Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port
Where your ship docks, how to get into town, and how to fit the best of Puerto Vallarta into one port day.
Cruise ships dock at Puerto Vallarta's Terminal Marítima, about 5 km north of the Malecón, between Marina Vallarta and the Hotel Zone. It's a docking port rather than a tender port: on most days you walk straight off the ship. In 2025 it handled 171 cruise calls and more than 535,000 passengers. Here's how to use a port day well.
The port at a glance
| Name | Terminal Marítima de Puerto Vallarta, run by the port authority, ASIPONA Puerto Vallarta, which reports to the Mexican Navy |
|---|---|
| Where | Blvd. Francisco Medina Ascencio, Zona Hotelera Norte; about 5 km from the Malecón and 3.5 km from the airport |
| Berths | Three cruise berths of about 200 m each. When more ships are in, passengers are taken ashore by tender. |
| At the terminal | Taxis and driver-guides, currency exchange, a craft market, restaurants and shops in the Puerto Mágico complex, and desks selling boat tours |
| Across the road | Walmart, Sam's Club and the Galerías Vallarta mall, a few minutes' walk away |
| Season | October to April, busiest in December, January and April; from May to September there are only 3 to 10 calls a month |
| Lines calling this autumn | Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages are on the port's October 2026 calendar |
2026 so far
After the unrest of 22–23 February 2026 in Jalisco, several lines skipped Puerto Vallarta for a few days or weeks, among them Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Carnival. March had 11 calls against 20 a year earlier, and April recovered to 26. Over January to August, passenger numbers ended up 1.8% above 2025. Weather also cancels the odd call: hurricanes kept one Carnival ship away in late September, and a Princess ship cancelled on 2 October. If your itinerary includes Puerto Vallarta, your cruise line is the place to check; for the wider picture, see is Puerto Vallarta safe?
Getting into town
- By bus: the cheapest way, and easy. Buses marked "Centro" stop on the terminal side of the boulevard and run down the coast road to the Malecón; those also marked "Túnel" carry on through the tunnel towards Zona Romántica. The standard Jalisco fare in 2026 is MXN 11. To come back, take a bus marked "Marina Vallarta" or "Walmart". See buses.
- By taxi: taxis wait at the terminal, and the ride to the Malecón takes about 10–15 minutes in normal traffic. There's no published fixed fare, so agree the price before you get in. Some cruise guides note that taxis on the street outside the port gates can be cheaper than those inside.
- By Uber: Uber works in Puerto Vallarta, but there's no designated pick-up point at the cruise terminal. A taxi or the bus is simpler; for how ride-hailing works in the city, see Uber and taxis.
- On foot: the shops and mall across the boulevard are a short walk. Downtown is too far to walk comfortably in the heat.
Five ways to spend the day
Old Town and the Malecón, on your own
Take the bus or a taxi to the Malecón and walk south past the sculptures to the main square and the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Cross the river by Isla Cuale into Zona Romántica for lunch, then spend the afternoon on Los Muertos beach. It costs almost nothing and needs no booking.
Out on the water
The bay is the main event. A Marietas Islands trip is the classic, but check that the tour actually has a permit to land; Los Arcos is closer and leaves more time ashore. From December to March, whale watching is the obvious choice. Some boat tours check in at the Puerto Mágico complex next to the terminal; your booking will say where to meet.
Into the jungle
Zipline and canopy tours in the Sierra Madre fit into a port day, and some operators collect passengers close to the pier. See ziplines.
Staying close
If you'd rather not go far, the Marina Vallarta boardwalk is a few minutes away by taxi, with cafés and restaurants around the yacht basin. The El Salado estuary, a protected mangrove reserve nearby, has run morning and early-afternoon boat visits from Tuesday to Saturday; check times before you go.
Not on a normal port day
Evening shows such as Rhythms of the Night only work if your ship stays overnight. The botanical garden, 24 km south of town, needs a long call: allow at least five hours including the round trip.
Port-day practicalities
- Ship time or local time? Puerto Vallarta is on UTC−6 all year; Mexico stopped changing the clocks in 2022. Some ships on Mexican Riviera itineraries keep a different ship time, so check which time your all-aboard is given in.
- Typical hours: on the port's October 2026 calendar, ships arrive between 6 and 9 am and leave between 3 and 10 pm. Allow 30–45 minutes to get back from Old Town in afternoon traffic.
- Money: dollars are accepted in tourist areas, but you'll get better prices in pesos. There are ATMs and an exchange desk at the terminal; see money, cards and tipping.
- Water: drink bottled water; see can you drink the water?
What's next for the port
In September 2026, Puerto Vallarta was named Mexico's first cruise home port. The plan, part of the port's 2026–2031 master plan, is a new terminal of more than 95,000 m² with three cruise piers and separate areas for boarding and arriving passengers. The port authority opened an international tender to build and run it, with construction due to start in 2027 and operations in 2029. For now, Puerto Vallarta remains a port of call.