Puerto Vallarta Rentals Blog

Follow the signs to immigration after deplaning. The line will be longer the more planes that arrive. You will need the immigration card the flight attendant had you fill out. Fill it out completely, even on the bottom, and you’ll need your passport.

After checking you out and comparing your face to the passport photo, the immigration officer will stamp your passport. You’ll be directed to a long and wide corridor that’ll take you to a large hall (with a low roof) with the luggage carousels, toilets and a money exchange with very bad exchange rates.

After collecting your bags, you’ll be directed to customs, where you’ll hand over your declaration card and push a button, the famous stop-lights. Most people get a green light and can continue their adventure. If the signal color is red, customs authorities will ask you to open your baggage for inspection. I’d been arriving for some years now without checks, but this last time I got a red light. The baggage check was fast and discreet, of course I am not bringing much nor anything suspicious either.

00:00 Arrival at Puerto Vallarta Airport
00:19 Immigration
00:29 Corridor to International Baggage Claim
00:43 PVR Baggage carrousels
00:52 After customs entrance to the Shark Tank
01:03 Entering the timeshare shark tank corridor
01:24 Exiting the PVR Airport Shark Tank
01:34 Exits to the Airport Lobby Terminal A
01:49 Puerto Vallarta terminal A lobby
01:57 Exiting Puerto Vallarta Airport terminal A

Now. It’s finally here: The Shark Tank. After going through customs, you’ll pass through some glass sliding doors and you’ll enter the area kindly dubbed “The Shark Tank”. You’ll be strolling through a corridor with counters, tables, and official-looking people in uniforms on either side. A taxi will be offered. They’ll organise a taxi for you. They’ll inquire where you’re staying and try to chat. They’ll make offers. Keep going. Avoid these people. They’re pretty, with big kind-looking smiles, they may have a sign with your resort’s name on it. So nice… They’ll assist with my trip? They’ll drive me to my resort for free. They represent X hotel or resort.  Don’t let them fool you!

They’re selling timeshares. They will take away from your most valuable asset when on vacations, your precious time!  Vacation time is sacred. Don’t let these salesmen ruin your vacation with their hard sale tactics. Just keep on walking . Say, no thanks. Or act deaf.  Say you have a condo, that you aren’t interested, and keep on walking to the automatic exit doors.

Why would they let folks inside the airport who could ruin your vacation? For some reason, people with influence and deep pockets put timeshare people inside the airport. Airport commission and timeshare businesses may have an arrangement. Who knows? But, as with drugs, just say no 🙂