getting to Yelapa

How to get to Yelapa from wherever you are:

1. Fly to Puerto Vallarta (PVR), aiming to arrive by 2:30 or 3:00 p.m. local (Central) time so you’ll be able to catch one of the afternoon water taxis to Yelapa. From the west coast of the U.S., Alaska Airlines is a good choice for nonstop flights. From the east coast, Continental offers the best service, including nonstops from Newark (EWR). Cf. Wikipedia’s page on Lic. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) or this list of airlines serving PVR.
2. As you emerge from the “red light/green light” customs system, pass through the crowded hall of sign-holding people and directly in front of you inside the front corner of the airport will be the currency exchange. You can change money there or look for better rates near the pier. Right next to it in the front of the airport is the sitio (taxi) booth. Taxi prices are standardized in Mexico, so no need to bargain-hunt, just buy a ticket to Los Muertos pier. Cost will be about 230 pesos/$23 one way, and the ride will take about 20 minutes.
3. At Los Muertos, look for the water taxi booth right near the pier–or more likely, you will be approached by water taxi salespeople as soon as your cab arrives. There are different water taxi companies serving Yelapa, and they may not accept each other’s tickets, so buy a ONE-WAY ticket to Yelapa to allow yourself a full range of choices for your return trip. Tickets cost around 120 pesos/$12 per person one way. If you have some time to wait before the next boat, you can ask the desk clerks at the hotel near the pier to watch your bags while you walk around or have a beverage by the beach unencumbered. Be sure to exchange currency before you get on the water taxi.

   Check the schedule on yelapa.info and plan accordingly. At present, departure times from Los Muertos to Yelapa are 11:00 a.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m.–but this may change before February 2010. Allowing 15-20 minutes for the taxi from PVR, 5-10 minutes for currency exchange and taxi ticket purchases, 15-20 minutes for baggage claim, and 20-30 (?) minutes to go through customs, you’ll probably want your flight to land by 3:00 or 3:30 at the latest to make sure to catch the last water taxi of the day.

   After the hectic scene in Puerto Vallarta, the water taxi is much more peaceful and pleasant, with sunset colors, occasional spouting whales or dolphins playing, and other lovely sights.

4. Where you get off the boat depends on where you’re staying. Check the accommodations page on yelapa.info for a map, or see Jeff’s map of Yelapa. If you’re staying at the Hotel Lagunita, any other rental on the main beach, or anyplace upriver on the north/playa side of the river , you’ll probably want to disembark at the Hotel Lagunita pier (or if you’re adventurous and your luggage is easy to hoist overhead while wading in the surf, you can jump off at the beach). If you’re staying in the village (pueblo) or upriver on the south/village side of the river, you may want to ask if you can disembark at the village pier. If you’re staying on the point, ask about a dropoff closer to the point itself.
5. Once you’re in Yelapa, relax! You don’t have to worry about any more transportation until your water taxi back to Puerto Vallarta (see schedule on yelapa.info). Get settled and enjoy!

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