All travelers, including children and babies, are required to have a passport. More information on obtaining or renewing your passport is available online.

Fly into Puerto Vallarta airport (PVR).

Upon arrival you'll pass through immigration, claim your bags and then go through customs. Customs exits into the main terminal lobby where you will immediately be asked (many times) if you need a taxi. These guys are absolutely fine to say "yes" to. Plan on tipping if anybody handles your bags.

In the terminal lobby there are shops, cafes, a money exchange booth, and car rental counters. There is also an ATM, which would be a good place to withdraw money before heading to Sayulita. There aren't any banks in Sayulita, and only a few moderately reliable ATMs.

Be sure to hold onto the bottom portion of your tourist card while in Mexico. You will be required to turn this in upon departure, and will be subject to a fine if you lose it.

American Airlines offers a whopping 5% discount on all flights for this event (use the promotional code A1348AS when booking). We will post any other airline discounts if/when we have them.

Taxis are available at the airport and across the highway (Route 200) from the airport. Fares range between $40 and $75, depending on the size of the vehicle. You can save a bit of money by crossing the highway over the pedestrian bridge and catching one of the cabs parked there. We crossed the bridge on our last trip and paid $40. Slightly cheaper than asked, but probably still a gringo rate. Always ask the fare before getting into a cab. Drivers will not know particular houses in Sayulita, so keep your map and/or directions handy.

Another option is VIP Taxis, which runs round-trip service for $140. They use a van, so you could easily squeeze three or four people in to cut that cost. Reservations must be made in advance. If you tell Ricardo that you're with our group there will be free beer on the ride (though it seems he does this anyway). Be sure to confirm your return trip to the airport the day before leaving.

There is also a bus that runs from Puerto Vallarta to Sayulita. The bus costs 20 pesos and departs from the airport (as well as a number of other places in Puerto Vallarta). In order to catch the bus from the airport, cross over the highway using the pedestrian bridge. Look for the name "Sayulita" written on the windshield of the bus. They normally arrive every half hour. The 22-mile bus ride from Puerto Vallarta to Sayulita takes approximately 1 hour. From Sayulita you can catch a bus back to Puerto Vallarta from the stop near the baseball field.

Bus schedule: www.sayulitalife.com/sayulitatransportation.htm#bus

Looking for someone to share a ride from PVR to Sayulita with? We've created a post on our blog to help you get in touch with others who might be arriving at the same time, check it out.

You do not need a car in Sayulita as everything is within walking distance. For day trips you can use the reasonably priced Sayulita taxis. Car rentals are available, however, should you want one. Rental agencies at the airport include Avis, Hertz, National, Enterprise, Dollar, Alamo and Budget. It is best to make your reservation in advance. Only Avis and Hertz have counters in the terminal and terminal pickup and dropoff of cars. Other rental agencies take you to close-by offsite locations. Note that if you require automatic transmission, be sure to request in advance.

Driving habits differ significantly from the US, and traffic is often very aggressive. A custom particularly unfamiliar to those from the north is that in Puerto Vallarta most left turn lanes are on the right side, where you wait for a turn signal. This carries over in the countryside as well. If there is oncoming traffic delaying your turn when exiting Highway #200 onto the little Sayulita road, you are expected to pull over to the right side. Also, beware that many local drivers of trucks and other slow vehicles put on their left turn signals to indicate to cars behind them that it is clear to pass. As a result, many drivers behind you may interpret a left turn signal as an invitation to pass, even when your intent is to turn left.

Driving Directions: Sayulita is about 21 miles (35kms) north of the Puerto Vallarta airport. Upon exiting the airport take a right onto Rte 200 and an immediate left in order to be traveling north on Rte. 200. Proceed north on coastal Highway 200 following the signs towards Compostela and Tepic. After approximately twenty minutes you will pass through the town of Bucerias. Continue north on Rte. 200. Past the turnoff to Punta de Mita you should bear left, still Rte. 200, towards Tepic. The highway then becomes more winding, watch for animals grazing along the road and slow moving vehicles. You will pass signs for several small villages. After passing San Ignacio watch for a sign on your right that says “Sayulita 3km”. That is the entry to Sayulita.

Once in Sayulita, taxi and bus service to Puerto Vallarta and nearby villages is available at the town square. Sayulita taxis are priced lower than airport taxis for both return trips to the airport and day trips in the area. For getting around Sayulita you can use a taxi to get from one end of town to the other but should otherwise be fine walking.