Flying from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR): what you need to know
Puerto Vallarta is two hours ahead of Santa Barbara and follows the UTC-6 timezone.
To ensure you get on your SBA to PVR flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Be prepared for bigger queues during popular months like October. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will give you ample time for security and boarding.
If you want to explore another city along the way, just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Puerto Vallarta Airport. These are the most popular stopovers between SBA and PVR:
Los Angeles International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport
Handy information about Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)
The address for SBA is 500 Fowler Rd..
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport earns top marks for its on-time performance. 84% of flights that depart SBA reach their destination without delay.
To get to Santa Barbara Municipal Airport from central Santa Barbara, it takes around 10 minutes by car. Of course, this depends on traffic conditions. It's approximately 6 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Planning to take public transport? Expect a trip time of around 25 minutes.
Have an early flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Puerto Vallarta Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these hotels close to SBA:
Arriving at Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR)
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Puerto Vallarta Airport flight. Reserve one of these accommodation options near PVR instead:
Follow your own route with a Puerto Vallarta Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from America, MEX or Europcar and chase adventure across Puerto Vallarta and beyond.
To get the best deal, reserve your ride from Puerto Vallarta Airport about three weeks ahead.
Getting from Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) to central Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta Airport is roughly 11 kilometres from central Puerto Vallarta. Driving there takes about 20 minutes.
Travelling on public transport takes roughly 35 minutes.
When to fly to Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR)
April is the most popular month for flights from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Puerto Vallarta Airport. To skip the crowds, travel to Puerto Vallarta in September.
When reserving your flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Puerto Vallarta Airport, consider the kind of weather you like. May is the warmest month in Puerto Vallarta, with the temperature ranging from 18ºC to 34ºC.
February sees average temperatures of between 14ºC and 30ºC. Search for cheap tickets from SBA to PVR around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
Explore more of Mexico
You've visited Puerto Vallarta, now it's time to discover more of Mexico. Journey around 193 kilometres east to Guadalajara to check off its popular sights. From Guadalajara Cathedral to Temple of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Mural Gigante FRIDA KHALO, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 370 kilometres east of Puerto Vallarta, León de los Aldama is another favourite stop in Mexico. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Plaza Principal de León, Museo de Arte E Historia de Guanajuato and Templo de Santo Domingo.
