Useful Information

Passport Requirements for U.S. Citizens
There may be new requirements for travel documents since you last traveled abroad. Please see this important information for full details. Or, click here for information about how to apply for, or renew a U.S. passport.

Dialing from USA to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
From the US to phone a local number, dial 011-52-322+Local 7-digit number.

Banking, currency and credit cards
Banking services are provided from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while some branches remain open until 5 p.m. Credit cards are easy to use at most establishments, although some will add a surcharge. If unsure, ask first.

For cashing traveler's checks, be prepared to present your passport. In addition, numerous currency exchange offices handle the same transaction without service fees and possibly with a shorter wait. Exchange rates are usually posted for U.S. and Canadian dollars. Ask for other currencies. If you have cash remaining when you return home, save it for a future trip rather than paying the extra fees for changing it back. Better yet, you can donate it to the UNICEF fund.

Electricity
In Mexico, electrical outlets may vary from two- to three- prong varieties, but the current is 110 volts (same as in the United States and Canada). Converters may be purchased locally.

Language
The official language in Mexico is Spanish. While most tourist establishments attempt to employ people who have some command of English, those who may not be comfortable speaking English will usually at least have studied it at some level. Speak clearly and carefully rather than loudly if communication seems difficult or problematic.

For those who speak Spanish, this Romance tongue isn't the only language in Mexico, home to more than 50 other languages and dialects. The most common in the Banderas Bay area is Nahuatl, the tongue of the Wixárika, more frequently called the Huichol.

Medical needs
Puerto Vallarta is proud to offer medical services to rival any international destination. Several full-service hospitals and clinics are able to handle any emergency, including special needs such as dialysis. Many visitors plan their visit to coincide with dental work, plastic surgery and other elective surgeries. A number of villas and boutique hotels provide services such as special catering packages for those who require an extended recovery period. Several drugstores are open 24 hours with a large variety of medications in stock.

Newspapers
A number of Spanish-language newspapers serve the area, such as Vallarta Opina and Tribuna de la Bahía, while the English alternatives are the daily Vallarta Today and the weekly Tribune. For events and other local coverage, look for your free copy of Bay Vallarta, a bilingual magazine published by Vallarta Online every two weeks.

Post offices
Postal rates are inexpensive. The rate for letters and postcards is less than US$0.50 to the United States and Canada.

Public holidays
Holidays are sacred in Mexico, but primarily banks and government offices are the only closures that may affect your travel plans. Some businesses may either open late or close early on certain holidays. Watch for signs or announcements to that effect. New legislation as of 2006 allows certain holidays to be taken on the nearest Monday to provide a three-day weekend, those being Constitution Day, Benito Juárez Day and the Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution (Feb. 5, March 21 and Nov. 20, respectively).

Religious services
A list of religious services in local churches and elsewhere is printed in the weekly Tribune in English, French and Dutch. Ask at your hotel for services nearby.

Shipping
Shipping from Mexico can be processed locally in Puerto Vallarta at a number of outlets. Centrally located on the hotel strip is DHL, which offers reasonable rates, but other national companies also ship to most areas as well.

Internet
You'll find Internet access at many hotels, as well as in a great number of cybercafés in most neighborhoods. Ask at your hotel for more information.

Tipping
Tipping is generally 15 to 20 percent of the bill when dining out. Baggage handling can be easily figured at US$1 or Mex$10 per bag, with a minimum handling fee of Mex$20. It's not necessary to tip taxi drivers unless they assist with bags or perform any other service outside their normal call of duty. Baggers in the local grocery stores live off tips so please remember them with loose change.

Transportation
For local transportation, the bus system is not complicated. Each bus is marked with the main destination, while routes indicate if they pass through downtown (CENTRO) or the tunnel bypass (TUNEL). The fare is currently Mex$5.50 per person, with children under age 2 riding for free. Facilitate your travel by having correct change on hand. When boarding as a group, it's appropriate for one person to pay for all. If unsure where the nearest bus stop is located, ask around or at your hotel. You'll find that people are generally very helpful.

Before boarding a taxi, specify your destination and ask for the rate. There are no meters since the city is divided into rate zones. Ask at your hotel for approximate rates before heading out.

Transportation within Mexico by bus generally departs from the Central Camionera, or main bus station, located just beyond the airport going north. A number of companies compete for destinations, some offering senior and student discounts with appropriate identification. Be aware that cheaper cross-country rates often indicate that the bus will make frequent stops en route for additional passenger pick ups.

Get more details and rental car agencies here.

Emergency telephone numbers

Note that all local numbers listed below are in area code 322 unless otherwise indicated. When dialing long distance, remember to include the area code. Local calls do not require it.

Government information and services, for US citizens traveling to Mexico, click here.