Puerto Vallarta cruise port

Cobblestones, a sunset Malecón and jungle beaches you can only reach by boat.

Puerto Vallarta is the Mexican Riviera’s most complete port: ships dock at the Marina Vallarta maritime terminal, three walk-off piers about 3 miles north of the old town, with a Walmart across the street and taxis at the gate for about $7 to the Malecón. Most cruisers either wander the Malecón and the Zona Romántica on their own or sail to Las Caletas, the private jungle cove across the bay. SmartCruiser lists every cruise that calls at Puerto Vallarta from every line, priced with taxes and fees included, with the sailings that carry SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit or instant savings at the top.

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DockedMarina terminal, 3 piers, walk-off
3 miles to towntaxi about $7, bus about 50 cents
Nov to Aprdry season, 80 to 85F, no humidity
All inevery price includes taxes and fees
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Three ways to do Puerto Vallarta

Old town on your own, a boat to a hidden beach, or an adventure in the Sierra Madre; each button filters the list of sailings below.

Town on your own

Malecón, cathedral and the Zona Romántica

  • Taxi from the gate to the Malecón for about $7, or the Centro city bus from in front of Walmart for about 50 cents
  • Walk the mile of bronze sculptures, climb to the crown of Our Lady of Guadalupe, cross the Río Cuale to Los Muertos pier and its beach bars
  • Taxis back from Los Muertos run about $8 to $10; leave 45 minutes

Best for: couples, foodies, art lovers, repeat visitors

Boat day

Las Caletas or the Marietas Islands

  • Las Caletas: a 45 minute catamaran ride to John Huston’s old cove with an open bar, buffet, kayaks, snorkeling and hammocks, about $150 to $180 through the ship
  • Marietas Islands: snorkeling and boobies at the hidden beach for about $90 to $120, weather and permit dependent
  • Both leave from the marina beside the ship, so no taxi needed

Best for: families, first-timers, anyone who wants the whole day handled

Adventure

Zip lines, mules and tequila in the Sierra Madre

  • Canopy River and Los Veranos run 8 to 10 zip lines over the Río Cuale canyon, about $90 to $120 with transport and lunch
  • The Jorullo suspension bridge walk and a tequila tasting are usually bundled in
  • Count on a 5 hour outing, so book it on calls of 9 hours or more

Best for: teens, active couples, groups

Live from the cruise lines

Puerto Vallarta cruises: SmartCruiser picks first

Every cruise that calls at Puerto Vallarta from every line, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. The picks at the top are sailings where booking with SmartCruiser gets you something extra: instant savings or bonus onboard credit. Below them, every other sailing that stops here, with full sorting by home port, line, month, length and price.

SmartCruiser picks

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Every cruise that calls at Puerto Vallarta

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Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. SmartCruiser instant savings and bonus onboard credit are provided by SmartCruiser on top of the cruise line’s price and are not available when booking direct; amounts are per stateroom, vary by stateroom category and are shown for the lowest category offered. Special SmartCruiser rates are pricing SmartCruiser holds on that sailing for its clients, with extra onboard credit; you book your own stateroom and travel on your own. Senior fares apply to guests 55 and over; resident fares need proof of residency in a listed state or province at check-in; police and fire fares apply to active or retired police, fire and EMT personnel with ID. Qualifier-fare savings are measured against the best fare the cruise line offers the general public for the same stateroom category on the day the list was pulled, updated weekly.

In port

Things to do in Puerto Vallarta

The town rewards walkers and the bay rewards boats; most calls are long enough for one of each.

The MalecónA mile of oceanfront promenade from the Hotel Rosita to the old lighthouse, lined with bronze sculptures, sand artists and the Los Arcos amphitheater. Free, 90 minutes, taxi about $7 from the port.
Zona Romántica and Los Muertos pierCross the Río Cuale island market to the cobbled old town: cafes, galleries, the modern Los Muertos pier and a beach where a lounger costs the price of a drink. Allow 2 to 3 hours.
Our Lady of Guadalupe churchThe crown-topped parish church two blocks off the Malecón, the town’s symbol, open to visitors between masses. Free; the plaza outside is where the bus and taxi stands are.
Las Caletas beach hideawayVallarta Adventures’ private cove on the south shore, reached only by boat from the marina: buffet, open bar, snorkeling, kayaks, a spa and hammocks under the palms. About $150 to $180 per adult through the cruise lines, 6 to 7 hours.
Marietas IslandsA protected island group across Banderas Bay with blue-footed boobies, snorkeling and, when permits allow, the hidden beach inside a collapsed crater. Catamaran tours about $90 to $120, 5 to 6 hours.
Canopy zip linesCanopy River and Los Veranos run 8 to 10 lines through the jungle canyons south and east of town with mule rides, the Jorullo bridge and tequila tastings; about $90 to $120, 4 to 5 hours with transport from the port.
Yelapa and the south shore by water taxiPublic water taxis from Los Muertos pier run to the car-free village of Yelapa, with a waterfall walk and pie ladies on the beach, about 45 minutes each way for about $25 round trip. Only on long calls.
Tacos and tequila tastingStreet taco tours in the Zona Romántica and old town run about $60 to $80 for 3 hours; the tequila bars on the Malecón pour tastings for a few dollars. Pesos get better prices than dollars here.
Timing

When to go

Puerto Vallarta is tropical: dry and perfect from November to May, hot, humid and rainy from June to October, with the Pacific hurricane season peaking August to October.

November to FebruaryHighs 80 to 85F, lows in the 60s, no rain, humpback whales in the bay from December. Peak season and peak fares over the holidays.
March to MayHighs 85 to 90F, still dry, the sea warming to the high 70s; spring break crowds in March, quiet and good value in May.
June to OctoberHighs around 90F with heavy humidity, afternoon downpours most days from July to September, and hurricane season; ships still call weekly and fares are lowest.
Good to know

Puerto Vallarta questions we answer every day

Where do cruise ships dock in Puerto Vallarta, and how far is town?

At the Marina Vallarta maritime terminal, three walk-off piers about 3 miles north of the Malecón and old town. The air-conditioned terminal has shops and taxi stands; Walmart and Sam’s Club are across the street. A fourth berth exists but is too small for most ships.

How do I get downtown and what does it cost?

Yellow taxis outside the port gate charge about $7 (80 to 100 pesos) to the Malecón and about $10 to the Zona Romántica; the federal-zone cabs inside the gate cost a few dollars more. The city bus marked Centro from in front of Walmart is about 10 pesos. Uber works from town back to the gate. Agree on taxi fares before you get in; there are no meters.

Do I need pesos, and what time is it?

Dollars are accepted in tourist areas but pesos get better prices at taco stands, buses and markets; ATMs are in the terminal and Walmart. Puerto Vallarta keeps Central Standard Time all year, two hours ahead of California in winter and one in summer; ships usually stay on ship time, so go by the daily program. Most US cell plans include Mexico.

Is Puerto Vallarta safe for cruise passengers?

The tourist zones, the Malecón and the Zona Romántica are busy, policed and welcoming; cruise lines have called here for 50 years. The US State Department asks visitors to Jalisco to reconsider travel outside the tourist areas, so stay in them, use licensed taxis or ship tours, and skip the hills behind town.

What is the one excursion to book?

Las Caletas. It is the best beach day on the Mexican Riviera and the boat leaves from beside the ship. Book it through the cruise line; it sells out and the ship’s version is timed to all-aboard.

Do I need a passport?

On a round trip from a US port, US citizens may sail with a government photo ID plus an original birth certificate, but we strongly recommend a passport: if you miss the ship you cannot fly home from Puerto Vallarta without one. Non-US citizens need to check Mexico’s entry rules.

Are taxes and fees included in the prices here?

Yes. Every fare on this page includes the cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses. Flights, hotels, shore excursions and gratuities are extra.

Talk to a Puerto Vallarta cruise specialist

We know which Mexican Riviera sailings give you the longest day in Puerto Vallarta and which ones carry SmartCruiser bonus onboard credit. Monday to Thursday 9 to 6, Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10 to 6 ET.

1-800-444-1560