How to get fromPuerto Escondido to Oaxaca

What to expect when visiting Oaxaca

Oaxaca (pronounced wah-haak-kah) is a city filled with colourful colonial streets, architecturally-beautiful churches, communal squares, archaeological sites, and welcoming people. It’s also famous for its stunning embroidery and textile crafts. And those are only a few of the reasons why it has landed itself on the UNESCO world heritage list.

Also called Oaxaca de Juárez, the city is well-known for its exciting food scene, offering several dishes that are unique to just the Oaxaca region. A tip when visiting Oaxaca: eat your heart out! One dish you can’t leave without trying is the stew-like Mole, best paired with the popular Mezcal — a strong upgrade from Tequila!

4 ways to get from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca

The 4 ways to travel the distance of 256 kilometers (159 miles) from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca are by: bus (3 hours), colectivo (7 hours), private transport (7 hours) and flight (1 hour 10 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 10 minutes to 7 hours and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 250 MXN (€11.70) for the colectivo.

If you value having space to stretch your legs, then the bus is a better option. Thanks to a newly-opened “superhighway” in 2023, you can now travel by bus from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca in just 3 hours.

Previously, the bus journey between these two cities took 11 hours across winding roads.

A bus ticket costs €15.40, but rates may go up during the high season (December to April).

Colectivos are usually sprinter-type minivans that take the windy and bumpy road from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca, so it’s definitely not a great option for people with motion sickness.

There are three companies operating minivans from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca: Villa del Pacifico, Service Express and Oaxaca Shuttle. These companies offer multiple departures every day, so you can buy your ticket on short notice without the worry of them selling out.

Both companies offer a similar standard of quality, but Villa del Pacifico has a few more departures a day.

Travel time with a colectivo is around 7 hours. You will have at least one chance to stretch your legs during the ride, as the colectivo will stop for about 30 minutes for food and a toilet break.

If you check out flight deals on booking platforms like Skyscanner, you’ll notice that there are no direct flights for this route. This is not because they don’t exist, but because they are operated by two small local airlines called Aerotucan and Aerovega.

A direct flight from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca is the fastest but also an expensive option.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Puerto Escondido’s International Airport is located within the city, just 5 minutes by car from the beach area and the town’s centre. You can get there on foot if your accommodation is nearby.

If you’re staying further away or carrying bulky luggage, you can also get a taxi with rates from 50 MXN (€2.30).

If you choose this option, don’t expect any big jumbo-jet that most of us are used to flying on. The planes from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido are small! If you are not comfortable with single-propeller planes, it’s probably better to avoid this and stick to any of the land options or make a layover.

With limited seats, tickets tend to sell out quickly so it’s better to book ahead. Flight prices start from 2,500 MXN (€115).

Booking with Aerotucan

Both airlines offer one departure a day. An Aerotucan flight usually departs in the morning and a ticket costs around 3,300 MXN (€155). You can easily book flights online through the Aerotucan website, or you can go to their ticket counter at Puerto Escondido Airport and book there directly.

Booking with Aerovega

Aerovega is an even smaller airline with just one 6-passenger plane. Their information online is almost non-existent and the pilot does most of the duties including the booking. Don’t worry, Don Vega is a well-known and experienced pilot in the area and many travellers recommend flying with him over Aerotucan.

To check availability and prices, you’ll need to send an email to aerovegapto@hotmail.com or message them on WhatsApp +529545880062. If you don’t succeed, it’s best to call him directly. The pilot speaks English, and his rates are often cheaper than Aerotucan, starting from 2,500 MXN (€115).

If you still don’t fancy the idea of bumpy roads and a long journey but want to fly on a bigger plane, you can consider a layover in Mexico City. This will increase the travel time to at least six hours. If you prefer this option, you can check flights on Skyscanner.

From Oaxaca International Airport, you’ll need to travel 8 km north to get to the city centre. A private transfer is the most convenient option.

You can prepay for a taxi from the taxi counter at the airport. Rates depend on where you’re headed but start at around 250 MXN (€11.70). Travel time with a taxi is around 25 minutes. Note that Uber and other taxi-hailing apps do not work in Oaxaca.

If you want a cheaper option, there is a service of shared minivans also known as ‘Colectivos’ that depart from the airport and take you straight to your accommodation. The only downside is that they may take a little longer than the taxi because they will drop off other passengers too.

The colectivo ticket office is in the airport’s main hall and a ticket costs 90 MXN (€4.20).

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca.

Rates start from €335 for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about €110 per person. Travel time is around 7 hours.

Private Transport options from Puerto Escondido to Oaxaca