Written by the Vallarta Shuttle operations team — we drive these routes every day.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is a marina village 38-45 km north of PVR airport on Federal 200 — about 38-50 minutes by private taxi. It is the gateway to Punta Mita and known for its Sunday farmers market. Private taxi from $91 USD per vehicle, all-inclusive.
How long is the transfer from PVR to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle?
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is about 38-45 km north of PVR airport via Federal 200, passing Nuevo Vallarta and Bucerías. Off-peak the drive takes 38-48 minutes. High-season Fridays and holidays add 10-15 minutes. The village sits on a protected bay with a full-service marina.
What makes La Cruz worth staying
La Cruz draws sailors, expats, and independent travelers for its protected marina, Sunday artisan and food market, and seafood restaurants on the waterfront. It is calmer than Bucerías and has a strong community feel — many visitors who base here end up extending their stay once they get to know the marina crowd and the slower pace.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle vs. the Riviera Nayarit corridor: what marina-village access costs
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle sits near the top of the Riviera Nayarit corridor, the last town before the Punta Mita peninsula. Every zone along Federal 200 gets farther from PVR — and pricier — as you move north: Marina Vallarta is the closest at 15-20 minutes, Punta Mita the farthest at 55-75 minutes. La Cruz lands well up that curve at 38-50 minutes, which is exactly why it works as a marina-village base: close enough to the airport for a straightforward transfer, far enough north to sit inside the sailing and expat community that defines the Punta Mita gateway.
| Zone | Drive time from PVR | Private taxi | Shared shuttle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina Vallarta (Jalisco) | 15-20 min | $50/vehicle | Not offered |
| Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta | 20-28 min | $53/vehicle | $16.50/seat |
| Nuevo Vallarta | 22-30 min | $58/vehicle | $20/seat |
| Bucerías | 26-35 min | $67/vehicle | Not offered |
| La Cruz de Huanacaxtle | 38-50 min | $91/vehicle | Not offered |
| Punta Mita | 55-75 min | $161/vehicle | Not offered |
Read the progression as a straight line north: every zone past Bucerías adds roughly 10-20 minutes and $20-30 to the private taxi fare. La Cruz, at $91, sits $24 above Bucerías but $70 below Punta Mita — the practical middle point for travelers who want the marina-village and sailing-community feel without paying the full Punta Mita rate. If your stay is a villa or resort further along the coast past the La Cruz town center, toward Punta Burro, that stretch is priced separately — see the La Cruz–Punta Burro transfer link below.
Is there a shared shuttle from PVR to La Cruz de Huanacaxtle?
Not currently. Vallarta Shuttle's shared, per-seat shuttle runs only to Vidanta and Nuevo Vallarta, the two zones closest to the airport on this corridor. La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is served by private taxi only, at a flat $91 USD per vehicle for up to 3 passengers.