This is my most asked question about the Oaxaca coast – how to get there?! That’s because this remote area is surrounded by rugged mountains and there just isn’t a lot of info online. So I want to share what I’ve learned over the last few years about all the ways you travel Oaxaca to Mazunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite. I hope this clears up some confusion and answers how to get to Mazunte (and the other beach towns!)
I wrote a similar post about how to get from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido. But you will take a different route if your trip is Oaxaca to Mazunte, San Agustinillo, or Zipolite. I’ll explain below and give you all the options.
If you aren’t sure which Oaxaca beach you want to visit, check out my Oaxaca coast guide for the best beaches in Oaxaca for each kind of travel style.
Find lots more links to Oaxaca coast blogs at the end of this post.
Love Mexican food? Join our Oaxaca retreat + food experience – Milpa + Mesa below.
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How to Get to Mazunte, San Agustinillo, Zipolite from Oaxaca: Method 1
Overland – Oaxaca to Mazunte/SanAgustinillo/Zipolite
If you plan to go to the smaller towns of Mazunte, San Agustinillo or Zipolite (rather than Puerto Escondido), there is a different route to take from Oaxaca. You will want to take a shuttle that runs to or through Pochutla, as that is much more direct (and actually is a shorter trip than Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido!)
You’ll want to keep two things in mind when making an overland trip from Oaxaca to Mazunte/San Agustinillo/Zipolite:
- This is a very windy mountain road with lots of switchbacks. Not quite as windy as the route from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido, but won’t be comfortable for those prone to car sickness. Or at least consider bringing dramamine if you have a sensitive stomach.
- There is the possibility of running into a bloqueo. Bloqueos are road blockades that pop up around the state due to political protests. It’s not likely that this will happen, but there is no way to predict it. I once got stuck in a pretty tough one overnight on the route from Puerto to Oaxaca (not this route). It was frustrating and uncomfortable. However, it hasn’t stopped me from taking the overland routes. You’ll have to decide how comfortable you are with the above two factors.
There are many of passenger vans that do this route. Almost all stop in Pochutla, and then you would take a local pasajero (a shared taxi-like truck) or a taxi to your final destination.
However, there is a company that runs a shuttle from Oaxaca to Zipolite, a beach town. This will get you much closer to your final destination. If you are staying in Mazunte or San Agustinillo, it’s only about a 10-20 minute drive further by taxi.
How to Get to Mazunte, San Agustinillo or Zipolite from Oaxaca Overland:
Eclipse 70
Armenta y López 504
These are usually 12 seat passenger vans. Head to the station in the centro (see map above) to inquire about schedules and prices. As of January 2019, the cost was approximately 240MXN.
If you are doing the reverse trip, below is the station in Zipolite, including photos of the current schedule as of January 2019 – from Zipolite to Oaxaca.
Total Trip Length: about 7-8 hours
Long Bus Ride – Oaxaca to Huatulco:
One other overland option is to the a longer first class bus from Oaxaca to Huatulco. This ADO bus takes about 8-9hours and is a bit more comfortable. You can check here for schedules and prices. Once you reach Huatulco, you will need to follow the directions below to get to your final destination of Zipolite, Mazunte or San Agustinillo.
Total Trip Length: 9-11 hours
How to Get to Mazunte, San Agustinillo, Zipolite from Oaxaca: Method 2
Flight – Oaxaca to Mazunte/San Agustinillo/Zipolite
If you prefer to fly, you can either fly to Puerto Escondido or Huatulco. The little beach towns of Mazunte, San Agustinillo and Zipolite are about equal distance between the two airports. Once you reach either of the airports, you will need to head to the bus station to catch a bus going in either direction or you can take a taxi direct.
Flying Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido:
There are two small airlines, AeroTucan and AeroVega that make this route that lasts about 30-35 minutes.
They have a website where you can search and book tickets.
Prices are currently around 2550MXN one way. This will vary depending on season and day. You can book and pay online.
I took an AeroTucan flight from Oaxaca city to Huatulco, but this is the same plane and very similar flight that they run into Puerto Escondido.
Keep in mind that these are very small planes with one pilot and a single propeller. You should be comfortable with this type of travel. The views are beautiful and it’s a short ride.
I found this blog post helpful with first hand experience and photos. (Note: the AeroTucan website has been updated and you can book online now)
AeroVega:
AeroVega is an even smaller plane, and a small business run by the pilot himself. You can make a reservation by calling or messaging below and paying him in cash. He speaks English.
At the time of this blog in March 2019, he is charging 2100MXN one way.
You can call or send a Whatsapp message: +529545880062
I found this blog post super helpful for info about the flight and pictures. I also contacted the airline to double check current prices and contact info.
After flying into Puerto Escondido, you have two options to make it to your final destination – bus or taxi.
Final Leg – Bus:
You can take a taxi the short distance to the first-class ADO/OCC bus terminal in Puerto Escondido. Once there, follow my guide about how to get from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite.
Or – Taxi:
A second option would be to take a taxi directly to your final destination in Mazunte, San Agustinillo, or Zipolite. Airport taxis tend to be quite a bit more expensive than regular taxis, so if you want to save some money, you could walk out the entrance of the airport to the main road and negotiate with a taxi there.
Total Trip Length: about 1:30-2:30 hours
Flying Oaxaca to Huatulco
AeroTucan
You can also book AeroTucan (see above) to Huatulco. I took this trip in May of 2019 and the views were incredible.
TAR airlines
Your other option is to book via TAR airlines. Check their site for schedules, prices and bookings. TAR often has great deals if you book ahead and is not as small of a plane (more of a normal/domestic small plane). I took this flight from Huatulco back to Oaxaca, and it was comfortable and easy.
After flying into Huatulco, you have two options to get to Mazunte, San Agustinillo or Zipolite – bus or taxi.
Final Leg – Bus:
You can catch a second class bus running to Pochutla or Puerto Escondido once you walk out to the highway from the airport. You will ask to get off at the crucero de Pochutla y Puerto Angel, and either catch a pasajero (a truck/bus) or a taxi from there.
Or – Taxi:
Of course, you can catch a taxi from the airport to your final destination of Mazunte, San Agustinillo or Zipolite. If you take an airport taxi, it will likely cost you a lot more. A more economic option is to walk the short distance to the highway (outside of the airport) and negotiate a price with a regular taxi. You can decide based on what you are comfortable with and how much luggage you have.
Total Trip Length: about 1:30-2:30 hours
More Oaxaca Coast Guides:
Complete Oaxaca beach guide, choose the best beach for your travel style.
Transportation:
How to Get to Mazunte, San Agustinillo, and Zipolite from Oaxaca.
How to Get from Puerto Escondido to Mazunte/San Agustinillo.
Hotels + Airbnbs:
Boutique Hotel in San Agustinillo.
Hotel and Beach Club in Puerto Escondido.
Design Lover’s Airbnb in Punta Pajaros, near Casa Wabi.
Oaxaca city:
And tons of Oaxaca city posts here.
Find Your Mazunte, San Agustinillo or Zipolite Airbnb or Hotel:
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Cliff Hoberman
Hello:
What is the best way to travel to Playa Mazunte from San Diego, Ca.?
Thanks,
Cliff
Susan Ripley
Hi Cliff – you’ll want to search for flights into either Huatulco or Puerto Escondido airport. From there, you can follow my directions above from each airport to Mazunte.
If you are finding flights are too expensive to either of those airports, you can purchase a flight to Mexico City, and then take a domestic airline from Mexico City to Huatulco or Puerto Escondido (you can try searching Interjet, Volaris, Aeromar, or VivaAerobus for those domestic flights).
Doug
Thanks for this useful information! Note one additional option for travel between the beaches and Oaxaca City is Lineas Unidas who run at time of writing 5 daily shuttles to/from the beaches using 12 pax vans. They have an office/station on the main street directly across from the papeleria where Eclipse stops so both options are now available. Cost as of today is $270MX.
Susan Ripley
Hi Doug – great to know! Thanks for passing along the info. Will have to check that out on my next trip out to the coast.
Hawk
My girlfriend and I are hoping to make a trip to Mazunte, and at looking through this guide became a bit overwhelmed with the options. I think that I would plan on flying, to which airport we don’t have much preference as they seem to be roughly equivalent in my searches price-wise, but the bus/taxi ride after that is just really throwing me off. How much would it cost to get a taxi (roughly) from either of these locations to Mazunte? Is it difficult to do the busses? We’re young, so on a pretty precise budget, but want to be comfortable. Anyways, maybe I’m overcomplicating. Also have been considering renting a scooter to not only get from the airport to Mazunte, but also to get around the area, is this a bad idea?
Susan
Hi there Hawk,
Sorry for the slow reply. A taxi won’t set you back too terribly. I only took one once from the Huatulco airport to Mazunte, and I can’t quite remember what it was as it’s been a couple years. I want to say something like 800-900 pesos (though again, don’t quote me!). Walk out to the highway from the airport to get a lower rate (it’s not a far walk at all, they are tiny airports). Buses are easy as well. Just ask to get out at the crucero (look above in the post for which crucero, depending on which airport you are arriving from). Save the phrase in spanish so you have it handy. Keep your Google maps open so you can see your progress as you approach where you need to hop off. Once at the crucero, you can grab a taxi to make the rest of the journey easier. Don’t be intimidated, you’ll be fine! Renting a scooter is a fine option as well, or a rental car works fine too. That way you can hop around easily between different and more remote beaches. Have fun!