Do I need to own a car in Puerto Vallarta?
Michael Keller - Guardian Insurance Mexico
You do not need to own a car in Puerto Vallarta. There are so many cabs down here that I do not even know how they all make money. They are everywhere. There are yellow cabs like we are used to in the States. There are other vehicles that drive from Puerto Vallarta to towns north of Puerto Vallarta that are very closely connected like Bucerias, Nueva Vallarta, Sayulita, and Punta de Mita.If you do not have a car and you take a bus, it takes an hour to get to those towns I just...
You do not need to own a car in Puerto Vallarta. There are so many cabs down here that I do not even know how they all make money. They are everywhere. There are yellow cabs like we are used to in the States. There are other vehicles that drive from Puerto Vallarta to towns north of Puerto Vallarta that are very closely connected like Bucerias, Nueva Vallarta, Sayulita, and Punta de Mita.If you do not have a car and you take a bus, it takes an hour to get to those towns I just mentioned. But if you have a car, you can get there in half an hour. Just to go around the city of Vallarta, there are so many buses and cabs that a lot of people, Mexicans and expats, do not own cars.
I do not have a car. I would like to get one just because if I have to leave the office for lunch and take the bus back to my house, it takes a little bit longer than I would like and I want to be able to take my dog to the park on my lunch break. It is more of the convenience factor. You do not need a car, but it is good to have one if you want to get to places a little bit quicker instead of having to wait for the bus at the bus stop and then wait for them to make all those stops. The bus, obviously, will not drop you off right in front of your house. You have to get off at the bus stop closest to your house and then walk from there. So I would like to get a car, but no, I do not have one.
From one end of Puerto Vallarta to the other in a cab, it might cost 150 pesos to 200 pesos (US $8 to $11). From my house to Walmart, it costs 40 pesos ($2) for a cab. If I go shopping and get a whole bunch of food, they have cabs waiting out in front of the Walmart to take people home and I will just get a cab to go home.
I'm not sure if there is Uber in Puerto Vallarta. I have seen it on Facebook. In Guadalajara and in some other places in Mexico they have it.
(Volkswagen Beetle, Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 24, 2016
Carl Timothy - Timothy Real Estate Group
If you’re going to live in the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone, which is the main and most popular area of downtown, you don’t need a car because taxis are everywhere and parking is not easy unless you live in a condominium building that’s got parking available. You don’t really need a car if you live there because you can walk to all the shops, you can walk to you favorite restaurants at night, you can walk to the bakeries and wine store, the fruit market and the...If you’re going to live in the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone, which is the main and most popular area of downtown, you don’t need a car because taxis are everywhere and parking is not easy unless you live in a condominium building that’s got parking available. You don’t really need a car if you live there because you can walk to all the shops, you can walk to you favorite restaurants at night, you can walk to the bakeries and wine store, the fruit market and the market areas. It’s all easily accessible and it’s something fun to do and experience. But if you want to go somewhere like CostCo or Home Depot, which is not in this area, then you’re probably going to need a car because it’s way too far to walk. You could, however, just grab a cab. When you get to CostCo there’s going to be a string of taxis that can bring you back home and if you want to go to CostCo there’s going to be a taxi on the next corner wherever you are. The taxis are everywhere around here.
CostCo is about 15 to 20 minutes away from downtown in a cab, and the cab ride would cost you about 70 pesos (less than US $4).
We’ve got buses, too, which you can ride for 5 pesos (about US 30 cents). The bus can take you to the stores outside of centro, but it would take a little longer. A lot of people take the bus. Some of them are kind of rickety but you can do it. A lot of people do it and a lot of people enjoy the adventure, so it’s available.
(Filming by the marina for House Hunters International in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted May 21, 2016
Sheryl Novak - SOLutions Mexico Furniture Store
You don’t need to own a car in Puerto Vallarta because the transit system here is fantastic. There are three levels of transport here in Puerto Vallarta: the taxi, which will get you there quickly and will cost the most of the three options; the bus, which has the lowest cost and has the most frequent stops; and then in between are little white vans that you can share with 6 or 8 other people and hop on, and hop off. These little white vans are in the mid-price range, have less...You don’t need to own a car in Puerto Vallarta because the transit system here is fantastic. There are three levels of transport here in Puerto Vallarta: the taxi, which will get you there quickly and will cost the most of the three options; the bus, which has the lowest cost and has the most frequent stops; and then in between are little white vans that you can share with 6 or 8 other people and hop on, and hop off. These little white vans are in the mid-price range, have less stops than the bus, and are less expensive than the taxi. Why bother having a car when you have so many great options? There’s also so much within walking distance of every area in Puerto Vallarta, and there’s always sunshine, so there’s no need for a vehicle.
I do have a vehicle because I have a business, so I go to visit people, and time for me is precious. When you’re retired, you’ve got more time. Right now, owning a company, you’re always crunched for time.
(Cathedral in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 24, 2017
Paul Mayer - Vallarta Food Tours
The transportation in Puerto Vallarta is very good, so you wouldn’t really need a car. Buses even go to the north. If you wanted to go take a day trip, you can take the bus. An hour to the north is Nayarit, and a bus ride to Nayarit would cost about US $5. Around town, they have plenty of regular buses, and each ride costs about $0.30 - $0.40. Taxis in Puerto Vallarta are cheap. If you’re in downtown going from one place to another, it usually costs about $3. I do own a...The transportation in Puerto Vallarta is very good, so you wouldn’t really need a car. Buses even go to the north. If you wanted to go take a day trip, you can take the bus. An hour to the north is Nayarit, and a bus ride to Nayarit would cost about US $5. Around town, they have plenty of regular buses, and each ride costs about $0.30 - $0.40. Taxis in Puerto Vallarta are cheap. If you’re in downtown going from one place to another, it usually costs about $3. I do own a car, but just because I need it for my business. (Truck with Post-it notes all over it, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted April 14, 2017
Peter F Gordon, MD - Lake Medical Group
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You don't need to own a car in Puerto Vallarta. A lot of people don't own a car in Puerto Vallarta. Drivers could be a little bit crazy, but at the same time, there are not a lot of road accidents. You need to have a different mentality when you're driving in Puerto Vallarta and you need to learn this mentality. You're responsible for a 180-degree circle in front of you and everyone else behind you is responsible for themselves. Drivers in...
You don't need to own a car in Puerto Vallarta. A lot of people don't own a car in Puerto Vallarta. Drivers could be a little bit crazy, but at the same time, there are not a lot of road accidents. You need to have a different mentality when you're driving in Puerto Vallarta and you need to learn this mentality. You're responsible for a 180-degree circle in front of you and everyone else behind you is responsible for themselves. Drivers in Puerto Vallarta respect that. Once you know this, then you would know how to move in and out of traffic, when to turn, and do other things on the road. Otherwise, driving in Puerto Vallarta could be very confusing and you'd drive slowly and take your time.
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There are people who own cars and use them to go around for convenience. Other people would take cabs or the bus.
(Street in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted October 26, 2017