Oaxaca to Huatulco: 5 Best Transportation Options
Wondering how to get from Oaxaca to Huatulco?
You’ve come to the right place. I live in Oaxaca City and I love to travel to Huatulco when friends and family visit.
There are several ways to get to Huatulco. The best one for you will depend on your budget and the amount of time you have.
You can take a short flight, a bus from Oaxaca to Huatulco, a shared minivan, hire a private driver, or even drive yourself. The right choice depends on your budget, comfort level, and how much time you have.
In this guide, I’ll break down each option starting with the most popular. From there you can decide the best way to travel from Oaxaca to Huatulco (or from Huatulco to Oaxaca, if you’re heading the other way).
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How Do I Get From Oaxaca to Huatulco?
There are five main ways to get from Oaxaca to Huatulco. The best option for you will depend on your budget and schedule.
I’ve listed each below with a link to book or to take you down the page for more details. Keep in mind, times are estimates and pricing is estimated in USD and subject to change. If there’s construction on the road, it could delay several of these by 30-60 min or longer.
- Shared Minivan (5 hours, $20)
- Hire a Private Driver (5 hours, $420+)
- Rent a Car and Drive (5 hours, $60/day plus expenses)
- ADO bus (5 hours, $25)
- Direct Flight (45 min, $150-200 each way)
Is there a new highway from Oaxaca to Huatulco?
Yes, the Barranca Larga-Ventanilla Highway connects the Central Valleys of Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido. From the end of the highway, it’s another 2 hours to Huatulco. While the new highway doesn’t cut the drive time from Oaxaca to Huatulco significantly, it is a much easier drive.
1. Take a Shared Minivan
A shared minivan from Oaxaca to Huatulco is the most economical transport option. You can reserve a seat in a colectivo van to Huatulco from Oaxaca City for 350 pesos.
The price is pretty regulated so which company you choose depends on the departure times and if you prefer the new highway or the old highway.
Last I checked, Colombo (map) leaves every hour and takes the new highway. Huatulco 2000 (map) has a few departures per day for each route.
I’ve taken vans from both companies before the new highway opened, though I couldn’t say I preferred one over the other. Both of the drop off points in Huatulco are somewhat centrally located.
2. Hire a Private Car From Oaxaca to Huatulco
If you prefer to travel from Oaxaca to Huatulco in a private car but let someone else do the driving, you can hire a private driver from Oaxaca to Huatulco.
While this sounds luxurious and expensive, it’s probably not as expensive as you’d think. And it’s a great option for groups since you can share the cost.
When you book this private driver from Oaxaca to Huatulco using the new highway, you’ll have the freedom to make stops along the way. The driver will also take a moment to get you acquainted with Huatulco when you arrive.
The price and car varies based on the number of people that are traveling, from 3 to 16 people.
Wondering where to stay? Check out my guide to the best resorts in Huatulco.
3. Drive From Oaxaca to Huatulco
If you want to take the time to explore places along the route, consider renting a car in Oaxaca to drive from Oaxaca to Huatulco along the new highway.
Plus then you’ll have the car to explore Huatulco – one of the only coastal towns where I consider it a near necessity. Any time my friends or family visit, we drive from Oaxaca or rent a car in Huatulco to explore its many beaches and waterfalls.
Another bonus of renting a car? You can stop at Playa San Agustín, one of my favorite beaches in Huatulco and a great place to snorkel.
What is the drive like from Oaxaca to Huatulco?
The drive from Oaxaca to Huatulco using the new highway is three parts. The first 1.5 hours to Barranca Larga (just past the town of Ocotlan) is fairly straight.
The next 1.5 hours you’ll drive the new highway – a modern mountain road with large curves and a few tunnels. At points along the new highway to the beach there are gorgeous rural mountain views of the area of Coatlán. And then a ocean horizon comes into view just over the road as you approach the coast.
The last two hours, you’ll be traveling east with the Pacific Ocean until you reach La Crucecita Huatulco and its famous 9 bays. It’s a mostly easy drive along this section.
Is it safe to drive from Oaxaca to Huatulco?
Generally yes, it is safe drive from Oaxaca to Huatulco. Although in my opinion, there are some issues with the new highway.
First of all – be prepared to stop for construction. The new highway opened while road work was still being completed which then became constant after a number of landslides during the rainy season.
The other thing to look out for is excessive speed and passing on a blind curve, both of which have been an issue, especially when it first opened and everyone was dying to drive the new highway!
My dad and I drove to Huatulco from Oaxaca shortly after the new highway in Oaxaca opened. But by then he was used to the local way of driving in which everyone drives half in the emergency lane so that the middle can be used as passing lanes in both directions. Fortunately the driving in Huatulco is a bit more laid back.
How far is Oaxaca from the beach driving?
It takes about 3 hours to drive to Oaxaca from the beach along the new highway which connects Ventanilla (just east of Puerto Escondido) with Barranca Larga (2 hours south of the city) through the area of Coatlán.
Driving the Old Highway to Huatulco
Some travelers prefer to take the old highway from Oaxaca to the coast, especially if they want to stop for a night or two in the mountain town of San Jose de Pacifico.
This twisty mountain road delivers gorgeous misty mountain views but it isn’t for the faint-hearted. Experienced drivers will find it fun while any passengers prone to motion sickness will spend the drive with their head between their legs.
It’s a slow and windy yet beautiful route that takes about 6 hours via Highway 175, plus factor in time for a stop at one of the cute roadside restaurants. As you near the end, take the turn off towards Pluma Hidalgo, a cute mountain coffee town. I prefer it instead of going to Pochutla.
4. ADO Bus From Oaxaca to Huatulco
If you want to take a bus to Huatulco from Oaxaca, ADO drives one route per day leaving the city at 9 am. It takes about 5 hours to get there.
The perks of taking the bus compared to the shared van is that there are bathrooms on board and the seats are more plush. Plus you can buy tickets online.
Tip – When you ride bus, it’s best to keep your valuables on your lap – not on the floor or above the seat.
5. Take a Flight From Oaxaca to Huatulco
If you simply do a search, you’d think all flights from Oaxaca to Huatulco make a stop in Mexico City. But it’s not the only option.
You can find a daily direct flight from Oaxaca to Huatulco with AeroTucan as well as a daily return flight. It’s quite expensive ($150+ each way!) with limited luggage space, so be prepared to pay extra if you have a heavy bag.
If you do decide to fly, I recommend you book this airport transfer in Huatulco ahead of time. They will wait for your flight to arrive and drop you off at your hotel in Huatulco in a shared, air conditioned van.
How to Get From Huatulco to Oaxaca
To travel from Huatulco to Oaxaca follow the same transportation options in reverse. If you’ve already rented a car to travel to Huatulco, then it probably makes sense to keep it to return to Oaxaca City. The flights from Huatulco to Oaxaca are also limited to one per day via Aerotucan.
The ADO of course does the same route in reverse. And if you prefer the budget option of a colectivo, both Colombo (map) and Huatulco 2000 (map) have terminals in La Crucecita (the main town of Huatulco).
Ready to Discover More of the Oaxacan Coast? Read Next:
Questions About Traveling Oaxaca to Huatulco
How do I get from Oaxaca to Huatulco?
There are several ways to get from Oaxaca to Huatulco. The best option will depend on your budget and the amount of time you have. Of course, the quickest options tend to be the most expensive, though not always.
How far is Huatulco from downtown Oaxaca?
Huatulco is a 5-hour drive from downtown Oaxaca using the new highway. The drive is in three parts with the highway in the middle.
Is Huatulco worth visiting?
Huatulco is definitely worth visiting if you love beautiful beaches with bays of turquoise water. The mountains in this area come right up to the coast and create dramatic cliff drops into the ocean. In addition, there are a lot of waterfalls and mountain activities to explore nearby.
How many days do I need in Huatulco?
You could easily spend a week in Huatulco, although 3-5 days should be sufficient. There are 9 bays with over 30 different beaches to explore. In addition, the nearby mountains have wonderful waterfalls and coffee farms to visit.
What is the closest beach to Oaxaca City?
With the opening of the new highway, the closest beach to Oaxaca City is now Puerto Escondido. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Oaxaca to the coast and another 30 minutes to Puerto Escondido.
