Puerto Vallarta by Bus

Okay, this stuff isn’t rocket science, but it can still be a bit confusing trying to navigate the various modes of transportation in a new locale. For example, there are lots of vacation rentals in Puerto Vallarta; can you tell the taxi driver how to find the one you’re staying in? Maybe your house’s name will be sufficient, but it’s more likely that you’ll need an address, or at least cross streets. This suggests you might want to walk around the block once you have unpacked – and take notes.

What about the bus system? Spanish is the official language in Mexico, and you can expect everything to be identified in Spanish, so how will you know which bus will take you to the airport or the marina? Fortunately, the words are pretty self-explanatory – aeropuerto and marina. It could only be easier if they were in your native language.

Finding a bus that will take you south of the Rio Cuale, to the area where many vacation rentals in Puerto Vallarta are located, is a bit less intuitive, but still fairly simple. Look for one marked Olas Altas; it should take you as far as Los Muertos beach. And of course, separate buses will deliver you farther north to the surfing at Sayulita and south toward the quiet beaches around Mismaloya.

Puerto Vallarta Beach Clubs

Mention the phrase “beach club” to your buddies, and you can expect members of the “flip-flops and T-shirt” movement to hold up their hands and back away. Fear and doubt run through their minds: this probably means putting on a collared shirt; two words - “membership dues”; is this a club or is it a gang? You can rest easy when you’re talking about beach clubs near your Mexican vacation villa rental – it’s a no-pressure proposition.

For the price of a nice meal (the expensive end) or a few pesos (the less costly alternative), a number of so-called beach clubs will rent you a comfortable chair on Los Muertos beach, frequently in the shade of an umbrella. The deal might even include a beach towel, in case you left yours back at the Mexican vacation villa rental. And your gentle hosts will gladly sell you iced beverages all day long.
Relax at one of these popular spots:

Beach House Restaurant and Bar – as long as you buy a minimum amount of food and beverages, you can stay all day in the shade of their umbrellas. And they even take reservations.

El Dorado Restaurant – you get a chair, table and umbrella for one low price, and that includes a beverage, as well.