Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico · Pacific
Cruise ships dock at Terminal Marítima Puerto Vallarta, Puerto Vallarta.
Plan my port daysPacific cruise stop with the iconic crowned church and Malecón in town; Old Town and beaches via taxi or shuttle.
At a glance
Port summary
Cruise ships dock at the Terminal Marítima at the north end of Marina Vallarta on the Bay of Banderas, 7 km north of the Old Town (Centro/Zona Romántica). The pier itself is a working commercial port — most cruise lines run a paid shuttle to the Old Town, but white-and-yellow taxis at the gate cost 200–250 pesos (US$10–12) each way and are usually faster. Marina Vallarta itself has a walkable boardwalk with restaurants and the John Huston statue. Old Town highlights are the Malecón seafront promenade, the iconic crowned Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe and the Mercado Municipal on the Río Cuale. Beach days run to Playa Los Muertos (10 min south of Old Town), Mismaloya (Night-of-the-Iguana cove, 30 min) and Los Arcos marine park. Yelapa is a water-taxi village (1 hr from Boca de Tomatlán) — only worth it on cruise calls of 9+ hours. Mexican peso (MXN) but USD is widely accepted at tourist sites; carry both.
Cruise dock
🚢 Terminal Marítima Puerto Vallarta
Single alongside cruise berth at the north end of Marina Vallarta on Bahía de Banderas. Terminal building has a craft market, food court, ATMs and a tourism desk; Old Town is 7 km south and reached by yellow taxi or cruise-line shuttle.
📍 Latitude: 20.654186, Longitude: -105.240749
See dock on port map →Getting to Puerto Vallarta
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Mix small MXN for taxis/markets and USD for tipping; cards fine for restaurants
Build your perfect day in Puerto Vallarta
Tell us your cruise line, ship and departure date and we'll give you a complete set of full port information and playbooks of how to spend your day.
Inside the Mexico & Central America collection
Here's a peek at everything waiting for your Puerto Vallarta cruise day.
Typical weather
Emergency & contacts
Excursions compared
4 comparedPuerto Vallarta city highlights and Malecón panoramic tour
≈ 4 h · sold by 5 cruise lines
Cruise line
€50$57
Do it yourself
€14$16
Save ≈ €36Save ≈ $41 (72% off)
The Terminal Marítima is ~5 km north of Centro. Cross the highway footbridge to the bus stop by Walmart/Sam's and take any local bus marked 'Centro' (10 pesos / ~€0.50, every ~10 min, 20–25 min) to the Malecón; a taxi is a flat ~US$16/car. Everything downtown is walkable along the seafront, and the Mirador El Cerro de la Cruz is a free 10–15 min stair climb from the old town. Return on the same 'Centro' bus from Lázaro Cárdenas.
See the DIY plan →
Tequila factory tour and unlimited tasting
≈ 4 h · sold by 3 cruise lines
Cruise line
€55$63
Do it yourself
€38$43
Save ≈ €17Save ≈ $19 (31% off)
You don't need a distillery transfer to taste tequila in Puerto Vallarta — the Romantic Zone and Malecón are full of walk-in tasting rooms and artisan tequila/mezcal shops offering free or low-cost flights. Take the 'Centro' bus (10 pesos) to the Malecón, walk into the Zona Romántica around Basilio Badillo for a guided flight (~€15–20), then graze the shops. No reservation needed on a typical cruise day.
See the DIY plan →
Ready-made port days
11 plansThe Malecón & Old Town Classic
Puerto Vallarta's seafront sculpture mile, the crowned cathedral and a free hilltop panorama — the whole postcard in one easy half day.
Yelapa Beach Escape
Water taxi to a roadless jungle village, a waterfall hike and a beach lunch — the day that makes you forget you're on a ship.
Tequila & Tacos Crawl
A self-guided eat-and-sip trail through the Zona Romántica — tequila flights, street tacos and mezcal shops, all on foot.
Sierra Madre Zip-Line Adventure
Eleven zip lines over jungle canopy and a river canyon, with tequila and tacos at base camp — the adrenaline headline of this port.
Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Puerto Vallarta?
- Your ship docks directly at the Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal in Mexico.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Puerto Vallarta?
- Yes. Puerto Vallarta is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Puerto Vallarta centre?
- Typical options include Taxi, Shuttle bus, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt), On foot, Local bus, Ferry. Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Puerto Vallarta?
- Plan for at least 3.5 hours ashore to see Puerto Vallarta independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Puerto Vallarta and are cards accepted?
- Puerto Vallarta uses the Mexican peso. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Puerto Vallarta cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.
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