How to Get to Zipolite?
Plane, road trip or bus — all roads pass through Pochutla. We break down every route with real prices and times.
41 km
To the nearest airport
Huatulco (HUX)
12–14 h
By bus from Mexico City
Direct to Pochutla
$30 MXN
Final shared taxi
Pochutla → Zipolite
✈ Plane
The fastest option. There are two nearby international airports with connections from Mexico City, Guadalajara, the US and Canada. From both airports, Pochutla is the connecting point toward Zipolite.
Flight prices: Round-trip flights to Huatulco from Mexico City range between $2,500 and $7,000 MXN. For high season (Dec–Jan, Easter week) book at least 6 weeks in advance.
🚗 By car — Road trip
The road trip to Zipolite has two faces: the new Barranca Larga–Ventanilla highway (131D) that connects Oaxaca with the coast in under 4 hours, or the classic Federal 175 through San José del Pacífico if you prefer mountain scenery and hillside towns. From other points, the Oaxacan coastal road is spectacular.
Mexico City
Mexico City → Puebla → Tehuacán → Oaxaca → Puerto Escondido → Pochutla → Zipolite
Oaxaca city
⚡ Fast routeOaxaca → Federal 175 south → Barranca Larga–Ventanilla highway (131D) → Costera 200 → Pochutla → Zipolite
$245 MXN in tolls · Modern highway · No mountain curves
Oaxaca city
🏔 Classic routeOaxaca → Ejutla → Miahuatlán → San José del Pacífico → Pochutla → Zipolite
No tolls · Mountain curves · Spectacular forest scenery
Puerto Escondido
Puerto Escondido → San Antonio junction → Pochutla → Zipolite
Acapulco
Acapulco → Costa Chica (Hwy 200) → Puerto Escondido → Pochutla → Zipolite
For the road trip: Fill up on gas in Pochutla before heading down to Zipolite — there's no gas station on the beach. Federal highway 200 from Puerto Escondido to Pochutla is two lanes but in good condition.
Rent a car for your road trip
Compare prices at Huatulco and Puerto Escondido airports
Road Trip to Zipolite
The perfect playlist for the hours on the road to the Oaxacan coast. We put it together especially to soundtrack the trip — from the mountains to the Pacific.
Read the road trip post →🚌 Bus
The most affordable and widely used option. From Mexico City it's 12 to 14 hours of travel — overnight buses are ideal for making the most of the time. All buses arrive in Pochutla, where you'll find direct transport to Zipolite in minutes.
ADO / OCC
$1,370+ MXN (CDMX–Pochutla)From: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz
They arrive directly in Pochutla. The most reliable option.
FYPSA
From $700 MXNFrom: Mexico City
The most affordable option from Mexico City. Overnight trip.
ETN / Turistar
From $1,565 MXNFrom: Mexico City
More comfort. Ideal for long 12+ hour trips.
Estrella del Valle
$30–55 USD equiv.From: Oaxaca city
Departs from the Oaxaca bus terminal. ~6 hrs.
How to buy tickets
ADO and OCC sell online at ado.com.mx — you can book in advance.
FYPSA sells only at the ticket counter. Arrive at the terminal early during high season.
Overnight buses from Mexico City are the preferred choice — you arrive in Pochutla at dawn.
🧳 Tips before you travel
Bring cash
Many hotels, restaurants and taxis in Zipolite only accept cash payment. There are ATMs in Pochutla.
Download offline maps
Cell signal can be weak. Download Google Maps or Maps.me for the area before you leave.
Pack light
If you arrive by shared van, access can be tricky with large suitcases. A backpack is preferable.
Season and traffic
Dec–Jan and Easter week are peak. Shared vans can fill up. In low season, ideal for a more relaxed trip.