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How to get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport in 6 ways

Uber is not allowed in Puerto Vallarta airport so you’ll end up paying a lot of money for an authorized taxi service. In this post, I will share with you 6 ways to get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport for a lower price.

📮  Hi Trisha! After reading your posts about Sayulita, I finally decided to come to spend my winter there this year! I was battling between Puerto Escondido and Sayulita but based on your stories, Sayulita won my heart! I am currently planning my travels. Do you still have a local taxi driver that can take me to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta airport? I’d love to support locals so let me know how I can avail. Thanks again and I hope to meet you!

Cherry Ann, United States

Hola, Cherry Ann!

Glad you decided to go to Sayulita! Yes, I still have that local taxi driver and I will definitely connect you with him. I don’t live in Sayulita anymore, but I spent 2 years there.

I’ve written a lot of super local Sayulita travel guides so if you need anything during your stay, just let me know!

I hope you have a wonderful stay and please, don’t hesitate to contact me if there’s anything I can do for you.

All my friends still live there so if you’re traveling by yourself to Sayulita, I’d love to introduce you to them! Good luck!

Xx,
Trisha

puerto vallarta to sayulita
Pin this image to Pinterest and save it for your trip to Sayulita!

🚖 How to get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport via private driver

💲 from $109 USD

I bought my car in Mexico so I barely use taxi services between Puerto Vallarta and Sayulita but when I do, I always call my trusted local drivers.

We’ve known each other for a long time and they’ve taken care of me while I was living in Mexico! I am really amazed at how speaking Spanish can easily connect you with people!

I met Juan and Michelle 2 years ago through Uber. I’d usually be freaked about taxi drivers who are very chatty but Juan has a different vibe.

He only speaks Spanish but he’s very willing to learn English. You’ll see how he will be very chatty with you during the ride!

Through the years, Juan and I remained friends. We go to dinners and he even helped me move to different houses while I was living in Sayulita!

I am also a proud godmother to one of Juan’s many children. I love supporting Juan so I hope you’ll help me support him, too!

Right now, the family of locals that this blog is supporting is growing so if Juan or Michelle are not available, our office will send another trusted driver for you.

Many of you ask if the local drivers can take you to other routes (for example, surf trips or other things to do in Sayulita) and the answer is YES! 

Just feel free to contact me and I will arrange it for you no matter what the route is.

🛎️ Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta airport via luxury service

💲 from $250 USD

If you don’t know yet, Ubers and taxis without permits are not allowed to enter Puerto Vallarta Airport. That’s just the rules and politics of the airport.

You can definitely go for any company that will charge you $200 USD for it if you don’t want to complicate your pick-up.

sayulita from puerto vallarta airport

If you are traveling to Sayulita with a big group (more than 3 people), you need to get a Sayulita airport van service. This van can hold up to 7 people and is also a VIP service.

They will have a sign with your name on it and they will be waiting for you at the arrivals gate. These drivers have a permit to operate inside Puerto Vallarta International Airport so don’t worry about its legitimacy.

🚗 Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport via Uber

The Uber app does not work in all Mexican cities (for example, Puerto Escondido) but it does in Puerto Vallarta. However, Uber is not allowed to enter PV airport.

If you booked an Uber through the app, you will have to go out of the airport to meet your driver. All you have to do is cross the bridge that’s outside the PV airport and your driver will be at the other end waiting for you.

If you are traveling light, this is ideal but if you have heavy luggage, this bridge is a little bit long and high. There is a ramp at the footbridge for your luggage so don’t worry.

sayulita from puerto vallarta airport

Uber in Mexico is really cheap, especially in big cities like Mexico City and Guadalajara.

All trips are just less than $5 USD! In the case of Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport, Uber normally charges between $25 – $40 USD, depending on the time of the day.

I find nighttime taxi fees more expensive but this all depends on Uber’s algorithm, not the drivers.

There’s a lot of taxi politics in PV airport against Uber but if you’re willing to bring all your luggage and go out of the airport to meet your Uber driver, then this option is for you.

🚌 Bus to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport

You can find regular busses from Puerto Vallarta Airport to Sayulita. These busses have the big letters ‘Compostela’ on them and usually have a written sign on the windshield that says SAYULITA.

Like Uber, you have to cross the footbridge outside PV airport to get to the bus stop.

sayulita from puerto vallarta airport
This is what the bus to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta airport looks like. You won’t miss it!

This costs $2 USD and will take you directly to the bus station in Sayulita. However, this trip is longer (can take up to 1.5 hours) as these busses stop frequently.

They also don’t stop all the time at the bus stop in Puerto Vallarta airport so make sure to raise your hand when you see the sign! They are not very frequent – sometimes the wait time can take up to 20 minutes.

Change how you travel and see the world by going deep into the culture. Come and travel with me!

🚙 Rent a car from Puerto Vallarta Airport to Sayulita

Renting a car in Puerto Vallarta airport is also one of the ways on how to get to Sayulita. However, this is a very tedious task as you have to drive yourself, pay for the security deposit (about $350 USD), pay for the daily rates ($25 USD), etc.

This is more ideal if you are going to use your car in Sayulita but bear in mind that parking in Sayulita is a horror story! As this is a walking town, the streets are very narrow and are often one-way.

renting a car in mexico

Sayulita is a walking town so heavy traffic in the center is very normal.

The best thing to do is to rent a car while you are already in Sayulita. This will allow you to discover day trips from Sayulita such as Lo de Marcos, San Pancho, Los Ayala, and many more.

If you’d like for me to arrange a rental car for you while you are in Sayulita, feel free to get in touch!

👍 Hitchhiking to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta

I want to add this to the list of ways to get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport because the question is from a backpacker and solo traveler.

I’ve hitchhiked a lot within the Nayarit area and I can assure you that it is really safe! Mexicans are super friendly to foreigners and you will surely get a ride in this area easily.

sayulita from puerto vallarta airport
First hitchhiking experience in Sayulita to Puerto Vallarta / May 2019

To hitchhike, all you have to do is cross the bridge from PV airport to the other side. Nayarit is the other way so you have to go to the other side of the road.

Put your big smile on and thumbs up! There is only one highway to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta airport so you’ll have higher chances to get a ride!

⁉️ Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport FAQ

Sayulita is located in the state of Nayarit, north of Puerto Vallarta. It is famous for its super-friendly surfing waves, small-town vibes, and friendly people.

Sayulita is also one of Mexico’s pueblos magicos (magical towns) and is very popular for water sports and activities. Its closest neighbor is San Pancho, about 10 minutes drive from Sayulita.

Sayulita is about an hour’s drive from Puerto Vallarta airport. From downtown Puerto Vallarta (say, the Malecon), it can take about 1.5 hours.

Through the years, we’ve seen how the traffic situations changed in Sayulita. In 2018, we used to do it for only 40 minutes but as Sayulita gets popular with tourists, traffic gets heavier and heavier.

Please note that the number of minutes driving to Sayulita depends if you are taking a bus, a private taxi, or driving yourself.

If you look at TripAdvisor threads and other resources online, you will only see expensive public airport transport from Puerto Vallarta to Sayulita.

This is because these are taxi companies and luxury transportation. The Nayarit area is an American and Canadian vacationer’s favorite and usually, their travel style is a grand vacation (ex: all-inclusive stays).

Backpackers and budget travelers, I totally understand why you won’t be willing to pay for a $150 USD taxi (come on, I won’t do that, too!) so I am also sharing some cheap ways to get to Sayulita from Puerto Vallarta Airport for as low as $4 USD.

Travel time to Sayulita is just 40 minutes from PV airport. We want you to know this so you’ll have an idea about taxi pricing. 

If you’re coming from downtown Puerto Vallarta, you can simply take an Uber that will charge you around $25 USD – $45 USD. Uber is commonly used in Puerto Vallarta so if you have the app, you’re good to go!

White taxis charge $40 USD – $65 USD and you can’t haggle with that. So better use Uber if you’re coming from PV downtown!

🇲🇽 Mexico Travel Resources

Marie

Tuesday 17th of January 2023

Thank you so much for the information! I will be returning to Sayulita for a visit this summer (last visited in 2018 and absolutely LOVED it!) The last time we went we rented a car and found it to be expensive for how little we used it once we actually got to Sayulita.

I would love any recommendations or further information you could pass along about hiring a local driver. Thank you!

Trisha Velarmino

Tuesday 17th of January 2023

For sure, Marie! You can look at the quick links at the top of this post which has links to different destinations in Riviera Nayarit. If you only want the taxi service in Sayulita, you can book that here. Enjoy Sayulita!

Colleen Bodtcher

Sunday 15th of January 2023

Can you please tell me how to connect with Juan to organize a trip to Sayulita for two seniors?

Trisha Velarmino

Monday 16th of January 2023

Hola, Colleen! I just replied to your other comment. In case you did not get it, here is the link to the taxi service to Sayulita.

Colleen Bodtcher

Thursday 12th of January 2023

Hello, My husband and I, two Canadian seniors in our 70’s will be arriving at the PV airport, Feb. 8 on Westjet #2152, at 3:30pm. We will each have a large suitcase and aren’t sure if we could manoeuvre over the bridge to take an Uber to Sayulita. What mode of transportation do you recommend for us that would be a reasonable rate? Regards, Colleen

Trisha Velarmino

Thursday 12th of January 2023

Hi Colleen! You can book my local driver here. My staff will arrange your transport via e-mail. Good luck and enjoy Sayulita!

Chris

Sunday 18th of September 2022

Hi, We have a party of 2 that will need a ride to Sayulita on the 14th of October. Can you set us up with a driver? Thanks, Chris

Trisha Velarmino

Monday 19th of September 2022

Hi Chris, you will find all the taxi transportation for Sayulita here. Use the code PSIMONMYWAY10 for a discount. Enjoy Sayulita!

Cassie

Saturday 10th of September 2022

please contact me for ride from airport, pick up Monday. Sept 12 about 3pm

Trisha Velarmino

Sunday 11th of September 2022

Hi Cassie! You can book it here or e-mail [email protected] if you need more help. My office will assist you!