How to get from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido

Why visit Puerto Escondido?

Puerto Escondido is fast becoming a well-known surfing location within Central America. Its famous Mexican Pipeline is one of the longest continuous surf breaks in the world. Many experienced surfers flock to Zicatela Beach, and those still learning can spend their days trying to ride a wave at La Punta.

If surfing isn’t your thing, you can relax on the golden-sand beaches, soak up the vibrant nightlife or explore the surrounding areas. The coastal town’s welcoming bohemian vibe will quickly make you forget about all your pre-holiday stress and live every day in the moment. Exactly the reason why it‘s so hard to leave Puerto Escondido!

There are 2 ways to travel the 620 kilometres (385 miles) from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido. You can choose between the bus and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 15 minutes to 17 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by flight with tickets starting at 910 MXN ($49).

Taking a flight from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido is the fastest and easiest option. Total travel time is only 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, and that includes airport transfers. Plus, if you book early, you can find fares for less than half the price of a bus ticket!

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

Your flight departs from Benito Juarez International Airport (MEX), 10 km east of the city centre. The best ways to get there from the city centre are a 45-minute Metrobus and a 30-minute taxi/Uber.

For a combination of budget and convenience, we recommend taking the Metrobus, which only costs 30 MXN ($1.60). Take Line #4. You can ask the assistance of your hotel for the nearest bus stop or you can board one at Republica de Argentina, the closest bus stop to the main square.

If you prefer a private and fast ride, we recommend hailing an Uber with rates from 110 MXN ($5.90). But if you want to book in advance, a 3-seater private transfer costs 640 MXN ($34.50) on BookAway.

Why we don’t recommend taking the Metro to Mexico City Airport

Although the Metro is the cheapest option at 5 MXN ($0.30), it is not ideal if you have luggage. Large bags are not allowed, and the trains can get extremely crowded, especially during peak hours. Plus, no direct line goes from the city centre to the airport, so you may need to make multiple transfers.

You can check our Mexico City Airport page for a more detailed guide.

Flights from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido depart about 4x a day and flight time is approximately 1 hour 25 minutes.

Three airlines fly daily for this route: Viva Aerobus, Volaris, and Aeromexico. If you’re looking for the cheapest fares, go with Volaris or Viva Aerobus.

Airfares can go as low as 705 MXN ($38) when you book at least a few weeks ahead. Regularly check Skyscanner for the cheapest flights!

Puerto Escondido International Airport is within the city, just 5-20 minutes minutes by taxi from the beach area and the town’s centre.

If your accommodation is nearby you can consider walking, but the best option may be to take a taxi right from outside Puerto Escondido Airport. Rates start from 350 MXN ($18.90), but increase depending on the distance.

Looking for a cheaper ride? Taxis are more affordable from the main road. Fares start at 200 MXN ($10.80).

Taking a bus from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido is a good option if you prefer travelling overnight, because you won’t lose daytime in the journey. This also saves you a night on accommodation.

However, with rates from 1,290 MXN ($70), bus fares can be twice the price of a direct flight, which only takes about two hours. The journey by bus takes around 11 to 17 hours.

But if you prefer travelling by land, we highly recommend bringing a lot of water, some snacks as well as a good book or a fun playlist to make the journey more pleasant.

There are a number of bus terminals in Mexico City, but to travel to Puerto Escondido, you will be departing from Terminal de Autobuses de Oriente. Commonly known as TAPO, this bus station is 6 km east of downtown Mexico City. You can access it by public transport or taxi/Uber.

With public transport, you can take either the Metrobus for 6 MXN ($0.30) or the Metro for just 5 MXN ($0.30).

Not sure about the difference? The Metro is a train that goes underground, the Metrobus is a big bus that has its own lane on the roads and has set stops so it’s normally faster than regular buses. To decide which one is best, check whether your accommodation is near a Metrobus stop or a Metro station.

To get to TAPO Station by Metro, use Line #1. If you’re taking the Metrobus, use bus Line #4, which comes from the city centre. In both cases, you’ll need to get off at San Lazaro Station.

If you don’t want the hassle of finding your way to bus and train stations, then you might be better off taking a taxi or Uber for around 120 MXN ($6.50).

The bus companies operating from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido are ADO, OCC and Altamar. You can get bus tickets for 1,230 MXN ($67).

Most buses offer basic amenities like air conditioning, onboard toilets and Wi-Fi, although connection is not always guaranteed. Wear comfortable clothes and bring a jacket because air-conditioned Mexico buses get really cold.

The bus will drop you off at Puerto Escondido Bus Station in the city centre, a few blocks from the main beach.

Many accommodations are within walking distance of the bus station. Check if yours is nearby.

If it’s not close, the most convenient option is to take a taxi from right outside of the bus terminal. The rate will depend on the distance but starts at around 50 MXN ($2.70). If you’re heading to the main beach, Playa Principal, taxi rates start at 150 MXN ($8.10).