Mexico City to Acapulco

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How to get from Mexico City to Acapulco

Acapulco is a popular destination on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. It is relatively close to Mexico City and therefore a local favourite beach destination. Some of its most popular beaches are Punta Diamante, Playa Caleta, La Condesa and Puerto Marques.

The beaches in Acapulco are calm and pleasant, perfect for water activities like paddleboarding and kayaking. But if they’re not enough for you, you can always take a boat to explore the lovely shores of nearby Isla Roqueta. The surf isn’t so great except for a few spots in the south by Punta Diamante.

You shouldn’t miss the traditional cliff diving show at a spot known as La Quebrada, where experienced divers jump from heights of 25m to 35m after climbing the cliff without any ropes. We recommend spending your sunsets at any of the restaurants by the bay, admiring the skyline backdropped by the sky’s changing hues.

Beyond the beaches, Acapulco also offers interesting historic and cultural spots like the Fort of San Diego, the Acapulco Historical Museum and the area around the Zocalo. If you are interested in wildlife and bird watching, Tres Palos Lagoon is home to beautiful mangroves, lush flowers, countless fish and colourful birds.

2 ways to get from Mexico City to Acapulco

Transport Mode	Duration	Costs		Availability
Bus	5.5 hours	712 MXN ($41.50)		Check Bus Tickets
Flight	2.5 hours	1,163 MXN ($67.00)		Check Flights

There are two main options to travel the 380 km driving distance from Mexico City to Acapulco: a 5.5-hour bus and a 2.5-hour flight (with transfers). Bus tickets cost around 712 MXN ($41.50) and flight tickets (with airport transfers) start from 1,163 MXN ($67.00).

We recommend taking the bus even though it takes a little longer than the flight. The bus is the cheapest option and also the most environmentally friendly. Buses from Mexico City to Acapulco are very comfortable and you can admire some impressive sights on the way.

If you want to fly, we recommend booking your tickets a few weeks in advance to get lower rates. This route from Mexico City to Acapulco has a high demand and prices tend to increase as the departure date nears. Keep in mind that when you account for the extra travel time to and from the airport and the check-in time, a direct flight won’t save you that much time in the end.

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

Mexico City to Acapulco by Bus

Duration: 5.5 hours

Cost: 712 MXN ($41.50)

Duration: 5.5 hours

Cost: 712 MXN ($41.50)

There are several direct buses leaving from Mexico City to Acapulco every day. Including transfers to and from bus stations, the entire trip takes around 5.5 hours.

The bus terminals in the two cities are easily accessible by public transport.

Step 1: Getting to the bus station in Mexico City

Duration: 30 minutes

Cost: 5 MXN ($0.20)

Duration: 30 minutes

Cost: 5 MXN ($0.20)

Buses to Acapulco depart from Mexico City’s southern bus terminal, also known as Terminal Taxqueña. This terminal is near Coyoacan, a well-known tourist area, and about 12km south of the Centro.

If you are coming from the city centre, the bus station is easily accessible by Metro. A ticket costs just 5 MXN ($0.20).

You can board the train from Zocalo or Pino Suarez station. It should be a direct ride through Line #2 going to Taxqueña, which is the last stop. The train station is located right in front of the southern bus terminal.

If you prefer, you can also use a taxi or Uber to get to the bus station. Rates from the city centre are around 155 MXN ($9.00).

Step 2: Mexico City to Acapulco by Bus

Duration: 5 hours

Cost: 657 MXN ($38.00)

Duration: 5 hours

Cost: 657 MXN ($38.00)

You can choose from two bus companies when travelling from Mexico City to Acapulco: Estrella de Oro and its luxury sub-branch Diamante.

Both bus lines offer first-class service with AC, reclining seats and separate toilets for men and women. In addition, Diamante offers bed-type seats, cafeteria on board, snacks, charging ports and individual screens.

Their daily buses depart roughly once every hour between 00:30 and 23:30. The bus trip from Mexico City to Acapulco is around 5 hours.

Bus schedules from Mexico City to Acapulco

Bus Operator	Schedules	Duration	Costs
Estrella de Oro	10 departures a day between 01:00 and 15:00	5 hours	657 MXN ($38.00) Check Bus Tickets
Diamante	10 departures a day between 00:30 and 23:50	5 hours	783 MXN ($45.50) Check Bus Tickets

If you prefer to buy your tickets at the bus station, make sure to be there at least 30 minutes before your preferred departure time. Otherwise, you may have to wait for the next trip!

Step 3: Acapulco Bus Terminal to the City Centre

Duration: 5 minutes

Cost: 50 MXN ($2.90)

Duration: 5 minutes

Cost: 50 MXN ($2.90)

Your bus trip ends at Acapulco’s Cuahutemoc Bus Terminal, which is very close to the city centre and just a few blocks from the beach. Many accommodations are just within walking distance.

If your hotel is located a bit outside of the city centre, you can also take a taxi. The rate will depend on the distance but starts at around 50 MXN ($2.90).

Mexico City to Acapulco by Flight

Duration: 2.5 hours

Cost: 1,163 MXN ($67.00)

Duration: 2.5 hours

Cost: 1,163 MXN ($67.00)

Although the two cities have their own airports, we don’t think you get to save a lot of time by taking a flight from Mexico City to Acapulco.

While the flight itself only takes a little over an hour, airport transfers make the travel time at least 2.5 hours. Add the mandatory waiting time at the airport and it’s almost as long as taking a direct bus.

Step 1: City Centre to Mexico City Airport

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: 30 MXN ($1.70)

Duration: 45 minutes

Cost: 30 MXN ($1.70)

Flights to Acapulco depart from Benito Juarez or Mexico City International Airport (MEX), which you can find 10 km east of Mexico City. You can get there in 3 ways: via Metrobus (45 minutes), Metro (50 minutes), or taxi/Uber (25 minutes).

If you are staying in the city centre, Line #4 on the Metrobus is the easiest way to get to the airport. The nearest bus stop to the main square is Republica de Argentina. A bus ticket to the airport costs 30 MXN ($1.70) and the buses stop at both Terminals 1 and 2 of Mexico City Airport.

For more comfort, you can use Uber/Taxi. Rates from the city centre to the airport start from around 300 MXN ($17.50).

If you’re coming from outside of Mexico City centre or just looking for the cheapest option possible, you can take the Metro. A ticket only costs 5 MXN ($0.20). But do note that bulky luggage is not allowed at the Metro and there are no direct trains from the city centre to the airport.

For more info, check out our detailed guide for Mexico City Airport.

Step 2: Mexico City to Acapulco by Flight

Duration: 1hr 15m

Cost: 770 MXN ($45.00)

Duration: 1hr 15m

Cost: 770 MXN ($45.00)

Flights from Mexico City to Acapulco depart around eight times a day from 10:00 to 19:00 and the flight time is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

Four airlines fly this route daily: Aeromar, Aeromexico, VivaAerobus and Volaris. The most popular is Aeromar, but you can find good deals with VivaAerobus and Volaris as well. The most expensive flights are usually with AeroMexico.

Since this route has a high demand, it’s better to plan ahead and book some weeks in advance to get the best rates.

Check Flights on Skyscanner

Step 3: Acapulco Airport to the City Centre

Duration: 30 minutes

Cost: 363 MXN ($21.00)

Duration: 30 minutes

Cost: 363 MXN ($21.00)

Acapulco’s International Airport is about 25km southeast of the city centre. To get to your hotel, you can either take a 30-minute taxi or a 40-minute minivan.

The taxi is convenient and the option we recommend if you’re travelling with at least one other person. Fares start from 400 MXN ($23.00) with the airport taxis. But we recommend pre-booking your ride via BookAway for cheaper fares and trusted drivers. With BookAway, you can get a 3-seater car from 363 MXN ($21.00).

Check Private Transfers with BookAway

If you’re a solo traveller looking to save some bucks, you can also take a minivan from Acapulco Airport to the city centre. These minivans are available 24/7 and will drop you off right at your hotel’s doorstep. Tickets cost 242 MXN ($14.00) per person.

For guaranteed seats, it’s best to book your minivan ride online beforehand via BookAway.