Most visitors arrive in Puerto Vallarta via Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, situated north of the city. This is the primary gateway into the entire region, receiving more than three million passengers every year. Flights connect to cities across Mexico, with dozens of connections available to cities across Canada and the United States.

Onsite facilities include currency exchange kiosks, a number of shops (including duty-free), restaurants and cafés, banks, ATMs and a post office. In the event that several planes are boarding at once, the area around the departure gates can become relatively crowded. Prepaid taxis and minibuses are on hand to shuttle passengers to the city centre.

Other means of arriving in Puerto Vallarta are less desirable. Public buses provide access to towns and villages across the countryside, and in many cases, this is the only means of accessing these areas. The long-distance bus station is located north of the airport. Bear in mind that disabled citizens are permitted to board buses and seek donations from passengers.

There are no tourist passes available for public transportation around Puerto Vallarta, but city buses only cost a few pesos. A hire car is an excellent option for those who would rather avoid cramped buses and inconvenient departure times. There are several well-maintained roads throughout the countryside, although some country roads are not suitable for a rental car. Taxis are not metered, operating instead on a preset fare basis.