Mexico Bus Experts, Oaxaca, Zihuatanejo, Mazatlan

"Bus Experts" Report, Mexico Coast, Oaxaca, Zihuatanejo, Mazatlan 

Updated Bus Fares, April 2014 
Update Jan 2015

OCC Bus Oaxaca City to Huatulco

Bus lines, bus fares, bus routes, and bus terminals do interest us.   In fact our contributors write web pages and posts as they log thousands of miles on the bus systems of the Americas and particularly Mexico.   We do consider ourselves bus experts and will continue to include reviews of the bus lines, the bus routes, and the latest bus fares to help other travelers get around in Mexico and the Americas.

Mexico Bus Lines

No doubt in the opinion of our contributors who have traveled in Europe, Canada, the US, and South America by bus that Mexico has some of the best bus systems going.   The downside for some travelers is that the bus websites in Mexico just don't function well enough to buy tickets online.  The vastness of the mountainous country has prevented a full integration of the online booking process with the exception of ADO Bus and Primera Plus Bus.  Don't fret, however, you rarely need to buy tickets in advance except perhaps at Christmas week and Easter week.
So many first class buses cover so many bus routes that you just show up and buy your ticket.

Oaxaca Mexico, Zihuatanejo, Mazatlan

Two  of our contributors recently toured the beaches of the Pacific Coast, including Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, and Mazatlan, and reported on the bus service.  I will try to summarize here.

OCC Bus serves Oaxaca's Pacific Coast,

Oaxaca to Huatulco for 480 Pesos 

Zihuatanejo Transportation  link

Mazatlan Bus link

Oaxaca City To the Pacific Coast, First Class Bus Service

 From the Oaxaca City ADO bus station, several night buses via OCC Bus make the eight-hour trip to the Pacific Coast resort town of Huatulco for around 480 Pesos.  This bus route follows the Pan American Highway, Route 190,  over the mountains and into the coastal plains of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.  From the Isthmus the bus route heads southwest on Route 200 to Huatulco. This mountain bus route is not too severe and should not require motion sickness medication.

The OCC bus uses the bus route over Route 190,
through the southern mountains, a route to the
 Pacific Coast less steep than the Route 175 bus routes 

Route 175

Two other bus routes reach Oaxaca's Pacific Coast beaches, Route 175 to Pochutla and Route 131 through Sola de Vega to Puerto Escondido.  These two routes are served by vans out of Oaxaca City as well as second class buses. Travelers on the van routes recommend motion sickness medication because of the steep switchbacks through the mountains.  (Van 160-180 Pesos)
As one who has been sick on the van route from Pochutla to Oaxaca City I now stop at the farmacia and buy the Dramamine medication before departure.  One pill lasts the six-hour trip and the stuff does work.

Vans make the six hour trip between Oaxaca City 

and the Pacific Coast for 160-180 Pesos

Huatulco Bus Service

From Huatulco the bus options are plentiful at both the ADO first class station and the Central Station where Estrella Blanca serves first and second class buses a few blocks away.

Buses North: Puerto Escondido, Acapulco, North to Zihuatanejo

To go west along the coast to Zipolite, Mazunte, or Puerto Escondido find the Sur Bus running hourly at the ADO first class station.  (on the hour from
7 am to 8 pm)
The Sur bus stops in Pochutla and will stop at the Mazunte crossroads on its way to Puerto Escondido    (Pochutla to Puerto Escondido 42 Pesos)

Sur Bus runs hourly between Huatulco 

and Puerto Escondido from the 

ADO first class stations. 

 (7 am to 8 pm, on the hour)

Acapulco Bus

To travel beyond Puerto Escondido to Acapulco, find the Alata Mar and Futura buses, run by Estrella Blanca Bus, at the second class terminals in Huatulco and at the central bus station in Puerto Escondido.  Buses going northwest from Huatulco stop at Pochutla.   (Puerto Escondido to Acapulco via Alta Mar and Futura Buses, 395 Pesos)
 In March 2014, I took an Alta Mar bus from Puerto Escondido to Acapulco.  They are a good ride except that they don't stock paper in the lavatory.  This is usually the case with Estrella Blanca on their Futura and Chihuahuenses buses.  Difficult to call this a first class ride when you must bring your own paper.

Alta Mar Bus runs seven trips daily from  Puerto
Escondido to Acapulco. Lavatory on board, no paper
in the lav.

Futura Bus by Estrella Blanca runs Huatulco 

to Acapulco.  (two buses daily from Huatulco)

Pochutla,  Zipolite, Mazunte, San Agustinillo, Ventanilla

Sur Bus and the second class local bus reach Pochutla from Huatulco.  (28 Peso Sur Bus, running hourly on the hour, 7am to 8pm)
From Pochutla reach the Pacific Coast beach villages by taxi, (100 Pesos) collective taxi, or Camioneta. (12-15 Pesos)

Camoineta, a pickup truck with a covered bed
with wooden bench seats. A cheap but uncomfortable
ride to Puerto Angel Zipolite, and Mazunte

Puerto Escondido

Reach Puerto Escondido from Pochutla or Huatulco via 2nd class Sur bus or the local local 2nd class bus.  (no Lavatory aboard, 40 -60 Pesos for Sur Bus)
Reach Acapulco from Puerto Escondido's Central Bus Station via Estrella Blanca Futura Bus or Alta Mar Bus, seven trips daily to Acapulco Ejido Station.  (lavatory aboard, bring your own paper)

Bus Routes South

ADO Bus runs service to Salina Cruz, Tapachula, Chiapas, San Cristobal de las Casas with connection to Palenque from the ADO station in Puerto Escondido, from the first class station in Pochutla, and from the ADO station in Huatulco

Puerto Escondido Central Bus Station,  Centro Camionera.

Bus service from Pochutla, 2014 prices  (The IVA has driven the prices up of late, the final price is the third column) 

Bus service from Pochutla

Oaxaca Pacific Coast 

Related Links                                                 Google Map Huatulco
Vans
Lagoon Tours