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Practical Information for Travelers

Getting There and Away

Best Airfare Finder:
	Leaving from:
	Going to:	Adults:

By Air:

International travelers will likely have to transit through Mexico City first. Once there, you can book a plane from one of the following airline:

Mexicana ++52 (561) 516-8414. on-line reservations.
Aviacsa ++52 (561) 514-5123
AeroCaribe ++52 (561) 516-0226 or (951) 660-88. Connects Oaxaca City with Huatulco and Pto Escondido daily. web. Use mexicana.com for on-line booking.
AeroMéxico ++52 (561) 516-3765. Use mexicana.com for on-line booking.
Aero California ++52 (561) 514-8507
Aeromorelos ++52 (951) 609-74. Connects Oaxaca City daily with both Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel.

A few airlines have opened routes to Huatulco from abroad: Mexicana (from Los Angeles), American Airlines (from Dallas) and Canadian World of Vacation (from Toronto). From November to April, a few charter companies from Canada and the United States fly directly to Huatulco at a reasonable price.

Tips: Changing or cancelling an air ticket reservation can be expensive in Mexico. Adjusting your flight date may cost 25% of the ticket price. Arrive early at the airport: overbooking is common. Try to carry on your lugguages and avoid checking in valuable goods.

By Bus:

The 3 classes of bus

	Luxury "Primera Plus" $50
	First Class $40
	Second Class $20

Oaxaca to Pto Escondido fare, US$

Within Oaxaca, using the bus will proabably be your first choice if you are not on a tight schedule. A host of lines connect virtually every town and most villages in Oaxaca. If possible, take one of the luxury express coaches that speed between major towns. All these buses have plush reclining seats air-conditioning, on-board toilet and video. First-class cost slightly less, and are often as confortable, but can be much slower as the driver may stop en-route to take or drop off passengers. These buses are safe and usually well maintained.

You can either reserve by phone, or buy it directly at the station. Luxury and first-class lines are rarely sold out. If possible, request a reserved seat number in the front of the bus (seats numbered 1 to 30 in most buses). The rear seats are occupied by smokers and often nosier passengers.

The major bus line serving and criss-crossing Oaxaca are:

ADO GL Busline: Serves Mexico City and most of Mexico's Gulf Coast, from Tampico to the Yucatan. ++52 551 332 424, or 01 (800) 702 8000 inside Mexico. web.
Cristóbal Colón Busline: Routes from/to Morelos, Chiapas, Estado de México, Puebla, Veracruz, Guerrero. Mexico D.F., Terminal TAPO, Terminal Sur (Taxqueña), Terminal Central del Norte. informes@cristobalcolon.com.mx. web.
UNO: Only serves Oaxaca and the east of the state, either from/to Mexico city, Yucatan and the east coast. This line has an excellent reputation for comfort and timeliness. Tels: ++52 551 332 424, or 01 (800) 702 8000 inside Mexico. info@uno.com.mx. web.

Second-class buses should be avoided, except if you are on a very tight budget, or you really enjoy cultural immersions. Seating is first-come, first-serve on these lines, and you may well end up spending the whole trip standing. This said, they go much faster than first class buses, especially between Oaxaca City and the pacific coast. Another advantage of second-class buses is that you can open the windows and get some fresh air.

From Mexico City, first class, air-conditioned bus service operated by ADO leave every hour from Mexico City's Terminal Oriente (east) Bus terminal, also called TAPO (Metro station San Lazaro). The six-hour trip costs about $30, and crosses many unique landscapes. Cristóbal Colón bus lines also offer direct luxury routes, albeit less frequently. If you take another line, make sure the bus uses the new highway number 135D. Using the old highway (#190) takes twice as long.

Traveling Around

Car Rental

Renting a car in Mexico is generally easy and trouble-free, especially if you reserve in advance and use a major credit card. Quoted rates are double what you would expect to pay in the US, but rental agencies are often flexible, especially in low season.

Remeber though that driving in Mexico can be very challenging. Roads in Oaxaca are not as crowded as in Mexico city, but potholes are more numerous. Always watch-out for the unexpected.

In Oaxaca City:

Alamo ++52 (561) 514-8534
Avis ++52 (561) 511-5736
Budget ++52 (561) 515-0330 on-line map and reservation
Hertz ++52 (561) 516-2434

In Huatulco:

Advantage Rent-A-Car Blvd Santa Cruz #309, C.P. 70989 (at the Hotel Castillo Huatulco). Tel: ++52 (958) 587-1379. on-line map and reservation.
Budget ++52 (958) 587-0010, 587-0034. Calle Ocotillo esq. Jazmín. Airport location: (958) 581-0036. Toll-free reservations: 91-800-70017 (from Mexico), (800) 472-3325 (from the U.S. & Canada)
Pesos Rent a Car ++52 (958) 587-0070. In the Zocalo of La Crucecita.

In Puerto Escondido:

Budget ++52 (954) 582-0491 (airport); (954) 582-0312 (Hotel Posada Real); (954) 582-0315 (Downtown); 91-800-70017 (From Mexico). on-line map and reservation.

Taxis

Taxi are cheap and safe. By far the best way to move around within a city. Oaxaca's Taxis are not metered, so usually better to agree on the fare before boarding. Hotels can call a taxi, and most post agrred-upon taxi rates in their lobby.

From the Airport:

The airport is located on Oaxaca's south side, around 20-30 minutes from downtown by taxi (around $3 each way).