Mismaloya.”

Taxis are plentiful, but you'll pay more in Puerto Vallarta because of the longer distances, as fares are calculated by zones. It can cost as much as $10 to ride from your hotel to town. Though hotels post fares, always ask before getting into a cab.