Puerto Vallarta to Marietas Islands: How to Get There

If you are planning your visit to paradise, you are probably wondering how to get from Puerto Vallarta to the Marietas Islands. The first thing you should know is that there is a long route (the one sold on the boardwalk) and a short route (the one we do from Punta de Mita). Here we explain why choosing the short route will save your vacation.

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The big lie about tours from Puerto Vallarta

Many agencies on the Puerto Vallarta Malecón will sell you a tour to the Marietas Islands. What they don't tell you is that the boat ride from Puerto Vallarta takes more than 2 hours there and 2 hours back.

If you are prone to seasickness, spending 4 hours in the open ocean to enjoy 30 minutes at Playa del Amor is not a good deal. Plus, you lose half a day of your vacation just in transit.

The smart route: Puerto Vallarta → Punta de Mita

The fastest way to get to the Marietas Islands is not by sea, but by land. The Punta de Mita Marina is only a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta (hotel zone or downtown). From there, the fast-boat ride is only 15 to 20 minutes.

By traveling with us, you trade 4 hours of boat rides for a 45-minute scenic drive and 15 minutes of sailing. You arrive fresh, without seasickness, and with more time to snorkel.

How to get from Puerto Vallarta to Punta de Mita?

You have three main options to cover the land portion:

Uber or DiDi: The most comfortable option. A trip from the Romantic Zone or the Airport (PVR) to the Punta de Mita Marina costs approximately $20 to $30 USD. It takes about 45-50 minutes.
Local Taxi: You can take a taxi from your hotel, but make sure to agree on the price before getting in. It is usually a bit more expensive than Uber.
Bus (Budget): Take a "Compostela" bus in downtown Puerto Vallarta heading to Sayulita/Bucerías, and then transfer to Punta de Mita. It's cheap but takes longer (1.5 hours).

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Legion's Tip: If you book your tour with us, we will send you the exact location of the Marina in Punta de Mita so you can put it in Uber. No need to look for parking or anything like that.

The CONANP quota: The real challenge

It doesn't matter if you come from Puerto Vallarta or Punta de Mita, access to Playa del Amor is limited to 116 daily passes. By booking your tour directly with the local operator in Punta de Mita, we take care of managing that pass for you (the price already includes it).

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Frequently Asked Questions: Puerto Vallarta to Marietas Islands

How long does the whole trip take?

If you leave from Puerto Vallarta, it will take 45 minutes to Punta de Mita, 15 minutes by boat, 4 hours of tour (beach + snorkel), and the return. Total: approx. 6 hours. If you take the 2-hour sailing tour from PV, it will take you more than 7 hours in total.

Do tours from Puerto Vallarta include transportation to Punta de Mita?

Some do, but they usually overcharge you. The most cost-effective and flexible way is to take an Uber from your hotel to the Punta de Mita Marina and pay for the tour directly with us (saving you the agency commission).

What happens if the port closes in Puerto Vallarta?

The Port Authority of Puerto Vallarta and Punta de Mita sometimes differ. Sometimes the port is closed for large vessels in PV, but Punta de Mita is open. If you book with us and there is an official closure, we refund 90% or reschedule at no cost.