Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: 5 Best Transportation Options (2023)

Wondering how to travel from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido?

Well, you are in the right place. I live in Oaxaca City and love to escape to the beaches of Puerto Escondido when I need some ocean time.

There are multiple ways to travel from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido. The type of transportation that is best for you will depend on the amount of time you have as well as your budget.

The options include taking a flight (direct from the Oaxaca City airport or via Mexico City), hiring a private driver, renting a car, traveling by overnight bus, and taking a shared minivan.

Each option is detailed below (roughly from most to least expensive) so that you can decide which transport is best for you.

This article may contain affiliate links. This means if you click a link on our blog and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. For full information, please see our disclosure.

1. Take a Flight From Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido

Most flights from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido have a layover in Mexico City.

Depending on the layover length, this transport option may take as long as the overnight bus. And in fact, I don’t recommend a layover of less than 1 hour since Mexico City is a very busy airport.

One benefit of taking a flight through Mexico City is the lower price (if you book in advance). 

With a 2-4 week notice, you can book a round trip flight from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido for about half the price of a direct flight from Oaxaca (see next). 

In addition, the mid-range ticket option gives you a larger baggage allowance (10 kg/22 lbs carry-on and 15 kg/33 lbs checked).

Direct Flights Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido

You can book a direct flight from the Oaxaca airport to Puerto Escondido via Aerotucán.

This small airline has a daily flight from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido (and one daily return) for roughly 3300 pesos (about $180 USD) each way. The price does not seem to fluctuate much, though the flights are subject to selling out, especially in the high season.

Keep in mind on this flight, your baggage is limited to 15 kg (33 lbs) of hand luggage without incurring extra fees. While this is the fastest way to get from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido, it is the most expensive, and even more so when you consider transportation costs to and from the airports.

How to book a direct flight from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido with Aerotucan

• Book a direct flight via their website
• Walk into the Oaxaca City office to book (see map)
• Reserve at the ticket counter in the Oaxaca airport
• Call to book a direct flight over the phone

The other option is to book a Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido flight with Juan Vega who owns and operates Aerovega. Similarly, he also offers just one flight per day. He speaks Spanish and English. You can contact him at +52 951-516-4982.

2. Hire a Private Car From Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido

Another way to travel is to hire a private driver from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido. This luxury option is great for a group since you can share the cost. Plus, road trip!

When you book this private car from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido, you can request your preferred pickup/dropoff location and time. The driver also takes the recommended route through the mountains via highway 175.

Our driver was FANTASTIC, he stopped whenever we wanted to , managed all the crazy curves with skill and got us to our destination in good time. Highly recommend Alan!

– Viator Review (Read More Reviews)

The price for up to three people in a private car from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido is about $350 USD. If you are a larger group (up to 8) or require more luggage space, the cost is about $500 to travel in a van.

The private car is equipped with air conditioner and Spotify (get your road trip playlist ready!) This transportation option also gives you more flexibility to choose your bathroom/food break along the way.

3. Drive From Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido

If you prefer to rent a car, you can drive from Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido yourself. The drive takes about 7 hours along a windy mountain road.

There are beautiful views and glimpses of daily life through Oaxaca’s Sierra Sur mountains. And this transport option gives you the ultimate freedom to stop where you want along the way.

Is the Drive From Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido Safe?

If you are an experienced driver, the driving from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido is generally safe. The two-lane road mountain road does require some skill. Let’s look at the two highways for driving from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido.

There are two highways from Oaxaca City to the coast. The most direct route from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido is via Highway 131. However, it’s notoriously difficult with lots of potholes, vomit-inducing turns, and sometimes landslides.

Instead, I recommend taking Highway 175. It traverses through the mountains and San Jose del Pacifico (which you should absolutely visit for a night or two if you have the time). 

While this highway is also known for its sharp turns, it is a more manageable drive. It’s not as direct as the drive from Oaxaca to Huatulco but definitely worth taking this detour.

Once you arrive in Pochutla, turn onto highway 200 to drive about an hour more along the coast to Puerto Escondido.

4. Take an Overnight Bus From Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido

The ADO bus, Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido takes the least curvy highway, 190 through Salina Cruz and Huatulco.

This overnight bus takes about 10 hours to travel from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido. So if you are able to sleep on buses, this may be the best transport option for you.

The cost is about 700 pesos, although discounted tickets may be available to purchase 10 days or more in advance.

Staying in Puerto Escondido? Check out my picks for the best Puerto Escondido hostels.

5. Take a Minivan From Oaxaca City to Puerto Escondido

A shared minivan is the most economical transportation from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido. These minivans have a capacity of about 15 people with a space for baggage in the rear. 

Similar to driving yourself, there are two main highways. I recommend taking the less curvy 175 to Pochutla. It will add about an hour and a half to the trip (vs taking highway 135) and require a transfer in Pochutla. But in my opinion, it’s well worth it.

KEEP IN MIND – This transportation option does not have bathrooms like the overnight ADO bus from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido. However, there is one bathroom stop about halfway into the journey.

The travel time from Oaxaca to Pochutla is about 7 hours with a brief stop in San Jose del Pacifico. You can purchase colectivo tickets to Pochutla from Líneas Unidas (map)

Or if you’re brave enough to take the other highway, you can purchase a ticket along the more direct route from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido from either Villa del Pacífico (map) or Villa Escondida (map). The cost is 250-300 pesos for the roughly 7-hour ride.

FAQ About Transportation From Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido