Travel & Transport
How to get to and around Puerto.
Getting to Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido has a (small) airport, located just a 5min drive from the centre of town! There are direct flights to Mexico City for about $70 AUD one way. The next closest airport would be Huatulco International Airport which is a 2 hour drive North, however, they also only offer direct flights to Mexico City.
Another way to get to Puerto Escondido is by bus from Oaxaca City. Oaxaca City is the state's capital and a great tourism destination due to its rich culture, artisans and outstanding regional cuisine. ADO is the region's most reliable bus service and a trip from Puerto to Oaxaca City will set you back about $28 AUD and take around 3 hours. From Oaxaca City airport there are direct flights to most major Mexican and US cities including Cancun, Guadalajara, Dallas, Houston and LA.
Getting around Puerto Escondido
TAXIS
The easiest way to get around Puerto is by taxi, and there are plenty of them! Stand on any main street and one will pass every few minutes. We have found the taxi drivers in Puerto to be very friendly and helpful, although many of them don't speak English, luckily the word 'taxi' is the same in both languages.
The taxis in Puerto have a light on top of the roof, if the light is on, the taxi is available! Before entering the taxi, tell the driver where you're going and agree on a price. 'Cuánto cuesta' means 'how much does it cost'. Most drivers are fair and will give you the going rate, however, if you feel that the fare is too high just say 'no gracias'. Another taxi will be by soon.
Please note: most taxis in Puerto only accept cash. As well, the day time fares are the lowest, the same journey at night can sometimes cost double.
TAXI FARES
- As a guideline, short trips in the same neighborhood should cost around $35 MXN ($3 AUD)
- A trip across town during the day, for example Centro to La Puna, $50 MXN ($4.50 AUD) this could spike to $80 MXN ($7.25 AUD) at night.
- Only authorised airport taxis are allowed to operate from the airport and so their fares are a bit higher. Near the airport exit you'll see a booth marked 'taxi', tell the agent where you want to go and they will tell you the price. These are fixed rates and cannot be negotiated. A private authorised airport taxi costs about $200 - $300 MXN ($18 - $27 AUD) depending on where you're going.
- A cheaper option from the airport is to grab your bags, walk out of the airport property and down the road, there will be regular taxis parked on the main street outside.
COLECTIVOS
Uber does not operate in Puerto and Didi is very unreliable, however, there are colectivos! They are public shuttles that drive predetermined routes for cheap and you can just hop on and hop off. Colectivos can be flagged down from the side of the road, they have signs on them indicating where they go to and from. You can ask the driver if you're not sure. They have a bell to ring when you want to get off, if you're not sure of your stop, let the driver know before you get on. Colectivos cost $8 MXN (70 cents AUD) which you pay to the driver once you get off.
RENT A CAR OR SCOOTER
If you are staying in Puerto for a substantial time or plan on visiting some surrounding towns, renting a vehicle is a viable option. Prices vary depending on the time of year or the rental company.
USEFUL LINKS
