Getting there & around

Getting there

By air. The nearest airport is Manzanillo (ZLO), roughly a 45-minute to one-hour drive south in Colima state. It has a modest schedule of domestic and seasonal international flights. From there, a prearranged shuttle or taxi is the simplest way in. Puerto Vallarta’s airport is the bigger hub but sits about three to four hours up the coast, so only use it if the flights are much better.

By bus. Long-distance buses connect Guadalajara to the Barra–Melaque area in roughly five to six hours, and coastal services run down from Puerto Vallarta. Buses generally arrive in Melaque, from which Barra is a very short taxi or local bus hop. (Times are approximate; check current schedules.)

By car. Driving from Guadalajara takes around four to five hours, part of it on winding mountain and coast road, so allow daylight. The coast highway from Puerto Vallarta is scenic but slow and curvy.

Getting around

Once you are here, you barely need wheels. Barra town is walkable end to end in about 15 minutes, and the malecón, beach and boat dock are all central.

• Lanchas. Small boats are the “taxi” across the lagoon to Colimilla and the marina. Agree the fare before you get in.
• Local buses and taxis. Cheap, frequent hops link Barra and Melaque throughout the day.
• A car is only worth it if you plan day trips down the coast; in town it is more nuisance than help.