Moving to Puerto Vallarta: A Guide for Expats and Retirees

• Retirees like the beach, the walkable Malecón (seafront promenade), and the many services in English. See retiring in Mexico and permanent residency for retirees.
• Seasonal residents ("snowbirds") spend the winter here. If you stay less than 180 days a year, you may not need residency; see tourist entry.
• Remote workers find coworking spaces and good internet in the main neighborhoods, though summer storms can cause outages. See digital nomads.
• LGBTQ+ residents will find a long-established community, centered in the Zona Romántica.
• Families have fewer school options than in Guadalajara; see schools.

• Zona Romántica (Old Town). Walkable streets, restaurants, and beaches south of the Cuale River. Lively and busy, especially in winter.
• Centro. The Malecón and hillside streets above it, with older homes and views.
• Versalles and Fluvial. Residential, more local, and usually less expensive, close to shops and hospitals.
• Marina Vallarta. Condos and homes around the marina and golf course, near the airport.
• Conchas Chinas and Amapas. Hillside homes and condos south of town with ocean views and steep streets.

North of the Ameca River, Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerías, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, and Sayulita are in the state of Nayarit. They have a different INM office and a separate entry in travel advisories.

Puerto Vallarta is one of the more expensive places in Mexico for housing. Rents climb in the winter high season, many listings in tourist areas are priced in US dollars, and long-term rentals near the beach can be hard to find. Air conditioning in summer raises electricity bills; heavy users can be moved to the higher, unsubsidized tariff of the national power company, CFE.

Check the income or savings you need for residency with the solvency calculator, and read temporary residency, renting, and cost of living.

Puerto Vallarta has several private hospitals that serve residents and tourists, many with English-speaking staff, plus IMSS facilities for enrolled residents. For some complex specialties, patients are referred to Guadalajara. Read IMSS health insurance and private health insurance before choosing coverage.

Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) is next to Marina Vallarta, about 15 to 30 minutes from most neighborhoods. Winter brings many direct flights from US and Canadian cities; there are fewer in summer. Buses and taxis cover the city, and long-distance buses go to Guadalajara.

The Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30. Summers are hot, humid, and rainy.

INM lists a Puerto Vallarta office on Boulevard Francisco Medina Ascencio in the Zona Hotelera Norte, open weekday mornings. Start the canje there within 30 days of entering Mexico on a residency visa, and return for renewals. Some files may be reviewed by the main Jalisco office in Guadalajara, which can add time. If you live in Nayarit (for example, Bucerías), you use Nayarit's INM office instead.

Puerto Vallarta is within 50 km of the coast, so it is in the restricted zone. Foreigners buy residential property through a bank trust (fideicomiso); see buying property with a fideicomiso. Use a notary public, confirm the title and permits, and avoid unconverted ejido land.

The foreign community is large and active in winter, with volunteer groups, clubs, and charity events, and it thins out in summer. Spanish is less essential here than in inland cities, but it helps with landlords and government offices.

• Check the Jalisco and Nayarit entries in the US and Canadian advisories, linked on the Jalisco page, and read our safety guide.
• Drink bottled or filtered water.
• Once you have your card, get your CURP and open a bank account.