Bucerías

A calmer, more local beach town just north of Puerto Vallarta — long sand and a slower pace.

By Sam Med · Last updated October 2026

Bucerias Beach. Photo: Gkullberg, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Bucerías sits about 30–40 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, just past the airport in Nayarit. It's a relaxed beach town with a large expat and Canadian snowbird community, one of the longest beaches on Banderas Bay, and a noticeably slower, more local feel than the city.

What to do

Walk the beach — miles of flat sand, good for long strolls and calm swims.
The Thursday Art Walk (high season) — galleries and stalls in the old town.
Eat — beachfront seafood palapas and a strong casual dining scene.
Cobbled old town — a small, pleasant centre to wander.

Who it's for

Bucerías suits people who want a beach town rather than a resort or a party — quiet sand, good food and a local rhythm. If you want surf and boho energy, go to Sayulita; if you want nightlife, stay in Old Town.

Getting between Bucerías and Puerto Vallarta

This is the practical question most visitors have, because Bucerías sits in a different state (Nayarit), across the bay from the city. It's about 14 km from the airport and 20–30 km from the city's neighbourhoods, and the journey time varies a lot with traffic and with how you travel.

Option	Typical time	Cost	Notes
Bus	45–70 min	About MXN 22–30 (2024–25 reports)	Autotransportes Medina (ATM) and Compostela buses, frequent in the daytime. Cash, small notes.
Uber	30–45 min	About MXN 200–300 from the city; about 300 from the airport	Easy to get going north; coverage is thinner on the Nayarit side for the way back.
Taxi	30–45 min	About MXN 500–600 from the airport (zone fares)	Crossing the state line raises the fare — agree it before you get in.
Rental car	About 30 min	Varies	Highway 200; parking in Bucerías is easy, unlike Old Town.

Where to catch the bus. In Puerto Vallarta, the main stop for the buses north is in front of the Walmart and Sam's Club, opposite the cruise terminal; at the airport, cross the pedestrian bridge to the northbound side, where ATM and Compostela buses pass about every half hour. In Bucerías, buses stop on the highway near the main square. These are Nayarit buses, so Jalisco's flat city fare of MXN 11 doesn't apply; see buses. Check the time of the last bus back if you're staying late.

Two things to know. First, the airport sits between the two — Bucerías is about as close to PVR as Old Town is, roughly 14 km and 20–30 minutes by road. Second, there is no time difference: Bucerías is in Bahía de Banderas, the one Nayarit municipality that keeps central time by law, the same as Puerto Vallarta. The rest of Nayarit is an hour behind.

Bucerías pairs well with Sayulita further north if you want to see two towns in a day. For fares, ride-hailing quirks and the bus system generally, see getting around Puerto Vallarta.

Bucerías as a base instead of Puerto Vallarta

A fair number of visitors — particularly returning Canadian snowbirds — stay in Bucerías and treat Puerto Vallarta as the day trip rather than the other way round. It makes sense if you want a long flat beach, lower prices and a quieter local rhythm, and don't mind a 30-45 minute ride for the city's restaurants and nightlife. It makes less sense for a short first trip, where you'd spend too much of it travelling. See where to stay for the comparison.

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Frequently asked

How do you get from Bucerías to Puerto Vallarta?

By bus — Autotransportes Medina (ATM) or Compostela, about 45 to 70 minutes and MXN 22 to 30 — by Uber, about 30 to 45 minutes and MXN 200 to 300, or by taxi. Buses stop on the highway near Bucerías' main square and, in Puerto Vallarta, in front of the Walmart opposite the cruise terminal.

How far is Bucerías from Puerto Vallarta?

About 14 km from the airport, 20 to 30 minutes by road, and 20 to 30 km from the city's neighbourhoods, roughly 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.

Is there Uber in Bucerías?

Yes, Uber operates on the Nayarit side, but cars can be scarcer than in Puerto Vallarta, especially for the trip back; allow extra time.

Is Bucerías on the same time as Puerto Vallarta?

Yes. Bucerías is in Nayarit, but its municipality, Bahía de Banderas, keeps central time by law, the same as Puerto Vallarta. See time zone.