Arriving by Air - Please Note

The Puerto Vallarta airport is modern and convenient. Just watch out for time-share sharks!

A little knowledge in advance of your first trip will help keeps things very smooth. Rest assured that the PVR airport is modern, large, air conditioned, safe and well organized. (On the way home you will enjoy the food and shopping opportunities.) Here are the key things to bear in mind, in order of operation (These apply to travellers from Canada at the time of writing. Please check official sites before your departure.) :

1. You get two forms on the plane. Each person gets their own individual IMMIGRATION form (also called Tourist Card or Forma Migratoria Múltiple (FMME)). Enter your information in the top part, and ENTER IT AGAIN in the smaller, bottom part.
2. If you do not get a form on the plane, no worries you can get one at the airport and fill it out before getting in line.
3. If you are adventurous you can try using an online service to print out the form before you travel - at your own risk: we have never tried that. See here  (official site) and here (commercial site).
4. Unlike the immigration form, the CUSTOMS form is one per family.
5.  When you get off the plane, you will line up first to go through Immigration. Show them your Tourist Card and Passport. They will stamp these documents and then hand back your passport with the bottom section of the Tourist Card inside. You must keep that card while you are in Mexico and then hand it over on your way out of the country.
6. After Immigration you find your luggage carousel and pick up your luggage - it's usually waiting for you. Then join the line up for Customs (Aduanas). The officer will take your Customs card and ask you to push a button. If a light shows green, you are approved to enter the country. Congratulations! Proceed down the hall with confidence.
7. If the light turns red, you must drag your luggage (and all handbags) onto a large table for inspection. The whole thing is quite cursory and only takes a minute. Once you are waved through (reminder to some Canadians - don't pack your cannabis). This website has detailed information on what you are allowed to import as a tourist.
8. Now the important part. As you merrily make your way to the exit doors, you will pass through what looks like an official transportation and assistance centre. It is actually a Timeshare Gauntlet. All the smiling, jovial and friendly people are wearing official airport badges. They are offering to help you locate your waiting ride. They are offering free tequila shots, free whale watching tours, and restaurant discount coupons. But what they are really doing is getting you to agree to attend a timeshare presentation for a hard sell. Unless you are genuinely interested in a timeshare presentation, politely nod, say gracias, avoid eye contact, and walk right past.
9. You are in the clear once you step outside the glass doors. Now, the sidewalk-jamming crowd of people in livery or with clipboards are legitimately looking for you - assuming you signed up for a pre-arranged ride to your destination. The people outside are all truly helpful and friendly, and despite the apparent chaos, you will find your ride - or they will find you: no need to panic.
10. If you do not have a pre-arranged ride, yellow taxis are lined up in front of you. Depending on where you are going, they might charge you 300-400 pesos (roughly CAD$21-$28) for a ride. If you are on a budget, walk to your left, and you will see a pedestrian bridge over the highway. It has ramps so you can roll your luggage. At the bottom of the other side is a cab rank where the yellow taxis will charge you about half the airport price.  Agree on a price before getting in.
11. I just found this excellent web page - which has a nice video to orient you to the airport experience, and lots of other helpful info.

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