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From the west coast of the U.S., Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and USAirways offer nonstop flights to PVR. From the east coast, consider the one-stops from Delta, Continental, USAirways, or Northwest. Continental offers nonstops on the eastbound trip from PVR to Newark. Cf. Wikipedia's page on Lic. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR) or this list of airlines serving PVR.

If you plan to spend more time in Puerto Vallarta, we recommend getting a map of the area in advance by mail order from "Mapa Jeff". (We will provide maps of Yelapa, so no need to buy one of those.)

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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 last currency exchange inside the airport. You can change money there or if you have some extra time before the water taxi, you will get slightly 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 $250 MXN/$23USD one way, and the ride will take about 20 minutes. There are unofficial taxis that are slightly cheaper, around $20 USD.

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At Los Muertos, as soon as your cab arrives, you will likely be approached by someone who wants to sell you a water taxi ticket. The offer is probably legitimate, but if you are not comfortable buying a ticket on the street, you can look for the Yelapa office on the left side of the street leading to the pier and buy one there. Until recently, the various water taxi companies did not accept each other's tickets, so it was recommended to buy a one-way ticket to Yelapa to allow yourself a full range of choices for your return trip, but NEW! there is now a new water taxi co-op that includes most of the companies, so you can now buy a round-trip ticket if the schedule suits your needs. Tickets cost around 150 pesos per person one way or 250 pesos round-trip. If you have some time to wait before the next boat, you can ask the desk clerks in the Yelapa office or 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 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and NEW! now 6:00 p.m. as well. 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 immigration and customs, you'll probably want your flight to land by 3:30 or 4:00 p.m. at the latest to make sure to catch the last water taxi of the day. (If you miss the last boat at Los Muertos, there is a 6:30 p.m. boat from Boca de Tomatlan, but it's a longer bus or cab ride and you will have to wade in the water to board the boat.)

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.

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Where you get off the boat depends on where you're staying. Check the accommodations page on yelapa.info for a map, review our overview of locations in Yelapa, or see Jeff's excellent map of Yelapa.

If you're staying in the village (pueblo) or upriver on the south/village side of the river, as most of us are, you will probably disembark at the village pier, also known as the playita pier. If you're staying on the main beach, or anyplace upriver on the north/playa side of the river, you'll probably want to get off 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 on the point, ask to be let off at Playa Isabel (a small patch of sand near Casa Isabel)--again, be advised that beach landings may involve wading and hoisting bags overhead.