The Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport, as it is officially called, is a modern airport with multiple routes to the United States and Canada and other locations, including Europe. 1945 saw the first flights land in Puerto Vallarta airport, run by Mexicana de Aviación airline. Nowadays, Puerto Vallarta airport has become Mexico’s 8th busiest and the City has transformed to become a world class vacation spot.
Puerto Vallarta Airport
Most people who travel through Puerto Vallarta airport comment on how stress free their experience is. It helps that the building itself is laid out in a such as way that is easy for visitors. On the plane arriving to Puerto Vallarta, the air steward on the flight will give you an immigration form to complete. On this immigration form, you should write the name of your hotel or rental apartment and state how long you will be staying. When you pass Immigration, the official will take the card and stamp your passport, giving you an exit slip. Please DO NOT lose this exit slip as you have to show the slip when you leave. If you lose it, you will incur a fine.
Once you have passed through Immigration, you will go to the carousels to collect your luggage and take it to security where you’ll be asked to press a button. If the light above it goes green you may pass, if it goes red then you will be taken to one side to have your suitcases searched. The random nature of the searches is that you never know if you may be stopped. If you are, there is no need to worry; it is just routine.
Once this is over you’ll find yourself in the airport at large; navigation is quite simple once you have passed the many people trying to sell you rental cars, taxis and timeshare tours. The best advice is to have a transportation pre-booked.
Getting Around Puerto Vallarta Airport
Puerto Vallarta airport has two levels. You will find the check-in and arrival desks at separate sides of the airport on the first level, plus stores, shops and bureau de change services. On the upper floor you’ll find restaurants, bars and a select few shops along with the security area which, handily, is only ten minutes from the gates.
Upon leaving Mexico, you’ll progress through security to the duty free area and then onto either area A for domestic flights or area B for international flights where you can wait for your flight!
