Traveling to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with an ostomy can bring up some questions, especially when it comes to airport security. If you're planning a trip there, here's what you might want to know based on others' experiences:

- Puerto Vallarta airport is equipped with modern scanners. When you arrive, you won't go through security screening, but you will when you leave for your return flight.
- Travelers from Canada and the U.S. have reported smooth experiences flying out of Puerto Vallarta, as well as in European airports. The process is similar to what you might be used to in the U.S., involving a body scanner and sometimes a swab test.
- If you encounter a language barrier, you can simply say "ostomy" or point to your pouch and say "medico," which means "medical" in Spanish. Security staff are generally familiar with these terms.
- It might be helpful to carry a TSA notification card, which you can get for free from ConvaTec. This card explains that you have a medical device and can make the process quicker and easier.
- If you have a prolapsed or visibly large stoma, it typically doesn't cause extra issues. Showing the pouch and saying "medical" has been enough in South and Central American airports.
- The "finger swab" is a test for explosive traces. An agent will rub a small cloth over the pouch area, but they won't touch your skin directly.