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Air Travel

The main gateway to the country, and where many PV-bound travelers change planes, is Mexico City's large, modern Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez, infamous for pickpocketing, petty crime, and taxi scams; be careful with your possessions. Stopovers are usually lengthy, so use the time to exchange money for your ground transportation, or to buy last-minute gifts (although at high prices) on your way out of the country.

Puerto Vallarta's international airport is tiny by comparison and usually has just a few flights departing at a time. Aeropuerto Internacional Gustavo Díaz Ordáz is 7 1/2 km (4 1/2 mi) north of downtown Puerto Vallarta.

Major international carriers fly to Mexico City; from there you can fly to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, or Manzanillo (to get to the Costalegre, south of PV).

Many airlines require that you reconfirm 48 hours ahead of the departure time for flights within Mexico.

From the U.S.

There are nonstop and direct flights from a few U.S. cities. Flights with stopovers in Mexico City tend to take the entire day. If you plan to include Guadalajara in your itinerary, consider an open-jaw flight to Puerto Vallarta with the return from Guadalajara (or vice versa). There's almost no difference in price, especially when factoring in bus fare. Things change, but generally there are the greatest number of flights from Denver and Los Angeles, and sometimes San Francisco; www.latindiscountair.com, a subsidiary of cheapflights.com, quotes rates to Puerto Vallarta from different cities and on different airlines.

Nonstop flights are available from Los Angeles (Alaska Air, America West, AeroCalifornia) San Francisco (United), Seattle (Alaska Air), Phoenix (US Airways, AeroCalifornia, America West), Tucson (AeroCalifornia), Houston (Continental), Chicago (American), Dallas (American), St. Louis (American [seasonal), Denver (Frontier Air, United), and Kansas City (Frontier Air).

You can fly to Manzanillo, just south of the Costalegre, via many airlines with a stop in Mexico City. AeroCalifornia has direct flights to Guadalajara and Manzanillo from Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tucson.

Flying times are about 2 hours 45 minutes from Houston, 3 hours from Los Angeles, 3 1/2 hours from Denver, 4 hours from Chicago, and 8 hours from New York.

From Canada

Air Canada has nonstop flights from Toronto, and connecting flights (via Toronto) from all major cities. The nonstop flight is 4 1/2 hours. These flights are expensive, however, so you may save significant dollars by either flying to a U.S. city and connecting with a U.S. or Mexican carrier or taking a charter flight with Air Transat or Skyservice.

From the U.K.

Consult a travel agent, or fly to Mexico City or to the U.S. and change planes there. Flight times are usually at least 15 hours with a layover.

From Australia or New Zealand

Consult a travel agent, who will probably send you first to Los Angeles, and then on to PV. Flying times vary widely, depending on the number of connections and the route, but the shortest travel time would be about 20 hours.

From Elsewhere in Mexico

The majority of national flights are via Mexico City. AeroCalafia flies 13-person Cessnas between Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos with a stop in Mazatlán. It's easier and sometimes cheaper to buy tickets at travel agencies in Mexico. The flight from Mexico City to PV is about 1 1/2 hours.

For flights within Mexico originating at Benito Juárez (Mexico City), arrive 1 1/2 hours before the scheduled departure time; for flights originating at small airports, arrive 45 minutes before departure. You may need to arrive earlier if you're flying during peak air-traffic times, or during peak seasons.

Some airlines' toll-free numbers have an 001800 prefix -- two zeroes before the "1" -- rather than 01800, like most Mexican toll-free numbers. This is entirely correct: what it means is that your call is actually being routed to the United States and will be charged as an international call if you're calling from Mexico.

Major Airlines

Aero California (800/237-6225 in U.S.; 01800/685-5500 in Mexico; 322/209-0643 in PV). AeroCalafia (322/209-0378 in PV). Aeroméxico (800/237-6639 in U.S. and Canada; 01800/021-4010 in Mexico; 322/221-1204 in PV. www.aeromexico.com). Air Canada (800/361-5373 in Canada; 322/221-1212 in PV. www.aircanada.com). Alaska Airlines (800/252-7522 in U.S. and Canada; 001800/252-7522 in Mexico; 322/221-2610 in PV. www.alaskaair.com). America West (800/235-9292 in U.S.; 001800/235-9292 in Mexico; 322/221-1333 in PV. www.americawest.com). American (800/433-7300 in U.S. and Canada; 01800/433-7300 in Mexico; 322/221-1799 in PV. www.aa.com). British Airways (0845/773-3377 in the U.K. www.britishairways.com). Continental (800/523-3273 in U.S. and Canada; 01800/900-5000 in Mexico; 322/221-2212 in PV. www.continental.com). Frontier (800/432-1359 in U.S.). Mexicana (800/531-7921 in U.S.; 866/281-3049 in Canada; 01800/502-2000 in Mexico; 322/224-8900 in PV. www.mexicana.com). Northwest (800/225-2525 in U.S. and Canada; 01800/830-7400 in Mexico; 322/221-1655 in PV. www.nwa.com). United (800/864-8331 in U.S. and Canada; 01800/003-0777 in Mexico; 322/221-3264 in PV. www.united.com).

Charter Airlines

Air Transat (877/872-6728 or 514/636-3630. www.airtransat.ca). Skyservice Airlines (416/679-8330; 888/571-0094 in Canada. www.skyserviceairlines.com).

Domestic (Mexican) Airlines

AeroCalafia (322/209-0378 in PV). Aviacsa (01800/711-6732; 55/482-8280 in Mexico City. www.aviacsa.com). Azteca (01800/229-8322; 322/221-2584 in PV). Mexicana (01800/502-2000; 55/5448-0990 in Mexico City; 322/224-8900; 322/221-1266 in PV).

Ground Transportation

Vans provide transportation from the airport to PV hotels; there's a zone system with different prices for the Zona Hotelera Sur, downtown PV, and so on. Upon leaving the luggage collection area, vendors shout for your attention. It's a confusing scene. Purchase the taxi vouchers sold at stands inside or just outside the terminal, but make sure to avoid the timeshare vendors which trap you in their vans for a high-pressure sales pitch en route to your hotel. Before you purchase your ticket, look for a taxi-zone map (it should be posted on or by the ticket stand) and make sure your taxi ticket is properly zoned; if you need a ticket only to Zone 3, don't pay for a ticket to Zone 4 or 5. Don't leave your luggage unattended while making transportation arrangements. Taxis or vans to the Costalegre resorts between PV and Manzanillo are generally arranged through the resort. If not, taxis charge about $19 (200 pesos) an hour -- more if you're traveling beyond Jalisco State lines.

Airport Information

Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (MEX, Mexico City. 55/5571-3600). Aeropuerto Internacional Gustavo Díaz Ordáz (PVR, Carretera a Tepic, Km 7.5, Zona Aeropuerto. 322/221-1298). Aeropuerto Internacional Playa de Oro (Aeropuerto Internacional de Manzanillo, ZLO, Carretera 200, Km 38, Manzanillo. 314/333-1119).