Getting to La Manzanilla

La Manzanilla Mexico is located on the pacific coast of Mexico in the state of Jalisco, approximately a 3½ hour drive south of Puerto Vallarta or a 45 minute drive north of the Manzanillo Airport.

Once you’ve found the perfect La Manzanilla vacation rental it’s time to start planning the best way to get here!

As you exit off the Coastal Highway 200 at KM marker 13 and head down toward the beach, you’ll pass several houses, small tiendas (grocery stores), lavandería, and the secondary school. As you come to the end of the road, turn left and head to the main square in La Manzanilla Mexico. You are now on the main road into town, Maria Asunción. It parallels the water and will take you through the center of town to a large plaza (the Jardín) and a church.

Air Travel

Check online as many airlines offer charter services to both Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo during the high season.

The most direct route is to fly to Manzanillo Airport (ZLO). Manzanillo Airport is approximately 45 minutes south of La Manzanilla. You can rent a car at the airport from many of the well-known US car rental companies. The rentals are on-site at the airport. As of January 2026 taxis from the airport to La Manzanilla start at 1600 pesos and they are official airport taxis and are booked inside at the taxi counter. There is no direct bus service from the airport to La Manzanilla.

Airlines serving Manzanillo Airport (ZLO)- Regular service is only offered during the high season, November-March. Check with your travel agent for scheduled charter flight services from your area.

Alternatively, you can fly to Puerto Vallarta and rent a car or take a bus 3 ½ hours south along the well-maintained Hwy 200. The road between Puerto Vallarta and La Manzanilla is good but narrow and curvy. If your flight arrives in the evening, plan to stay in a hotel in Puerto Vallarta and leave the next morning. It’s best to avoid highway driving at night.

La Manzanilla by Regional bus

First class bus service is available between Puerto Vallarta and Melaque, the town just south of La Manzanilla. There is no direct bus service between Puerto Vallarta and La Manzanilla. From the PVR airport, take a taxi to the city’s main bus station, Central Camionero. Several first-class buses from Puerto Vallarta to Melaque operate daily. First-class buses don’t usually stop at the La Manzanilla entrance, you’ll need to take the bus to Melaque and a taxi back. You can ask the driver to stop at the La Manzanilla entrance but it’s not guaranteed the driver will stop and it’s a bit of  a walk into town.

From Melaque, take a taxi north 20 minutes to La Manzanilla.

Flecha Amarilla Counter – Primera Plus (First Class Service)

Pacifico/Cihuatlán Counter – Cihuatlán Plus (First Class Service)

Flecha Amarilla Counter – Servicios Coordinatos (Second Class Service)

Pacifico/Cihuatlán Counter – Transportes Cihuatlán (Second Class Service)

Local bus

Buses between Melaque and La Manzanilla run five times daily, the ride is approximately 30 minutes and you pay as you get on the bus. You can catch the bus at the main square or along the main road through town.Departs La Manzanilla: Approximately at 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. and 1:30, 3:45 and 6:45 p.m. The bus originates just south of the primary school but you can wave it down anywhere along the main street and it will stop to pick you up.Departs Melaque: Approximately at 7:30 & 9:30 a.m. and 12:30, 3:00 and 6:10 p.m. The bus station in Melaque is located near the middle of the main street going through town.Melaque to Barra: hop a bus every 15 minutes from the main Melaque bus station.From Melaque to Cihuatlan: Departs every 15 minutes in front of the central bus station between the hours of 7:00am to 8:00pm. They are called “Minibuses” and are purple and white or green and white.

Car rental

You can rent a car at the Manzanillo Airport from many of the well- known US car rental companies. The rentals are on-site at the airport and reservations are recommended but even with a reservation you are not gaurenteed a car. The same is true for Puerto Vallarta Airport. In Melaque, there is a car rental shop just north of the main bus station on the main road of town.

Taxi

La Manzanilla Taxis are usually parked next crocodile sanctuary at the end of the main road into town. It’s always a good idea to ask the price before you get in.