Bucerias is a city in Nayarit, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Bucerias is a popular beach town on the coast of Bahia de Banderas, about 11 miles (18 km) northwest of the Puerto Vallarta airport. It has a permanent population of 13,000 people (2010), which doubles during the high season.

Understand

The tourism and expat district is the two-block by twelve-block area between the beach and National Highway 200 (MEX-200). The highway is also shown on maps and in street addresses as Blvd. Rivera Nayarit and as Av. Heroes de Nacozari.

Av. México in Bucerías showing many street vendors

A meandering city street in an arroyo that acts as a drain for rainwater bisects the town into the eastern “Zona Dorada” with the beach lined mostly with hotels and condos and the western “El Centro” with mostly restaurants lining the beach. The two zones are joined across the arroyo by the “Puente del Beso” foot bridge. A central park, a statue of an oyster diver and an extensive artisan market are near the footbridge in El Centro.

The real estate company Elements Realty Group publishes a tourism and business map that is available at its office (Av. Mexico two blocks west of the park) and Jody Tours across the street.

Get in

By plane

Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport (PVR ^IATA) in Puerto Vallarta is the closest commercial airport. Buses and taxis are available at the airport.

By taxi

You can get to Bucerias from the airport by purchasing a taxi voucher near each exit.

Surrounding areas such as Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and Sayulita will also offer taxi service to Bucerias. Make sure you negotiate a price before you leave.

By bus

At the airport, go to the highway, cross over he elevated walkway and take any bus or van with “Bucerias” on the window. Busses marked La Cruz, Punta Mita or Sayulita will pass through Bucerias.

From surrounding areas, you can take any bus with Bucerias painted on the front window.

From Puerto Vallarta, it's the easiest to take a bus to Walmart/Sam's. From the bus stop walk 100m in driving direction to the bus shelters. Take a bus with Bucerias painted on it, which costs M$20 (Nov 2021). When you pass the Mega department store in Bucerias (on the right-hand side), you will soon need to start watching for your stop, and move toward the bus exit. There are also direct buses to Bucerias from Las Glorias in Vallarta. These go non-stop to Walmart and from there continue to stop regularly. It's for the same fare.

By car

MEX 200 (Carretera Tepic-Vallarta) is the main road between Puerto Vallarta and Tepic; it links most coastal areas and crosses Bucerias.

Get around

The center of the village can be easily explored on foot.

Within Bucerias you can use the regional buses along the highway for M$10 (Nov 2021). They offer you change. Buses are so frequent that you don't need to take the microbuses. Instead wait up to one minute more and take the normal buses.

As of November 2021 Uber has sometimes during the day cars available.

A taxi within Bucerias costs M$60 (Nov 2021).

See

• 1 Splurge Art Gallery, Lazaro Cardenas 62b (corner Lazaro Cardenas and Galeana), ☏ +52 329-298-0085. 10:00-18:00. Features international artwork from established international artists, emerging local artists and showcases designer Pewter. Participates in the Thursday evening art walks. 

Do

• 1 My Mexican Kitchen Cooking School, Av. Lazaro Cardenas #11 (70 m south of Puente de Besos), ☏ +52 322-116-4493, mymexicankitchen@yahoo.com. M-Sa 18:00-21:00, closed Sundays. Hands-on cooking classes in small groups. Reservations and deposits required. US$65-85/lesson, for two people=US$110-150/lesson (Nov 2018). 
• 2 TUNA Plastic Arts — Art Classes (Clases de dibujo, pinturas y encultura), Francisco I Madero 30. Las Palmas, ☏ +52 492 492-8614, tunaceramica@gmail.com. drawing, painting (various media) and sculpture. Beginners through advanced. M$300/lesson or M$2,000/month (Nov 2018). 

In the west of the village will be built a junction of a new interstate highway. You can hike around the area and see if the construction has started already. From there it's a short walk to a fish street food at the beach called Larry's Oysters. Food includes fish tostadas from M$30 (Nov 2021). It's open Th-Tu 12-18:30.

Out of town trips

Coastal Nayarit is littered with small beach communities with casual vibes, cold beer, and great sunsets. Drive or take a bus up and down the coast to experience one or a dozen of the different beach flavors.

You can do a day-trip to Punta Mita for M$20 (Nov 2021). When leaving the bus at the Oxxo and heading to the Ocean, there it's rocky inside the water. It's said to have no rocks some walking minutes further. On the other side of the peninsula, the beach around the Four Seasons Resort is private.

You can also take a bus to Sayulita for M$28 (Nov 2021).

You can enter and leave the regional buses where you like along the route, there are no actual bus stops.

Buy

There are ATMs througout the village. BanBajio is on the highway. BanCoppel is inside the Chedraui supermarket.

• 1 Chedraui supermarket (southeast end of tourism district at Calle Las Palmas and MEX-200 highway.). Big supermarket and general merchandise center that you don't need to leave the village for. The larger Mega and Comer supermarket/general merchandise stores are one mile (1.4 km) further southeast on MEX-200. (Nov 2018) 
• 2 Post Office (Correos de Mexico) (south side of MEX-200 about a block west of arroyo; white door set back from sidewalk). Fed Ex, DHL and other courier services directly across the highway. (Dec 2018). 
• Banks. There are several banks along MX-200 Highway in tourism center. Major banks include HSBC & Santander across MX-200 from CMQ Hospital and BBVA Bancomer across MX-200 from Chedraui Market. Scotiabank is at Mega Center one mile (1.4 km) south (north side). (Nov 2018). 

Eat

Budget

If you like you can eat somewhere with less tourists and more locals around. Coming from the highway, along the street Estaciones are 1 simple traditional eateries. For example in the restaurant Takos Tecos with big quesadillas from M$50 (Nov 2021), hamburgers, tacos and more. There is a buffet of vegetables and sauces that you can add for free. And there is a 2 grilled chicken stall. It's run by a friendly older woman. Included is red rice and a tasty salad. The somewhat spicy sauce fits very good to the whole dish. With a quarter chicken it's for M$80, with two chicken legs for M$60 (Nov 2021). It's open at lunch time.

And coming from the highway, along the street Ignacio Zaragoza are also 3 simple traditional eateries. For example the restaurant Cenaduría Los Primos. With a small pozole for M$50, a big one for M$70 (Nov 2021), enchiladas for M$50 (Nov 2021), quesadillas, tostadas, tacos and volcanoes. Just opposite is a 4 street food stall owned by an older Mexican couple. They serve tasty enchiladas, sopes and tamales for M$15-18 each (Nov 2021). It's open daily 19-22:30.

5 Santo Pollote Rosticerias. You get a quarter of a whole chicken with potatoes, red rice, tortillas and a spicy sauce for M$59 (Nov 2021). The chicken is grilled dark brown and not black. It's open daily from 11:00 and can run out of chicken at 17:00 already.

Inside the Oxxo near the Chedraui is a fast food chain called 6 O'Sabor. They serve for example tacos from M$15 and taco size quesadillas from M$17 (Nov 2021). It's open every day from 8:00 to 15:00.

7 Loncheria Paz Bucerias. A local simple restaurant with tasty dishes. If not stated otherwise, the prices are as of November 2021:
• main dish including a drink– M$70
• tortas – from M$35
• burritos – from M$35
• enchiladas – M$60
• tostadas – M$50
• pellizcadas – M$25
• guiso (stew) del dia including a drink – M$70
• for breakfast: chilaquiles – from M$65
It's open from Monday to Saturday 8:00-15:30.

Locals can be found eating seafood dishes at the eateries by the market and in the main plaza.

Mid-Range

On the other side of the arroyo, closer to the plaza, there are many beach front dining options.

Splurge

There are higher-end restaurants in La Zona Dorada.

Drink

All of the beachside restaurants have full bars. Beer and sodas to go can be purchased at Oxxo or any small snack bar.

Sleep

Budget

• 1 Hostal Bucerias. With air conditioning, comfy beds, breakfast included and 7min walking to the beach. Dorms weekdays for M$200, on week-ends M$220 (Nov 2021). A private room for one person is M$400, for two persons M$460 (Nov 2021). 
• 2 Hostal Cactus. With air conditioning, private bathrooms and a hotel pool. The reception is open 24hours. The double room is from M$550 (Nov 2021). 
• 3 Hotel Loya. with air conditioning and private bathroom. It's near the center and local restaurants. A double room costs M$500 (Nov 2021). 

Mid-Range

• 4 Casa Rainbow, Calle Francisco Madero #84, ☏ +52 408-462-1696. Gorgeous three-story villa designed in traditional Mexican style. Downstairs studio rentable separately or together with the rest of the house. Sleeps 8 in all. 
• 5 Fairmont Rancho Banderas, Carretera A Playa Destiladeras Km.8.3, ☏ +52 329 291 7000. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. On Playa Destiladeras, which is renowned for its soft white sand and clear waters. 
• 6 La Posada de Bucerias, Calle Francisco Madero #59, ☏ +52 329-298-1507. Boutique hotel featuring a stylish and warm atmosphere in a peaceful and relaxing tropical atmosphere. 

Stay Healthy

3 CMQ Hospital, No. 280 (corner of MX-200 (south side) and Calle Javier Mina), ☏ +52 329 298-0717 (for both front desk and ambulances). 24 hours. Hospital with ambulance service and emergency room. Associated medical tower with specialists’ offices across street. 

Connect

3 Ciber Internet, Calle Matamoros #3, Colonia La Unidad. (north of the highway, 25 m east of the overhead walkway & 35 m north on Calle Matamoros, north side). daily 09:00-22:00. computers, internet, copies (Nov 2018). 

Go next

To the north-west

• Sayulita – 20 km. You can do hiking into the jungle. The water at the beach is shallow.
• San Francisco (Mexico) – 25 km. At a beach, surrounded by a jungle and notable for its floral diversity.
• Mazatlán – It is recommended to take a flight into and out of the city.

To the east

• Guadalajara – 310 km. You can take an intercity bus, go by carpooling or take a non-stop flight. From there further to San Luis Potosi, Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende or Querétaro

To the north-east

• Tepic – 150 km in the north-east. It's the capital of Nayarit

To the south-east

• Puerto Vallarta