Helpful Advice
Here is some helpful advice, from someone who made 13 trips to Puerto Vallarta then moved here over two years ago to live full time. I was once in your shoes and wished someone gave me the straight scoop before my first or second trip.
Upon Landing
The first thing you will notice when you enter the customs area is a “stop light”. The customs agents will have you push the button. If you get the green light, you leave.
If you push the red light, you get your luggage searched. It is a pretty random process, and the search is quick and nothing to worry about. Just remember these two things: Drugs and guns = MAJOR trouble and jail time. Not that I think anyone will have a gun in their suitcase or a bag of drugs, but you just never know. This also includes a bullet. A bullet will land you in jail. If you are a hunter, you may want to thoroughly check your suitcase pockets.
After you push the light, you enter a room with a bunch of friendly smiling faces. These are time share representatives. They may sound like they are you taxi driver, your concierge or your tour rep, but no, they are there to get you to tour their hotel. If you do not want a three or four hour timeshare presentation, walk out the doors and go get a taxi or tour transportation.
If you want a taxi, go to one of the booths marked TAXI and buy the ticket there. This way you are guaranteed the correct price for the zone you are going to.
Pesos
The currency of Mexico is the peso. The best money to use for all purchases is the peso. US dollars are widely taken at bars, restaurants, shops and taxis, but you will then be at the mercy of their exchange rate which is often times ten pesos to the dollar, where as at a bank or casa de cambio the exchange rate is now over 11 pesos to the US Dollar. Over eight pesos for the Canadian Dollar (Taxis, bars, shops and restaurants do not take CDN money for the most part)
So in essence, exchange your money, or use an ATM card at one of the many ATM machines which are in English and in Spanish.
All change from USD dollars is given in pesos! Foreign coin is not accepted anywhere and has ZERO value.
Safety
Vallarta is extremely safe. I feel it is much safer than most large US cities. Of course, if you do something silly like get stinking drunk and flash around a lot of money, you MAY have someone take your money, but that is highly unlikely if you keep a clear head and don’t do anything that makes you an easy target.
Taxis do not take you off the beaten path to rob you, and the cops do not routinely come after someone for a bribe. If you heard horror stories from “someone who heard from someone else that…” take it with a grain of salt. They probably have never been here and they just like to spread some urban legends or possibly are just jealous you are going to Puerto Vallarta and they are not.
I remember somewhere around my eighth or ninth trip to Vallarta, a new co-worker heard I was going to Vallarta on vacation and went on to tell me how people get robbed, kidnapped and a bunch of other horrific tid-bits. When I went on to tell her that I traveled to Vallarta many times and was quite familiar with the area and never had an issue let alone heard of anyone kidnapped, she quickly quieted down.
On the other hand, the people who do get into trouble are usually people looking for drugs. They either approach someone who is undercover, or they get mixed up with someone who is not all that upstanding. Once again, drugs are not legal here and can and will get you into trouble. So, play it safe unless you want to see what the inside of cell block C in Las Juntas looks like. Oh, and the law here is Napoleonic law, “Guilty until you prove yourself innocent”. Have a good lawyer.
Water, Ice and other stuff
Yes, the bottled water is fine! It is inexpensive and available everywhere. And while the city water in Vallarta is deemed potable and has been for nine years, most people still drink bottled water as you never know how good the pipes are. A garrafon of water (five gallons) is 15-17 pesos delivered, so all hotels supply bottled water if they do not have a water filtration system.
The ice at all the hotels, bars, restaurants and such is purified ice…100% safe! Really! The ice is made with purified water; it is delivered multiple times a day by truck. It is much less expensive for these places to buy ice than to consider making it themselves.
So, do not pack water, do not worry about drinking bottled water, or having ice. If you get sick it very well may be you did not drink enough water and you are dehydrated.
Crossing the Street
Yes I know Vallarta is beautiful, and yes I know you may not know exactly where you are and have your nose in a map…but word to the wise, watch where you are walking and standing!
Vallarta has different driving laws than they do in the States and Canada. In fact, you could say “what laws”?….that in itself should tell you that pedestrians do not have the right of way, even in a cross walk.
So, when you are walking and want to cross, this includes at stop signs and at stop lights…before you cross you need to make eye contact with the driver, or have the driver motion you to cross, or just simply wait for it to be clear for you to cross.
If you see a bus coming, WAIT! We have about 10 or more deaths from people getting hit by buses every year. A bus is much bigger than you, so let them go first if you value your life.
I drive here in Vallarta and I cannot tell you how many times I have had people walk out right in front of my car as I was driving. Most times they jump out in the middle of the block in between parked cars. I’ve had to slam on my brakes and we all ended up looking like deer in headlights. I know, you are on vacation and are overcome by the area, but please, remember that as a pedestrian you are responsible for your safety.
Another thing to mention, if you are in a taxi, and the taxi stops to let you out on the Malecon or any street with traffic, exit the taxi on the side AWAY from the traffic. I have seen two people hit that threw open the taxi door and jumped out in the middle of traffic.
I know it is a pain to slide over across the backseat, but that one little step could save your butt from landing in the hospital or worse.
Timeshare Info
Timeshare in Vallarta will not go away. You will find the OPC’s (Off Premise Contacts) at the airport, on the street, in restaurants, even in grocery stores. They can be annoying if you let them, they can be fun if you let them. A simple “no gracias” usually suffices, but when it does not, just tell them you don’t have a credit card and keep walking.
I do have a problem with them being in restaurants, as I feel I am paying to dine and enjoy my meal, not to have someone hassling me to visit their hotel. If you get accosted, let your waiter know that he will not get a tip if they come back and bother you…that usually keeps them at bay! (Of course you should tip him/her but this will get the timeshare person out of your hair)
As far as timeshares go, they can be a good deal for some people who will use them not such a great deal for others. If you are really considering buying a timeshare, by all means, go tour a hotel, if not, do not waste your time or theirs.
Get up on the Bus
The buses here are the largest beasts on the road. They have no natural predators here, so consider them the lions of the jungle.
The safest place to be on the road is on the bus, and by far the bus is the best form of transportation for the price and the most entertaining.
The fare for the bus in town is four pesos and they do not offer transfers.
It is best to have exact change or close to it.
The yellow seat is for handicapped, pregnant women and elderly.
Sometimes people enter the bus to sing, play guitar, do tricks or sell something. If you enjoyed their show, give them a couple of pesos or buy their wares, if not, no problem!
More bus info and routes is found here.
Topless, Thongs and Nudism
Mexico is pretty conservative when it comes to public nudity. In fact, it is against the law. If you go down to the beach, you will see many Mexican women swimming in their clothes, or a T-Shirt and shorts.
If you see a field of white on the beach, in the middle is probably a woman in a thong or with her top off. These are all the male beach vendors (they wear white uniforms) gathered around pretending to sell things while they try to see as much skin as possible!
Some hotels allow topless sunbathing on their property. All beaches in Mexico are Federal zone and public, which means, no public nudity (topless) on the beach. You can be asked by the tourist police, the federal police or the Navy to put your top on, and yes they tour the beaches. Thongs are not against the law but will get you a lot of attention, some good some bad.
The discussion of topless-ness on message boards usually ends up in heated debates, but the bare facts are: it is illegal, you are a visitor in another country and have no rights when it comes to infringing your beliefs or desires into their culture. Just because someone you know did it and did not get caught does not mean it is legal or right.
If you want to be topless or nude, then you need to travel to a destination that allows it.
I am not a prude, in fact when I go to places where topless is allowed, you will probably find me sans top, but in a culture where it is not acceptable or legal, I will not do it.
Enjoy Vallarta
The best way to experience Vallarta and really enjoy it is to explore it. It is safe, it is diverse, it is beautiful and there is something for everyone here. You have multiple modes of transportation, you have infinite options, the worst thing you can do is trap yourself in your hotel. The best of Vallarta is right there for you to discover.
