Taking a city bus to Los Veranos office in PV

[TMJplus1]

We're going to be in PV next month and are booked with Los Veranos (we've done their tour before and it was AWESOME!). We'd like to take the city bus to their offices, but not sure how to go about doing this. I know you can catch the bus right in front of the cruise ship dock - but which bus would we take to the Los Veranos office downtown, and where would we get off? If anyone knows, thanks!

[MSN-Travelers]

We're going to be in PV next month and are booked with Los Veranos (we've done their tour before and it was AWESOME!). We'd like to take the city bus to their offices, but not sure how to go about doing this. I know you can catch the bus right in front of the cruise ship dock - but which bus would we take to the Los Veranos office downtown, and where would we get off? If anyone knows, thanks!

 

OK … Map time – Here is a map of the port area. http://vallartainfo.com/hotelzone.html

 

You know about the bus stop just outside the port (across the street from the gas station). Since you are headed for the Los Veranos office, you can take just about any bus that comes to that stop. They will have a small sign on the windshield that indicates either “TUNNEL” or “CENTRO”. Most people hop on a CENTRO bus. They come every few minutes so take one that looks like it won't fall apart in the next 30 feet or so and isn't too crowded. 6.5 pesos per person and this is one of those times when you really should not expect the bus driver to accept USD's and don't expect the bus driver to understand any English.

 

Here is a map of the south side. http://vallartainfo.com/south.html

As this map comes up, look for the little green bus symbol (bottom center) just below the FCA Rodriguez street name. The Los Veranos office is located just above the front of the bus.

 

The CENTRO bus will take you to the south side by way of the downtown area. You can see the bus route (bus symbols) enter the south side on L.L. Vallarta, turn left at Basilio Badillo and turn left again on Insurgentes where it loops back through the downtown area and heads back toward the port. If you take the CENTRO bus, get off at the corner of Basilio Badillo & Insurgentes (Johnny’s Diner on south side map) and walk south the two blocks to the Los Veranos office along Insurgentes.

 

The TUNNEL bus will take you around the bulk of the city on the bypass and exits the “tunnel” on the right side of the south side map. The bus exits the tunnel on V. Carranza, go west to ?? where it will loop back to the tunnel on Basilio Badillo and head back toward the port. Get off at the corner of V. Carranza & Insurgentes after exiting the tunnel and walk south the three blocks to the Los Veranos office along Insurgentes.

 

We stay at the Sheraton, just north of the downtown area, and take the CENTRO bus to the south side most days when in Vallarta. We haven’t had the need/opportunity to use the TUNNEL bus since 2003 so I’m less certain about the route after it leaves the tunnel. They have been upgrading the busses lately so most the fleet should be getting better.

 

Enjoy!

[TMJplus1]

THANK YOU!!! What a fantastic and well-informed response. I really appreciate it. :)

[SOPOME]

OK … Map time – Here is a map of the port area. http://vallartainfo.com/hotelzone.html

 

You know about the bus stop just outside the port (across the street from the gas station). Since you are headed for the Los Veranos office, you can take just about any bus that comes to that stop. They will have a small sign on the windshield that indicates either “TUNNEL” or “CENTRO”. Most people hop on a CENTRO bus. They come every few minutes so take one that looks like it won't fall apart in the next 30 feet or so and isn't too crowded. 6.5 pesos per person and this is one of those times when you really should not expect the bus driver to accept USD's and don't expect the bus driver to understand any English.

 

Here is a map of the south side. http://vallartainfo.com/south.html

As this map comes up, look for the little green bus symbol (bottom center) just below the FCA Rodriguez street name. The Los Veranos office is located just above the front of the bus.

 

The CENTRO bus will take you to the south side by way of the downtown area. You can see the bus route (bus symbols) enter the south side on L.L. Vallarta, turn left at Basilio Badillo and turn left again on Insurgentes where it loops back through the downtown area and heads back toward the port. If you take the CENTRO bus, get off at the corner of Basilio Badillo & Insurgentes (Johnny’s Diner on south side map) and walk south the two blocks to the Los Veranos office along Insurgentes.

 

The TUNNEL bus will take you around the bulk of the city on the bypass and exits the “tunnel” on the right side of the south side map. The bus exits the tunnel on V. Carranza, go west to ?? where it will loop back to the tunnel on Basilio Badillo and head back toward the port. Get off at the corner of V. Carranza & Insurgentes after exiting the tunnel and walk south the three blocks to the Los Veranos office along Insurgentes.

 

We stay at the Sheraton, just north of the downtown area, and take the CENTRO bus to the south side most days when in Vallarta. We haven’t had the need/opportunity to use the TUNNEL bus since 2003 so I’m less certain about the route after it leaves the tunnel. They have been upgrading the busses lately so most the fleet should be getting better.

 

 

Enjoy!

 

 

We will be in PV for the first time, in a couple of weeks on the Mariner. This is great information for us, as we just want to do some shopping and sightseeing. Should we take the bus to the South Side to start and work our way back? I'm interested in seeing the glass factory and of course the Malecon. In catching the bus back to the port, are we still looking for CENTRO, or does the route name change, going North? Thanks!

[MSN-Travelers]

We will be in PV for the first time, in a couple of weeks on the Mariner. This is great information for us, as we just want to do some shopping and sightseeing. Should we take the bus to the South Side to start and work our way back? I'm interested in seeing the glass factory and of course the Malecon. In catching the bus back to the port, are we still looking for CENTRO, or does the route name change, going North? Thanks!

 

Not sure what or where the "glass factory" is that you refer to. We frequent Mundo de Cristal which is a glass factory outlet store. It is located at the intersection of Basilio Badillo & Insurgentes and can be found on the southside map.

 

Bus routes - I guess they have actual route numbers but most visitors will never understand what they are. Virtually all southbound buses travel to the south side. The TUNNEL and CENTRO signs just tell you how they will get there. The windshield has a number of known landmarks listed in some sort of white marker. These include "Hotel Zone", "Sheraton", "Krystal", "Walmart", "Sams", "Marina" and other resorts or known destinations. Your best bet is a CENTRO bus that lists "Krystal", "Walmart", "Sams" and/or "Marina" among the many on the windshield.

 

There are at least two different bus companies that compete for riders and race from stop-to-stop in an effort to scoop them up first. One company has a mostly blue & white color sceme, the other is mostly green and yellow or white. The blue & white buses seem to run mostly between the airport area and the south side. The green & ? buses seem to run between the local communities (off the beaten path) and the south side. Your best bet would be a blue & white bus when headed back to the port.

 

Starting on the north end of the Malecon or the south side should be based on what you plan to buy (weight/bulk), meals you may have while in town and how far you want to lug your purchases. We like to start on the south side and work back north toward toward the Sheraton (for you, the port). We do this because the taxi zone boundry is the Cuale River. If it is too hot, we have too much stuff or (maybe) had a little too much to drink, we save a whole 20 pesos by making our way north of the river before grabbing a taxi.

 

If you need a place to cool off, get a snack and be among friends ... look for Cafe Roma just outside the flea market - http://www.romamexico.com/

 

Enjoy!

[SOPOME]

Not sure what or where the "glass factory" is that you refer to. We frequent Mundo de Cristal which is a glass factory outlet store. It is located at the intersection of Basilio Badillo & Insurgentes and can be found on the southside map.

 

Bus routes - I guess they have actual route numbers but most visitors will never understand what they are. Virtually all southbound buses travel to the south side. The TUNNEL and CENTRO signs just tell you how they will get there. The windshield has a number of known landmarks listed in some sort of white marker. These include "Hotel Zone", "Sheraton", "Krystal", "Walmart", "Sams", "Marina" and other resorts or known destinations. Your best bet is a CENTRO bus that lists "Krystal", "Walmart", "Sams" and/or "Marina" among the many on the windshield.

 

There are at least two different bus companies that compete for riders and race from stop-to-stop in an effort to scoop them up first. One company has a mostly blue & white color sceme, the other is mostly green and yellow or white. The blue & white buses seem to run mostly between the airport area and the south side. The green & ? buses seem to run between the local communities (off the beaten path) and the south side. Your best bet would be a blue & white bus when headed back to the port.

 

Starting on the north end of the Malecon or the south side should be based on what you plan to buy (weight/bulk), meals you may have while in town and how far you want to lug your purchases. We like to start on the south side and work back north toward toward the Sheraton (for you, the port). We do this because the taxi zone boundry is the Cuale River. If it is too hot, we have too much stuff or (maybe) had a little too much to drink, we save a whole 20 pesos by making our way north of the river before grabbing a taxi.

 

If you need a place to cool off, get a snack and be among friends ... look for Cafe Roma just outside the flea market - http://www.romamexico.com/

 

Enjoy!

 

 

This answers all my questions -- thanks so much!!