Getting to Costalegre: Airports, Highway 200 and Transfers

Getting to Costalegre takes more planning than most Mexican beach trips, and that is part of the point: the coast stays quiet because it is not next to a big airport. Travelers choose between two main gateways, Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta, and then face a drive on Federal Highway 200, the two-lane road that links the coast. The right choice depends on where you are staying, which flights you can get, and how much of the journey you want to spend on the road.

Manzanillo: the closer airport for most of the coast

Manzanillo-Costalegre International Airport (ZLO), operated by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, lies north of the city of Manzanillo in the state of Colima, at the southern end of the Costalegre. For Tamarindo, Tenacatita and Barra de Navidad it is the obvious gateway, and for Careyes and Chamela Bay it is usually the closer one: Careyes sits at kilometre 53 of Highway 200 counted from Melaque, near the southern end of the route. The trade-off is choice: Manzanillo has far fewer flights than Puerto Vallarta, and routes vary with the season, so check what is operating on your dates before you plan around it.

Puerto Vallarta: more flights, longer drive

Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) has many more domestic and international connections, which often makes it the easier or cheaper place to land. For the northern Costalegre, including the Cabo Corrientes coast, it is the natural gateway. For Careyes and the central coast, it means a long drive south on Highway 200, which climbs inland over the hills before returning to the sea. Many travelers accept the drive in exchange for a direct flight; others connect through Mexico City or another hub to reach Manzanillo instead. For the Puerto Vallarta end of the journey, see getting to Puerto Vallarta.

The new Costalegre airport

The State of Jalisco inaugurated a new airport at Chalacatepec, in the municipality of Tomatlán, in October 2024, with a 2,200-metre runway intended to serve the region. It is operated by the state government. Whether it has scheduled or charter service on your dates is something to confirm directly before relying on it; for most travelers, Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta remain the practical choices.

Getting to Costalegre by road: Highway 200

Highway 200 is the only main road along this coast. It is paved and generally in good condition, but it is two lanes for most of its length, with curves through the hills, slow trucks, villages with speed bumps, and animals on the road in rural stretches. Plan to travel in daylight, allow more time than a navigation app suggests, and avoid arriving tired after a late flight.

• Pre-arranged transfers are the usual choice for villa guests: the driver knows the estate gates and access roads, and can bring a van for luggage.
• Rental cars give freedom for day trips, but you will rarely need to drive once you arrive, and gated estates often provide golf carts.
• Private aviation is used by some visitors; ask your villa or estate which airstrips and handlers they work with.

Combining Puerto Vallarta and the Costalegre

A long drive becomes easier when it is part of the trip rather than the end of a travel day. Some travelers fly into Puerto Vallarta, spend a night or two in the city, and set off south the next morning with the whole day ahead of them; others do the same in reverse on the way home. It also opens up a two-center trip: the restaurants and energy of the city first, then the quiet of the coast. For the city end, see where to stay in Puerto Vallarta.

If you arrive through Manzanillo instead, the drive north is usually shorter, and the airport is also the nearest for day trips to Barra de Navidad at the southern end of the coast.

Planning the arrival day

• Choose flights that land early enough to finish the drive before dark.
• Share flight numbers and passenger numbers with your transfer company and villa.
• Ask the villa to stock groceries and water before you arrive, since shops along the way are limited.
• Carry some Mexican pesos for tolls and small purchases.

Getting to Costalegre is a half-day journey for most visitors, and worth planning as carefully as the stay itself. Once there, most people stay put. To choose where, read where to stay in Costalegre; for the estate most travelers head to, see Costa Careyes.