From the airport
Puerto Vallarta
to Sayulita.
About 40 kilometres, about an hour, and anywhere from three dollars to a hundred depending on which door you walk out of.
Almost everyone arrives through Puerto Vallarta international airport (PVR). Sayulita is roughly an hour north, along the coast road through Bucerías and La Cruz. There are three sensible ways to do it, and one expensive mistake that is very easy to make.
The mistake is the taxi rank inside the terminal. Those are authorised airport taxis with fixed, high fares, and the drivers are perfectly entitled to charge them. What almost nobody tells you is that if you walk out of the terminal, cross the pedestrian bridge over the highway and stand on the other side, you are at a bus stop.
- 1
The local bus
- min
- About 1h 15m
- from
- Around $3 USD
Walk out of the terminal and take the pedestrian bridge over the highway. On the far side, catch a Compostela or Sayulita-bound bus heading north — they run frequently through the day and take cash in pesos. It puts you on the main road at the entrance to Sayulita, five minutes’ walk from the hostel. Bring small notes and keep your bag with you.
- 2
A shared shuttle
- min
- About 1h
- from
- Mid-range, per seat
Several companies run shared vans from the airport to Sayulita and will meet you at arrivals. More expensive than the bus, far cheaper than a private taxi, and the easiest option with a board bag or at two in the morning. Book ahead online — the prices vary enough to be worth ten minutes of comparing.
- 3
A private taxi or transfer
- min
- About 1h
- from
- The expensive one
Straightforward and door to door, and by far the priciest. Worth it if you are three or four people splitting it, arriving in the middle of the night, or simply done with travelling. Agree the fare before you get in, and expect to pay more from inside the terminal than from a pre-booked transfer.
Once you are in town
The bus drops you on the main road at the top of Sayulita. Walk downhill towards the sea and you are in the middle of it within five minutes — the hostel is on Manuel N. Navarrete, a hundred steps from the sand. Reception is open from 8am to midnight, so if you are arriving later than that, message us before you travel. If you get turned around, message us on WhatsApp and somebody will walk out to find you.
Good to know
How much is a taxi from Puerto Vallarta airport to Sayulita?
Considerably more than the alternatives — an authorised airport taxi is the most expensive way to make this trip by a wide margin. Always agree the fare before getting in, and compare it against a pre-booked shuttle, which is usually cheaper for the same door-to-door journey.
Is there a bus from Puerto Vallarta airport to Sayulita?
Yes, and it costs about three dollars. Cross the pedestrian bridge over the highway outside the terminal and catch a northbound bus towards Compostela or Sayulita. It takes a little over an hour.
Can I take an Uber from the airport?
Ride-hailing operates in the Puerto Vallarta area, but picking up inside the airport grounds has long been contested with the local taxi unions, and drivers often ask you to walk off the property. Treat it as a maybe rather than a plan, and have the bus or a booked shuttle as your fallback.
How long does it take to get to Sayulita?
About an hour by car and a little over an hour by bus, traffic through Bucerías depending.
What if I arrive in the middle of the night?
Reception is open from 8am to midnight, so message us on WhatsApp before you travel if you will get in after that. Book a transfer for a late arrival rather than relying on the bus.
While you are here
Your Sayulita story
starts here.
Dorm beds and private cabins, breakfast included.