Want to travel from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte (or vice-versa)?
We've done it and are happy to share the step-by-step details on the main route with public transport, as well as an overview on the costs of taxis, transfers, and hire cars.
Some of you will prefer the experience and price of the former (1.5-2 hours, M$75pp) , whilst others will prefer the speed and convenience of the latter (1 hour, approx M$800+)
If you're flying into Puerto Escondido International Airport, and heading straight over to Mazunte, we've got specific advice on that as well.
The good news? If you want to carry on just a little further along the road to San Agustinillo or onward to Zipolite, you follow the exact same route as from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte.
At the end of the post, we've shared a breakdown of how to do the journey in reverse - from Mazunte to Puerto Escondido - as it is a bit more fiddly, especially if you need to get to the airport in time for a flight.
Vamonos!
How To Get From Puerto Escondido To Mazunte
Public Transport
There is no direct bus from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte, so you need to take a combination of bus / minivan, and then connect to the regular colectivo pick-up trucks that will take you to Mazunte.
GO TO HIGHWAY 200
The first step is to make your way to the Highway 200, the main coastal road which passes through the centre of Puerto Escondido.
This has got the main ADO/OCC bus terminal (maps), as well as the colectivos you need heading east to Pochutla.
How you get to Highway 200 depends on where you're staying in the popular beach town:
El Centro & Playa Principal. You can easily walk it in 5-15 minutes
Manzanillo. Walk it in about 20 minutes
Zicatela. It's a 30-40 minute walk, so we'd suggest grabbing a taxi for about M$30
La Punta. Definitely too far to walk. You can hop in a taxi for about M$50, or grab a colectivo from the highway. However, as we explain later, you may be better just staying on the highway and waiting for the correct bus to pass.
Bacocho. It's just under 2km away, so it may be better to grab a colectivo or a taxi
Planning your trip and not sure the best neighbourhood for your travel style? Find all the answers and personalised recommendations in this post: Where To Stay in Puerto Escondido.
TRAVEL FROM PUERTO ESCONDIDO TO SAN ANTONIO / EL CRUCE
Once you're on Highway 200, you have two options, both of which will drop you off in the same place for the onward connection to Mazunte:
Option 1 (the one we recommend) | Go to the Transportes Delfines stop at the side of the main highway. It's easy to find, on the same side as Hotel San Juan, and a short walk from the huge CHEDRAUI supermarket - here on Google Maps.
Tip: as Mazunte has unpredictable and often out-of-service cash machines, it's not a bad idea to withdraw cash from the 7+ ATMs inside the supermarket and stock up on suncream or other toiletries).
Transportes Delfines offers the most frequent and cheapest transport service from Puerto Escondido to Pochutla. Operating with small, quick minivans and larger buses, their fleet is always white with a double blue stripe on the side, but some also have more visible logo/branding.
You want to get on any service heading to Pochutla, but must tell the driver that you want to get dropped off at San Antonio or 'El Cruce para Mazunte' (more on that later)
Departures are not timetabled, but run approximately every 15-30 minutes from 6am to 7pm (slightly earlier and slightly later too, but we wouldn't risk it).
The ticket should cost about M$55 per person, though the driver may add a little bit more on first ask...Cash only, paid direct as you board or get off.
Your luggage may go on the roof if taking the minivans, which sit about 16 passengers.
You want to get dropped off at the side of the highway at San Antonio / El Cruce - the specific drop-off point is here on Google Maps, near the PEMEX petrol station, and it's a good idea to keep an eye on this as you approach as there may not be too many others disembarking there.
Travel time will be anything from 45 minutes to just over an hour, depending on how many pick-ups there are along the way. The road is in good condition, and the Defines drivers tend to go quite quickly in our experience.
Plan // The Best Beaches in Oaxaca
Option 2 | The alternative option is to go to the ADO/OCC bus Terminal.
It's also on the highway (here on Google Maps), just 100 metres or so across the road from the Transportes Delfines pick-up point.
These are the larger inter-city buses, and you can buy a ticket for the next service to either Pochutla or Huatulco. However, you shouldn't pay full price (M$90-150), as you also only want to get dropped off San Antonio/ 'El Cruce'.
That ticket is not available to book online as it’s not an official stop.
As above, when boarding, make sure to confirm with the driver that you want to get dropped off at San Antonio / El Cruce' para Mazunte (maps), and it's a good idea to keep an eye on this as you approach as there may not be many others disembarking.
This option is far less frequent, and generally slower, however it will afford you more space and a more comfortable ride for the hour or so you're on the bus.
If going for it, we suggest checking departures on the ADO/OCC website before turning up.
Travel Tip // Rather than go all the way into the centre of Puerto, you could also flag the Transportes Delfines vans down on the side off Highway 200, as they go in the direction of Pochutla. This may be more convenient if you're based in La Punta but obviously runs the risk of one or two full vans passing you by as everyone got on at the start point...
Standing at the side of the highway increases the chances that a passing colectivo taxi (shared taxi) is passing by with a space. However, we were quoted M$80 per person on the journey back to Puerto, so it may be better just to wait it out for a cheaper van if you're on a budget and not in a rush.
TRAVEL FROM SAN ANTONIO / EL CRUCE TO MAZUNTE
The San Antonio / El Cruce crossroads (maps) is a well-established stop on the Highway 200 route from Puerto to Pochutla; whether you take the minivans or the big buses, this is where you want to jump off for your Mazunte connection.
However, there's not much here at the side of the road except a fruit and veg store, the petrol station, and an OXXO supermarket (maps), and you could be forgiven for thinking you've gone wrong somewhere.
If you can see that OXXO supermarket though, you're in the right place for reaching Mazunte!
Simply continue on to the corner outside OXXO, where Highway 175 intersects with Highway 200, and wait for a converted pick-up truck to turn in. These are the colectivos or camionettas that run up and down Highway 175, linking locals and travellers alike with Mazunte, San Agustinillo and Zipolite
Flag it, confirm they're going to Mazunte, and hop in the back to put your luggage on the internal rack and (hopefully) grab a space on the bench. If there's no room, you can choose to hang on to the back, or wait around for the next one.
Travel time will be about 20-30 minutes to cover the 8km, and it's around MX$15-20 per person. Pay the driver directly, usually when you get off.
If you've already booked your accommodation in Mazunte, and it's not in the centre, the driver is able to drop you off earlier / later if you know precisely where it is or it’s a well-known place. However, sometimes this can result in more confusion than it's worth, but thankfully Mazunte ain't that big to walk around with your backpacks or luggage (unless you’re staying by Playa Mermejita).
Otherwise, if you're turning up and looking for accommodation, the best place to get dropped off is at the top of Calle Rinconcito in the centre. A few recommendations are:
· This lovely Airbnb amongst the trees and colourful birds is where stayed
· Corazon Mazunte is collection of five eco-cabins amongst the Mazunte mangroves
· Cabañas Amaia offers four modern cabañas within lush private gardens
· Hostal Alma Turquesa for a nicer than average hostel
For more information, inspiration, and travel tips, check out our Mazunte travel guide.
If your final destination is either San Agustinillo or Zipolite, simply carry on in the same colectivo!
Alterantive // Space can sometimes be tight on the coastal colectivos, especially if you've got a lot of bags. If you're a large group, or there's a bunch of you waiting at the crossroads, by all means negotiate with a passing taxi driver who offers. Expect to pay around M$120-M$160, and always double check the fare before setting off.
Take A Taxi
It's about 65km from the centre of Puerto Escondido to Mazunte, but many of the local taxis won't take you there. The reason, in brief, is that a lot of taxis in the state of Oaxaca run set routes / zones, designated by their colour and the indecipherable logos.
The best option would be to ask your accommodation to arrange one for you at a fixed price, and if there's a group of you at a hostel, or you're travelling with friends or family, this may be a good idea.
In terms of prices you’ll encounter, rates we've seen online are in the range of M$1000 - $1500 ($58-$90 USD), but the final price with a hailed cab would depend on season and your negotiation skills.
If cost isn't an issue, and convenience of going door-to-door is more important, then our main advice is to make sure you triple check the rate before agreeing to anything and getting in the cab!
There's no Uber or other ride-sharing app operating in Puerto, and we couldn't 'source a private transfer that you can book online either I'm afraid.
If you do take a transfer or taxi from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte, please do share the costs and any useful info in the comments so we can keep the post as helpful as possible for other travellers like you.
Read // The12 Best Beaches in Oaxaca
Hire A Car in Puerto Escondido
In comparison to elsewhere in the state, this would be a pretty straightforward drive and having your own wheels for a few days in Mazunte would open up the coastline too.
So, it’s really not a bad idea at all - especially if you’re a group of friends or family here for a shorter vacation and don’t want to rely on tours & public transport.
You’ll find a few local car hire companies in Puerto Escondido, but the main companies are all based at the airport. We recommend looking + booking via Rentalcars.com to get the best deals.
There are also various agencies renting scooters and motorbikes in Puerto as well, and these are feasible option if you plan to do this as a day trip or explore the coast independently over the course of a few days - we’ve shared more in 13 Wonderful Things To Do in Puerto Escondido
For either option, please just ensure you have the necessary experience and insurance coverage.
Plan // 9 Essential Tips For Car Rental
Puerto Escondido Airport to Mazunte
If you're flying into Puerto, and either skipping the town or saving it until the end of your trip, then you have a few options:
1. There are two official taxi / transfer companies in the airport - Transporte Puerto Escondido Dreams and another one - who will do shared or private transfers to Mazunte. We only enquired about the cost to Zipolite (M$1500), so Mazunte would likely be in the M$1,000-1,200 range.
If you want to save a bit of cash, you can try to get others to share + split the total cost with you.
Alternatively, walk out of the airport for a few minutes and you'll find a bunch of official taxis (but not airport official taxis) who will take you for cheaper if they're willing to take the fare.
2. You could take the official or ‘unofficial’ official taxi for 3km from the airport, and then catch the bus or minivans to Mazunte outlined earlier in the post.
3. Lastly, you could simply hire a car for your trip. As mentioned, there are several franchises based at the airport and, if you're planning to visit lots of the best Oaxacan beaches on a shorter vacation before flying back from the same airport, then this wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
Check rates + availability on Rentalcars.com.
MAZUNTE TO PUERTO ESCONDIDO
FLIP IT & REVERSE IT
If you're reading this and going back the same way, or you're starting out in Mazunte, then all of the above still rings true.
There are however a few points to bear in mind:
· If you are travelling to the airport for a specific flight, you need to factor in an hour or so extra to the journey times to avoid a panic or missed flight. In many instances, such as an early morning flight, it will 100% be worth just doing a direct taxi instead from Mazunte to Puerto.
· You can catch the colectivos from a few places in Mazunte, but they do prefer to pick up in specific spots rather than have people spread out across the centre. Just ask a local or your accommodation ‘dónde está la parada de los colectivos que van a El Cruce’
· If there's a group of you with a lot of bags, or a bunch of travellers are waiting for the same colectivo to the San Antonio/El Cruce crossroads, then do consider whether it's going to be easier and convenient to grab a taxi together to at least the crossroads, or even as far as Puerto.
This is a form of transport that all locals depend on, and there will be occasions where the right thing to do is prioritise them having a seat or space, especially if you’re not in a rush.
· Our lovely little jungle Airbnb was outside the centre, and was quite packed by the time it arrived. There was room for our bags and Emily in the back, but Andrew had to hang off the back for the journey - fun experience, but not something that some travellers will be comfortable with. This means you may have to wait 10-15 minutes for the next one to pass.
· On the journey from Mazunte to Puerto Escondido, you’ll dropped off at the corner of the Oxxo at San Antonio / El Cruce. Once you’ve got your bags and paid the driver, you have to cross the road (carefully) and wait outside the fruit & veg stall (maps)
· The large buses will pass here, as will the Delfines buses and minivans. In our experience, some of them will already be totally full or have hardly room left. As they're so frequent, don't feel obliged to get on the first one if there's only one cramped seat left; they really do like to squeeze people in like sardines, and there'll be another one along the way soon.
· The first Delfines driver who stopped quoted us M$70 per person, but the one we went with later on charged M$55
· Shared colectivo taxis will also pass by here, and may offer you and others waiting a run to Puerto Escondido. The rate we were quoted was M$80 per person, which wasn’t too bad, and it would have been a more comfortable ride than the packed Delfines minivan which stopped several times along the way and went at breakneck speed.
· All the buses and vans will drop you off by the main bus terminal in Puerto Escondido (maps). From there, you will have to walk, take a colectivo truck, or take a taxi to your accommodation in Puerto - the best way depends on the neighbourhood you’re staying in. We’ve share more advice and recommendations in this post: Where To Stay in Puerto Escondido
· The taxis will usually drop you off in the centre of Puerto, but one Mexican guy waiting next to us was going to the airport, so he negotiated for the taxi to take him there for a bit extra.
· For airport runs, note that the ADO/OCC buses and the Delfines minivans do not continue on to the airport. Instead, they will drop all passengers off by the main bus terminal in Puerto Escondido (maps), and you’d have to then find a taxi to take you the extra 3km.
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