Puerto Vallarta is Central Standard Time all year round.

The “peso” is the Mexican official currency, but in Puerto Vallarta is common that business accept US dollars for your purchases. Dollars are accepted, but large bills can be kind of difficult to break, that’s why we recommend bringing along plenty of $1's, $5's, and $10's. If you leave the city to the surrounding area, in a tour for example, be sure to have some pesos available. Before traveling to Puerto Vallarta we'd recommend you exchange 30-40 dollars so you have change for the taxi, tips, etc.

First of all, the valid passport as a photo ID is needed. You also need to obtain the Tourist Card that will be furnished by your airline. Be sure to save the blue copy, as you must present this copy when leaving the country.

It is your Tourist Card, and it is very important that you keep it in a safe place and don't lose it. If you do so, it is still possible to get another, but the process will be a pain, and you'll spend too much time of your vacation in government offices and line-ups. Keep it safe with your passport preferably in your room security box.

Upon arrival at the International Puerto Vallarta airport you are asked to push a button that will determined if you are searched or not, if you get a green light you go, but if you get a red light you are searched. This system is totally random. Please check at the Mexican consulate in your city for necessary documents to come to Mexico.

It is generally included in your airline ticket price. Check with your local airline or travel agent. The international airport departure tax is $23 US dollars.

Yes to both questions. All major credit cards (except Discover) are widely accepted. In restaurants, always ask before ordering, not every business accept them. All of the banks will give cash advances in the counter and have ATM machines for after-hours cash. If you lose a credit card report it immediately to your bank.

Tips range from 10% to 20% of the total bill. Waiters will bring the check as soon as you request it. A 10% IVA (VAT) tax is applied to all products and services.

The dress code is casual, but some nightclubs do not accept sandals, tank tops or shorts, but in general casual wearing is ok. You can stay up as late as 6:00 am in some bars at El Malecón (pier to walkers) and the discotheques.

Warm of course, as a beach destination, almost all year long but you can check it calling to your hotel or travel agency a few days before your arrival. Mexico does not have a sophisticated weather prediction service that so many people take for granted in the US and Canada.

No. There is no hurricane season in here. The best time to come is winter (October to May). Summer (June to September) is our rainy season, but you still get lots of sunny days. Some visitors come down and have a great time, plus they get much better prices in all they do. Tropical rains are enjoyable too. We use to have beautiful days when suddenly starts raining hard for a couple of hours. Usually it rains at night for a few hours.

International phone calls from Mexico are in fact very expensive, so, we recommend to use your own national phone credit card service (ask for Ladatel phone cards, they come in three denominations: 30, 50 and 100 pesos) or simply call collect. Dial 001 to connect directly to the United States or Canada, then area code, then local number. For long distance calls to other places of the world, dial 00, then the country code, city code and the corresponding phone number.

Very few cellular services will allow you to roam in Mexico. Most cell phones will work, but they must be reprogrammed by the local service provider. There is local cellular service. If you bring your own, contact USACELL at 222-6633, English spoken. USACELL will reprogram your phone at no charge when you buy their cellular service. Remember to reprogram again the cell before returning to your place. If you need cellular service all the time in PV for business for example, it might just be easier to rent a phone, which USACELL can arrange as well.

If you bring your laptop computer, you will have to contact one of local ISP's who will provide you with temporary Internet access during your stay. Make sure your modem bypass the hotel PBX phone system. If they have a data port on their phones you should have no problem, set your modem to dial the number you normally do for an outside line, then your ISP's access number. Of course, there are many cyber cafes in PV. Bringing a laptop computer into Mexico is legal and an accepted practice, with no problems with Customs.

I.V.A. means in Spanish “Impuesto al valor agregado”, and is the Mexican sales tax of 15% in the most of the country, including the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. You will notice it in your bills, many items that you wish to purchase will have a notice "tax included" or "+ I.V.A." (When it is not included yet).

Puerto Vallarta has recently received a certification for quality drinkable water—one of the few places in Mexico to receive this honor—It means it's safe when it leaves the water plant, but after going through the water pipes and system it may not be. Stick to purified bottled water, which is served in all restaurants, hotels, and bars all along Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta is in fact a very romantic spot and many people come to marry here. In order to get all the information on papers needed is a very good recommendation that you hire a specialist in weddings who speaks your own language, and explains you legal requirements and procedures and bring you help with all the process and the celebration.

You will feel much safer in most parts of Puerto Vallarta than in the United States. Tourist police here are friendly and helpful. Of course and what you would do everywhere you are is to use the common sense: be careful, leave your fancy jewelry at home; after dark stay on the main streets; do not wander on the beaches unless you are in well lit areas or close or together with other tourist, never flash large amounts of money, etc.
Mexican pottery, is it any good, where can I get some good quality handcrafts? Because Mexico has so much to offer in the way of variety, quality and good prices, shopping has become one of the highlights of a visit to Puerto Vallarta. Read more in our Shopping in Puerto Vallarta section.