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San Francisco (or as everyone calls it, San Pancho) is located about 50 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta airport.

Travel Tips

Air Travel

The best option is to fly directly into the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (also known as PVR and Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport).

Another option is to take a flight to Guadalajara International Airport (also known as GDL and Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport). You can find the best prices by booking flights with Interjet or Volaris airlines. From Guadalajara, you can book a separate connecting flight (30 minutes) via Viva Aerobus to Puerto Vallarta.

Please pay close attention to luggage size and weight restrictions to avoid extra fees as they will weigh your bags prior to boarding.

The last time we travelled to San Pancho, we flew from New York JFK to Guadalajara on Volaris. Then we caught a connecting Viva Aerobus flight to PVR. For advanced travellers, leave some layover time in Guadalajara, grab an very inexpensive Uber to Tlaquepaque for lunch!

Ground Transportation

Once you arrive to Puerto Vallarta, you have many options for getting to San Pancho via ground transportation.

Private Shuttle

You may book a private shuttle in advance that will wait for your arrival and take you directly to your destination. When booking, please tell them you are with the Mary Grace & Arturo wedding. We recommend using this service:
Amanecer Transportation & Tours
Please visit this website for pricing and booking information.

Airport Taxi

You will have a ton of options when you arrive to grab a taxi. In fact, many taxi drivers may approach you to try to secure a fare. The recommended way of booking a taxi is to go directly to a Taxi booth located inside the airport and book it there. The prices to San Pancho are around $1000 pesos ($55 USD).

City Taxi

You may also take the pedestrian bridge to the other side of the highway that borders the airport. When you exit the airport, look to your left and you will see the highway. Walk towards the highway and you will see the pedestrian bridge. Once you cross it, you will see a Taxi station. I was quoted $800 pesos ($43 USD) but when I told him it was too much and walked away he said he’d take me for $650 ($35USD). If you go with this option, ensure you get a price upfront and feel free to haggle.

Bus

This is the option we took because Mary Grace was feeling adventurous. Once you walk across the pedestrian bridge, you will also see a bus station. There is normally a person with a clipboard who you can ask about details and timing. We took the Compostela green and white colored bus. Ensure you see San Pancho written on the windscreen. The price is $50 pesos ($2.75 USD). This option will drop you off at the beginning of town on the main highway. You will have to walk into town, but know that it’s only a 10-minute walk from the main highway to the beach.

Car Rental

Another option is to rent a car. This will give you the option to explore the areas surrounding San Pancho and the Bay of Banderas. Please visit this site to see the available rental companies. I recommend the major companies, as they will have the most accurate pricing. Budget companies appear to tack on additional insurance costs that end up being more expensive in the end. Make sure you get the required insurance.

Driving to San Pancho from Puerto Vallarta

Take Hwy 200 north. You will pass Nuevo Vallarta, Mezcales and Bucerias. North of Bucerias the divided highway will turn into a 2-lane road, which winds up over a small pass. This is the most beautiful part of the drive, through lush jungle vegetation, often seeming like a tunnel. This portion can move slowly at times. Pay attention, as you will usually at some point come upon a 'train' of traffic, following a truck that labors slowly up the hill. Locals put their emergency flashers on here to signal that slow traffic is coming up. Enjoy the beautiful scenery to pass the time! Once over the top, speed will pick up on the way down. You will pass San Ignacio, where traffic also slows due to a series of speed bumps, then shortly thereafter the turnoff to Sayulita.

About 3 miles past Sayulita you will see a green highway sign for 'San Francisco', the official name for San Pancho. As you approach the turnoff you should get off on the right side, then wait until it is clear to turn left across the highway and onto the main street of San Pancho.

Driving tip: It is best to take your time and not try to pass, as it is narrow and there are few stretches long enough for passing. And watch carefully when driving this highway for oncoming cars passing other ones - they do this regularly.

Villa Rentals

We believe renting out a villa or apartment is the best way to go in San Pancho. You will not only get the entire place to yourself, but you can comfortably have more people stay for the same price as a hotel.

We have teamed up with San Pancho Rentals to help you find a place to stay. Feel free to call/email Allison, contact information below, or visit their site to browse their rental properties.

Allison Elkan Rodriguez
San Pancho Rentals & Real Estate
allison@sanpanchorentals.com
www.sanpanchorentals.com
+52 (311) 258-4066 MX Phone
(530) 852-0751 US Phone

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AirBnB

When we travel, we stay in Airbnbs. We love meeting the hosts and getting their insight to local restaurants and activities. Also, you get to experience more of a local vibe vs staying in a hotel. You have the option of renting out the entire place or staying in a shared home.

Use this link to book via AirBnB and get $40 toward your booking: Get AirBnB