Getting there & Getting around

Getting there

Acapulco's Alvarez International Airport is a busy hub, particularly for flights to and from the United States but also from Europe and Canada. Many flights connect through Mexico City or Guadalajara, both short hops from Acapulco. The airport is 23km (14mi) southeast of the city center and there are shuttles that will take you into town. Acapulco has two major, 1st-class long-distance bus companies: Estrella de Oro and Estrella Blanca. Both offer frequent services, with various levels of luxury, to Mexico City and other major cities in the country, from where you can catch cross-border buses. Many car rental companies hire out Jeeps as well as cars. Several have offices at the airport as well as in town and some offer free doorstop delivery. Acapulco is one of Mexico's busiest ports, and visitors also arrive by cruise ship.

Getting around

Acapulco has a good local bus system, with buses every few minutes to most places you'd want to go. The fancier, yellow, air-conditioned buses that ply La Costera along the bay cost slightly more. All have their destinations clearly marked on the windshield. Walking along La Costera is easy (although crossing it can be chancy); a novel alternative is a decorated horse-drawn cart.

Hundreds of blue-and-white VW cabs scurry around Acapulco like cockroaches, maneuvering with an audacity that borders on the comical. Drivers sometimes quote fares higher than the official ones, so ask locals the going rate for your ride and agree on the fare with the cabby before you climb in.

Be aware when trying to find your way around Acapulco that street names and numbers are generally not logical or well marked.